@STEM2017 - One of my D’s best friends started in FC and I know that she got the standard federal loan of $5500 and work study as her financial aid. I believe she got it the same time as everyone else. I do know that she took the loans and work study and graduated on time.
Hi all. We went to Discover Maryland today and although there wasn’t a break out on FC, we stopped by Admissions table and learned a few things. First, he recommended coming back for admitted students day (which we are) for the FC session. We will learn a lot and he said it would be really helpful. Next, he said the FC class doesn’t really ‘fill up’. The urgency is to 1) commit before May 1 so that we can get housing and 2) begin registration for classes (which could fill up). There is also an additional non refundable fee for FC. Around $200. That’s in addition to the $400 deposit which he said is applied toward spring 2020 tuition. He was so nice and very helpful. We loved the campus. We’ll be back on March 8 but this time taking the train to DC which is a 1/2 hour Uber ride to campus. Maybe then I won’t be this exhausted from car ride from NJ. ?
“We’ll be back on March 8 but this time taking the train to DC which is a 1/2 hour Uber ride to campus.”
Take the metro out to College Park, then uber. Much cheaper. Or it might be walking distance, not sure.
@njtwinmom Very helpful info, thanks. We also attended Discover Maryland. We knew it would be geared towards high school sophomores and juniors but figured we could go and learn and get a head start on a decision. We’ve never been to the campus. Unfortunately, the only thing that we found helpful was the campus tour. The presentations were very focused on helping kids to decide whether or not to apply to UMD (we’re obviously past that point). S19 and I dropped out of the structured program and walked around, talked to students, peaked in on classes, etc. We made the best of it. Son was concerned with all the construction (annoying but promising signs of progress). Beautiful campus and full of life - we got to see a real class day in action. It’s an unfair fight, but S found Penn State’s Admitted Student Day much more helpful than Discover Maryland. We will probably need to go to an accepted students day at UMD to help him with a decision.
ETA: Because of the construction, it took our bus 30 minutes from pick up (at the parking lot) to drop off (at the student union) when we could have made the walk in 8-10 minutes. If you visit on a day that is not raining or snowing, I would HIGHLY recommend walking from the parking lot to the student union - walk right through the beautiful McKeldin Mall. Our walk BACK to the parking lot was really really nice.
Agree. Metro we may try, for one. Secondly, construction was annoying as we were driving around trying to find our ‘designated’ parking. Once we all calmed down and got into the student center, we were fine and started to enjoy campus. We too did not sit in any of the sessions. Walked around a bit at the open forum/table set up, ate (aside for the random homeless man who wouldn’t stop taking to my daughter, was great), took the tour (a bit disappointed we didn’t go in any of the academic buildings or the library etc, see dorms), got some swag and walked back to lot. Quicker than the shuttle. Looking forward to March 8.
Also the folks at the welcome desk at student center were very helpful. Talked to them for awhile. They said there are buses that take kids to locations (for us, would be philly) for thanksgiving and other major breaks. I have to research exactly where they go. Also Amtrak and Metro are good options. Other thing I learned was housing is only guaranteed for year 1. But they said ‘off campus’ is close, walkable. I will probe more on that March 8. Sorry this post probably belongs somewhere else as it’s not related to FC.
I consider it a good idea to attend an Admitted Students Day. The focus is entirely different and geared to answering questions you may have as an actual student, rather than just an interest in applying. It is a Great campus. We still enjoy visiting, even though our D has graduated.
As I always do, I dragged my son into several academic buildings. We dropped in the Physics Lecture Hall and stood at the back of a huge lecture in progress for a minute. The professor welcomed us, my son was MORTIFIED. But afterward, he thought it was cool. It was a full class day, so access to most buildings wasn’t too bad, and I have NO problem walking right in and making myself at home (again, mortifying my son). Someday he’ll thank me.
Wandering about on campuses on Saturdays is not as easy - most doors are locked.
@STEM2017 LOL. I can relate. We should have done that! We will on admitted students day… ?. One thing FC related that I was concerned about is my d walking on campus late in the dark alone (since FC may have later classes). Our tour guide spent some time on this. I liked the option of calling for an escort. She would probably never do this but it’s there.
Our tour guide explained that if you want housing for your sophomore year, you are likely to get it. And the only way to insure you get “UMD sponsored” housing as a junior and/or senior is if you live on campus as a freshman AND sophomore. So she seemed to indicate that if you really want to live on campus for all four years (or at least your first three years) it is entirely possible.
@SoofDad can you comment on this?
I remember going last year for Discover Maryland Day and it was crowded as was the Admitted student day I attended with my DD a few years ago. At Discover Maryland Day some of the schools had special tours of their buildings, but on the Admitted Student Day, they separated us by school and department and went over the requirements for the degree and other important information. We are going on March 1st for my DS if it does not snow!
BTW, my daughter is a junior and still living on campus. She will be in the university affiliated apartments next year which you can only apply for if you were in the residence hall this year.
@STEM2017 - Here are 2 links to get you started on the UMD Housing process
http://reslife.umd.edu/housingoutlook/
http://reslife.umd.edu/lottery/
Students generally stay in the same Dorm room with the same roommate(s) for an entire academic year.
Some, maybe quire a few switch Dorms and possibly even roommates between freshman and sophomore year.
Junior year most students move to apartments or houses.
There are 2 UMD “associated” apartment complexes available. I say “associated” because they are not owned or managed by UMD. One is The Courtyards and it is off campus, across 193. The other is South Campus Commons which is actually on campus, along Knox road.
Rising on-campus Juniors are give priority, for any open apartments in these 2 places. Both complexes require a 12 month lease and renters insurance.
As a side note, students in the Honors College are guaranteed on campus housing all 4 years, but they are NOT guaranteed which housing thet get.
I hope this and the 2 links above, provide the info you are seeking
My son did FC last semester and was really happy. UMD was his first choice. He got the classes he needed and got to sleep in late. His roommate was not FC, and no one actually cared. If you want to go to UMCP, FC is a great option. Highly recommend it.
How was the math placement exam? My son is taking it this week. He needs to place into Calc for his intended major.
My son started FC in 2016 and is now a junior. He was a bit annoyed first semester about class schedule but since then there is no distinction between him and other RD students. He has made many FC and non-FC friends, and gained entrance to Engineering (LEP). Plus, I think FC student get somewhat discounted tuition for that first semester. Good experience for him overall.
Has anyone from freshman connection received their math placement test results? My son still has not. If so how were you contacted…personal email or through a Maryland account? Thanks
Never mind. He emailed and got results.
My D was not in freshman connection, but she did not get her results until she was at Orientation.
My son is looking for a roommate. Any freshman connnection boys still looking? We are in NY. He is on the Facebook page but says it’s mosty girls. Message me if so and maybe we can have them chat. Thanks