<p>Oh I thought there were only 2 dates. This betters everyone’s chances though!</p>
<p>I had written myself off for B/K. So I was completely shocked when my selection news came in the form of being invited to a CLFS breakfast held before the interviews in an email and my letter hadn’t arrived yet.</p>
<p>That has to be better than the stress all of you have now…</p>
<p>But also know that the top 2% is more subjective than objective. If your SATs are above 1400 that’s pretty much the most they look at it. (Pretty much a 1600 carries more weight than a 1400 of course, but a 1400 with significantly more in the way of accomplishments will beat out a 1500 for an invitation)
Admission to UMD is very numbers driven, but scholarship money is much more subjective. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that B/K was ESTABLISHED AS A MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP. There will be cries of reverse racism later on in the process, but the money was originally given to the school for black applicants (and Hispanic but to a far lesser degree). It was expanded when there was no longer an all inclusive full ride offered. So yes, there is a slant towards URM’s because that’s what the scholarship was established as.
But that doesn’t mean white and Asian students don’t get chosen. They definitely do more. In the end the BK makeup is similar to the student body makeup. Which means far many more white and Asian students get it, but because fewer black and Hispanic students qualify there is a larger percentage of the one’s that do getting it.</p>
<p>Congrats to the people who have already gotten an interview.
A few words of advice:
Make eye contact. One professor who had done interviews, who I was speaking to at the CFLS breakfast was so overjoyed that I made eye contact while I spoke to him that he spent twenty minutes complaining about the students who looked at anything but his place. Look at the interviewers while you are speaking. There are two, so of course you can’t maintain eye contact with both of them, but that makes people uncomfortable anyway.</p>
<p>Ask questions when they invite you to.If you don’t have any, ask about their opinions. I feel as if the simple question: What is your favorite part of the school? May have gotten me the interviewers approval. The two women excitedly started telling me small details about Maryland that they loved and spoke for almost five minutes combined. </p>
<p>Have good reasons for your goals. If you are pre-med, try to come up with something more creative than “I want to help people.”</p>
<p>Don’t talk about Twilight. I don’t remember the names of the two women who interviewed me, I was far too nervous to, but I feel like at least one of them was an English professor. They asked me about my writing, and I told them how I was currently writing a fantasy novel. They asked me what kinds of things influence me, and I said some modern stuff, some older stuff. And then one of them was like, “You mean that book Twilight?” and I said, “God, no!” and the women both laughed and were relieved. One of them said, “Thank God, girls have been coming in here all day and going on and on about that book. Neither of us have read it, and it seems like a horribly written story.” We then all agreed that Harry Potter was awesome.</p>
<p>What they’re looking for is a person. If your stats are incredible, you can get it regardless, but if your stats are on the lower end, this can give you the push to full ride. But if you have borderline stats and are rude or cocky you won’t get it. If you have the personality of a boiled potato you won’t get it. Don’t be oblivious, show you can bring something to the school. Show that you can represent the school’s best students.</p>
<p>I’ll always remember this guy Paul.
You wait for your interview time in the Basement of Queen Anne’s. (Just to give you a totally unrealistic view of the dorm lounges) There is food and some Maryland ice cream out, and there are a few people on the upper level of the lounge pitching their programs. (Honors, Gems, etc) But most of the nervous students and their parents were sitting on couches in the lower level while an Honors panel of Students took questions. So I was on the edge of one couch and my mother was on a chair next to me.* There was a woman on the other side of the couch. Then I assumed she was a parent, but now that I think back I believe she works at the school because I’m fairly sure I’ve seen her since. A guy walks over with his dad and there is a space on the couch across from us and a space between us. The guys nametage says Paul. Paul looks completely befuddled and has to be told by his father that they need to sit seperately. Paul is holding ice cream and lemonade. He plops himself down on the couch between us and the lemonade flies out and lands all over all three people on the couch. (Luckily I was wearing black pants and it landed on my lap). Paul does not even look at either of the people he has just spilled all over. He just sits there while his father goes and gets him napkins to clean up. We never get an apology or so much as an “Oops”.
