<p>LOL, good one jkeil911…unfortunately, I think the trolls will start to come out much sooner than the 25th…</p>
<p>I’m wrong so often, maryversity, that I didn’t want to exaggerate this prediction. Sigh. We’ll just try to keep your advice in #13 in mind and hope some of the bystanders read it before asking panicked questions. I want someone to produce such a nugget as #13 for each of the schools D applied to so that there’s some chance of keeping each clear in my head.</p>
<p>jkeil911 - My mantra these days is reflected in the wise and immortal words of Doris Day: “Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be…” [Have any of you heard of Doris Day? Am I showing my age LOL?!]</p>
<p>Cheergirl is my last and this college app process has worn me out LOL! She put every ounce of effort into her UMD app and into getting the best test score…now there’s nothing to do except wait…and wait…and wait. Stressing seems senseless.</p>
<p>The only thing that worries me is that up til now she’s kept an open mind…but now she’s joining Facebook groups of schools to which she’s been accepted and she’s starting to get “emotionally attached” to one particular school. Is anyone else experiencing that?</p>
<p>Great, now I’ve this porn video in my head of Doris twerking her way thru the song. My how things have changed during our brief shift.</p>
<p>Is your D attaching to a school to which she’s been accepted?</p>
<p>Doris twerks?!?</p>
<p>Jkeil - Oh EWW! No more YouTube for you, young man! Doris would never come in like a “wrecking ball” - too much class! And I’m sure TerpMom agrees! <wink!></wink!></p>
<p>But, I digress…</p>
<p>To answer your question–YES! Cheergirl has been accepted to this particular school with which she’s become fascinated. My understanding is that these days, accepted students for most every college join a private Facebook group, e.g. “Class of 2018.” The descriptions usually state: “…to ask questions, socialize, find roommates and everything else.” YIKES, We should probably be concerned about the “everything else” portion of their mission statements!</p>
<p>Anyhow, the FB groups no doubt serve a useful purpose in the decision making process; BUT, while we’re anxiously awaiting a decision from UMD, TICK TOCK…she’s strengthening bonds and loyalties with other school(s) that accepted her months ago! Just one more reason why I’m a big supporter of rolling admissions!</p>
<p>cheermom20878…perhaps the other school(s) will be a good match/fit for your daughter</p>
<p>don’t know about cheer mom, but I’m holding onto UMD for the money. fortunately, D hasn’t met a school she likes, so I can afford to wait thru the whole process before I likely will have to convince her of the fiscal reality of choosing UMD.</p>
<p>Cheermom I am having the same problem with S2. He has me going to “the big house” for a visit, I don"t know if Byrd Stadium is still in the running.</p>
<p>What we learned from a counselor who claims to have had a lot of MD students go to UMich is that the students come home raving about the place. He said, “they’re doing something right up there in terms of dealing with young people.” Of course, in terms of the young people’s parents, he said he hasn’t heard of much FA or merit for these same students. D’s bgf came home after her first semester and can’t say enough good things about the whole cookie. I’m not affiliated with UMich.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is one of the best college towns! My parents both went there and I grew up close by. I wanted my daughter to apply there and she refused to even consider it. Sigh.</p>
<p>bonee26, jkeil911 is correct about the aid money there. But if that isn’t an issue for you, I’m betting that you and your son will both love it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank You both for the input. Still hoping acceptance to the UMD ACES program may sway his thought process.</p>
<p>I think the question of UMich v UMD is a common one. UMich has become the “hot” (irony intended) school of late for kids on the East coast. No question UMich is a great school, but there are some serious considerations you have to account for, not the least of which is the lake effect! If you want a better college town environment than College Park, Penn State is also a great environment without that extensive travel. However, you should know that Maryland is on the brink of a renaissance for College Park…they are working on transforming the area. Also, let’s not forget that DC is just a metro ride away and there is no place like DC!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1564916-revamping-route-one-college-park.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1564916-revamping-route-one-college-park.html</a></p>
