UMBC versus UMCP - what's the difference?

rai_is_rad
Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:21:03 +0000

I’m going to start this post by saying that I currently attend UMBC (rising sophomore, chemical engineering major) from OOS and had never visited UMCP before going over with a couple of my friends last semester so I cannot comment on the student experience there at all.

The academics at UMBC are top-notch, and not just in science related fields. I took several classes in the humanities (history, art, and a current events seminar) my first semester and all were well taught and interesting. All but one of my professors have been happy to help when approached during office hours and several of them were more than willing to just sit and talk or to help students find research opportunities if asked.

The scholarship program is also fairly generous. There are the normal merit scholarships as well as scholarship programs with specific goals and majors. These programs also have associated living communities in the dorms and the students in them tend to form close bonds with each other.

There are many commuters and the campus does tend to empty out a bit on weekends. There are students who stay, however, and there are things to do on campus. There are parties, but they are mostly relegated to the weekends. If you don’t want to, you definitely don’t have to, but they are there. There is also a Greek scene, and while it doesn’t really dominate campus culture, many of the student leaders on campus are involved. We also don’t have Greek houses, so members either live in campus housing or in their own apartments off campus.

The campus is enclosed in a loop. Personally, I like the campus, but I understand how some could feel that it is too small or isolated. The public transportation generally isn’t bad as long as you check the schedule first, but it could be better. The only comment I will make on CP is that it felt WAY too big to me, but that is a personal thing and nothing against the school.

Our sports may not be recognized nationally in the same way CP’s are, and we do not have a football team, but they are by no means bad. We compete NCAA DI in America East. Our lacrosse and swim teams are consistently good, and the basketball teams have done well recently as well. Some of the club teams (notably ice hockey) are also very good and well ranked.

I hope this helped a bit, and I would be glad to answer any questions I can about UMBC. I’m sorry this post got a bit disorganized, but I tried to address everything that was brought up before.
(and if it would help I was also accepted to Case Western, RPI, and UMinn for engineering all with significant merit money, and I know many other students who have gotten into top ranked schools who have come to UMBC instead as well)