Everything you want to know about engineering at Maryland...

@TheTimbo. Absolutely.

If I score well enough on the calc bc test, will that cover for math 141? Even if it doesn’t, is it possible to take math, phys, and chem first semester and then transfer second semester?

Here is the info on transfer credits http://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/APGenEd.pdf. In short, you need 4 or 5 on the Calc BC to place out of Math 140 & 141. There are many who feel that if you don’t get a 5, you really should start with 140 and not take the transfer credit because math is such a critical foundation for many of the engineering classes. That, of course, is a personal choice. There are strong arguments on both sides of that decision.
FYI, you will also need to take the math placement test (EVERYONE takes, even if you get a 5 on the AP Calc BC) as soon as you decide enroll/BEFORE orientation. https://www-math.umd.edu/placement-test-information.html

@TheTimbo, here are some more links about the internal transfer process
http://www.eng.umd.edu/advising/transfer (you would be considered internal transfer since you are already admitted to the university)
http://www.eng.umd.edu/advising/transfer-faq
http://www.eng.umd.edu/advising/transfer-guide
http://www.eng.umd.edu/advising/transfer-form-instructions

@maryversity thanks for all your very helpful advice here! My son is accepted into Elec eng with a nice scholarship and also the cyber aces honors program. We have not visited the school yet but hope to soon. He wants to have a computer science double major ir minor. CS is a different school so we are wondering if it would be difficult. Also do students have steady connections to advisors at UMD to help them make course drcisions and other things - find research opportunities, internships etc.? thanks!

@CA1543 - This link has info about a CS minor

http://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/current

@CA1543 That’s awesome news!

In short, the answer is that it IS possible to do computer science as a double major or as a minor. Personally, I would recommend the minor. EE is top notch at Maryland, but it is also quite rigorous. While the first year may be highly manageable, the classes get increasingly more intense/challenging. I think your son should look carefully at what a double major would mean for his schedule and his college “experience.” As a freshman, my son had also considered doing CompSci as a minor, but ultimately ended up getting a minor in technology entrepreneurship.

Here is the four year plan for EE (while first page is suggested 8 semester order, the second gives you an abbreviated title so you get a better sense of curriculum) http://www.eng.umd.edu/sites/default/files/images/current/forms/4yrplan/2014-2015/electrical-4yracadplan-ge-12.2.16.pdf

Here is the page to find out about course for CompSci
Major requirements http://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/degree-requirements-cs-major
Minor requirements http://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/cs-minor

As for advisors, all students have an automatic “block” on scheduling classes until they meet with an advisor. Only advisors can remove that “block.” So, yes, they meet with them automatically once a semester. However, they do have availability to meet with them more frequently if they have questions/need advice. In addition, all professors have regular office hours and are available to discuss not just class material, but also recommendations for good classes to take, etc. Maryland also assigns “peer mentors” as part of the engineering support system, so students also have someone they can talk to on a more informal basis. So, depending on what your son needs, he can reach out to a variety of sources for advice, if he wants it.

Here are some links to show you the “resources” available outside of the required once a semester advising for class selection:
http://www.ece.umd.edu/undergrad/advising
http://www.seeds.umd.edu/about

http://www.coop.eng.umd.edu/students

As for research, there are several avenues. This pages has links to various programs available http://www.eng.umd.edu/research/opportunities
Alternatively, students can look up the research currently being done and contact the prof in charge of a project that interests them. As an EE, if your son has any interest in robotics, let me know and I can give you that info as well…

@maryversity – Thank you so VERY much - this is extremely helpful. i will go through it and and links carefully soon. I do appreciate that EE will be demanding - need to get a better sense of AP credits, scope of required major courses and humanities. Will check more deeply but I am glad to hear CS is “possible”. Tech entrepreneurship sounds pretty cool to me as well. I would be fine if he takes more than 4 years or pursues an MS. Appreciate all the advising info too.

