Accepted, not into Smith

<p>I applied to UMD as a business major but I was accepted into the College of Letters and Sciences. I called them up and they told me that I would have to reapply to the business school after I have 60 credits. I was wondering if any current students can tell me how easy it is to get into the Smith School of Business if I am reapplying after I have 60 credits. I was also wondering if I'm better off going to a school where I'm already in the business school rather than hoping to get in at UMD and if I don't I'm screwed. Any help is appreciated.</p>

<p>what other schools?</p>

<p>My top 3 choices were Penn State, UMD, and Northeastern. I didn't get into Penn State, and I did get into Northeastern with a $10000 a year scholarship (makes the price about the same as UMD). I also got into UConn, University of Delaware, Towson...but I'm not really interested in those.</p>

<p>The decision is between going to UMD without definitely getting into the business school, or going to Northeastern where I'm already in it. Both schools were really nice. I think I would probably pick UMD if I was in the business school because it is ranked higher, but Northeastern is definitely a very close second.</p>

<p>same here, but i'm going to rutgers instead</p>

<p>Same!
I applied to Smith, but got into Letters & Science.
I don't think I'm gonna go anyway because I got into Penn State Business (Smeal) & Northeastern Pharmacy.
I'm also waiting for Uni. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign business as well.</p>

<p>Hey guys. this is my first post on college confidential because idk where to go for advice. I got into Penn State University Park and Smeal’s Business School and also got accepted to UMD for Spring 2011 and offered Freshman Connections. Maryland was my number one choice, but now I am not sure what to do. I did not get into the Smith Business School. Atleast I don’t think i did. My letter didn’t say anything about LEP or Business even though I applied as a Business Major. That is one thing I am stuck on, the business school. Although I like UMD alot more, i don’t know if I should choose Penn State now because I got right into the business school. However, I am considering doing Freshman Connection at UMD because I love the school so much. But, without admission into the business school i don’t know if I would be making the most wise choice.<br>
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks</p>

<p>Well, I suggest calling up MD’s business school and asking them if they’ll reconsider your application for direct admission. Tell them you have been admitted to the Northeastern business school with a scholarship and would rather go to MD. </p>

<p>You might as well try. </p>

<p>If they say no-way-no-how, I would go to Northeastern. Is it really equatable in price? I seem to remember that NU is a co-op school and it is a 5-yr program? Will that cost more? Well, just make sure you have accounted for everything (transportation costs, housing costs, etc.). I am a bit biased: NU seems to have most everything MD does - big city, etc. - minus the big sports/frat party atmosphere, and to me that’s actually a plus!!! (Ew, frat parties and sports…)</p>

<p>It is somewhat difficult to get into the business school at MD. You will have to do quite well your first two years. You want to do quite well anyway, but it might be nice not having to deal with poor advising in L&S, and it might be nice focusing on internships/etc.</p>

<p>Good luck :).</p>

<p>i’m in a similar position not getting into the business school, but getting into letters and sciences. I’ve been accepted to Uconn business, Clemson business, anticipate getting in Virginia Tech business, and possibly Miami…I’m not at all sure where I want to go haha…If I got in Maryland business I’d definately go there, and I sent admissions an email asking to reconsider, but its been a week and haven’t gotten a response. Should I send the email to the business school rather than admissions? Also, out of the schools listed above, and I like them all equally, which school would you recommend?
Thanks</p>

<p>fyi, Penn State-Smeal has great connections for jobs and internships…for those of you who were accepted there, but not UMD-Smith, great, great alternative option…
dare I say possibly better??? nah, don’t wanna get everyone upset…</p>

<p>to nkskippers7: I am actually in the exact same boat. If i got into UMD Smith’s School I would have put down my deposit already. I emailed them and asked for an appeal but they said my application cannot be appealed because I was “accepted.” That’s why the decision is so hard. I think that you should look at what kind of geographical location you are looking for and how their business schools rank.
to rodney: I have heard the same thing about Smeal having alot of connections. Although I don’t know as many people that went to Smith, I dont think they were given many offers for jobs and internships.</p>

<p>My son was accepted into Smith but isn’t really sure he wants business. In fact, he didn’t apply to the business school at some other colleges, especially ones (like Penn State) that have a strong “undecided” program that is supposed to help you figure out what you want to major in. </p>

