<p>Hello! I'm a UMBC sophomore interested in answering questions any applicants or prospective students have about the school! </p>
<p>I'm an Asian Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies double-major, Gender and Women's Studies minor, Humanities Scholar, SGA member, creative arts magazine intern, and member of the Women Involved in Learning and Leadership (WILL) program. I also have experience with cultural organizations, sports (I fenced freshman year), and am friends with Scholars from every program -- including CWIT and Meyerhoff -- so if I don't know the answer to a question, I know someone who does!</p>
<p>I've had a wonderful experience at UMBC so far and am here for anyone who has a question or just needs to talk. Ask away!</p>
<p>I got a great scholarship to UMBC, $18,000/year, and I was wondering if it is worth it to join the Honors College program. I was thinking of just commuting because then I could get paid some of the surplus scholarship money and I live really close (half hour ride if no traffic)</p>
<p>I can say if you want the experience/challenge, the Honors College is definitely worth it. Honors students at UMBC take a seminar freshman year and have the benefit of extra cultural opportunities and events just for them, and they get an Honors Certificate upon graduation. I have a lot of friends in the program who say it’s definitely worth it! </p>
<p>But if you’re only considering it for extra scholarship money, I have bad news: You can only hold ONE scholarship from UMBC – they don’t stack. If you got into the Honors Program and were offered a scholarship, you’d need to choose between your current scholarship and the Honors one, and give up the other.</p>
<p>A lot of people commute to UMBC, and we seem to have pretty vibrant commuter network here. The commuters I’ve spoken to say they feel well supported here and UMBC goes the extra mile to try and integrate commuters into the campus.</p>
<p>Tenpakun: what’s it like on the weekend at UMBC? We’ve read so much on forums and blogs about so many commuters, and a lot of those living on campus going home on the weekend. Had an official tour last spring during the week. But, we went back in the fall on a Saturday since we were in Maryland, and UMBC was like a ghost town. We say cars by the dorms but no one outside. The concern is that since son is out of state, he won’t be coming home on weekends, so will there be others to do stuff, and are there things to do on the weekend? The campus is isloated.</p>
<p>I’d say our weekends are pretty fulfilling, to be honest. It depends on what your son wants for entertainment - if he’s expecting raging parties every weekend, he can always drop by Towson a half-hour away. UMBC student programming always has events on the weekend, and I know quite a few students stay on campus, so there are always people, just usually staying in their dorms because the only thing open on the weekend is the Commons. If you make friends, you’re fine. I’ve spent my weekends going out to theatres and into DC, on bus trips to Philadelphia and New York City, playing video games with my friends, or just resting because UMBC weekdays can be intense, haha. And there’s always more to do, if you want to seek it out.</p>
<p>The UMBC bus system – free to students and always running to several locations at good hours – also can take him to Arbutus, Catonsville, Arundel Mills Mall, and more. A Baltimore-bound public bus also swings by campus if he ever wants to get into the city.</p>
<p>I know out-of-state students from New Jersey, Indiana, and even Alaska, and they’ve never complained about being bored on the weekends. Most of the complaints I’ve heard come from students who either want to party all the time, or just sit alone in their rooms and then wonder why they’re bored.</p>
<p>The same goes for the weekdays, too. There’s always something to do, and I know our student events board works hard to have something going every day or night. If you’re bored at UMBC, you’re really not trying to get involved, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Hey Tenpakun
I just got a letter inviting me to the Meyerhoff weekend interview thing. Could you ask your friends what kinds of things they asked? I’m really nervous because I’m pretty shy so I’d like to know what to expect beforehand. thanks!</p>
<p>Can’t seem to get any concrete answers, so my advice is this: If you’ve been invited, they already see your potential to succeed! So talk about your interests, why you want to study what you’re studying/go into the sciences, and any related interests and ideas you have. My Scholars interview was a group interview with three interviewers asking me questions, and it was staged more like a conversation to get to know how I think and see myself, the field, and my place in it. Before you go, write down your interests/passions, WHY you like them, and what you wanna do. That will give you a good jumping-off foundation.</p>
<p>Also a note: they really want to know that Meyerhoffs will be committed to the field and to pursuing graduate study/career placement in the field. If you’ve got a few ideas for majors/careers, that’s cool, but try to stress your commitment to and dedication to what you’re at selection weekend for!</p>
