<p>Do NOT do Gemstone because you think it’s prestigious. That kind of thinking will make you hate your experience. </p>
<p>DO do Gemstone because you genuinely have an interest in team research. Because you want to be part of designing a project with your peers and carrying it through. </p>
<p>Also, you’re going to do so much more at Maryland outside of Gemstone that it should NOT be the deciding factor. You can’t make a college decision based on calculations of prestige, rankings, etc. You have to make a holistic decision (like UMCP11 says) that takes into account the entire university and what you will do there.</p>