<p>My daughter was admitted in January 2013. We are from Boston and visited this past weekend. She loved it! I think that the freshman experience could be quite compromised. Perhaps those from Md have friends in the regular dorms that help them connect and make new friends. I am afraid that she'd be sitting in her apartment, not having any fun. Also, do you definitely get housing in January? It wasn't clear to me. I know there are mixed reviews, but is this a risk worth taking? Thanks!!</p>
<p>My daughter is also a Spring admission and I think we will end up doing Freshman Connection. I have a daughter that is a current student at Maryland (she was a regular Fall admission so this will be our first experience with FC) and she absolutely loves it, so it’s worth it to us to go through the hassle of Freshman Connection. From what I have heard some of the apartments near campus set aside entire floors for FC students, so I don’t think it will be an issue socially, but it will be more expensive (having to sign a 12-month lease - not happy about that at all!). We are going to attend an accepted students day and see what they have to say about FC. Kids we know that have done it have been very happy. There are also some other threads on this site that talk about FC - may help you decide.</p>
<p>Thank you!! Are you instate?</p>
<p>^^I have a number of students who have been accepted to Freshman connection; it is not my understanding that they have to pay a 12 month lease for the apartments; they move on campus for the Spring semester (usually taking over dorms that the juniors have been living in who leave to go abroad)…</p>
<p>Please post where it says they have to pay for a 12 month lease in the Freshman connection apartments…</p>
<p>I called the View and they said you do have to sign a 12 month lease. In addition, there is no guarantee that the student will get on campus housing in January; he or she could be stuck in the apartment for a full year.</p>
<p>My Daughter was accepted for Spring 2013 as well. She was a bit deflated at first as MD has always been her #1 choice. We are out of state (Georgia) but know famiies with kids at MD. Ironically several of them did FC. The View was the apartment I heard the most about from my friend. Yes it is more expensive than the dorm but you are not obligated to the meal plan like you are if you live on campus. The 12 month lease is a bit of a bummer. Not sure if its easy to sublet for the Summer. My daughter is definitely going to do it. I think the apartments have a lot of pro’s to them. They have their own bedroom etc. They seem to do a good job keeping certain floors designated to just FC students so it seems quite similar to a dorm. The view apparently has a bridge that connects to campus. My daughter has found lots of kids looking for roommates and has been chatting with them. Also, during my research I found that the FC program is large. Like 900 kids do it and about 200 wait until Spring to start. I think it can be a smaller community within a large university - another Pro.</p>
<p>My son was a Freshman Connection Student , he is currently in his Junior year at UMD. If your daughter really wants to attend UMD I would definitely have her go this route. My son lived in the Towers and loved it!! There were at least a hundred Freshmen Connection students in the towers, and he met tons of friends! You are not guaranteed housing in Spring…he did receive it , but was unable to accept it because his lease was a 12 month lease. For an out of state student when I figured at the cost of Fall Freshmen Connection Tuition(it is lower than regular semester tuition)+ 12 month lease+ Spring Tuition the cost was only SLIGHTLY higher then if he paid Freshmen Connection tuition +5 months rent+ Spring tuition + spring room and board. The class size in the Fall for freshmen connection students is extremely small which my son found to be a wonderful experience(transition) he received All A’s his Fall semester.</p>
<p>we are also from Boston and though we would have loved our s to go to Maryland the thought of an “altered” freshman experience, and being placed with juniors possibly in January is just about a deal breaker. Wait list would have been better.</p>
<p>@ideagetter - we totally agree! There is a reception in Newton that we thought about attending, but are thinking perhaps we should just forget the whole Maryland idea. I am not sure I could sleep well at night thinking of her in an offcampus apartment!!</p>
<p>The fall semester in Freshman Connection costs $8942 vs. the $13013 for standard fall tuition for OOS students.This $4000 savings in tuition makes the apartment rental fee less of a burden. If my daughter decides to do FC she will be committed to her apartment for the entire freshman year. My question is whether or not she is guaranteed housing for sophmore year or will she realistically be living off campus for 4 years ?</p>
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<p>[Housing</a> Availability: New Students for Spring Semester](<a href=“http://www.resnet.umd.edu/housing/spring/#]Housing”>http://www.resnet.umd.edu/housing/spring/#)</p>
<p>Diane Jean - I didn’t see info about Newton event. Did we miss it? Trying to keep options open but pretty sure Maryland is out.</p>
<p>it was this past tuesday night. we didn’t go either. I want UMD to be out, but my daughter still has it on her list.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at UMD (out of state). One of his good friends did FC and lives at The View. He loves it and thinks he will stay there for sophomore year, as well. My twin nieces (in-state) got FC and chose to go to Towson for the Fall semester; they then transferred to UMD for the spring semester. They were able to room together this semester, and have guaranteed housing for next year. While they enjoyed Towson, they LOVE UMD.</p>
<p>I’m a new parent on this site and my son was just accepted for the spring of 2014 to UMD. I’m also a little concerned about the Freshman Connection. We also live in Boston - was just wondering if your daughter ended up going there?</p>
<p>I also got into FC and I was wondering if it is possible to get an apartment like The View for Fall Semester. Then get a dorm for Spring Semester like a sub lease.</p>
<p>I don’t think there are many subleases for a semester (but there are lots for the summer). The best way this would work is probably by word of mouth or if you know someone who is currently living in the View who may be studying abroad for a semester or something. Good luck!</p>
<p>My daughter started with Freshman Connection this fall 2012. Full UMD Student Spring 2013. We are in New England. We were worried too. Turns out the View has about 500 Freshman Connection Students. They are all housed together. She has had a fantastic experience. Most people on campus wish they were living there and come down all the time. She had class later than the regular students, but made friends with FC students and regular admission. Socially it will not hold them back or academically for that matter. Our daughter loves UMD. She actually appreciated the late times for classes as a freshman. No need to wake up early and rush to classes. Take a chance if your child loved the school. Absolutely no regrets.</p>
<p>If you are trying to do a sublease for a semester go on Facebook to the pages for class of 2014, 2015, and and 2016. There are students who live in apartments that have to sublease when they go abroad. Checking those is your best bet. I’ve seen several recently. By mid march early April most will have signed up for fall abroad if they are doing it so that would be the prime time to check back on those pages.</p>