Hi Everybody,
The end of this stressful year is almost here…DS has narrowed it down to two choices.We have really benefitted from being on this forum and learning a lot from all of you folks.He has UMD as one of the colleges on his final choice.We visited on admitted students day and was very impressed with the ACES presentation.If anybody has kids in the Honors college doing CS and ACES…would love to know your personal experiences with regard to how challenging the classes are,faculty,how easy is it to register for classes(do you get the classes you want),internships for CS major and ACES LLP,research opportunities,grad school chances. Also information about the CS department honors if anybody’s kid is in that.I know these are a lot of questions and I have asked these questions in other forums too.Sorry if some people have already seen these before.Thank you in advance
I’m an ACES freshman right now! Feel free to DM me with any specific questions you might have! I’d love to help.
Can you explain the process of selecting students for the various Honors programs?
For example, I recently learned that a Theater major from MD was placed into ACES. This is puzzling, when there are many students planning to major in either CS, criminal justice, psychology, etc that are on a waiting list for this Cybersecurity program.
Just looking for some insight on the rationale of this.
Also, do you have statistics on how many admitted UMD students are from MD and how geographically diverse the incoming class of 2022 will be?
Thank you.
As a tax-payer funded institution UMD is required to have a Freshman class that is composed of 75%-80% Maryland residents.
The following link provide various diversity metrics 9including geographic) for UMD.
The various Honors Programs try to also have a diverse mixture of students within each program. Assignment to a given Honors Program is not a cookie cutter process. This may not be a satisfying answer, but I don’t know of any other.
Exactly what SoofDad said. All Honors programs have a diverse group of people in them! I don’t see the problem with a theater major in ACES. I think it’s really cool and brings a unique opinion and insight into the cybersecurity world. Plus, it just goes to show that you don’t have to be a CS/CE/engineering major to be interested in cyber/ACES, which is a common misconception about our program. Plus, just because someone is a theater major doesn’t mean they don’t have a strong interest in cyber! In this evolving world, it’s important that EVERYONE is informed about cybersecurity, whether that be the technical side or the user side.
Admissions into each of the Honors programs are done by the program’s directors, so I can’t say exactly what they look for, but I know that an interest in cyber is a MUST.
Sorry I couldn’t really your most important question, but I hope you now understand and think it’s okay that a theater major is in ACES! (A lot of students are bitter/salty about that, which makes me pretty sad… :/)
@whenyoubelieve @SoofDad …wandering away from the topic…do freshman need to bring a printer…are there printers available in Prince fredrick?
@priya2015 - I don’t know if printers are readily available. My D took her own printer to her dorm. Her printer has a UB connection to her laptop. I’ve heard that it can be difficult to connect a WiFi printer at UMD. Maybe @whenyoubelieve can elaborate on that.
@priya2015 There are no “public use” printers, even in LLPs such as ACES. However, you don’t necessarily NEED to a printer. I’ve hardly had to use one in college, since most professors prefer students electronically submitting assignments. McKeldin Library offers printing for 10 cents a page, which I don’t find a big deal, since I print only maybe once a semester. Alternatively, there will always be people on your floor with a printer, so you can call in a favor!
If you’re really insistent on having a printer in the room though, it might be smart to coordinate with your future roommate (released in August, I believe, unless you request someone to be your roommate) on maybe splitting the costs of the printer. Also you can only print using a wired connection, I believe (ex. USB-C to your printer).
Thank you both…that’s good to know
On a side note…is the wifi bad at Prince Fredrick?
@priya2015 The wifi is really good in PF (makes sense because ACES and DCC have a lot of technical-based activities.) The wired connection (from rooms) is even better.
@whenyoubelieve Thank you!
Not a current student - just wanted to add that my son also will be in ACES, majoring in CS. He decided on UMD yesterday after narrowing it down to UMD and Purdue. ACES plus a scholarship were the deciding factors I think, and he met some students when he visited whom he has kept in touch with. We were not able to go to the ACES admitted student day, so I was wondering what had impressed you about it.
@misbliz …My son was deciding between UMD and Georgia tech for CS.He was leaning towards Gtech.The Aces presentation on admitted student day was what really impressed him i think. They had reps from Northorp Grumman and NSA to talk to the kids about internship opportunities.They said they have certain number of internship positions reserved for ACES kids.There was also a student panel who did a great job answering questions.He also got an opportunity to ask questions through email about the program to one of the ACES professor and he got a reply within 10 minutes.The ease access to that professor really impressed us.I think distance from home and scholarships to UMD sealed the deal for my son especially when he realized the average starting salary for the ACES kids and Gtech are identitical.My son is also in a group chat (hangouts?) with the ACES kids…I am not sure what it is…but if your son is interested I can ask him to provide the link for him to join
I think he may be in that already. But I’ll ask - thanks! I wonder if there’s a similar group for parents 
I am not sure…you are the first ACES parent that I have seen here…maybe we can make a group