<p>First off, congratulations to everyone who was accepted! Here are some videos that were just produced to give you some more insight into College Park Scholars. </p>
<p>Learning</a> in College Park Scholars - YouTube</p>
<p>Community</a> and Student Life at College Park Scholars - YouTube</p>
<p>Scholars</a> Practicum: Internships, Research, Community Service and Study Abroad - YouTube</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rti_09GMYU4%5B/url%5D">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rti_09GMYU4</a></p>
<p>I think what distinguishes Scholars is the out-of-the-classroom experiences. There are lots of field trips to places that students don't normally have access to. You are going to be asked to select/rank your top 3 choices of programs you want to be considered for. Take a look at the choices here College</a> Park Scholars - Our Scholars Programs. Open up each link and be sure to open up the tab for curriculum as well as the tab for active learning to get a good sense of what each has to offer. Some programs are larger than others and some are limited.</p>
<p>The classes that are part of the curriculum are not necessarily "additional" classes you have to take since many of them double-count for scholars requirements and general education requirements, depending on which ones you choose. The only "additional" class is the colloquium (discussion) for the first two semesters and the practicum (internship or research, your choice) for the second two semesters.</p>
<p>While it isn't delineated on the website, there is also a lot of "career counseling" that is part of your colloquium class - ie, resume writing, cover letters, career fair prep. So, all good stuff.</p>
<p>For STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) students, the added bonus of being in Scholars is living in the Cambridge Community. You can't get any dorms closer than that to the bulk of your classes! :)</p>
<p>Even if you aren't in a STEM major, the other advantages include proximity to the Epply Rec Center (awesome gym/fitness center) and having the Incon (a convenience store) in the center of the Cambridge Community. Little things that make it even nicer...</p>
<p>Bumping up this thread for those with questions this year</p>
<p>hi:) found out got into scholars program yesterday! so happy! I want to be in the global publc health program. When can i sign up? Also, why was chosen for scholars vs honors?(just wondering)…what is it based on? Also i want to know if i get any housing priviledges for being a scholar. thank u/)</p>
<p>Can I be admitted to the Clark school of engineering and still be in scholars?</p>
<p>heycall, congratulations! first question, I dunno. second & third: no one knows; stuff happens. fourth: yes, if you request it.</p>
<p>puckhound95, yes. my son was.</p>
<p>haha okay. what do u mean by second and third?</p>
<p>“Also, why was chosen for scholars vs honors?(just wondering)…what is it based on?”</p>
<p>Hi everyone. I was just accepted to scholars and i am very interested in one of the scholars programs, however, i have almost no interest in any of the other programs. My question is that if i fill out the interest inventory form, thereby reserving a spot in scholars, and i dont get into my preferred program, am i forced to pursue one of the other programs or can i just drop scholars completely. I want to fill out the interest inventory tonight but not if it means that i might be stuck doing something that i dont like.</p>
<p>@bwild999 - yes, you absolutely have the option to “drop” scholars at any time. The best thing to do is keep your options open by filling out the interest inventory and try to get the program you want. Attend the Scholars Day for accepted students - you may find another program of interest as well (or not). </p>
<p>What’s the interest inventory. I was accepted to cp with scholars and I haven’t received anything like that</p>
<p>maryversity…I submitted my housing contract. When do I get to select what LLP I want to live in? I did not see that on the housing contract</p>
<p>Interest inventory info will come separately - you will get separate letter with more details on scholars about a week after you get your hard copy admission letter. Info on LLP is not on the housing contract, so don’t worry - you did not miss it. Housing is determined by the program you are in and you will get into the appropriate dorm once all that is determined. Just submit housing contract (not a commitment to attend so no worries) to reserve a spot asap.</p>
<p>@heycall123 “Also, why was chosen for scholars vs honors?(just wondering)…what is it based on?” Fuzzy lines determine that…both require you to be “academically talented” but in general, honors tend to have higher stats with more AP classes/more rigor in curriculum where scholars have strong stats and tend to have better EC/leadership. There is no threshold/cutoff for stats per se and essays/responses are considered as well. Honors has “first pick” so to speak but that does not make scholars “less” of a program as much as a different bent since scholars does more out-of-the-class experiences, including an internship/research/service learning (aka practicum) component where honors focuses more on “challenging” classes. However, in recent years, honors has taken a page out of scholars book by offering themed programs/living learning communities in addition to classes.</p>
<p>They used to state a range and there was an overlap on the low end of honors and high end of scholars but they removed that info most likely so as not to have to “defend” their decisions to people that feel “slighted” for not getting an invite…? HOWEVER, there are definitely people in scholars that have higher stats than some of the students in honors. So, it really is a fuzzy line. My son had high stats (higher than some of his friends in honors) and was placed in scholars instead of honors which actually was a better fit because of the practicum component. </p>
