<p>For those of you who are trying to gauge chances, here's a University of Maryland web page that gives their data for the class of 2010. If you surf around the OIP web pages, you can also see stats on acceptance rates, in-state/out of state, housing, diversity, etc. </p>
<p><a href="http://oirp.umd.edu/WOCN/fresh.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://oirp.umd.edu/WOCN/fresh.cfm</a></p>
<p>What's with the drop in new freshmen?</p>
<p>I don't know for sure - but I know of two things that might be affecting it. First, there seems to be a real housing crunch. The number of upperclassmen opting to stay on campus vs moving off campus has really jumped and there is a huge waiting list this year for on campus housing. Even though there are a few relatively large/new housing communities bordering campus - which are apartment style and are awesome - South Campus Commons and University View - to hold upperclassmen - the number of upperclassmen holding onto their housing option has really climbed - so there are fewer beds for freshmen. Apparently the chances of a transfer student getting housing are slim to none because of this and according to the Diamondback (campus paper) there is a huge waiting list. </p>
<p>Secondly, this was the first year that the University used a new strategy to replace a waitlist for enrollment. Instead of waitlisting people - they offered qualified students who applied after the priority deadline an alternative of Spring admission. I have several friends who want to come here but were not offered Fall admission and were offered this alternative. Basically, they were given the option of living at University View and taking evening classes for first semester (these calsses start at like 3:30 and after) and then they can move onto campus to fill mid-year grads and no returns for second semester. They can also stay home first semester and go to one of the recognized community college programs and take classes which will transfer and then come to campus for the Spring semester. A few people I know have taken them up on this alternative and are doing the community college thing until January. This MIGHT account for fewer freshmen - I don't know for sure.</p>
<p>I do know that if you want to come here - you really really need to get your app in as soon as you can - I don't know of anyone who applied after the priority deadline of Dec 1 who was offered Fall admission.</p>
<p>The numbers for Honors freshmen seems wrong. I really doubt that there's only 340 this fall. I haven't heard of anything that would cause a 60% drop in the number of new honors students this year compared to last year. There's definitely more, since Denton Hall can hold about 540 people, most of which are honors freshmen, not to mention the others scattered in Ellicott, Wicomico, and North Hill.</p>
<p>Is a major drop - but I know quite a few people who were invited to honors and scholars and who declined cause they didn't want to be "stuck" with the brains - thinking it wouldn't be fun - I don't know - kinda weird</p>
<p>maybe it was 840 and they read it wrong when they inputted it onto the website?</p>