<p>Right now my top choices are University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and UMD-CP.
To be honest, even though (I think) UMN has the stronger academics, I prefer UMD-CP due to its proximity to DC. If I go to UMD, I plan to live on campus for a semester and then move to the city. I'm not really interested in the social college experience. It's going to be a lot more expensive than UMN, but I can afford it, and I think I'll be happy living in DC. Unfortunately GWU isn't an option because I have to prove I have 270k in the bank by the time I apply and I don't, and even if I did get that kind of money I wouldn't get to enjoy all the things DC has to offer (because I'd be spending most of my money on GWU). AU is also a little too expensive for me, and from what I've read/heard it is not better than UMD. Georgetown is a huge reach for me and it's also too expensive. The ONE problem with applying to UMD is that I have to prove 50k by the time I apply. I'm close to that amount, but I'd have to make some sacrifices in order to have that before November, or most likely February. My parents can afford this college comfortably, the problem is we just started saving because I didn't consider going to college in the US until recently.
Anyway, my question is:
Is the education at UMN significantly better than at UMD College Park? Which is better regarded? Rankings confuse me. Times gives the edge to UMN, while Businessweek (I'm going to be a business major) gives it to UMD, so does USNews. Which one(s) should I trust? I don't really care about rankings, but rankings might actually be an approximate reflection of the quality of each college. So, should I just apply to UMN and not UMD-CP??</p>
<p>It is good that your parents can afford USD 50k each year, because many international students can’t do that. This gives you many more options. Can you only apply to one place? There is no guarantee that you will be admitted by either UM-CP or by UMN. If you like both of them, apply to both of them. If you are admitted to both of them, that would be the time to decide which you prefer.</p>
<p>What makes you so anxious to be living in DC? If you want to live there, and just want a college/university that you can commute to, take a look at George Mason U in VA, or even one of the local community colleges for the first two years followed by transfer to UM-CP (Montgomery College and Prince George CC have guaranteed transfer programs with UM-CP) or GMU (Northern VA CC has guaranteed transfer to GMU). </p>
<p>Don’t take the rankings too seriously. What matters to you as an international applicant is what people in your own country (or another country where you will be looking for work) think about a given college or university here. Remember that when your OPT visa extension ends, you will be job-hunting back home. The chance of you finding a work visa sponsor here with just an undergrad degree in business is infinitesimally small.</p>
<p>UMD Business is an excellent program. Connections to DC internships and your embassy cannot be overlooked. Here in MD, I’ve not heard of UMN grads or of the quality of the school. It’s true I don’t pay much attention to ranking, but I am in the academic industry. I know UMD pretty well, and I think it’s an excellent school, esp. but not exclusively in business and the natural sciences. Partying in DC was a big thing for my S when he went there, although he lived on campus or in CP. You probably would do best to have a car, and you might want to look into parking costs in DC and at UMD. There are also some nice luxury apartments just off campus to check into. I can get you more info, if you wish. DC is quite expensive, but it’s a millenial’s haven. You are aware that you must be 21 years of age to consume alcohol in both DC and MD (anywhere in US?)? Do compare climates before you commit. Both cities have their extremes. But, first, get in to both of them L-) </p>
<p>I think you are going about this the wrong way. Start over and describe your situation and what you are looking for in a college, and then people can offer suggestions on what colleges might be appropriate. </p>
<p>It looks like you would like to live in a city and are an international student. From what country? Would you intend to return to that country after college or remain in the US? What are your SAT or ACT test scores and grades/rank? How much can your family afford to pay for your college? Will you be looking for need-based aid or merit-based aid? Do you have an intended major in mind? Do you care about the size of the college itself?</p>
<p>Both UMN and UMD are well regarded large state public schools. You may want to apply to both of them.</p>
<p>The student has to “intend to return” or he/she will be denied a student visa. Period.</p>
<p>Even if the student might have the idea of possibly staying here after the OPT extension runs out, there is almost no chance at all that the student would be able to find an employer that could arrange to get an H1B (work) visa. Maybe for a comp sci or engineering major (and even then it would be almost impossible), but not for a business major. There are enough citizen and legal permanent resident business majors to fill all those jobs.</p>
<p>living in DC really probably isnt a good idea. if you want to live in a nice area(non chaffy; dc has lots of income diffs), that’s gonna be very expensive. like Manhattan probably. plus, the metro is expensive. just live in an apartment near campus. </p>
<p>UMD CP has a great business school though. Some(few) graduates do get jobs/ internships at major investment banks that ivies usually get</p>