<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I posted this on the Loyola forum as well. My daughter is trying to decide between UMD College Park (Smith Honors) and Loyola (Sellinger Honors), with a possible accounting major. She likes the idea of small class sizes, core curriculum and the ability to take theology classes at Loyola. She enjoyed the people at UMD and their overnight experience, as well as the reputation of the school and not needing to take out loans.</p>
<p>Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>It depends on how well she thinks she can handle the large lecture halls. I just heard a young woman had to transfter from UMD to Towson for accounting because she could not handle this teaching style. She could not do the 300 person classes. I transferred from CC to UMD back in the day and my junior and senior core classes had about 500 plus people in them. My major classes(marketing and general business/management) had anywhere from 30 to 60. I don’t recommend majoring in anything but accounting or maybe information systems. Don’t think Loyola is worth the difference, but it can be, should your dd need the smaller classes.</p>
<p>Loyola has a strong alumni network in greater Baltimore region but not that much any where else. UMCP is nationally known. If she does not plan on staying in the Baltimore region for work, then UMCP is better because most outside of MD don’t know Loyola.</p>
<p>Thanks rmac399 - My hopes are that she will stay in the area, but see how that could limit her. At the Loyola open house this weekend the professor mentioned that CPA pass rates are about the same but UMD has been increasing each year.</p>
<p>Momof3 - DD sat in a 300 person class and got to see how many students in the back were browsing the internet during class. She was told by another student that sitting up front makes the class size seem smaller. Most of the classes at Smith DD would take seem to have 29-36 people, but the core econ and math classes are much larger. Quality teachers may make up for it, but she doesn’t have a feel for how good that from either school. Thanks.</p>
<p>If she likes both schools and feels torn, it seems like UMD’s reputation and lower pricetag would be the definite choice. I don’t think Loyola is at all close to being worth$50k a year, although I’m sure she would be getting some scholarships? It’s hard for 18-year-olds to appreciate the weight of those college loans until they have to start paying them back! Just my opinion. Good luck to her!</p>