<p>I was accepted to University of Maryland College Park (CMNS mathematics) and am overjoyed. I just wanted to asked people who are enrolling, have children enrolling, or already attending this school a question. I really want to go to this school, I love it so much more than my other accepted schools (UMich is too cold for me). How much money did they give to you or your child? I am out of state and am debating whether or not to go due to the cost. I only got $15,000 in financial aid and these consist of one grant and all loans. I got no scholarships but my stats are high. (2300 SATs, 3 out of 412, lots of extracurricular, two varsity sports, hopefully valedictorian, but anything can happen) That does not even scratch the surface of tuition costs. I probably should have enrolled into higher ranked schools like MIT, Princeton, or Caltech but I felt that Maryland was undoubtedly the correct choice for me. Also I probably could not get into some of those schools anyway lol. My parents are supportive of whatever decision I make, but this is a lot of pressure on me. I want to go to graduate school and work in the government, but will not be able to shake off this soon to be enormous debt. I have to make a decision by the end of April but I just do not know. I wish I hated the school so that this decision would have been easier, but I love everything I have seen. Am I stupid for even considering a school that is so expensive? Or are there other factors to consider before enrolling in another in-state school I tolerate or community college. I feel that if I do not enroll I would be missing out on the best opportunities and do worse in school. Opinions would be greatly appreciated</p>
<p>did you apply priority?</p>
<p>Our son is already considering UMD for business even though he got into letters & sciences. With that said, we’ve seen it twice & are going back again to finalize between Penn State where he did get into business school. UMD seems to have a solid program. Your stats much higher so would’ve expected that you got more money. Don’t take it personally, though. I’m reading a lot of articles that explain that state colleges got significant cuts from their stats. I’m betting they desperately need the out of state tuition with little room to offer many scholarships. When we were last at UMD a few weeks ago, a senior told me that UMD is financial pressure so it all makes sense. I think that the more pricey private universities have more endowment money to allocate to top students. With all that said, if your heart is set on working for the government, then UMD is a great location with its proximity to the US Capitol. Curious if you applied to Georgetown with your stats…Good luck with your decision…</p>
<p>I do not know why they gave me so little. I am just hoping that they either give me more money, or I find some way to pay for it through work study or part time job. It just feels like I worked so hard but am not able to go to where I want to go. I was talking to a couple of my friends who got financial aid that ranged from $10,000 to $40,000. Mabye it is just Maryland that gives so little to out of state students. It would probably be a different story if I was in-state instead. I am just frustrated that this is happening and I cannot do anything about it. I have been applying to a lot of scholarships through the school and online hoping to win something. Buying lottery tickets is always a good idea lol.</p>
<p>Maryland is known to be not so generous with out-of-state students. It really helps immensely if you apply the November 1 priority deadline. </p>
<p>UMD Financial Matters: [University</a> of Maryland - Financial Matters, Undergraduate Admissions, University of Maryland](<a href=“http://www.uga.umd.edu/finaid/index.cfm]University”>http://www.uga.umd.edu/finaid/index.cfm)</p>
<p>Im in a similar situation. I ended up only applying to 4 schools, Rutgers, Stevens Tech, and Maryland, and Lehigh. Maryland is really my top choice, and I dont really want to go to Rutgers and Stevens, and I got waitlisted at Lehigh. Financially Maryland makes no sense, but thats really the only school I like… Im not certain about grad school, so I think it might still be a possibility, but is it worth taking out those loans? OOS as well</p>
<p>To defianced, I was accepted to UMich, UMD, Drexel, and Rutgers. I really do not want to go to Rutgers or Drexel also but it may be the best option because I am in NJ. I should have applied to Princeton and am still kicking myself now lol. I was just hoping that I could go to my dream school, UMD, without debt and go to an Ivy League grad school, but life does not always work like you want it to. Are your parents supporting you financially or are you going to pay for school yourself?</p>
<p>To MDdad2012, thank you for the link. I should have known that a state school would not be as generous on out of state students because they cater more towards in state. Same thing goes for University of Michigan; they triple the tuition and double the required stats. I feel like I am falling into a sink hole if I enroll. Every year I will sink deeper and deeper into debt until I cannot even have a decent living when I graduate without loan sharks following me. To all the graduates who will be in debt for years, how are you handling it and what advice do you have for incoming freshman?</p>
<p>My parents are going to help me out, but I am paying for most of it. They certainly do not have enough money to cover all the expenses. And Im also in New Jersey. I really wish I lived in Maryland though :[.</p>
