<p>I honestly believe that the first thing you need to do is think positive, because if you think Spring admission is going to be a bad experience, it will be.
I was a spring admit last year, and since I have been working hard with the Freshman Connection program to help students get started, and help people understand what spring admission really means. </p>
<ol>
<li>Around when is the orientation for spring students? Will it be more extensive comparing to that of the fall students since spring students will need to learn to assimilate? What are the activities?</li>
</ol>
<p>The orientation will be at the end of december or the beginning of January. Since I did freshman connection I was not required to go to this orientation. But from what I have heard, it is only a day long, you choose classes, and not much happens. They do make it a point to say that you should live on campus if you have the option. </p>
<ol>
<li>On the confirmation letter for housing, it said that it will keep me updated on the housing status. Were you updated? If so, how often? In the end, did you get housing? And around when did you move into your dorm?</li>
</ol>
<p>Don't expect to hear much from the university as a whole until October/November. I was updated in December, that I would receive a roommate January 11th (if my memory is correct). But I was not assigned a roommate until Jan 14th. </p>
<ol>
<li>How did you like your roommate? Was it hard to adapt socially? Did you feel as if people already formed their circles?</li>
</ol>
<p>I loved my roommate, things worked out really well for the two of us, and it was not hard to adapt socially. Think about it like this (if you are living in the dorm). You are the new kid on the block, nobody knows who you are, and everyone wants to find out. So everyone will be knocking on your door and introducing themselves.
In terms of socially circles, I feel that mine at least, is fairly open. People were not too clicky. </p>
<ol>
<li>Do you still plan to graduate in 4 years? If so, how's your academic load?</li>
</ol>
<p>I should graduate in 4 years, easily. Again, I did Freshman connection, but I also took 2 summer classes and I am taking an extra class in the fall so I can get into Commons :) (really, really, good apartments for Juniors and Seniors that are basically on campus). So by the Spring semester, between AP, summer and taking extra classes, I will be a junior a semester early.
But depending on your workload and how you study, it is very possible to take an extra class every semester. Or take summer/ winter term classes, if not at UMD, then at community college. </p>
<ol>
<li>Did you see a difference in grades comparing to those who started in the fall as a result of your inexperience as a college student?</li>
</ol>
<p>I had a 4.0 first semester and a 3.9 second semester. As long as you work hard, there should be no grade difference. After all, Spring Admits have slightly higher GPA's than the Fall admits :)</p>
<ol>
<li>What do you regret the most about starting in spring?</li>
</ol>
<p>That I had to miss out on many of the Fall activities, but now I'm a sophomore, and I'm going to take advantage of all the fun stuff this time around.</p>
<p>if these answers are not sufficient, or you have more questions, feel free to PM me.</p>