Another head scratching rejection

<p>this rejection makes no sense. i am from new york and i have a friend whose two daughters attend maryland (they are from n.y. also). one of them had sat scores in the low 1200's and a gpa of about 85 and the other had sat scores in the mid 1100's and a gpa of about 82. neither of them had any special or outstanding extracurricular activities and both were admitted to maryland. one is a senior this year and the other is a freshman. it seems like an error was made with your daughter's application. frankly, she seems overqualified for maryland.</p>

<p>ursdad,</p>

<p>Those are really low stats for out-of-state students, especially the 2nd one. Of course, it's hard for me to convert gpas that are from 1-100 to a 4.0 system but I am assuming that 82 is barely a 3.0 Even if half the classes were weighted, that would only be a 3.5 weighted with an 1150 SAT for an out-of-state student. Something is very odd there. I know kids with higher stats than that who were rejected in-state. </p>

<p>Here are Maryland's stas. Remember that most of these kids are instate so I would think out-of-state kids would have higher gpas and SATs.
University</a> of Maryland - Freshman Profile Information</p>

<p>For the Fall 2007 Freshman class, we received over 24,000 applications for a class of 4,200. </p>

<p>The admitted freshman students had a strong A-/B+ or better average in their high school coursework and took the most challenging courses available to them including honors, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses. </p>

<p>All Admits Fall 2007</p>

<p>"In the Fall of 2007, students admitted to the University of Maryland had an average (weighted) GPA of 3.96 and the middle 50% of SAT scores ranged from 1240 to 1380, and between 28-31 on the ACT. As a result 25% of the admitted students scored below a 1240 on the SAT and 25% scored above a 1380." </p>

<p>University</a> of Maryland - Applying as a Freshman</p>

<p>As prescribed by the Board of Regents, the university expects all applicants, at a minimum, to have completed by graduation the following course work:</p>

<p>Four years of English
Three years of mathematics, including algebra I or applied math I & II, formal logic or geometry
Three years of history or social science
Three years of science in at least two different areas, with at least two lab experiences
Two years of a foreign language
The above criteria represent the minimum requirements for admission. Successful applicants typically present academic credentials which exceed the minimum, including: several honors and/or Advanced Placement (AP/IB) courses, and additional academic electives. A fourth year of mathematics is strongly recommended.</p>

<p>Maryland is a much better school than it used to be - but I still think it has a long way to go - and it is not helped by the fact that is it stuck in Prince Georges County - one of the least desirable places to live in the Washington DC area. </p>

<p>So I while this result is strange to say the least one of two things happened: </p>

<ol>
<li> The school counselor really deep sixed this candidate - to a fair thee well and somehow let Maryland know it; </li>
</ol>

<p>or </p>

<ol>
<li> And this may be the most likely of all - Maryland viewed this candidate a trolling for a safety and figured that she would not have any interest in showing up.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>I would raise holy heck with #1 and figure out what went on. And with #2, while I think there are clearly better choices in my mind than Party Central U that sits in the midst of high crime, low education PG County, given the statistics at hand I would figure out a way to approach the school and appeal - although as I state, I would get over it relatively quickly and go somewhere else, especially with the credentials of this candidate. </p>

<p>By the way, my spouse went to College Park briefly, and soon came to share the unpleasant views I share here, and transferred. She feels more strongly than I do. And I was recruited by Maryland in athletics - nice athletic program - but academics and an environment reflecting serious challenge and study were even more so. While my views are very blunt, and some may differ, I think they are not unreasonable.</p>

<p>mam1959, I think you're way wrong on #2. This applicant had a 95%, 9 APs and a 31 ACT. That makes her a strong candidate for Md but not unusual. Look at the averages for the top 3,000+ students accepted to Md. (I realize they won't all go but we're only talking about this applicant's chances of admission.) </p>

<p>"The 3,127 students admitted to the University Honors program had an average (weighted) GPA of 4.25 and the middle 50% scored between 1340-1470 on the SAT and between 30-33 on the ACT." </p>

<p>U-Md sits in PG county but many of its students are not from PG. The DC suburbs boast high AP rates and, like any state school, many use it as a safety-- and then they end of going when they get their financial aid offers. </p>

