<p>im most likely going to do pre-med. i like maryland a lot more, but having to attend spring is really annoying. is it worth it?</p>
<p>penn state fall</p>
<p>Ok, since you were admitted to the Spring for UMD, this means that you are in Freshman COnnection. This means that you’ll have to live off campus in the fall, and take classes only with other Freshman connection ppl, which are usually smaller, and in the afternoon. I’m not sure if you are guraranteed housing in the spring (it differs from year-to-year), but most of the off campus houses/appts have year long leases, meaning that even if you do get housing, you wont be able to break your lease. </p>
<p>Although I personally was not in freshman connection, I have many friends who were, and most of them were so-so at best about it, and felt at times like they were very isoltaed from the rest of campus. My suggestion is that you should only come to Maryland if you are SUPER set on coming here, and you are a farily outgoing person. If not, go to Penn State.</p>
<p>What state are you from? If you are instate in either Md or Penn, take the instate option. If you aren’t, take Penn State. Both schools are about equal in name value. Frankly, I have visited both schools and like Penn State better.</p>
<p>The question for me is which Penn St campus are we talking about? If is not main campus, than you lose out alot at PSU, whereas, at UMD you can go to the games and dorm parties. Our DS met many Freshman Connectors at the games and dorm parties. Come spring you will be a full time student going to the games and living in dorms, which is a lot better than living on a smaller PSU campus for at least 1 yr, and trying to transfer over to the main campus.</p>
<p>UMDCP is unique that it is not like PSU, UNC or SUNY, where you are accepted to the state system, but not necessarily to the “ULTIMATE CAMPUS”. Freshman connection is still a better deal if you want that big college feeling and beautiful campus. Many parents/students love the feeling of that traditional college life, classic buildings, crappy dorms, football, basketball, frat row, student unions, everything that makes you feel like you just walked out of a move (National Treasure 2, ST Elmo’s Fire LOL). This is a huge part of college. </p>
<p>You have to look at the big pic. If both schools are on par (assuming you are going to college station and finance is not an issue) than look at the little things, which campus is a better fit for you! I was accepted to PSU back in my day, I didn’t go there went LAC instead, Bullet went to UMD, and I loved it more than PSU. I am a city girl, and one more positive for UMD was how close it is to DC, this was before the Metro was at CP, and when New Carrolton was the closest train station.</p>
<p>i got into penn state main campus. still go to psu? if i got in fall id go to umd in a heartbeat. its just that if i go spring, i dont want to be isolated and live off campus. is it reall taht bad?</p>
<p>It depends on what kind of person you are and what kind of attitude you go into it with. </p>
<p>My entire core group of friends - and I am going into junior yr now - are people who lived with me in my dorm freshmen yr. Many people I know are in similar situations. I both love this fact and I also regret it. I do love my friends. But I also wonder what it would have been like if I had played a more active role in getting to know people and didn’t just fall in with a group out of convenience and stick with them forever. I think those who actively engage people who interest them/partake in activities that interest them and bond with others in that way/etc. are happier in the end with their group of friends than people who just hang out with someone 'cause they are your next door neighbor. But most of us end up with a combination of both. It helps to have the support of the next door neighbor to go to the big scary club meeting, you know? If I could do it again I wouldn’t let who I lived with define who my friends are. But again, a lot of people do this.</p>
<p>Are you outgoing? Do you go get opportunities, and not wait for them to come to you? Then it should be ok living off campus for one semester. But you will have to be proactive and realize that many other people around you are not, and it is just more convenient for them to hang out in the dorms. If you are the type to arrange times to hang out with people, strike up conversations, spend time in school activities, basically be a go-getter, and you are not afraid to do it twice as hard in college, then I wouldn’t worry about making friends. However, it is easy to LET yourself become isolated if you are not proactive. Try if you can to get housing close to campus and NOT commute from home. Many freshman connection students live in the University View, I think? In that way you have a community walking distance to campus, etc. Some of them may be older and not as eager as freshmen to make new friends, but