My mom also sees what happens and between the three of us he gets fifteen minutes of dirty looks. (He makes no effort to engage us like most of the other students are). Paul is eating his icecream and somehow ends up with a sprinkle on his nose. I don’t say anything because I’m trying to dry the lemonade on my pants. A few minutes later he is called for his interview (I had no idea if he was waiting or finished). The woman turns to me the second he’s gone and says laughing, “Did you see the sprinkle?” </p>
<p>Paul does go UMD. He’s in the Gemstone program and proposed a project last year. He stared at his hands and mumbled his entire presentation. I don’t know him, but if I do I still plan on casually working in whether he was partial or full ride into a convesation.</p>
<p>*There has been conversation in the past about parents being present. Basically, it’s not a big deal. Don’t let them near the actual interview room, but coming for the day and waiting with you isn’t a big deal. Of course if you are from far enough that you needed a hotel and to drive across several states, it’s expected that you’re parents are there…On another note if your parents can’t come and you need a place to stay the night people have had success with calling the school and explaining. They will usually find a willing overnight stay host to have you for the night. If you are eighteen there is the Marriott on the edge of campus but it’s pricey.</p>
<p>Ginab and plumazul are giving great insight. Last year my son received the B/K email and we were shocked. And thrilled. He had a 2150, top 5% of class, but LOTS of EC’s, 2 great internships, captain for 6 seasons of varsity sports, chair of NHS committee to send packages to the troops and meet them at the airport, and interesting essays. What we found interesting, before his interview, was this quote, somewhere on the UMD website: the committee is looking for the “likelihood a given student would make a significant contribution to the university”. At his interview they asked him questions about his essay (that they had obviously read), and then asked where he would see himself a year from then. He answered that he would continue doing the kinds of things he was doing during HS and was thrilled for the chance to do them at UM. And despite having the lowest stats of anyone from his school who got the interview, he was one of 2 who got the full ride. I tell this story to encourage those who do not have the highest SATs and GPA…they are looking for more than just numbers. And as has been stated before, he had a lot of great choices, but is at MD and could not be happier. Or busier…:)</p>
<p>I didn’t receive a letter yet 
I know I have good (definitely in the B/K range) stats but pretty blah extracurriculars, plus I slopped through my app–I guess I’ve learned from this to really pay attention to my essays. I know there’s a possibility that they’re rolling but the longer time I have to receive my letter, the less time I have to make arrangements for transportation. Since College Park is rather inconvenient for me to get to–it’s a four hour drive without traffic–I’m thinking about calling the admissions office and straight out asking them if I’m a semifinalist. Do you think that would make me seem pushy or cocky?</p>
<p>When I called about whether or not they were sent, I sorta slipped that question in, but the admissions lady said that she wasn’t allowed to tell me.</p>
<p>So go ahead and try but you probably wont have any luck.
You could mention the circumstances. Tell us if it works! lol</p>
<p>Still more batches to be sent out so don’t worry!</p>
<p>bandgeek-4 hours without traffic is not really inconvenient enough for that kind of accommodation. There are many people who live much farther than that. Maybe if you had to schedule an international flight, but I doubt even that would happen.</p>
<p>Thanks Ginab for all the advice about interviews, it was really quite helpful. I know four hours isn’t a huge deal, but assuming my interview is on a weekday there would be some aspects of getting there that my parents would be involved in (they want to drive me down, but I might end up taking one of those New York City-Washington buses, but then I’d still have to get in the city) and both of their jobs are sort of at risk right now (which makes it even more pertinent that I get a B/K interview), so I’d like to know in advance so they could put time off. I know it’s not as inconvenient as other people who have applied, but again, it’s not really around the corner either.</p>
<p>Also-Ginab, you mentioned Maryland ice cream. Does Maryland have its own special kind of ice cream or something? Because that sounds awesome. It’s doubly awesome that they give it at the scholarship interviews, ice cream is amazing 
:)</p>
<p>Well for transportation, take the Bolt bus from the city to Greenbelt not DC. Then it’s just one metro stop to UMD. You get out of the station and there is a shuttle to campus. Bolt buses can be reserved hours before or sometimes at the curb before they leave (But don’t count on that).