<p>So I don't think her <em>stats</em> were seen as too high. They should have been seen as strong and made her eligible for their honors program-- unless they didn't see the ACT and only looked at the SAT. I do think that the guidance counselor's errors could have been seen as lack of interest-- but, then again, there is a second, later deadline so if the application was not complete, why didn't they wait for the last recommendation? </p>

<p>Honestly, if they don't change their decision, I do think it's Maryland's loss since a young woman so interested in research has a wonderful future. I am glad the mom is pursuing it but I do think there are other schools out there where this young lady would shine.</p>

<p>"I would think out of state kids would have higher gpas and SATs."</p>

<p>Anyone have links to back this up? I could only find 28% of freshman class recently was oos, fairly high number. Am under the impression UMD is NOT appreciably more difficult oos vs instate. Certainly nothing like UVA or UNC. I know a number of kids (my nephew is one) with 1200's and less, but strong grades, from NJ who got into UMD.</p>

<p>CBK,
Have you checked the other schools where your D applied to see if her paperwork is correct there?</p>

<p>Intel SF is a big deal. She ought to be very proud. Three years is nothing to sneeze at, and once the admissions folks at UMD (or wherever else she applied) get to see her complete file, they'll notice, too. Having her paper done in time for Siemens is no small matter -- the deadline is SO early!</p>

<p>CBK,</p>

<p>I reside in Maryland as well. I am sorry to hear of your daughter's difficulties with Maryland. However, if she has her heart set on UMD, she needs to put her foot down. </p>

<p>A friend of us ran into a problem with admissions there last year. They misfiled her child's paperwork resulting in the child not being considered for a honors scholarship w/in the priority deadline. She ended up making quite a few calls to the admissions department to straighten things out. They apologized, reconsidered the application, and sent acceptance letter. It took a few weeks for this to occur.</p>

<p>Hang in there and keep us posted.</p>

<p>2331clk, I would love to see them too. I couldn't find them. (I don't think U-Md is as competitve for out of state as UVA or UNC either.) My kids have applied to UVA, U-Tx Austin, UMd, U of AZ, U of Indiana and U-Ct. When I dealt with them, UVA, Tx-Austin and U of AZ seemed to have the most clear instate preference. </p>

<p>Hsmom, my daughter's app to U-Md was lost several years back. It was complete-- they just never acted on it. I really think that school has organization problems.</p>

<p>As far as Md being a party school... I have been told that about <em>all</em> those schools except UVA perhaps (and then I was told it was a big greek place and people got very drunk). It seems to be a common criticism of big, state schools. Despite that, lots of serious kids walk away with a good education at all those schools so I wouldn't dismiss it for that.</p>

<p>Hey hey hey CBK,</p>

<p>Just read your post from 5:22 yesterday, about D's self-esteem, and wanted to offer MANY words of encouragement to her. What she is doing with the Intel thing will DEFINITELY pay off a WHOLE WHOLE WHOLE lot more than obsessing over SAT scores. [Also it will be a whole lot more fun!]</p>

<p>I know. I'm a science professional and have been for 30+ years. Back when the dinosaurs walked the earth and the Intel Science Talent Search was known as the Westinghouse Science Talent search, I was a SF. My project wasn't nearly as involved as your D's sounds, and I certainly didn't work on it as long, but the skills it taught me about researching a problem / developing hypotheses / hypothesis testing / etc. were invaluable. This is what doing science is really about - much more than taking classes and tests. You don't really learn this stuff in school - you learn it by doing it. </p>

<p>Your D should be proud of herself, and confident in herself. She's off to a great start if she wants to be a scientist (and even if she doesn't). </p>

<p>I hope her appeal to MD works out - it sounds like it will be their loss if it doesn't. I hope she has lots of other great places to choose from too. My guess is that she's going to do just fine wherever she ends up going.</p>

<p>Yes, all major state schools have a significant party element. But there's a sharper, and less innocent edge to the Maryland scene than with many other schools. The school sits astride a key stop on the nation's I-95 drug corridor - and is surrounded by a surplus of bad characters in PG County. Put simply, it is easier for a small minority of students to fall in truly bad actors, similar to the kind that Len Bias hung with prior to his death. This is not to say that one cannot get a good education at Maryland - of course you can and some departments are strong - but College Park consistently strikes me as having many of the negatives of a city school - crime, traffic, culture of a commuter school (thousands flock home on the weekends, especially given the unpleasant nature of PG County), with very few of the positives - College Park is not Georgetown nor is it NW DC where American resides or downtown DC where GW is located. Again, if already committed to an out of state option, there are a number of excellent alternatives.</p>