No problem - honestly happy to help! If you can plan your visit to coincide with the engineering preview program, I would highly recommend it - there are only 2 dates, both Thursday night http://www.eng.umd.edu/prospective/preview

And the concept of getting it done in 4 years/8 semesters is why I recommended doing minor over major in CS…lol. The BS/MS option is also a great thing, since you get Bachelors and Masters in 5 years total. However, not sure if that (5 years total) would be possible with a second major (compared to a minor). The BS/MS is something that you apply to as a junior for senior year. You have to have a minimum gpa to qualify. If accepted, you are allowed to take up to some grad classes in senior year, so that’s how it’s possible to get masters with only one extra year. Not to put the cart before the horse, but since you mentioned the extra time and possible MS… http://www.ece.umd.edu/sites/default/files/documents/grad/bsms-guidelines.pdf

As for Technology Entrepreneurship, here is the info http://www.mtech.umd.edu/educate/minor/ and here is a description of the courses involved - just scroll down a bit to undergrad classes http://www.mtech.umd.edu/educate/courses/
My son did it in conjunction with the Hinman CEO program, which is pretty cool http://www.hinmanceos.umd.edu
Here are some other minors offered through engineering http://www.eng.umd.edu/advising/minors

@CA1543 - I’m not sure, but could/would your student be interested in computer engineering for undergraduate and possibly a master’s in computer science or electrical engineering?

For students interested in aerospace… https://www.umdrightnow.umd.edu/news/center-research-and-exploration-space-science-technology-signs-875m-cooperative-agreement-nasa

More aero news http://eng.umd.edu/news/story/four-aerospace-students-receive-society-of-satellite-professionals-international-scholarships

I am currently a junior and I plan to attend UMD. Live in Maryland. I am hoping to be directly admitted to the Clark school of Engineering and the Honors program. I am still trying to decide between Aerospace or Mechanical. Wondering if I should retake my SAT to try to bring up my reading score. I got a 1460, 780 Math and 680 Reading. I am ranked first in my class, and have tons of EC, sports, and leadership positions. 12 AP classes and passing all with either a 4 or 5. I appreciate any adivce.

@6Speed Sounds like you’ve done a great job in high school and you should be proud of your accomplishments! Honestly, think your scores are fine. Engineering is not as concerned with reading scores (although they can’t be horrible, a 680 is certainly solid!) as much as math scores. In my opinion, the only reason to test again would be to increase chances of more merit money. Engineering evaluates different aspects of your application than the university does in general. They read your essays in a different light, and consider other factors as well. Make sure you demonstrate an interest in engineering outside the class with your EC’s.

When we attended an open house at Maryland and my son saw the really cool research they are doing in aero, he actually considered that for a while as well. However, he ultimately went with mechanical. Rest assured you do not need to decide which discipline within engineering to pursue at this stage of the game. Maryland admits to the school of engineering in general, not by discipline, so there is no advantage nor disadvantage by selecting one discipline over the other when applying.

@maryversity Thank you very much for your help! Do you know if AP scores play a significant role in the Clark School admission decisions?

@6Speed AP scores are NOT at all considered in admissions decisions.

They only come into play after you enroll as they will affect what courses you need to take and which ones you can “place out” of. The more that you have to “place out” of, the more open slots in your schedule for electives. The engineering curriculum is highly specified/structured, so those “free” slots in your schedule to take what you want are definitely nice to have. In addition, after the first semester, class scheduling times are set based on number of credits, so the more you have, the sooner you will be able to select classes for the upcoming semester.

Does anyone know which field of engineering is more rigorous in the Clark School of Engineering? Between Mechanical and Aerospace, is earning one degree more difficult than the other?

@6Speed, the answer to that question is very subjective. If you are good/talented at something, you think it is easier,. The things that you find are difficult/more challenging may be easy for someone else but they think what you do is harder. It’s all relative to your natural talents, so everyone has a different answer to that question. MechE and Aero do have a common base foundation, so they are close cousins, but other than that, you have to choose your discipline based on your personal interests/passions rather than what you think may be easier. FWIW, you don’t need to decide right away - I think you just have to declare by the end of your third semester, so that gives you time to decide after taking some classes.

For those of you interested in drones…check this out
https://eng.umd.edu/news/story/umd-opens-outdoor-flight-laboratory-to-advance-autonomy-robotics