How to get a full ride to Maryland?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
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<p>Just curious what sort of merits/scores you would need to get a full paid scholarship to UMD. Would be nice to hear from people who have achieved this or someone who specifically knows another person's stats who got this</p>

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<p>If you search this site, you’ll find past threads with lots of information/comments on the Banneker/Key scholarship. Here’s what the UM site says:</p>

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<p>My son got a full ride coming from a Maryland science/tech public magnet school, and I know many of his classmates were offered the full ride as well. In past threads, students have mentioned their stats. My son had an SAT greater than 2200 (I think that’s often a comfortable minimum for the B/K), lots of AP classes, excellent grades, an abundance of extracurriculars that he was clearly passionate about, and probably top-notch LORs (we didn’t see them). </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>This thread should prove helpful:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1315537-banneker-key-criteria.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1315537-banneker-key-criteria.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Wow what a fast reply, really appreciate it. I assume your son went to Blair/RM ? I’m just starting to consider my options for college.</p>

<p>And congrats to your son, its really nice when your children take the huge financial burden of college off of their parent’s head.</p>

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<p>Nope, not Blair! What year are you in?</p>

<p>Thanks for the congrats…it makes it easier to pay for twins going to college when one is free. ;)</p>

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<p>Rising Junior. I ended up deciding against going to a magnet school despite being accepted.
I believe my weighted is 4.7 and unweighted is like 3.99 (One B in one semester of 8th grade, which happened to be a highschool class hahaha)</p>

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<p>Sounds like you’re on the right track, and you have another year and a bit before applying. Just enjoy your high school as much as possible, really get involved in something you love (not solely with an eye toward scholarships), keep up your grades (8th grade won’t count, so woot!), and study for the SATs. Take the ACT if you’re not satisfied with your SAT score(s). Sign up for rigorous courses, and get to know your teachers so you’ll have someone to ask for a shiny LOR. Find something interesting and active to do over the summer and don’t succumb to senior slump next year, lol. It sounds like you’re an excellent student! I’m sure you’ll do well with scholarships, whether at UMCP or elsewhere.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the support! Really appreciate! Hoping to either go to an Ivy or UMD on a full ride</p>

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<p>I got BK full scholarship with a 2100, and I know another girl at my school got it with a lower score (somewhere around 2050-2080). Granted, that was the worst thing about my application, as I had 12 AP’s, 3.9/4.0, 5.66/6.0, 10 season athlete (went to states twice), president of Key Club, and other clubs. I am Hispanic, so that probably helped, but I don’t know if you need a crazy high SAT to get BK. I thought a 2100 was kind of average for my expectations.</p>

<p>I think that if you are in-state and have a good application (sounds like you are on the right track), you have a good chance of getting an invitation. Honestly, once you get the invitation, you are pretty much good to go, because at that point you are guarenteed a half BK. </p>

<p>The way I see it is this: if you think you can compete in the super high end competitive schools (not necessarily get in, but be competitive), then you are probably qualified enough for a BK scholarship.</p>

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<p>^that’s a good rule of thumb for whether or not to expect a B/K invitation. At the interview day, they basically asked us the other schools we were considering and people talked about Georgetown, UVA, UNC, Vanderbilt, and other schools on that level. To provide another point of reference I got a 2350 with a 4.36 GPA, and I got into Georgetown, Swarthmore, and Claremont McKenna. If you think that you have a shot at schools of this level, you also have a good shot at the B/K scholarship, since it’s these people who they want to lure in with full rides (I think if I hadn’t gotten the full ride I would have ended up somewhere else, although now I’m really glad that I decided on UMD). I’ve heard it can be quite random though, so don’t count on anything.</p>