<p>
[quote]
than Party Central U that sits in the midst of high crime, low education PG County

[/quote]
</p>

<p>And while your playing fast and loose with the stereotypes why don't you say what you really mean--PG is predominately Black.</p>

<p>Just an added note.....Although my d did not apply to UMD (or UF, etc), there is a strong predominance on the boards this year that very highly qualified candidates have been outright rejected by top state U's this year......This is not just heresay, and certainly not just UMD....CHeck out the UFlorida thread; it makes this look like child's play.....It was also noted during the UMich EA cycle; very high scorers deferred while much lower stat candidates admitted.....</p>

<p>I'm not saying it makes sense, or that it's right, or that it's "holistic" admissions (i don't believe they have the time or inclination), but it's very odd IMO.....</p>

<p>As far as the "trolling for a safety" idea: Not sure that holds water at a state U, especially when you are talking about $$$ issues in a difficult economy....How can you call that a supposed overqualified candidate looking for a safety when, in reality, it's possible that he/she has chosen their schools based on economics?.....( not saying that is the case, CBK, but how would UMD know that?)....</p>

<p>I'm rambling, but I have seen first hand this year, with UMD and others, extremely qualified candidates rejected ( and not just on CC), while those with lower stats accepted....</p>

<p>I just want to post something lest someone read this thread and actually get too scared to send their kid to College Park of all places! College Park is not an inner-city. It's not even an all-ANYTHING place. PG County <em>IS</em> one of the richest majority-black counties in the country. College Park itself has black people, hispanic people and white people (not a ton of Asians if I recall correctly). The area around the school is rather diverse. If I recall correctly, the houses across Rte 1 from the university are resided in mainly by white people-- many of whom are students or professors. The areas a few miles away have many working class people-- both Hispanic and black. I would not pretend for a moment that students at College Park are any more or less safe than the other "white schools" in DC-- GW, Georgetown, AU or Catholic-- and the crime rates may be hard to compare because those DC schools will have a number of crimes that happen <em>off campus</em> and may well not be reflected in campus statistics (especially Georgetown and GW). (I write this as the parent of a student who was held up at gunpoint off-campus in AZ.) </p>

<p>I will say this.. I do not consider College Park one of the "least desirable" areas to live in around the DC area but if being around a lot of white people is high on a person's list for college placement, I think they should look at some schools in VA-- a place my family would consider "least desirable."</p>

<p>No links for 2collegewego or earlier poster, but when touring UMDCP campus this summer, we specifically asked the presenting admissions officer about standards for OOS students. He said something to the effect that different standards don't apply.</p>

<p>UF admission is all over the place. It doesn't make much sense. D was rejected last year with 2130 and 3.9 GPA.</p>

<p>Thanks for that mystery2me. Very good info to have.</p>

<p>My son is a junior at Maryland and has had a wonderful three years there. The campus is beautiful- diverse student body- interesting on campus activities. DS is not a partier or sports fan, but has found plenty to do with friends on campus, the town or D.C.</p>

<p>
[quote]
But there's a sharper, and less innocent edge to the Maryland scene than with many other schools. The school sits astride a key stop on the nation's I-95 drug corridor - and is surrounded by a surplus of bad characters in PG County.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
College Park consistently strikes me as having many of the negatives of a city school - crime, traffic, culture of a commuter school (thousands flock home on the weekends, especially given the unpleasant nature of PG County), with very few of the positives - College Park is not Georgetown nor is it NW DC where American resides or downtown DC where GW is located.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Wow. I take it you did not enjoy your visit to my fair state (and county) and its wonderful flagship university.</p>

<p>Fortunately, many others do.</p>

<p>But that's not why I'm posting; rather, I'm hoping for an update from the OP.</p>

<p>Any updates?</p>

<p>You clearly need to make some calls to the HS and find out what is going on. On the face of it, it seems outrageous. You may then be able to get it fixed. Threaten to go to the top of the admin.</p>