<p>How does the nursing program work? I heard that you do two years of prerequisites and then go to University of Maryland Baltimore. So I will no longer be a student of UMBC after those two years?? I really wanted to stay all four years.:(</p>
<p>My son is a M24 – they will be your hosts for selection weekend. First, congrats. The Meyerhoff program is truly an amazing opportunity. The support is amazing. My son has made incredible connections and friendships. I can’t say enough great things about Meyerhoff. HOWEVER: if you don’t get it – still consider UMBC. It is a great school for math and science students.</p>
<p>The selection weekend is great. It isn’t just an interview. You will break out in groups, meet current Meyerhoff students, have a chance to ask questions and work on team projects and discussions.</p>
<p>My advice: be yourself – but be heard. Dont’ be too shy especially about what you have already achieved academically (which must be good to be invited). There are all types of Meyerhoff students – very outgoing (like my son), very shy, athletes, science nerds, class clowns – it is a great mix — SOOOOO… BE YOURSELF!!! Let your personality, your likes shine. Be confident. Get good sleep the night before. Talk to as many people as you can. </p>
<p>IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE FROM YOUR SCHOOL AT SELECTION WEEKEND – OR OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW THERE DO NOT JUST HANG OUT WITH THEM!!! Talk to and hang out with as many different people as you are. Meyerhoff’s want team players.</p>
<p>During the interview – DON’T JUST TALK ABOUT YOUR GRADES AND TEST SCORES!! They know this – talk about your likes, interests, volunteer stuff you did, why you like your current high school, what your goals are! Be yourself and be honest and good luck!</p>
<p>ProudMom1313 - Thank you so much for this information. Although my son is not attending the Meyerhoff Selection Weekend, he is attending the Linehan (visual and performing arts) Selection Weekend. I will share you advice with him.</p>
<p>Tenpakun - Do you know anyone who is in the Linehan program?</p>
<p>Are there any special requirements (extra classes) to stay in the program? Do you like being part of Linehan? What internships have you been able to take part in because you are in Linehan? Is there a dorm for visual & performing arts students? </p>
<p>What are the dorms like? Are there single dorm rooms?</p>
<p>My son has been accepted into College Park Honors Program and today he got his letter of acceptance into UMBC. Just looking for advice on which would be best for him to study computer science.</p>
<p>-- A freshman seminar course
– Yes, it’s been an invaluable opportunity to focus on their art and they have a great on-campus community.
– I’ve had the opportunity to network with local artists working in my field, and other experiential opportunities are built into the program
– There’s a floor for VPA students in Harbor Hall.</p>
<p>Every dorm at UMBC has private bathrooms – shared only with the other room in your suite, and are decently sized with good amounts of closet space, heat and air conditioning, and cable and phone hookups. I’ve never had any complaints, and if they manage to get in to West Patapsco like I did freshman year, they’ll have a huge bedroom and bathroom. Single rooms are avaliable but not for freshmen.</p>
<p>Sorry if this is late, but maybe it’ll help aspiring Linehans for next year?</p>
<p>“We all had to bring in an art piece we made, so we were asked questions about that (like what medium did we use, how long did it take, was it for an assignment, etc.). Other than that, we were asked questions about our favorite artists, why we wanted to do art…I think we may have been asked about why we wanted to come to UMBC.”</p>
<p>It would appear so, according to the financial aid website. They tend to use the majority of their merit money to woo high-stats first-year applicants. :C</p>
<p>A little more on that for anyone reading:</p>
<p>Within the Scholars programs, the highest money tends to go to out of state students simply to help them foot the cost of the (pretty high) out-of-state tuition, as far as I know. </p>
<p>To everyone applying to a Scholars program: They’re looking for people who are both academically strong enough to cut it and stay in the program, but excel and make a good name for themselves at UMBC. So if your academic record is strong, that’s step one. They’re also looking for what you specifically can bring to the program and your potential to grow as a scholar and a person while in the program. Do you have interests you’re passionate about? Hobbies? Will you take full advantage of the opportunities provided to you? Are you prepared to network within the program and the campus? Don’t worry if you feel you’re not a “whole, complete person” yet – you’re in high school! They’re not expecting perfection, or even an unusually high level of achievement, what they’re looking for is potential, interest, and a solid enthusiasm for your field and for the program.</p>
<p>Outside of those programs, merit money is usually awarded based on standardized test scores. UMBC LOVES students with high SAT/ACTs and the like, but you have to have very, very good scores to get the best money. I know one classmate who had something like a 2300+ and got a nearly full scholarship.</p>