Orientation info

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
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While cleaning out an old drawer, I came across the orientation schedules (from 2012 for the class of 2016), and thought I’d share before I toss out…

I attended the parent program and found it both extremely informative and well-organized. At the time, I remember a parent commenting how surprised she was that a large university had such a comprehensive and well-run program… While I agreed, I didn’t fully appreciate just how great Maryland’s orientation is until I experienced one at another largish university…Maryland is indeed VERY efficient and covers everything you need and then some. They also have a good sense of humor…

My son and I attended the first available orientation designated for Scholars, so obviously, there is at least one session that will be different for other programs, and I would imagine there will be some updates to the program as well.

The Parent/Family Program:
Day 1
-check-in (after dropping off student overnight luggage)
-welcome and program overview
-academies at Maryland (advising, gen eds, math tracks, academic policies)
-staying healthy (overview of wide range of medical and health services available)
-scholars program meetings (broken down into specific programs, overview and q & a with your student’s program director)
-lunch
-living and eating like a Terp (meal plans, programs/ involvement on campus, etc)
-how to be a safe Terp (safety on and off campus)
-division of information technology (free software, internet info, computer discounts/repairs, etc)
-life at maryland (presentation/panel of current students)
-from child to scholar: transitions and parent/family affairs (transition/changes from home to college life)
-break
-money matters (financial aid, loans, tuition, etc)
-free time in Stamp (time to get that Terp swag!)

Day 2 (optional)
small group interest sessions
-parents/family members of minority students
-parents/family sending first child to school
Terp Trips (optional regional tours for small fee - choice of Annapolis, DC, Ellitcott City, or extensive campus tour) returning by 2:30 to meet students

Student Orientation (obviously I only have the titles of the sessions and can’t describe details since I didn’t attend student program, but know that they go over everything you will need)
Day 1
-scholars program meetings (meet your program director and other students in your program)
-Terp connections
-meet your college
-my Maryland resource fair
-lunch
-Terp life
-student breakout sessions
-campus essentials (getting around campus)
-free time before dinner
-dinner
-skits and life at Maryland
-Eppley Rec Center (tour, hang out, swim, play basketball, volleyball, etc)
-movie
-late night chill sessions (meet with Black Student Union, Greek Life or Resident Life)

Day 2
-breakfast
-advising, class registration and lunch with your group
-complete campus essentials and Testudo tradition
Program ends at 2:30

NOTE: heads up that your photos will be taken day 2 for student ID…so just be prepared (bring a brush and an umbrella if there is a chance of rain because no one wants that wet rat look haunting them for four years)

WARNING: ALL students MUST take the math placement exam BEFORE going to orientation http://www.orientation.umd.edu/MathPlacement.html
You simply can NOT register for classes without that, no matter how brilliant you are in math, or how perfect your AP scores are, or SAT/ACT scores are.
Do it now, before you forget. The university specifically states you should complete the Math Placement Exam prior to 11:59pm the night prior to your orientation.

Hope this helps. I highly recommend signing up for the earliest session you can. You will be able to get all your required classes regardless of when you register, but you just might not get the times you prefer. My son is a sloth and enjoyed the advantage of having 10 a.m. as his earliest class for his first semester…

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Thank you for this information. It is very much appreciated!!

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The 2017 Orientation information is now available @ http://www.orientation.umd.edu/FYDatesSummer.html

I do have one question: Does anyone know if it becomes difficult to register for classes (with good professors) if one attends the sessions that are closer to move-in (Aug 24). I am an International student committed to UMD but won’t be arriving in College Park before the 20th of August. Does the college register for courses on a first come basis ? If so does it make sense to attend one of the earlier sessions in June or July.

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Thank you for sharing, @pitblr ! My understanding is that the earlier you can go to registration/orientation, the better but I would expect they hold aside some sessions/classes that most freshmen would need to take.

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Is the orientation an overnight for the student? I can’t find where they explain that, other than a comment about luggage drop off.

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@mdmom6 - Yes, it is an overnight for the students.

I’ve copied below a write up I did 3 years ago about the Orientation session that we attended.

We just finished a 2 day Honors Orientation. Check-in went well in Cole. Parents and students checked in through different lines. Everyone got info folders and name tags. The Health forms were turned in by the students. There was coffee, OJ, bagels and cookies.

A little before 9, we were all lead to Stamp. Dr Dorland welcomed everyone. They showed a short video and Dr Dorland discussed several noteworthy past Honors College graduates. It was a good talk.

The kids were then lead away in groups by college, ENGR, BUSINESS, CMNS, etc. Each group had 2 Orientation student leader. Some multiple groups, i.e ENGR. That’s the last time you will see your kids until the afternoon of the next day

The parents then had a talk about academic adiving and class schedule from Dean Hebert. Dean is his name, not his title. He talked about the schedules students want (all classes between 10 and 2, on Tuesdays and Thursdays only) and what they usually get (8:30 am every day). He explaine AP/IB credits and waitlists, and how they hold some Honors seminar seat for Freshman only.

Then it was time for lunch. We walked to the South campus dining hall. The choices were: salad, chicken, deli, pasta, pizza, and soda to drink. It was about what you would expect.

At 12, we walked to the Biology building, in the same groups that the kids were split into, with the same Student orientation Reps, and we were able to ask them anything we wanted. Question ranged from dorm roommates to dining plans to playing musical instruments in dorms.

All the different groups of parents were in the same lecture hall, but spaced apart so that each group could have private discussions.

Then there began a seires of 20-30 minute presentations on a variety of topics:

Counseling services for stidents - bottom line, it is protected by patient-doctor privelege and they wont talk to you about it;

Parent and family affairs - bottom line, they are there to support you and your kid, but there is a Federal Law, FERPA, that prevents them from sharing any info with you, even if your kid is only 16, unless the student grants you a waiver and gives you a PIN for access;

Health Services - You can apply for a waiver from the University health plan, but it MUST be done online and you should check to see if the Unversity Health Services are in-network for your insurance. They offer a lot of services;
Billing - your student must add your email to the billing notifications and there are 8 and 10 month payment plans that require a paper application to be mailed in;

ResLife - nothing really new there - it’s all on the web site;

Dining Plans - pick the cheapest one and include TerpExpress;

Technology - you can buy laptops and warranties from them - MACs or Dells;

Safety - very interesting. - presented by the Head of the UMD police force, a former head of the MD State Police and Security Head for the Dept of Homeland Security - the 2 biggest problems seem to theft and drinking. He said thay are not worried about a freshman having his/her first or second beer, but their 10th or 12th beer and getting falling down drunk. In those cases, they call an ambulance ($750 a ride) and send them to a hospital. No arrest, but it may go into their Academic record for all future employers to see, if they don’t complete some on-campus rehab. For theft, they use phones, laptops, and bikes, equipped with GPS trackers to catch the theives. Also, every vehicle entering the campus has it’s license plate recorded and run through various data bases. There are also hundreds of cameras on the campus. If your kid goes skinny dipping in a fountain, it will be on video tape. The UMD police force is inetrnationally certified and their jusidicition has been expanded to include the city of College Park - they also have an IED sniffing K-9 unit. The dogs do NOT sniff for drugs.

Then a final Q&A session with Dr Dorland and Mr Hebert.

Day 2 was a trip to Annapolis. Very Good. Some rain throughout the day. Great Lunch

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Wow, thank you SoofDad! I appreciate your informative post!

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@mdmom6 - You’re welcome. Some thing will be different, Cole is being refurbished and the meal plans are different. I think the monthly payment options are also being changed, but you will get all the updates at orientation

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Thanks for this info, @SoofDad ! I am looking forward to attending orientation.