<p>I have a dear friend who lobbied heavily to convince my son to go to UMich for engineering. Said you couldn’t beat the experience/education, it’s a top-ranked school, yada yada yada. My son did blink, but there was not enough to sway him to even apply. As an engineer, he plans on getting at least a masters and didn’t want the extra expense for undergrad, including the extra travel expense. Maryland has everything he needs and then some. Long and short of my friend’s UMich experience is that since most of the internships were all out in the midwest, that’s where his eldest (also an engineer) landed a job and moved to. I don’t think he was expecting that at the time when he was lobbying for my son to go there…</p>
<p>I could go on about advantages at Maryland in general (and I am OOS) because Maryland has a lot of really unique programs. I will just sum it all up by sharing what another friend told me. She has 4 sons, equally brilliant. Three went to ivy league schools and one went to Maryland. Of all the schools, she loves Maryland the best and was quick to encourage my son to go to Maryland. Why? The unique opportunities and experiences her Terp had outweighed the ivy league. Her Terp had more and better job offers than her ivy league sons had. </p>
<p>In the end though, it really comes down to “fit” for each individual. When all the acceptances are in, make the effort to go to accepted student day at the schools you both are giving serious consideration to. What you hear is different at admitted student days than at admissions sessions. Walk around, talk to students. The bottom line deciding factor is different for everyone.</p>
<p>Another thing to look at when comparing schools is the actual curriculum. Get a copy of the four-year plan for your (student’s) major at each school and do a direct comparison of classes and general education requirements for graduation. That is sometimes an unexpected factor that may tip the scale in favor of one school or another.</p>
<p>Hang in there…it’s only a few weeks til decision come out…</p>
<p>@bonee26 you might be interested in these links if you haven’t seen them already…</p>
<p>[About</a> the Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2) | Maryland Cybersecurity Center](<a href=“http://www.cyber.umd.edu/about]About”>About MC2 | Maryland Cybersecurity Center)
<a href=“http://www.honors.umd.edu/ACES-facts.pdf[/url]”>http://www.honors.umd.edu/ACES-facts.pdf</a>
[REU</a> Cybersecurity Scholars: Summer 2013 | ACES](<a href=“http://www.aces.umd.edu/news/reu13]REU”>http://www.aces.umd.edu/news/reu13)</p>
<p>(assuming you have the link about ACES in general…)</p>
<p>Thank You, maryversity, we have investigated the program and it is incredible and at the forefront on the collegiate level. Many other institutions will follow UMD lead.</p>
<p>Reading UMD/UMich comments, I can’t help but chime in. You can’t reasonably compare. Both schools are exceptional for myriad reasons, it’s like comparing apples to oranges, as the saying goes.</p>
<p>Hopping on metro to head into DC, but wanna share this anecdote: UMD/CP isn’t a “wannabe” school. With it’s enviable location just minutes from DC, and a quick Amtrak ride to Baltimore, Philly, New York, Richmond, and even Boston, UMD/CP offers unparalleled research and internship opportunities in almost every industry imaginable.</p>
<p>My son (now 27) graduated from UMD/CP in 2008 with a degree in History, despite years of unsolicited opinions that such a degree would never land him a job. I urged him to major in something for which he felt passion and knew things would work out. </p>
<p>Barely 3 weeks after graduation, S was offered a dream job, he later learned that he was selected over dozens of Ivy League candidates. The following year, S transitioned into a high-visibility staff position with Congressman Chris Van Hollen, ranking House member, and S was actually present when President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. A moment he will never forget. He’s now a “rising star” (his supervisor’s evaluation!) in health care consulting and halfway through a Masters of Jurisprudence in Health Care Law, financed through his employer’s tuition reimbursement program. </p>
<p>S developed and honed his research, writing, and communication skills at UMD/CP; the competitive “take no prisoners” culture along with his professors’ consistently high expectations, thoroughly prepared him for success.</p>
<p>Hoping Cheergirl follows in big brother’s footsteps, time will tell. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ with it! GO TERPS!
</p>
<p>Great post, cheermom! It’s always great to hear firsthand accounts of Terp achievements -congrats to him (and you)!</p>
<p>You guys are making me want to go to UMD… I applied to UMich as well, but it will likely not be affordable for my family. </p>
<p>I really don’t know how I’ll decide between UMD OOS and this private school I’m looking at.</p>
<p>Anyone else stuck deciding between UMBC and UMCP?</p>