It’s also not a bad drive to do on your own if you’re somewhat experienced with highway driving. </p>
<p>Maryland makes it’s own ice cream. The reason it’s not widely served off campus is because there is too much sugar and fat in it for it to be FDA approved…so yes enjoy.</p>
<p>The ice cream is delicious. In prior years there has been a luncheon for B/K nominees and parents, so we attended, as well as a number of other parents. There were other activities for parents while kids are interviewing. We did not hang out and hover over S1 until the second he walked into the interview room. DH and I did a campus tour, talked to some other parents we knew, hung out in the basement of the honors building.</p>
<p>S1 was asked a lot about his ECs and what he planned to pursue at UMD. Having done research there with a prof, he had a lot to say in that regard. We know someone who had similar numbers to my son and got the half B/K; was told later that his ECs were weak. (The reality was that his ECs were excellent, but largely outside of school and he did not stress them enough in his apps and interview. Be conversational and make eye contact. Seriously!) </p>
<p>Obviously, it’s too late for this year’s crop of seniors, but to others who are lurking: give your respect to the UMD essays. Do not blow them off. Don’t take anything for granted. There are some incredible kids in the B/K pool – folks with numbers and awards that will get them Ivy acceptances. And some of them will turn those down and choose to attend UMD. </p>
<p>For comparison, UMD wins the yield race against Cornell, CMU and JHU (and those are just three I remember off the top of my head) at both high schools my sons attended. Every year.</p>
<p>@ Gina - the “Paul” story is hysterical! I had tears from laughing so hard! It’s also definitely something that would happen to me - except I would be the one with the sprinkle on my nose!!!</p>
<p>I am aware of three dates – February 23, March 1 and March 3.</p>
<p>This may sound stupid - but what kind of interview questions should I expect? and how formal is this whole interview process?</p>
<p>Thanks current BK scholars for all the info and advice.
Wow, I feel like Harry Potter while he was trying to get a Hogwarts letter. Too bad there’s no post on Sundays. Is there any chance that a thousand letters could start spontaneously pouring in from the fireplace?</p>
<p>RoMarley, I actually have similar questions. </p>
<p>To the current B/K scholars at UMD: I realize that the interview itself is pretty formal (like business casual, yes?), but in past years did most people remain in those clothes the whole time, or did people change into jeans, sweaters, etc. for the other lectures, buffet lunch, tours, and ice cream social? I’ll probably stay pretty formal to be on the safe side, I was just wondering what to expect. Thanks!</p>
<p>@MrSpock2, </p>
<p>I know what you mean. Getting home from school and checking out the mailbox is like looking for a golden ticket.</p>
<p>Except, instead of some inane factory tour, the ticket is worth, at the very least, 35000 dollars.</p>
<p>More than I’ve made in my whole life =(</p>
<p>If the dates are </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>then shouldn’t the invites be sent out completely already? I’m still waiting on mine…</p>
<p>When I called on Thursday, not all of them had been sent.</p>
<p>Waiting a single day between waves seems a bit stupid. Why not send them all together?</p>
<p>Ah I see. I thought they were waiting more than one day for waves to be sent. So I guess there’s one more wave left? Not to be nervous or anything…</p>
<p>One or two, idk. But the last two dates are so close together that they should be sent together. </p>
<p>This way everyone gets a similar amount of notice.</p>
<p>That’s what I figured but my friend who got his on…Thursday? mentioned something about his date being March 1st 
Do they get a choice or something? But then that means the wave idea is completely illogical. </p>
<p>Screw it. I refuse to waste any more thought on this >:( haha.</p>