<p>to defianced. Also would have loved to have lived in Maryland so that I would not have to deal with so much debt. My username says it all. Why don’t you want to go to Rutgers and stay in-state? I only ask this because it is probably the same reasons I don’t want to go to Rutgers. Too close to home, everyone in my school is going there, I want to live in another state, I don’t like the name. What is the major and department you were accepted to?</p>
<p>Exactly the same reason I don’t want to go to Rutgers. I know too many people going there (even though i probably wouldn’t see them much), its too close to home, and I am dying to get out of NJ. It’s not that NJ is so bad, but I really want to see what else is out there. Accepted to Computer Science at both schools, although I want to pursue a double major in Math/CS. I have a lot of family in Maryland that I haven’t visited much until the last few years, and my experience in the state is pleasant. Life just seems a bit slower, like people are not in such a hurry for everything. My uncle told me I wouldn’t realize how bad it is to live in NJ until I left and came back. I guess part of it is just I want to get away from home like everyone else, and Rutgers just doesn’t seem far enough…</p>
<p>I am also thinking about doing a double major in computer science, but have done no computer programming in highschool. My sister is a computer engineer who graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, she will probably help me in those classes. I have no family in Maryland, kind of the reason I want to go there. Everyone in my family goes down south for college. We also have a bad streak of no male in my family actually graduating from college. Something always happens, that is why I am so worried about the cost. Are you going to live with family or are you staying on campus? The majority my cost is the room and board</p>
<p>No, I would live on campus. Computer science is definitely an interesting field. Maybe you could take an intro course as an elective to see if it interests you enough to pursue the double major. Also, were you accepted from the priority applicant pool, or regular?</p>
<p>Did you apply priority or regular decision？ I don’t know why you don’t get into honor program. I am from NJ too, but fortunately I live in my uncle’s house(it saves me about 10k per year) That’s why I chose UMCP over Rutgers. I think you should apply for Princeton(I don’t understand why you apply for only public schools since they don’t usually offer that much scholarship to out-of-state students.) UMCP has strong math department, but Rutgers math is not bad too. If financial aid is really a big deal. Then I won’t consider UMCP. I am currently a math major, but I am freshman. So I can’t tell you any significant experience. UMCP does offer a lot of research and internship opportunities, and I believe you will have fun here.</p>
<p>I applied priority decision and got into the honors college but did not get the presidential scholarship. It just found out that the reason I probably did not get that much money is because my family income is too high. Due to three teenagers going through college and only one graduating, it has put a strain on us financially. I am the last child trying to go to college and they might not be able to pay for even the first year of college. I might just have to go to community college now. If that does happen, I will deal with it and work from there. I think it is funny that my brothers, who were forced to go to college, got their chance but I may not. I am not trying to be immature, I am just frustrated. I know that I should not have just applied to state schools and that is the mistake on my part.To Jincheng how is your first year going at UMCP, did you skip calc I? as you see I have a lot of question lol.</p>
<p>more advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>I didn’t think the merit scholarships like the Presidential scholarships took finances into account; aren’t merit scholarships based on merit, and not need? Would there be any departmental scholarships available? I thought just about everyone who go into the Honors program was offered some scholarship money. It might be worth checking with them again.</p>
<p>call admissions and ask them about it! they will explain and that is the only way to get a determinate answer. Tell the financial aid office your situation…if you are in the honors college obviously you are a “wanted” student so they will hopefully find a way to help you out. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you for your comments. I am about to go to UMD for admitted students day on Friday and will call them tomorrow to understand my situation. I have other schools that are offering major scholarships to me like Rutgers and Drexel (not great schools in a sense but they are willing to pay for my education). If I want to go to graduate school I might as well go to a free school that I tolerate than a great school I love but might not be able to pay for.</p>
<p>umdhopeful-</p>
<p>my D is transferring after one year. We are from Ohio and she went there for journalism, but is paying out of state costs with no money help. She found it to be too far away and not worth out of state costs (and debt). The campus is not very safe either. There have been people held up at gunpoint on campus and instances of boys going in to unlocked girls dorm rooms and “cuddling”. Sounds like sexual assault or worse to me. Anyway, she is not comfortable and we live very close to a very large campus which is double the size of UMD, but safer.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. I am glad to answer questions you might have…</p>