UMD Freshman Connection! Hellp

So I was admitted for the Spring 2019 semester. My letter says I am able to do freshman connection though… which means I can live on campus and just have later classes right?
Please give me more info on Freshman Connection. Is it something that I have to apply for or am I automatically enrolled in it? Why was I selected for this? Pros and cons? Would you accept this option if you were me or pick a less prestigious school to go to? Are the classes taught by UMD professors? Are only FC people in my dorms and classes? How bad are 3pm-later classes?
Thanks!! I’m sort of confused and the website is a little vague.

First, you must enroll in Freshman Connection. I believe enrollment starts on March 1, first come, first serve. The classes are taught by UMD professors. There are No FC only dorms. Some have reported on here that their kids love the late classes.

You will be able to Graduate on time with the rest of the freshman class and no one actually cares that you are in FC. You are just another freshman adjusting to college life.

My son got accepted to FC, too. We are NOT interested in doing that. There’s a stigma attached to FC students. Read other blogs. FC is helpful to UMD to keep enrollment up and money coming in. My son will choose another school!

As an employer if i see someone with a MD diploma im not going to know or care whether they took afternoon classes. The diplomas are all UMD. @Jwatkins is asking great questions. Is housing available and where, and who teaches the classes. I think you might want to go to campus and meet with the department to get your answers. Good luck!!

As to speculation about keeping enrollment up i doubt it. There are so many people who were denied. I think public institutions should do the best the can to provide opportunities to more kids.

@flyboy1968 I have googled and googled- I am not seeing anything. Can you kindly provide links?

Sadly, flyboy1968 is poorly informed about FC. UMD had 25.000 applications for EA alone and will get another 10,000 or so for RD. If you have questions, please check this link

https://oes.umd.edu/incoming-current-visiting-students/freshmen-connection

or call and talk with them about your concerns.

301.405.7762

@klbmom18 I agree with you, an UMD opportunity/diploma is what matters and positive students should seize the opportunity. It appears that all of the students for Fall and Spring admit have exceptional credentials.

I have read articles which suggest that UMD started the program as an innovative way to fill classrooms during the off-hours, offer more qualified students admission, and to help keep spring enrollment up when students do not return due to factors like graduation or withdrawal. There is nothing wrong with a school trying to work through budget dilemnas. It helps keep tuitions down. Other universities have been studying this program.

@Jwatkins Congratulations & Best of Luck! This is only based on hearsay; but I believe that most “kinks” in the program have been worked thru since it has been in place for a few years, i.e. guaranteed housing now, more class selections Now, it’s up to the students to continue excelling so that no one promotes unnecessary stigmas.

@jwatkins and other FC students/parents - as an independent college counselor who has worked with many students accepted into FC over the years, I would say that an acceptance into FC is great. There is absolutely NO STIGMA associated with this program. In fact, in my experience, the kids (and the parents) really like it. You can live in the dorms. FC is only first-semester freshman year. After that, you are a “regular” UMD student. Classes are smaller (which is a good thing), there is a lot of guidance from the Office of Extended Studies (FC office). You take mostly core courses (which you would have had to take anyway) and often can take an intro class in your major. Classes start at 3:00 (which the kids like- no one likes an 8:00am class in college!). I tell my students that if they are accepted into FC, then YAY! It’s a win…If UMD is where you want to go, then I would not hesitate to take this option.

@jozuko Thanks ok yeah I will definitely be taking this option

My daughter did FC last year and her whole floor was FC. If UMD is your #1 pick do it!

My S was admitted to Spring 2018. We are thrilled because UMD was definitely a reach for him. I appreciate all the info on FC. If classes are begin at 3 pm, what are the typical class times? I am concerned about him being able to meet other students and make friends. I think students getting dinner together and joining clubs are nice social ice breakers. Will it be hard for him to meet other students? He is pretty outgoing, just concerned the afternoon/evening class time will limit him. Thank you!

@pct3 - I don’t think your S will have any trouble meeting people and making friends. Most freshmen, including FC, are in one of the North Campus Dorms. They are 8 stories and have hundreds of students each. My D and some others spent their second day visiting every floor on their dorm. Freshmen move in a few days before classes start and UMD has a variety of events just for them.

Your S will have a meal plan and probably be eating in the Diner and 251. Lots of opportunity to meet others. The same for classes. Remember, he’ll be there 7 days a week. There will be things going on at Stamp and Soccer and Football games to attend. He should be fine.

@SoofDad thank you. I did a LOT of googling- and pretty much everything I came up with was resoundingly positive. My kiddo is a morning person, so s/he is bummed- and was looking forward to participating in a club sport which was 3-6pm practices. It’s really going to impact 1st semester, so we have a lot to think about!

So I will be missing out on club meetings because of FC?

A club my S might be interested in meets 4-6 pm. Bummer that he will be in afternoon classes. I hope he would still want to join in the Spring. Things to think about FC.

As a current UMD student, I can attest to the fact that there’s no stigma attached to being FC. What jozuko said previously is 100% true from what I’ve seen and heard about FC! Don’t stop considering UMD just because you got a FC offer!

Read this article written last January about UMD FC.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/letter-high-school-seniors-accepted-umd-spring-semester

My daughter may be doing this as well depending on other offers. I think it is a great program and the only real con is late classes (but only first semester). And those classes will be much smaller than others to help students transition to a large college!

Can anyone clarify what a typical FC schedule looks like? My son wants to try out for club lax and I’m wondering if he’ll have classes every day durning practice or just sometimes. Also, when it says first come, first served, does that mean if he doesn’t sign up for FC around March 1, he risks not getting in and having to spend fall at community college? He’s still waiting to hear from other schools and needs to make an educated decision. He has some nice merit scholarships at other schools and while he really liked Maryland, this spring start makes UMD a more difficult choice.

Finally got letter n my daughter got FC n elated We also thought it would be a reach. She’s coming from a very small high school in state so I think it will be a great transition for her! It’s one semester n living in campus will hopefully be an option. Very excited UMD is her #1.

@3boyshouse Hey so I was curious about that too…pretty much all classes are after 3pm, the link i found below shows the courses offered to FC students in fall 2017. If u click a major then click “show sections” then you’ll see the class schedules. And it does seem like its first come first serve so yes he does risk that but I’m not sure how fast it is at filling up…like you may be able to wait for other decisions first but I’m not going to since UMD was my second choice for my EA apps and only one I got into. I have regular deicisons that don’t come in until April 1 but they are reaches and if I got Spring admit at UMD i’m expecting rejections from them
https://ntst.umd.edu/soc/search?courseId=&sectionId=&termId=201708&_openSectionsOnly=on&creditCompare=&credits=&courseLevelFilter=ALL&instructor=&_facetoface=on&_blended=on&_online=on&courseStartCompare=&courseStartHour=&courseStartMin=&courseStartAM=&courseEndHour=&courseEndMin=&courseEndAM=&teachingCenter=FC&_classDay1=on&_classDay2=on&_classDay3=on&_classDay4=on&_classDay5=on