<p>I'm a rising junior from baltimore and have a pretty big interest in UMCP, specifically the gemstone program. I go to a very rigorous private school, so my 3.67 gpa is very high (im guessing top 8-10%)...I have many club leaderships and clubs are a huge deal in my school. I take the most vigorous classes possible aside from languages...where do I have to hit around on my SAT to safely get into Gemstone?</p>
<p>I think you need something in the 1300’s as a starting point. That’s just a guess. EC’s and interest in research goes a long way as well.</p>
<p>I think a better goal is to get into the Honors College. Once you get admittance to the Honors College (by invitation only) they will allow you to choose which honors program (Gemstones being one of them) to join. </p>
<p>“Invitations to the Honors College are extended to new first-year students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and promise. Students applications are carefully evaluated on the basis of academic achievement in high school, rigor of high school program, application essays, letters of recommendation, participation in extracurricular activities (including work and home responsibilities), and standardized test scores. There are no numerical thresholds (such as a minimum SAT/ACT or GPA) to be considered for Honors College admission although most successful applicants are among the most academically motivated and talented students in our pool by these measures. The Honors College welcomes a nationally and internationally diverse group of students each year. There is no quota for in-state versus out-of-state students.”</p>
<p>I think this year, the top 1000 students got into Honors. You should be fine if you get around a 2000-2100 on the SAT</p>
<p>“You should be fine if you get around a 2000-2100 on the SAT”</p>
<p>Just want to point out that SAT range is not a guarantee to honors college- that range also applies to College Park Scholars. Also, you should know that UMD only counts CR + M scores.</p>
<p>As yodelo did point out in his quote, there is no magic number to get accepted into Honors College, so there is no specific score “to hit around on SAT to safely get into Gemstone.” Students with higher SAT/ACT scores than that, with GPA’s above the op’s were invited to be in College Park Scholars not Honors College. College Park Scholars is nothing to sneeze at. It’s all good.</p>
<p>Here is the link to explore both freshman academic program invitations [Honors</a> College & College Park Scholars | University of Maryland](<a href=“http://www.excellence.umd.edu/]Honors”>http://www.excellence.umd.edu/)</p>
<p>I’m really not interested in scholars…ill probably end up with around a 2200 SAT superscored…I’m interested in medicine so the only reason I’d be interested in a UMD is the gemstone program… JHU…William and Mary and UVA are all enticing but because I’m instate and have med school plans I want to save money. How much of a big deal is the fact that I attend an extremely grade stingy private school (Park School of Baltimore)? Also Gemstone is really interesting to me because of the large projects and research.</p>
<p>You expressed a sentiment of “Gemstone or bust” because of your interest in large projects and research… <em>sigh</em>
You should know that you do NOT have to be in Gemstone to participate in research (or large projects)!!!</p>
<p>Before you turn your nose up, take a look at the stats of students admitted into Honors and those admitted to Scholars (the thread also includes regular admission stats, so look carefully for specific notation of Honors or Scholars for each poster reporting admission)…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1282489-official-umd-priority-class-2016-decisions.html?highlight=2016[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1282489-official-umd-priority-class-2016-decisions.html?highlight=2016</a></p>
<p>“How much of a big deal is the fact that I attend an extremely grade stingy private school (Park School of Baltimore)?”
As a parent, I would tell you that you have every right to be proud of your school record so far! However, the reality is that there are a lot of students who have higher unweighted gpa’s who also attend very competitive (“stingy” with grades, rigorous curriculum) high schools (both public and private) that are competing with you for the same admissions spots. </p>
<p>I am honestly not trying to burst your bubble in any way, but just trying to give you a realistic picture of your competition and the ambiguity of placement into programs. </p>
<p>Understand that regardless of all the detailed stats people listed, the only stats UMD looks at are the UNweighted GPA (they convert all weighted GPA’s to a 4 point scale) and either the CR + M score for the SAT, or the composite of the ACT (which they actually convert to the SAT equivalent). </p>
<p>In addition to these [limited/specific/objective] stats, your EC’s, essay answers and recommendations are also considered for admissions both for the university and for invitation into special programs. However, there is no way to know how these more subjective variables compare among CC posters.</p>
<p>Right now, focus on getting the best grades you can and try to make your “probable” SAT score a reality! :)</p>
<p>Just as a followup to my statement that you don’t need to be in Gemstone to do research, here is a link that shows the specific, current research projects available that might be of interest to you as a premed student:
[Research</a> Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Projects Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland](<a href=“http://www.bioe.umd.edu/reu/projects.html]Research”>http://www.bioe.umd.edu/reu/projects.html)
The overview of the program states:
The Molecular & Cellular Bioengineering REU program focuses on fundamental bioengineering questions using techniques that elucidate the roles of elemental participants. The Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland has joined with the Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories in Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide undergraduate student researchers an exciting opportunity to be involved in the development of biomedical devices at the research, development, and evaluation stages. Major research initiatives are underway in topics including biomicroelectromechanical systems, biomechanics, biomolecular engineering, cardiovascular mechanics, cellular and metabolic engineering, drug delivery, biomedical imaging, nanobiotechnology, neuroengineering, systems biology, and tissue engineering.</p>
<p>Our REU program will focus on the engagement of undergraduate researchers in bioengineering research activities both at UMD and FDA. While UMD will lead this REU Site, participating undergraduates will be involved in research as well as technical seminars at both UMD and FDA laboratories. The major objectives of this interaction are to focus on recruitment of undergraduates from institutions with modest levels of bioengineering research, introduce molecular and cellular bioengineering concepts, promote collaborative research, and introduce emerging technologies and trends. The successful completion of these objectives will create an exciting and engaging atmosphere surrounding bioengineering research for the undergraduate REU students, so as to increase student participation in advanced research activities.</p>