<p>I got invited to the Scholars Program, and I was wondering if anyone who is in it now or knows people in it could maybe explain it a little better. </p>
<p>Would you have to choose a program that is similar to your major or could you do something completely different? How intense is it? Do you feel isolated from the rest of the student body since you live with the other scholars? </p>
<p>Any information would be appreciated!</p>
<p>You can choose anything you want! Some people go for something that lines up in a more obvious way (ex: biology majors choosing Life Sciences, or journalism students in Media, Self, and Society), something that loosely correlates, but isn’t as direct (ex. government and politics students in Environment, Technology, and Economy), or something completely different (ex. engineers in Arts). You honestly can do whatever path you choose, and there are merits to each.</p>
<p>It’s not very intense. You will have an additional course (the colloquium) each semester (usually 1 credit, although some programs have a semester with a 2 or 3 credit course), where you will discuss the topic relevant to your program. You will be expected to do the work for this class, and for the supporting class you’ll take (which is a general university course that almost always satisfies CORE or major requirements), but it’s not a lot of extra work heaped on top of you. Most of the time, the material presented in the Scholars class, as well as the way it is presented by the faculty, is actually quite interesting!</p>
<p>You don’t feel isolated at all. Although you are taking the colloquium with the other students in your Scholars program, and you may have a few other courses in common, you’re still taking your general university courses with non-Scholars, eating in the dining hall like all the other freshmen, participating in general university organizations, etc. The main benefit of the community aspect of Scholars, to me, is the fact that you have the opportunity to quickly get to know a large group of people as soon as you start school. It’s helpful if you don’t know a lot of people who are going to UMD (if you’re out-of-state, for example), or just want to meet new people. Plus, chances are that there are going to be people in your program and living on your floor who are in most of the classes you’ll take your first year, so it’s easy to form a study group, get caught up with notes or homework, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks, that actually helps a lot. </p>
<p>I’ll have to look into it some more</p>
<p>That is all very helpful information and the most details I have found so far. Thanks!</p>