<p>I think they took a holistic approach... not really "if you took a certain class" or something like that.</p>
<p>I have a theory. </p>
<p>If your application as a whole suggests leadership and peer interaction, you get into Scholars. If your resume suggests research or extreme dedication to learning, you got into Honors. My resume is more like the first scenario, and I'm in Scholars.</p>
<p>Ok I've been looking through the websites:</p>
<p>" Acceptance into the University Honors Program is by invitation based on a complete application to the University of Maryland. There is no separate addendum or special application for Honors. Students' records are individually evaluated on the basis of academic achievement in high school, rigor of high school program, test scores, the application essay, letters of recommendation, and participation in extracurricular activities. Students invited into Honors for fall 2006 had an average weighted GPA of 4.29; the average SAT score was 1410 (math + critical reading)."</p>
<p>"Gemstone students invited for fall 2005 had an average weighted GPA of 4.4, and average SAT score of 1430 ... The Gemstone Academic Advisor reviews a select list of University Honors invitees. Because the Gemstone Program is a interdisciplinary, students are selected for invitation across academic disciplines. Students invited to Gemstone have very strong academic credentials; demonstrate societal concerns in their admission essay and resume; show involvement in team related and other co-curricular activities; and demonstrate intellectual inquisitiveness and interest in research."</p>
<p>Only admissions info I could find for scholars: "Admission is by invitation and is competitive. College Park Scholars bases its admission decisions on information in the student's university application file."</p>
<p>I still think that it's a holistic approach with the Niche questions sealing the deal. I emphasized my involvement in a wide variety of subjects, not just the sciences or math (I am majoring in Engineering). I also talked about my interests in the social implications of technology and my discussion-oriented APES class. But mostly I focused on that I was a well-rounded student that was interested in stuff outside of the box. My stats: 4.6 WGPA and 1370 SAT, into Gemstone.</p>
<p>I had those exact average stats for Gemstone, and I wrote about how I wanted to do research, but only got into Scholars.</p>
<p>mellow i couldn't agree with you more. i looked at my niche questions and since i was told earlier that if you write about research in them you get considered for gemstone so i did and i guess that is what helped me get in cause my SAT scores were really low</p>
<p>My daughter has a 1480 SAT (out of 1600), 3.7 unweighted GPA from competitive high school, is a NMF, had decent recs (as far as we know), did good essays (again, as far as we know), and got into Scholars. Not that that's a bad thing, but I'm wondering why she didn't get into Honors. There's some X factor that I'm not seeing. (Maybe it is a peer interaction thing, Xeneise, but that's hard to put a finger on.)</p>
<p>BUT:
I wrote that I hated group research and that I am definitely NOT a fan of taking a variety of classes, but I got into Gemstone. I also had a horrible essay.</p>
<p>I got in gemstone High sat score Gpa 3.9/4.6 I have taken rigor classes just like you guys . I declared major(pre-med classes) did not show interest in engineering but took Ap Cal bc last year and got a 5 I am taking Ap Physics this year I have only taken 9 Ap classes and already are an Ap scholar with honor hope this helps. Does anybody know how many students are invited to Gemstone??</p>
<p>Whyivy - no idea, but it says on Gemstone FAQ that about 180 of the Honors students at UMD are in Gemstone.</p>
<p>someone said 180 people</p>
<p>a77, doesn't that Blair magnet diploma make you an automatic admit for Gemstone (if I remember correctly from that orientation from 4 years ago)? I have no idea how they admit people to the different programs. I have heard that the niche essays are a screening process, but from what I see here, it is pretty random.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My daughter has a 1480 SAT (out of 1600), 3.7 unweighted GPA from competitive high school, is a NMF, had decent recs (as far as we know), did good essays (again, as far as we know), and got into Scholars. Not that that's a bad thing, but I'm wondering why she didn't get into Honors. There's some X factor that I'm not seeing. (Maybe it is a peer interaction thing, Xeneise, but that's hard to put a finger on.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>nonetheless, Scholars sounds exciting, and it leaves me to still consider UMD as an option because I will have special housing and an opportunity for more interaction (Not only big lecture classes, which is something extremely important to me) I'll just have to wait and see where else I get into, and how much money UMD offers.</p>
<p>Anyone know a typical scholarship offer for scholars?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Uh, I don't think so. 100 people are in the Blair magnet, so that would leave only 80 for the rest of the country. That doesn't make sense.</p>
<p>I had great essays, really solid stats, and do lots of research.</p>
<p>Didn't get gemstone. Oh well, they got an email from me.</p>
<p>I mean if I actually pick CP they're gonna have to put me into Gem :P</p>
<p>I don't think it's 180 invited, it's 180 Gemstone freshmen enrolling.</p>
<p>^ that's what I think.</p>
<p>Thats really weird. On the niche questions about research I basically said something along the lines of "Research is cool, but im not interested" and yet I still got into Gemstone. </p>
<p>My stats arent that great either -> 4.44 WGPA, 1440 SAT
Maybe it was my ECs.. o_O</p>
<p>After reading more about Gemstone though, it does seem like an interesting program.</p>
<p>Are you guys going to accept the invite for Gemstone yet? It says that it doesn't mean that you're going to UMD, but it reserves your spot. I have 8 other colleges to hear from but I don't want to lose my spot.</p>
<p>fengshuibundi, if you said things like "if I actually pick CP they're gonna have to put me into Gem" in the email you sent to the university, i don't blame them for not inviting you to the program. you need to shrink your ego a little and remember there are other well-qualified students, you aren't the only one.</p>
<p>Fengshui should be in gemstone if you look at his stats and what other colleges (and UMD) think of him. Also, I was positive that the internship program we are in (25 kids in the county) would put a student as an automatic gemstone admit. Guess not, but he'll probably be able to appeal </p>
<p>Also, 180 probably enroll. From what I saw last year, a bunch of kids from my school got gemstone and other great stuff from UMD and turned it all down to go to higher ranked private schools. Also, many Blair kids will either go somewhere ranked much better or another school with a lower or similar rank, but more merit/need based aid. Also, does gemstone only admit X people and noone else, or as people decline the invitation, do they start taking people from the honors program?</p>