be friendly and open to talking and my experience at UMD is that everyone wants to make friends no matter what yr they are, so just cuz you are living off campus doesn’t mean you won’t have a home base. So WHERE you live off campus is importance, distance wise, community wise - ask around, ask students in higher years what a good environment for a freshmen would be. Living with your parents would be a strain unless they are extremely chill, 'cause a lot of the bonding happens late at night at crazy hours very spontaneously and often in circumstances parents wouldn’t approve of ;). + being walking distance to campus is really gonna affect people’s willingness to come see you haha. You can host parties and whatnot It could be fun :). Being in the dorms can make you lazy about getting involved both with people and with the university. Maybe knowing that you need to try harder will even give you a leg up over others.</p>
<p>Honestly, if I were in your shoes I would choose PSU. But again I am the type that always takes the easy route out, and sometimes the easy route is fun but sometimes you wish you had done it the hard way. They are equally prestigious I think. The student body seems like it would be made of a similar mix of people. Part of why I love UMD so much is because I love how it is so close to DC. I don’t think I could stand living in the middle of nowhere, PA. But if you are not a huge city person, it doesn’t matter. The people you meet and the experience you MAKE will be what makes college for you. Seems like you can get more of a running start doing this at PSU. But again, if you are proactive, you could also do that at MD…it just might be more of a risk. You have to know yourself, know what you’re capable of, and if you choose MD, know that there will be times when you will not feel proactive/you will wish you passed by the same people in the hall every day/etc. and that’s ok - as long as you recognize it, stop yourself, and push through it :).</p>
<p>Is it affordable for you to put down the deposit to hold a spot at UMD for the spring semester, and start at PSU in the fall? I’ve known students who have done this to keep their options open. In some cases, they love the first school and stay there. In other cases, they transfer to Maryland in the spring.</p>
<ol>
<li>Go with the instate option- both schools are comparable academically.</li>
<li>Are you a city person or a country person?</li>
<li>Which school has the better major for you?</li>
</ol>
<p>My son got into both but liked Penn State better because it had a better program for his major. Some other considerations for him:
- While Md has lots of school spirit- Penn State is over the top insane with school spirit. 2. Penn State alumni are almost like a cult. Alumni bleed white and blue.
- 450,000 alumni at Penn State is double that of Md and spread out more geographically making the networking more valuable.</p>
<p>Definitely do Spring at UMD. My brother was accepted for Spring 2 years ago and it made absolutely no difference. Sure, the housing area for freshman connection is a little out of the way from the major UMD fun spots but there are definitely perks. First of all there is little supervision from what I hear and the dorms are MUCH nicer than regular housing. It’s less strict and if you’re planning on doing Spring Rush (frat/sorority), you’ll only be out of the way for like 3 months! My brother LOVES UMD and said that he wouldn’t change his experience at all. He just joined Pike (the crazy frat haha) and his best friend also joined who was his roomate in freshman connection. So, definitely UMD!!! GO TERPS!!!</p>
<p>I have started a separate thread re: off-campus housing, but no posts yet, so thought I could possibly receive some answers here as Freshman Connection has been mentioned. My son accepted his Spring 2010 admission and will be particiating in the Freshman Connection program. (He also was accepted to Penn State fall, UMDCP in the Spring).OCHO gave us information on 3 apt. complexes - University Towers, Parkside, and University Club (Believe THe View is for upperclassmen only). Saw the first 2, but because of our schedule when visiting, were not able to view University Club. Have been gathering info and talking to other students. Any info on these housing options? Would appreciate any comments. Thanks!! </p>
<p>And, good luck with you decision, giantsace55. It is not easy as both are really good schools.If you really lilke Maryland much better, I say go for it. If you have not already, I would apeak with Anne Baum, who is with The Office of Extended Studies. You can either meet with her in person or speak with her on the phone. We visited the campus for the 2nd time about 3 weeks ago and she met with us for over 1 1/2 hours quelling any doubts we had re: Freshman Connection and all other questions we had about classes, majors, etc. Really was helpful.</p>
<p>Again, all the best whatever you decide.</p>