Hi I am a HS Senior looking to get into UMD CS. My GPA is a bit low at 3.4 unweighted. I have a 3.7 weighted and a 1540 SAT. I am also a national merit semifinalist. I am kinda worried that I won’t get in due to the GPA. Do I have a decent shot at getting in ?
Also I’m not sure what exactly the LEP means for admissions. Does it make it harder to get in ? Also, I have over 50 AP credits, including Calculus BC, Physics C and Computer Science, which gets me out of some of the basic intro classes that are required for CS LEP.
My in-state university is Rutgers, so I am not sure how much better UMD is compared to RU. I heard CS is much better at UMD but overall they are pretty even. Is there any possibility that I could get some scholarships ?
@krosp123 - I’ll try to answer a few of your questions.
First, I don’t know what your chances are. UMD uses a holistic process for admissions.
Second, a LEP is a Limited Enrollment Program. There are several others at UMD. It basically means that they get more students applying for that major than they can accommodate.
That means that some admitted students will not be admitted to that major, and will be placed in Letters and Sciences.
Those students can apply for an Internal Transfer into the major they want, usually after 1 semester. Internal transfers for nost majors are NOT competitive (Business being an exception), just complete the required courses (called Gateway Courses) and fill out the transfer form and you are in.
Since CS just became a LEP last year, it is hard to tell if it will be competitive for Internal transfers, or not.
The primary scholarships are the Banneker-Key scholarships, Presidents scholarships, and Deans scholarships. The BK is only open to students who are admitted into the Honors College.
There is no separate application for any of these, but you MUST apply by November 1 to be eligible for any of these scholarships.
I don’t know enough about Rutgers to compare it to UMD
Contact the regional UMD Admissions officer/rep for your region. That person can advise since they will read your app and compare to others in your region.
They may even visit your high school.
Jordan Fields
New Jersey (Southern, Central)
Maggie Doran
New Jersey (Northern)
New York (Long Island-Nassau County)
@Hippobirdy You are advising “to contact the UMD Admissions officer/rep for your region.” The Admission reps are listed, but there are no contact information on the page…
@ElenaParent good catch!
Click through on their names. Maggie has twitter or instagram, says “Maggie Doran
Admission Counselor at the University Maryland, College Park ? #BeATerp Email me at applymaryland@umd.edu subject line “attn: Maggie Doran”
admissions.umd.edu”
Probably can reach Jordan in similar way.
Try asking HS Guidance Counselor if college reps are visiting.
@Hippobirdy We are in Virginia, it is no problem to come. But one would think, the e-mail addresses of the admission counselors should be readily available…
I just got a fee waiver from UMD for telling them I’m a national merit semifinalist so I’m gonna apply for sure.
Also chance me for honors please, I’m OOS
SAT - 1540 (770/770/19), only taken once. Got a 740 on Bio-M. Taking Chem and Math II subject tests
GPA - 3.7 Weighted. 3.4 Unweighted
PSAT - 1500. I was just announced a National Merit Semifinalist.
I took 10 AP tests so far and am taking 4 more this year. I only took five of these APs in school; I self-studied for the rest. (five 5s, two 4s, and three 3s.). I will have around 50 college credits just from AP tests by the time I start college.
ECs - Summer Research Internship at a Medical School. Helped produce data about cell bio/ neuroscience. My prof. is working on publishing a paper.
Currently at a part-time internship in computer science for the next 3-6 months.
Also part of NJ Science League, Math Honor Society.