agree - same issue with my son…
I think you’re right about the lower yield. You sound like you have a wonderfully talented son!
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Thanks for that, mdmamma1970, I appreciate sentiment. I’m beyond proud of this kid and I know everyone else here feels the same about theirs. While this this site may be collectively obsessive 
it’s amazing to see how many talented kids are going to be hitting the world in the years to come.
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I was NOT trying to say that UMD uses weed out classes. That is what some colleges do. Admit a students to a Major, such as Engineering, with the knowledge that say 30% will flunk out.
UMD admits students to a Major, knowing that X% will drop out/switch for various reasons, making room for other students who want in. UMD has a handful of majors that are handled this way and they have been doing it for many years.
For all of these majors, except Business, the process is a routine one. People can choose to view this in a negative manner, or a positive one.
CS is a new LEP at UMD, but people have been dealing with this in other Majors at UMD for a long time.
These same thing happens with students who are Spring admits with the offer of Freshman Connection. I personally know several students who have done Freshman Connection and have NO regrets whatsoever. One young man that I know, started in Freshman Connection and is now at Yale, getting a PhD in Physics.
ALL colleges can be a place of opportunity. I have never seen anyone report that they did not get their desired major (except for business) via the L&S route, and I do know several who have made it.
Similar discussions will occur when scholarships are awarded. Why did a student with lower Stats get merit money and one with higher Stats did not.
I cannot say Why anything happens, and I have tried in many of my past posts over the years to let people know that they DO happen.
My D and her fiance, who are both doing VERY well in their careers, went to UMD, because it was the best value, and gave them the opportunity to succeed. Neither one initially got into a LEP, neither one got any merit money. They succeeded because they decided to.
It is Not my intention to convince anyone to go to UMD. I simply try to provide factual information.
I wish you and your student the best of Luck and I am sure that he will succeed, wherever he goes. He is clearly am accomplished young man. And maybe, I should just stop writing now, LOL.
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My first post here so please be kind. I went through the posts to find the information I am looking for but couldn’t find it.
DS applied EA to UMD (Physiology and neurobiology major) and was admitted for Spring 2023 with the option to start in Fall 2022 through freshman connection. We are in-state and he has strong stats.
He feels that if he changes his major to Econ (which is not an LEP and just used as an example) he might have a shot at fall 2022 admission and may be considered for Merit aid.
Has anyone done this in the past and can share their experience?
I have not seen anyone report that they tried something like this. All scholarships will probably be awarded in 3 weeks. There are not a lot of them.
You can always call and ask
I believe he can do both. FIRE is a research program.
The application asked a question similar to ‘Have you taken any classes at another university’ We were confused about how to respond for dual enrollment classes, so we asked the AO and they said to answer no. I wonder if those of you didn’t get a response because UMD is missing a document from a college answered yes to that question. I know it doesn’t help or make anyone feel better about the situation, but it might explain the discrepancy between who did and did not get a decision.
my son was also admitted to spring 2023. his major is not an LEP. I don’t think at this point changing majors would make a difference. The freshman connection, from everything I have read and after looking into course offerings, seems to be a good program that will not hinder their college career.
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Yes we did answer yes to that so thats why the system flagged us as missing the transcript for the college courses
Wish had known that before.
After not getting decision, send the summer course transcripts.
Got a decision later , accepted to spring 2023 due to space limitations.
I believe that Freshman Connection enrollment begins March 1 and in previous people have reported that the staff at the Freshman Connection Office are very helpful
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but according to common app FAQ, we should put dual enrollment classes under “Colleges and Universities”, see below:
Where should I list a course that offers both college and high school credit?
You should use the Current or Most Recent Year Courses section to capture all courses you are enrolled in for the year, including dual enrollment college courses that grant high school credit. You should use the Colleges & Universities section to list all colleges that have or will grant you college credit, including dual enrollment courses and any college course taken independent of the high school (i.e. no high school credit is received). You should not include AP/IB courses in the Colleges & Universities section.
Thanks!
Thank you!
From what we understand, kids in Freshman Connection take courses later in the day in Fall semester. However in Spring, I have read conflicting information regarding the order in which they can register for classes. Do they get last pickings in Spring 2023? Any parents or students who can speak from experience?
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Our DE counts for high school credit, so they do not qualify based on these instructions. If your kid’s DE does not count for high school credit then yes you’d need transcripts from the college because they are independent college courses. The specific question was a UMD question, not the standard common app questions. (We didn’t have a question worded that way for any other app, I don’t remember the exact language but it was confusing)
As I recall, students get to register based on the number of credits that they have (more credits register earlier)
Hopefully someone can provide more recent and specific data.
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@MomMars See how registration worked this spring for Freshman Connection Spring Admits
“… Finally, UMD (like most higher education institutions) has a tiered system for spring registration. Here is the registration order for UMD students:
- Current UMD Seniors register first
- Current UMD Juniors register second
- Current UMD Sophomores register third
- Current UMD Fall Admitted Freshmen register fourth
- Freshmen Connection Students / Upper Level Transfer Students (these transfer students are juniors and will be taking upper level junior/senior courses) register fifth
- Transfer students (lower level and upper level) and other Spring Admitted Students who did not participate in Freshmen Connection register sixth.”
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I don’t think that former Freshman Connection students have a later registration slot beyond the 2nd semester of freshman year, but this is very useful information for families to know.
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I think It’s an AND, for dual enrollment + college credit only courses.
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