UMD Living and Learning Programs and Honors College Programs

Hi, I’m getting a little confused on the differences between all of these. So I’ve heard a lot of different and interesting programs and terms thrown around like QUEST, FIRE, Hinman CEOS, FLEXUS, and I’m just kind of getting confused with these and the honors college programs. So I can do an Honors College Program and these living and learning community programs? Can I do multiple of the programs I talked about? What’s the difference between them? Thank you so much! And if anyone can speak to GEMSTONE or University Honors that would be amazing. Thanks!

Also can I apply to FLEXUS before committing to the college? I don’t know where I want to go yet but I don’t want to miss out on these opportunities.

Yes, you can and should apply to FLEXUS now as the deadline is April 1. It is not a commitment that you have made your decision to attend, so no worries.

QUEST and Hinman CEO’s are upper class programs and you cannot participate as an incoming freshman. However, the application for QUEST opens in January DURING your freshman year, and applications for Hinman are done in the fall - typically done as a sophomore for junior year, but they do accept freshman applications for sophomore year.

Living learning program simply means there is housing connected to the program. QUEST is an Honors program, but not an LLP. Hinman is not an honors program but is an LLP, with housing at South Campus Commons.

I will respond in more detail later to explain about FLEXUS and Women in Engineering.

Please check out this link about the engineering preview program and sign up asap if you can attend, as space is limited and there are only two dates: https://eng.umd.edu/freshmen-applicants/decide/preview-program-registration

So I can apply to programs like GEMSTONE and University Honors, be in FLEXUS, and later apply to QUEST and those other Honors Programs when/if I’m interested? Also I know that they say on their website to pick an initial honor program carefully as it is difficult to transfer. I’m interested in starting off with GEMSTONE, and if it becomes too much of a time commitment if/when I want to start doing research with professors and otherwise, I might transfer to University Honors or another 2-year program. Is that a difficult change to make? A friends sibling graduated 6 years ago and said it wasn’t much trouble, but it was also 6 years ago. Also thank you so much for your response that was helpful.

And for FIRE can I only apply as a First Year?

FIRE- yes , first year.
Gemstone to University Honors- ask UMD today. UMD Honors College improves, tweaks its programs each year. Can’t rely on info from 6 years ago.

“University Honors recently embarked on a multi-year initiative to update its curriculum, introduce new cocurricular and student life programming, and expand its full-time faculty and staff. Additionally, during the 2021-22 academic year, UH will come to occupy residential and program space in new buildings on North Campus.”

https://www.universityhonors.umd.edu/overview.html

I suspect University Honors could fill up as new buildings may be highly desired.

Thank you! I went on their online chat for GEMSTONE today and decided I’d prefer that over UH, but UH is still going to be a third or second option. Can I apply to FIRE (lets say I get in) but reject an offer to participate in the program if I get into GEMSTONE? I don’t want to overwhelm myself my first year of college especially with a ChemE major. Hearing my friends that are new freshmen talk about college and their experiences makes me realize I’d rather really push myself and pack on the extracurricular/academic activities once I’m more accommodated. Sorry for all the questions I know they’re super specific.

Also, I know I’m kind of getting ahead of myself here, but for departmental honors how does that work? I’m planning to be a ChemE major, like I said, but I don’t see a specific departmental honor for that. Could I “do a departmental honor” for chemistry or bioengineering or something like that if I’m interested later?

@collegeeqs02 Departmental honors is available for upperclassmen based on college performance only (whereas the honors college offered to new admits is based on high school performance).

To be eligible, you have to have achieved a minimum GPA and be in the top quartile of your class when you apply. So yes, you are definitely getting ahead of yourself, but as an engineer, it is not a bad thing to plan ahead, lol.

For engineering, departmental honors is a general Engineering College Honors program that you apply to at the end of sophomore year. The info describing it is found here https://eng.umd.edu/engineering-honors-program

FYI, for other engineering students reading this, there are a few disciples that have a separate honors program that run a little differently:

Aerospace Departmental Honors
https://aero.umd.edu/undergrad/honors

Bioengineering Departmental Honors
http://www.bioe.umd.edu/undergraduate/honors

Electrical & Computer Engineering Departmental Honors
https://www.ece.umd.edu/undergrad/honors

As for planning ahead, here is the info about the 4 year plan for ChemE students. On page 2, you will see how many classes you need to take per semester just to fulfill engineering requirements (and the order to take them) https://eng.umd.edu/sites/clark.umd.edu/files/resource_documents/chbe-4yrplan-ge-updated-fall-2018.pdf

For other engineering students reading this post, you can find the 4-year plan templates for all the engineering disciplines here https://eng.umd.edu/four-year-plans. Take note that you want to only pay attention to the General Education plans (Core curriculum pre-dates even my son so you can ignore it )

Hey! I’m a prospective transfer student, and I was wondering if anyone knew if there are any LLPs or opportunities for juniors and above who want to make a big college feel smaller. I will likely be transferring in as a junior

Hey! I’m a prospective transfer student, and I was wondering if anyone knew if there are any LLPs or opportunities for juniors and above who want to make a big college feel smaller. I will likely be transferring in as a junior

Sorry my phone glitched and it posted twice

@RBevan - Based on the experience of my D and her friends, many Juniors choose to live off campus and have completed their Honors or Scholars citation requirements.

However, Juniors can apply for Departmental Honors, which. if accepted, puts you in the Honors College. Details vary with each Department and usually require the student to complete and defend an original Honors research thesis. It is a serious amount of work.

@RBevan I think that Global Communities, Jimenez-Porter Writers House, and Hinman CEO’s are available to upperclassmen. Do any of those appeal to you?
http://reslife.umd.edu/llp/

@SoofDad thank you for the information! If I get in I will look into departmental honors.
@mdmamma1707 I think global communities sounds cool! If I get in I will try and contact someone there. Thanks!

Global Communities has a very central location right across the street from the Student Union.

@RBevan Oops, try Language House instead. It’s a lot like Global Communities, but accepts older students. The two buildings are right next to each other.
https://sllc.umd.edu/language-house

Ok thanks @mdmamma1707
I will look into it!

@SoofDad Asking you as you seem to know all here is to know about UMD… My daughter was admitted to Honors College, and received a 4x$12k President’s Scholarship. Great deal cost-wise vs Boston University without any merit aid. However, she finds that with her heavy Major requirements and University Honors courses/seminars, it leaves her very little room to take various classes in subjects that interest her. Question… Can she drop out of Honors College (now) and still get the President’s Scholarship?

@ipayyoustudy - As far as I know, there is no connection between the two. The scholarship does not require participation in the Honors College.

Of course, there is no harm in calling to verify this.

I would however, recommend that your daughter give University Honors a chance. She can always drop it later in the semester.