<p>I didn’t get my magnet. WHATT. :(</p>
<p>are you sure? did you check the flap that says here is a magnet? its a big m with the word terps written inside of it…</p>
<p>… meaning I didn’t get a packet, yet. Mail’s probably just messed up. I’ll get it tomorrow, hopefully. :)</p>
<p>Got mine. I’m indifferent. Didn’t rip it up, that’s an improvement.</p>
<p>Am I the only one who was happy about the letter? I mean, I know UMD didn’t grant us first semester, but i am still happy I’m in! I read a blog where people were saying how good freshman connection is. They said in some ways it is better than being a fall admit because you get better dorms for the spring than fall admits do in the spring, classes that fall admits take and mostly the same as what freshman connection students take (but freshman connection is a lot easier because its a smaller class) and you get to sleep in. Sure, you’ll miss out on some games and clubs, but those are even better in the spring anyways. And once spring semester comes along, you are the same as everybody else! I mean, at first I was angry and was looking into going somewhere else, but now that I think about it, I’m really happy I got in! 
Twit has said all this too. Let’s be happy we’re IN!</p>
<p>My D was also admitted for spring 2011. Since she’s from out of state the only possible option would be the freshman connection. I’m concerned however about the adjustment of living off campus in addition to college in general. I spoke with admissions and they told me the view is opening new apts hopefully by next Fall. A good portion of these are to be for Freshman Connection. Anyone know anything about this?</p>
<p>I have another question about the math placement test.
How long is it? Cause I remember my friends from last year said they give you a lot of time but it doesn’t take a long time. Also, can you retake it if you don’t like what you got?</p>
<p>The math exam is 4 parts, I think 25 minutes each? I don’t remember exactly. It’s really easy, and you’ll have no trouble passing it. If you do not like your scores, you can request a redo, and they’ll give you a paper test.</p>
<p>I’ve heard about new View apartment with a FC floor, but it is costly! 800-900 a year. And the View is close enough to campus that it’s not “off campus” like Towers or a house is.</p>
<p>Twit - Didn’t you mean The View costs $800-900 a month?</p>
<p>Hey guys, I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t get in for fall admission like you wanted. UMD’s a great school though, and I’m hoping you’ll choose to come here in the spring, whether it be through FC or another school for fall semester.</p>
<p>A friend of mine accepted his offer of admission last year very late and, while UMD had a spot in the class of 2013 for him, there wasn’t any housing available and he had to commute for his first semester. He told me that, while he sometimes didn’t feel like a “real freshman,” overall it was a good experience. He had no trouble making friends and nobody treated him like an outsider, plus UMD is very good to its FC kids and its commuters. He’s on campus now and he absolutely loves it and has no regrets about UMD.</p>
<p>I hope to see you guys there in the spring! :)</p>
<p>Oh, and about somewhat wonky stats getting in while yours didn’t: same situation at my high school. A friend of mine with great stats got spring admit, while another friend with kinda… not so good stats not only got fall admit but also got Scholars. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason, but keep in mind that different people look at different applications and it can be really subjective. Also, ECs and essays are really huge to UMD. Keep your heads up, though, you’ll be fine. :)</p>
<p>lb801
thanks for the words of encouragement.</p>
<p>Haha yeah thats what I meant sorry. There’s a housing comparison on Resnet:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.resnet.umd.edu/housingoutlook/pdf/costoflivingcomparisons_fall09.pdf[/url]”>http://www.resnet.umd.edu/housingoutlook/pdf/costoflivingcomparisons_fall09.pdf</a></p>
<p>Hi!
I went to a spring open house today
The freshman-abroad sounds interesting
I was really disappointed to see that I was admitted into the spring (took it as denied -_-), but visiting it again, I really liked CP. idk I think it clicked/grown on me…I’m planning to major in cultural anthropology and I’ve been accepted into penn state, umbc, umd, san diego state, la state…and waiting to hear back from gettysburg and san jose state.
Anyways,
The spring program doesn’t seem too bad…I just feel ridiculous whenever I overhear ppl saying like “yeah i got into the scholars program, etc. did you get into cp?” “yeah!..for the spring…”</p>
<p>I personally don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m really bad with choosing.
So I can either go do FC or go to MC and transfer my credits.
I have one friend who did FC and commuted. He said he wouldn’t recommend doing FC because they don’t offer enough courses.
Those who don’t attend FC are last to choose courses for the spring (so those who go to cc or transfer)…but i heard the opposite (where those who attend FC choose their courses later idk someone clarify please!)
My mom is more in favor of me attending MC so I can get all my credits done. The same friend said that he would suggest going to MC to get more credits out of the way. It’s also really difficult to commute back and do work (he kinda worked during the day I think). Traffic there sucks.
