<p>In order to preserve the priority decisions thread for the actual decisions, I started this thread for all related discussions. I remember how frustrating the wait is and there have been some good threads in the past where people have connected and diffused some of their anxiety while waiting...even if it is just to share rumors of when the actual decisions will come out, and believe me there are LOTS of rumors - someone knows someone in admissions or their guidance counselor heard word from an inside source, etc. People always call the school and get news to share that conflicts with someone else's info from their phone call to the school. The rumors get really going when people log in to their accounts and see the date change and don't realize it's only reflecting their own log in. Trust me, despite all rumors the news is not released until the last week in January -typically the 31st (which is a Friday this year), but the best case scenario would only be 1-2 days earlier, not the week before like rumors always have it...</p>
<p>In the meantime, some of the more entertaining threads ranged from "games" to stating your intended major and something unique about yourself to what you like best about Maryland and so on. Is Maryland your number one choice? </p>
<p>Hopefully, current students will even jump in with what they like best about Maryland that they didn't know about beforehand or expect.</p>
<p>I applied as a Computer Science major. It’s definitely a good option for me, personally. I’m out-of-state, but I liked the campus when I visited, and the program seems to be well-respected. I’m just hoping I can get into Scholars or Honors and get some merit award.</p>
<p>Also, bigbooklover, I learned that merit scholarships are usually awarded in March. Only Scholars/Honors invitations are given with admissions decisions.</p>
<p>I dont understand why they do that. You apply priority decisions and get decision in January but have to wait until March to see if you can afford to go there.</p>
<p>@bigbook I believe the hold up has to do with fafsa priority deadline. There are some merit scholarships (departmental) that have merit awards that also demonstrate financial need.</p>
<p>I just checked my daughter’s scholarship letter and it was sent out last year on February 27th. I would expect the timing to be similar this year.</p>
<p>Ha ha terpmom, glad to know I’m not the only one who saves these kinds of things! You inspired me to look up letters my son got…in 2012 I believe the email admission notification was on jan 30 or 31 but the snail mail letters were dated as follows (but we received them several days after these dates):
Jan 27 congrats on admission and scholars in same letter
Feb 3 separate scholars letter with info about filling out interest survey to select specific program
Feb 8 congrats on admission to A James Clark School of Engineering
Feb 21 congrats on presidential scholarship
March 14 congrats on getting into specific program in scholars</p>
<p>@jibler, fyi as a student in CMNS, you would be eligible to apply to QUEST Honors program. It’s a three year program that teams up business, engineering and CMNS students and you apply in your freshman year. It’s awesome and a really cool program that is unique to Maryland. So, no worries about whether you get into honors or scholars…there is a lot more to Maryland than just those programs.</p>
<p>UMD honors might be enough to convince me, but I really doubt I have the stats for honors. I think Barrett is better for me, as a pre-med. What do you like about UMD?</p>
<p>I live in San Diego so a ton of students from my high school go to ASU. I have visited a bunch of times and I have not been very impressed with the academics or student body. That said Barrett attracts a different type of student and I think those students are academically challenged. One thing that I dont like about ASU is that my major is not on the main campus. I want the traditional college experience and I dont think I will get it living downtown. I also prefer the location of UMD, close to DC and other major cities.</p>
<p>Which 3 top public schools? I have two older brothers that got way more money going OOS than they got from in-state. One brother is currently at UMD. I have also been offered more merit aid from two OOS schools…waiting to hear from the rest</p>