<p>My d was accepted to both schools but is saying she wants to go to UMBC. She has visited College Park several times and has never really liked it. She says it's way too big and she feels overwhelmed. My question is-- how is the social life on campus? Especially on the wekends? I keep hearing it is a commuter school. I was sure she would want to go to College Park as that is where alot of her friends will be. I know kids who want to go to CP so badly but didn't get in. She doesn't like sports at all and is more of the artsy-math-musical type. Maybe UMBC would be a better fit but I'm just afraid she will regret her decision. Is the campus totally dead?</p>
<p>I'm a highschool senior who lives in Maryland. I know several people who chose UMBC over UMCP, mostly for financial reasons. I do think most kids in Maryland would rather go to CP, but if your daughter is not a big partier, is not into sports, and prefers a small-school environment (an atypical CP student!), UMBC might very well be the better fit. I would discourage you from worrying that she will not like UMBC - it is a great school, and is becoming more and more residential. If your daughter chooses to live on campus, she'll make a lot of friends in the dorm. All of the people I know who attend enjoy it very much!</p>
<p>thanks--hardtoimpress...... yes, my daughter does not like the jock scene at all. She has never been wild about college park, and has seemed to like UMBC every time we have visited it. I think they are both great schools..... as far as financial issues- both schools are close in cost and both of our financial aid packages this year were pretty close so that was not an issue. She does plan to live there all four years. The dorms we saw were great. I'm glad you know people there who like it. It seems hard to find people who go there that post any insights on this site. Although we only live about 30 min south of it, we really don't know anyone who goes there. (not well, anyway)</p>
<p>I go to UMBC currently and can say that if you live in a dorm the social life is everything that you make it out to be. I love it, personally, and am quite literally friends with everybody on my floor (that is about 40 people!).</p>