So grateful you are hosting this thread. Tried to see if my questions were already answered but there were too many!
First, my son was admitted to Binghamton, UMD, UMass Amherst, Rutgers, and some private schools. We are considered OOS for all the state schools. Binghamton, which is cheaper to begin with, offered $8k/year in merit scholarship plus a freshman research program open to only 30 kids. Rutgers offered $10k/year. UMD? Nada. Trying to figure out why. Total cost differential between UMD and Binghamton over four years is approx. $80K. Based on my (extensive) research, I believe UMD to be a better school overall. Are we stupid to even consider UMD when the price tag is so different? Can one state’s flagship school really be that much better than another?
Second question: SUNY schools require four classes per term, UMD does five. This is the “depth vs. breadth” issue. What’s your take on this? I can imagine that five is really a challenge, especially if, as I’ve read online, UMD faculty are notoriously hard graders (true)? I went to an Ivy and only took four a semester.
Thanks!
@jhelperin - I can’t really answer your first question. I don’t know enough about the other schools. I do know that UMD does not have a lot of money for scholarships.
For #2, UMD does not require 5 courses per semester. It does require 120 credits to graduate (in general) and considering that the average course is 3 credits, that translates to 5 courses per semester for 8 semesters. However some courses are 4 credits, many are 3, some are 2 and some are 1. AP credit can also decrease the number of courses (credits) needed to graduate. At the end of my D’s first sophomore semester she already had 60 credits. 12 credits per semester are required to maintain full time student status. That’s 4 courses (in general).
As for hard graders, some are and some aren’t. Kids figure out that stuff.
Good luck! I know that it’s a tough decision.
Right, but on average, UMD needs five classes a term to graduate; SUNYs need only four. I imagine that makes it easier to double major or major/minor if you are in challenging subjects.
On average, that is true. I don’t know anything about SUNY, so I can’t comment on what they require. I do know that there are students at UMD who successfully double major and major/minor. I can’t give any numbers cause I have never asked that question. When we were evaluating colleges in 2014, the number of courses per semester was not a factor for us.
@jhelperin
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Is Maryland worth an $80K differential<<
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No.
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Total cost differential between UMD and Binghamton over four years is approx. $80K. Based on my (extensive) research, I believe UMD to be a better school overall. Are we stupid to even consider UMD when the price tag is so different?<<
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you’re not stupid to research colleges and consider the options. and i think UMD is better overall. but IMO there is no way it’s $80K better. that’s a big chunk of money.
Actually, Bing presents the 4-class a semester as their minimum, but recommend 5 (as that’s what you need to graduate in 4 years without summer sessions). UMD just states the 5 courses. Each course typically carries 3 credits, although some may carry 4 (science with lab in particular).
Ivies and top LACs require 4, 4 credit-classes for 16 credits (or 4 “units”) and would add a .25 “unit” or 1 credit for the lab if necessary.
Is it possible you are mistaken? Correct me if I’m wrong, but see here: https://www.binghamton.edu/watson/student-services/advising/current/pdfs/CS%202015%20guidesheets%202.pdf. For Computer Science, each class is worth 4 credits, and the only time you need more than that is an extra 1-credit class when you enter. Second semester senior year only has 12 credits. You can take more, of course, but it looks to me like this is what’s required to graduate. Am I reading it incorrectly? Wikipedia seems to agree: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binghamton_University#Curriculum
You are not comparing apples to apples when you say 4 courses is less than 5 courses. Look at the number of total credits per semester. They are basically equivalent, but less credits per semester are actually required for Maryland. If you look at Maryland’s four year plan (scroll to page 2 for the semester by semester break down) https://cmns.umd.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/docs/4yr-plans/cmsc.pdf
there are only 15 credits required each semester. Bing has mostly 16 and 17 credits a semester, with only one 15 credit semester and one 14 credit semester.
^you do need 15-16 credits per semester to graduate with the minimum 127 credits.
(It actually means a little less flexibility since you take 8 classes per year vs. 10, but you do cover each subject more in-depth. In that, you’re right it’s like most private universities.)
And yes, my apologies, you’re right about the classes listed on the Fall 2015 worksheets indicate, they indeed represent 4 credits per class as I forgot Bing functions like private university in that respect rather than like the other University Centers!!!
Well, it’s interesting. Personally, I’d much rather do four courses in greater depth than try to balance five. The depth-vs-breadth argument is exactly why Advanced Placement exams are falling out of favor. Not sure why private schools tend to operate that way vs. public, but perhaps Bing is on to something. No matter what stat/ranking I look at, UMD seems like a better school, and the weather and travel time is surely better. That’s where my son would prefer to go. But it’s really hard to justify that $80K and loss of a really cool research opportunity. Some say it doesn’t matter where you go undergrad, but I know if you’re competing for a job on Wall Street or at Apple that’s probably not true?
In some fields it really matters; finance is one of them. I personally do not think it is worth paying 80K extra.