<li><p>Would you guys say that UMCP is easier to get into OOS than Wisconsin and illinois, or is this not the case?</p></li>
<li><p>Does UMCP care about the application essay, recs, ecs? (i sure hope so)</p></li>
<li><p>Does UMCP like seeing a student from OOS who can pay full OOS tuition, does not need financial aid? I mean college is a business…</p></li>
</ol>
<p>thank you to anyone who can answer these questions!</p>
<p>Huskies,</p>
<p>Off topic: But are you from Washington(state) or do you like UDUbb(U of Wash). I'm currently a student at U of MD, but I had a tough time denying UDubb, but the distance factor was too big( FL-WA in comparison to FL-MD).</p>
<p>But, anyways, here you go:</p>
<p>1) I would say that admissions are equal. All of these schools are nationally ranked in the top 50 schools, and top 20 public universities. I know many students who were accepted into all three.
2)UMCP cares about your admission essay ONLY IF you're in the pile of the applicants who are almost in, but not quite there. In your essay, you should write about something that reveals an important characteristic about yourself that makes you different and unique compared to other applicants. Such as a life-changing event( moving to the US, diagnosed with serious illness like cancer, etc). Don't sound like you're begging for pity, BUT show/NOT TELL how it has had an affect on you as a person. Colleges love to see growth in character.
3) This one I'm quite unsure about, since I happen to be an OOS student who is not on financial aid. To be honest, I do not really think it's a huge issue though with the University of Maryland. Though, I can tell you that financial aid at Maryland is not very good.</p>
<p>In regards to #3, the financial aid decisions are made after the accept/reject decision is made. Not needing financial aid does not give you an advantage in the admit decision process.</p>
<p>Essays are also used to help determine special programs and scholarships. Personally, my interviewers for the Banneker/Key scholarship were very interested in my essay--it was the driving force behind our conversation. It doesn't happen to be a life changing event...just something that is unmistakably YOU.</p>