<p>Although my son is leaning towards Maryland right now, I certainly wouldn’t mind if he were more interested in Penn State. As Rodney said, I think Smeal is just as good as Smith (although I’ll would bet he won’t end up in Smeal anyway since he is leaning away from business now), but I also think the surrounding area is soooo much nicer, and safer! Penn State is a great school. Did you read that they just raised $8 million this year for pediatric cancer at THON? I’d love to say my kid goes to a school like that.</p>

<p>One other interesting thing about Penn State. You can still apply to the honors program after freshman year if you don’t get in initially. At Maryland, you’re either in or you’re out from the beginning.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input! Have you visited both campuses? Also, I do not know how hard it is to get into Smith’s. The only people I know that got accepted to Maryland are undecided majors. I thought my grades and application were good enough, but I guess not. Do you live in-state or was your son top of his class or how did he get in? if you don’t mind me asking</p>

<p>Well, you can actually apply to the honors program at MD, too, after a semester or year. I know a few people who did that and got in. </p>

<p>But I agree that if you got into Penn State business and cost is not an issue, there is no reason really to go to UMD. The schools are very similar in their atmosphere and academics, save for the fact that I believe Penn State is in a crappier location (more rural). If you think the location is going to have a huge impact on your happiness, then that’s one thing, but otherwise…</p>

<p>It is quite tough to get into Smith as an internal transfer. I mean, plenty of people do it, but you’ve definitely got to maintain a strong GPA.</p>

<p>I am in a similar situation. I got into Penn State Smeal School of Business, as well as the business school at UConn and Michigan State. I got into Letters and Sciences at UMD, but UMD is my top college. Is it dumb to go to UMD when i know getting into Smeal was I guess a stretch for me? I feel it isnt a smart move to turn it down with the unlikeness of me getting into Smith.</p>

<p>To Philliesfan1027: I feel the same way. But based on how similarly Smith’s School and Smeal are ranked, I do not understand why we would get into one and not the other. My parents are telling me that it should be an obvious choice for me to go to Penn State even though UMD was my first choice. But it is sort of hard to just go with that because I really liked UMD and I never saw myself at Penn State. My guidance counselor tells me I should go to Penn State too because of the huge cost difference for almost the same education.</p>

<p>TO UMCP11: You mentioned that if I should choose Penn State business if cost is not an issue, but Penn State is a lot cheaper than UMD. So does that change your opinion on the situation?</p>

<p>^^indecisive: the reason that you were admitted to Smeal and not Smith probably have to do with a number of factors, not the least of which could be demographics; some schools are trying to widen their geographic reach others not so much…according to another thread, a poster bulletpima has implied that UMD has been trying to reduce the #;s from NY/NJ/PA…add to that, Smith is a competitive school at UMD and that may explain the discrepency in the admission results.</p>

<p>Indecisive,
If you are sure that you want to major in business, I would stick with Penn State. It is very difficult to transfer into Smith if you don’t start as a freshman. Most students who try end up majoring in economics instead. I think that Maryland and Penn State are really pretty similar in terms of atmoshere and academics. The biggest difference is location. Maryland has the advantage of access to DC, but the College Park area is not very safe or appealing. Penn State is more remote, but you will get a true college town experiece. A lot of the time students avoid their own state flagships because they think another state’s school will be more exciting and different. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth the extra expense unless the out of state school offers an academic advantage. If you are worried about knowing too many students from your high school at Penn State, just remember that the school is huge and you will meet lots of new people. Most kids end of loving their state schools even if it wasn’t their top choice. Good luck with your decision.</p>

<p>momjr,
thanks! I am not worried about knowing a lot of people from my highschool at Penn State, but I think that Penn State seems like an easier school to get into, and therefore not as impressive or respected. Every year it seems like tons of students from my high school end up going to Penn State. I know this shouldn’t influence my decision, but it makes Penn State seem like an easy school to be admitted to.</p>

<p>^^ I know exactly how you feel. I live in MD and got into UMD, so I’ll be going to college with a good proportion of my senior class. I really love UMD so it’s not a big thing for me, but the whole “impressive” bit sometimes bothers me if I let it.</p>

<p>If you’re sure you want to major in business, then I’d go to Penn State if I were you. And by sure, I mean upwards of 80%. If you’re a little less than sure, listen to what your gut is telling you to do. If it feels like UMD is really the right school for you and it’s possibly worth sacrificing a business major, then that might be the right route. I wouldn’t advise taking a risk like that, though, if you think business is absolutely the right thing for you.</p>