My dad, on the other hand, is more in favor of me attending FC (I think). He says it’s be beneficial to already know the building, etc. The View has GREAT apartments. I loved them, but if I wanted to switch to dorm style in the spring, finding someone to lease the apt. out is a little difficult.</p>
<p>I have a friend who attended MC and was admitted spring 2010. He said he’s had no difficultly transitioning. I think this may be because he has many friends who are already in the fall. He’s also more sociable, unlike me who doesn’t like to talk that much.</p>
<p>If all these things just don’t work for me in the end, my plan z is to go to irvine valley college (cc in CA) and after a year or 2, transfer to UCI. </p>
<p>This forum has saved my life though XD answering so many questions :)</p>
<p>Hey! how was the open house? Did they separate you from the fall admits? oh, and can you bring your parents? lollll</p>
<p>hey!
open house was good they didn’t separate fall and spring. they have an information session for those admitted into the spring! and you can definitely bring your parents (I brought mine)
In one of the ballrooms, they have booths up for different things so I went to the one for Spring admittance and the guy talking was saying how freshman connection students are low priority when it comes to choosing your classes for the spring. transfers and fall admitted have top priority which is a total turn off for me to do FC 
but who knows…
he said it was nice having small classes and he said the teachers he had were awesome</p>
<p>someone also talked about the london trip thing, but we’ll get an email about that later (only for spring admitted and only 16 can go-there is an application with essay, recommendation letter, official transcript needs to be sent)</p>
<p>We had a very negative first reaction to this Freshman Connection thing. My daughter was in “no way” mode, considering she had also been accepted no strings attached to Penn State. However, after a lot of investigation, contact with the FC advisor, looking into the housing, she/we decided that UMD is the place for her. We are out of state ¶ and everybody at home feels like PSU is the ‘stuff’ (if you know what I mean.) But UMDCP just feels better. She is all set with housing at the view-roomies and all, and that was her doing. Facebook, URoomsurf, etc. The View is right there (50 yards off campus), there will be AT LEAST one (likely 2) floors solely dedicated to FC students. We met with the FC staff at the open house and have set a schedule already (confirmed shortly). She will also do the Freshman First session as a way to a) experience the campus, b) take a class, and c) get really integrated into the overall Freshman group… Get to know folks beyond the FC group. During the FC session at the open house, only one of the FC students moved onto campus the Spring semester, (due to the 1 year lease). Also the Freshman dorms are dorms, non- air conditioned vs the View. She will likely go on-campus Fall 2011 when the on-campus housing is a little more upscale-(like the apartments-suite style). </p>
<p>Sorry for the loooong post, but wanted to let you know our experience and decision making process.</p>
<p>As for fewer class choices, not sure that is true. When we met with the advisor, she laid out the core and requirements and went over the courses, professors/teachers, etc. The class size is smaller, and (as an example) she will be in a core math class and a psych class that would be in normal freshamn setting, large lecture hall, while these will be smaller.</p>
<p>Wow, so surprised daughter chose FC over Penn State.</p>
<p>The cost difference seems huge, since it costs (without utilities or food) close to $1,000 a month to live in the View and it is year long versus semester long. And the Freshmen First program is an added cost since those are summer classes, correct? </p>
<p>And of course you would be paying out of state tuition!! </p>
<p>The major downside I see to FC is that if you want to have a good experience, cost is going to be significantly higher (ex. having to room in the expensive off campus apartments). But, if your family has the means to make the adjustment very comfortable, then of course it’s not too shabby at all (maybe even better than the normal freshman experience haha).</p>
<p>We visited PSU and UMd within 2 weeks of each other February 2009 and there was no comparison in terms of how my daughter (as well as my wife and I) felt about the two campuses. She LOVED UMd when we were there and didn’t like PSU. She could have tolerated it, but it just didn’t feel right to her. PSU is HUGE and it felt like a college industrial complex. My D also thought she wanted to go into education, and a PSU education means more if that is the field, but she has since changed her thinking, so that became moot. PSU is 2 1/2 hours from ANYTHING, UMd is near a metropolitan area which was also important to her. As for the cost… Believe me, I would much rather pay in state, and the off campus living is an issue, but we figure those dynamics will somewhat neutralize sophomore year when she can go on-campus and get apartment/suite style living in on-campus housing (we hope). And overall education, UMd is on the rise in terms of quality and reputation of education. Bottom line. She’s my daughter and we are very fortunate to be able to afford it. I don’t want her to look back and say, “I wanted to go to 'X”, but you made me go to ‘Y’." Doesn’t make it the ‘right’ decision, just our Point of View. Good luck</p>
<p>Thejim - I felt the exact same way about Penn State when I visited that your daughter did. It probably didn’t help that the entire tour was on a bus.</p>