<p>^housing info is off there. Gemstone is Ellicott and Honors is Denton.</p>
<p>Hear mention of different honors type programs at UMDCP, such as college park scholars, honors program with honors courses or honors seminars, and the gemstone program. What are the differences between them? How does one apply, is it with freshman app, or do you have to wait until upperclassmen? What are the pros and cons of each?</p>
<p>You do not apply. You are offered a spot. However, there is a section on the app that will put you into honors (and regular honors vs. honors humanities) vs. Gemstone vs. scholars if you are on the borderline between groups (they are preference questions, asking if you would prefer to do X over X, etc.). This does not stop you from being possibly admitted to all of them, no matter what your answers are, if they want you badly enough!</p>
<p>Difference -</p>
<p>Honors: you have the option of taking honors seminars (small classes focusing on writing/discussion) or H versions of classes (“harder” and typically smaller versions of regular classes, such as physics, math, government, etc.). Honors seminars and H versions are typically lower level and can be used to complete the CORE requirements in a more challenging environment. Ironically, those students smart enough to be in honors also may have enough AP credits to not have to take many CORE classes, in which case honors is a bit useless (though honors seminars are fun and often unique/weird). Must take a certain number of honors/H versions to receive an honors “citation.” Typically takes 2-3 yrs to complete though you can space them out as much as you like. </p>
<p>Scholars: A two year program focusing on specific themes, such as “media and society” (there are science themes, business themes, etc.) Less difficult to get into than honors, but ironically more of a living learning community, since you take a special class together for 2 yrs, there is a “scholars board” and other things to get involved in. </p>
<p>Honors humanities: Kind of like a combo of honors and scholars. Two year program focused on arts/humanities. Take a special class with other students. Participate in music performances, poetry readings, etc. Must complete a project at the end of two years (ex. art/music performance, paper, etc.). Admission difficult on par with honors.</p>
<p>Gemstone: The most rigorous program and most difficult to get into. Four yr commitment (though you can drop out before choosing your group and project) to a research team and project on a project of your choosing (class comes up with project ideas, then you pick 1st/2nd/3rd choices, and you get placed with a group of other people who chose that project). You then present your findings to profs/etc. in a graduate-student research-like setting. There are science topics, social studies topics, humanities topics, etc. All depends on what you and your class members think of. </p>
<p>Also, many students locally do the honors program at the state unis to get priority registration. Do any of these programs offer that privilege?</p>
<p>No. </p>
<p>What are the different dorm options for each?</p>
<p>Honors - Denton. Crappy high rise freshmen dorm w/ no AC, though marginally better than the dorms other freshmen will be placed in (cleaner, etc.). Surrounded by other freshmen in neighboring two dorms, Elkton and Easton. As a sophomore upperclassmen, can be placed in Queen Annes/Anne Arundel (nice air conditioned dorms on the mall, but only a very limited number of students get them, on a random basis). Some freshmen honors students will be placed in these dorms, which is undesireable, since they are less social than the high rises.</p>
<p>Honors humanities: Wicomico. Pretty location (close to South campus, good for humanities majors) and outer facade but no air conditioning and tiny rooms. Not as social/party like as freshmen high rises. Surrounding dorms do not have a lot of freshmen.</p>
<p>Scholars: Cambridge, with your theme. Crappy high rises again w/ no AC, pretty convenient to engineering buildings and gym tho. Mostly freshmen community. </p>
<p>Gemstone: Ellicott. Crappy high rise also, but nice location, right across from diner and gym. Again cleaner than non-honors high rises. Mixed freshmen/sophomore community (Ellicott is majority freshmen, and Hagerstown majority sophomores, La Plata is almost 100% sophomores and some freshmen with allergies that need air conditioning). </p>
<p>Can you live in the dorms all four years, or do you have to transfer out once upperclassmen? Do honor programs help you qualify for housing all four years?</p>
<p>Honors program housing can help you, if you get into one of the dorms on the mall. But this is hard, and random. Honors program can help you indirectly by boosting your application to other special living learning programs with guaruntee housing, such as Global communities (many rising sophomores apply and get housing for next 2 yrs), Beyond the Classroom (guarunteed essentially on campus apartments called Commons), etc.</p>
<p>Most upperclassmen move off campus however as housing situation is tight. 100% freshmen get housing and I would say almost 100% sophomores. About 70% of juniors will get on campus or nearby campus affiliated apartments. Almost no seniors can receive campus affiliated housing. There is a lot of housing options in College Park for upperclassmen, but it can be a rat race to who gets to the best group house, best apartment (nicest conditions and locations), etc. first. And it can be expensive, depending on what you get. Plan ahead! </p>
<p>Do you have to have a meal plan all years live on campus or when can you not buy a meal plan, ie, once reach sophomore or junior status?</p>
<p>Must have a meal plan while living in the dorms, unless they are apartment style and have kitchens. (Some lucky sophomores and juniors with good priority numbers get these). Otherwise, it’s not necessary.</p>
<p>Is there an engineering dorm?. </p>
<p>Son interested in majoring in biomedical engineering, and if does not go into the honors program, would like to at least be housed with other engineering majors.</p>
<p>Don’t think so. There will be other engineering majors in all freshmen dorms, though. Engineering is very popular at MD. As an upperclassmen engineers will tend to gravitate more towards specific housing, though, as certain apartment complexes are closer to class than others (ex. a lot of engineers live in The View as upperclassmen).</p>
<p>Thanks for any help</p>