Hello,
I was offered admission to both UMD college park (in-state) and Udel for pre-veterinary medicine. I am having trouble deciding which school I should ultimately attend. I know much more about Delaware considering I was not expecting an acceptance from my state school. I like Delaware’s campus life and its smaller size. However, I have always liked college park , plus it is closer and slightly less money.
Moneywise, both will be around the same due to scholarships, but UMD is still slightly less (about 4,000 less a year-not a huge deal for my family). I am wondering which school will suit me better for my major and for my time in college. I love Delaware’s commitment to their students and making campus life a priority. I, unfortunately, have not had the opportunity to learn as much about college park as I have Delaware, especially since I was offered admission after the COVID-19 outbreak and all tours and schools are closed.
A somewhat major issue regarding college park is that I was offered spring admission, not the normal fall. I can, however, live on campus in the fall, earn up to 17 credits, and participate in all college activities, leading to graduation in the normal 4 years. I do not know much about this program yet and am not sure whether starting in the fall normally at Delaware will be better than starting spring at college park.
If anyone has opinions on academics, campus life, the pre-veterinary major, starting college spring semester, or anything regarding the topic it is greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
If you do some exploring on CC, there’s lots written about the Freshman Connection program at UMD, much of which is very positive. My oos ds20 was accepted to it as well, and seriously considered it. In the end, he declined in favor of a school where he got strong merit $ and got into the major he wanted.
UDel is a great school, but I think overall stats-wise, UMD is stronger. It’s a beautiful, vibrant campus and was my ds’s first choice at one point in this crazy process. I don’t know about the vet programs, but if
my kid could go to UMD and for less $ to boot? That would be my choice.
I do not know much about the pre-vet programs at these two schools. I do have some passing familiarity with pre-vet programs at different universities.
One thing that has surprised me is the amount of experience dealing with animals pre-vet students get. If you have only reached inside a cow three different ways, then you will have fallen behind some students who have reached inside a cow four different ways (which is all that I personally need to know about veterinary medicine). Every animal also comes with its human, so some experience dealing with humans is also useful.
Do both of these schools have farms? Is the farm either on-campus or close to campus? Do they have summer programs for pre-vet students?
Yes actually both campus’ do have farms. Maryland has a more animal based barn in the center of campus and Delaware has a huge 350 acre farm, with an animal barn (the size of udels’s farm is due to plant studies). One thing I like about Marylands farm is that is is right in the middle of campus. Delaware’s college of agriculture in pretty far from the main campus, and would require a bus ride practically everyday as it crosses main streets. I am equally impressed with both schools hands on learning methods. I am not sure of summer programs (and with the coronavirus not sure there will be any), but that is good idea to gain some knowledge!