<p>" Also i want to know if i get any housing priviledges for being a scholar. thank u/)"
Depends on what you consider a privilege…Cambridge Community is a nice quad with the easiest accessibility to Eppley Rec Center and closest to math/science/engineering buildings as well as Comcast Center (for bball). If you are a STEM major, you can sleep in that extra 10 min or so before class because you are pretty close to your classes. If you sign up for the scholars version of ENGL101 you don’t have to go any further than the center of the quad since that class is held in the Cambridge Community Center (which also houses a convenience store known affectionately as the “incon” due to inconvenient hours, ha ha). Scholars hosts events in the quad throughout the year so that’s a perk, if you will. The specific dorm you are assigned to will depend on the program you sign up for. <a href=“http://www.scholars.umd.edu/prospective/faq”>http://www.scholars.umd.edu/prospective/faq</a> There used to be a reference chart that showed you which program was assigned to which dorm but they updated the page last year and I can’t find where they put that info now…here is the home page for you to try to navigate and get more answers to your questions <a href=“http://www.scholars.umd.edu/”>http://www.scholars.umd.edu/</a>. Just click on all the tabs to check things out. </p>
<p>Congrats on admission!</p>
<p>I have a few questions… Are there suites or apartments in the Cambridge Community for scholars? Can I request a non-scholar roommate? Do I have to live in the Cambridge Community as a scholar? If I choose not to live in the Cambridge Community, do scholars get first choice in dorms?</p>
<p>@maryversity, that is very helpful, thank you! </p>
<p>@heycall123: My student has strong stats, an extremely rigorous HS curriculum, fairly weak ECs, and was a direct admit to a LEP major. I was frankly surprised by the scholars invitation. I didn’t know much about it but would have guessed it was for students who are very involved in their high schools or with scouts or some other organized group, and that’s definitely not my student. However, now that I’ve read more about it I think it looks like a good fit for someone with her interests and her essays focused on those interests – so I’m thinking the essays may have been a significant factor. Her stats are higher than some with her major who have reported being admitted to honors college on the decisions thread, but she’s also OOS and perhaps that makes a difference. </p>
<p>@maryversity - My son was admitted to the Scholars Program (very excited!) and I have a question about housing - should he fill out the Housing Contract now? If he commits to Scholars Program is it guaranteed that he will be in the Cambridge Community? Thanks for all your helpful information!</p>
<p>@puckhound95 -“Are there suites or apartments in the Cambridge Community for scholars?” No, they are all standard doubles (occasional triple) in the high rise and low rise buildings in the Cambridge Community.</p>
<p>“Can I request a non-scholar roommate?” Yes, you can “pull in” a friend but it only works if they have room. It can also affect your own placement meaning if they can only honor your request by putting you in a different building (other than your selected program), they may do that. See the link I listed for FAQ’s in my response to heycall.
“Do I have to live in the Cambridge Community as a scholar?” No, but it is convenient for Scholars classes and activities/events.
“If I choose not to live in the Cambridge Community, do scholars get first choice in dorms?” No. You are placed wherever there is room. Your only “priority” status is that you are guaranteed housing in the Cambridge Community if you choose to take advantage of that.</p>
<p>@badgerfan10 Yes, fill out the housing contract immediately. Best advice I ever got, thanks to astrophysicsmom. It is not a commitment but just secures housing and priority is given based on first-come, first-serve basis based on signing up. If you decide not to attend UMD, you just notify residential association to remove your name, no biggie. And yes, commitment to Scholars does guarantee Cambridge Community housing! There is nothing on the housing contract for you to check off/to let them know that you are in Scholars, but no worries - Scholars makes sure to notify them who should be placed in which dorm. As I said to heycall, they used to list which program is assigned to which dorm and I can’t find that info now. I can only tell you definitively that STS (Science, Technology & Society) is housed in Chestertown. It is one of the low-rise dorms (4 floors) and my son really liked it there - directly across from Eppley Rec Center and entrance to incon. Made some awesome friends. </p>
<p>@jsmallmom - yes, I believe you are correct that the essays/responses do play a big factor in the invite process. </p>
<p>mommaversity owns this thread!</p>
<p>Jkeil, you crack me up! You are welcome to chime in ya know…it is definitely NOT the maryversity show! I just happen to have the gift of gab…</p>
<p>@heycall123 and @captainchin According to the Scholars page here <a href=“http://www.scholars.umd.edu/”>http://www.scholars.umd.edu/</a> you have to follow the link to <a href=“http://www.scholars.umd.edu/prospective/invited-students”>http://www.scholars.umd.edu/prospective/invited-students</a> and fill out the interest inventory by February 14 in order to reserve your spot. You don’t have to wait until info comes in the mail.</p>