University of Maryland - College Park EA Class of 2023

1.Classes availability, 2.who the professors will be, 3.availabiluty of TA’s and study sessions which will likely meet while he is in his afternoon/evening classes, 4. having to apply for the program from scratch. I did 2 of my 3 degrees at night and there is a huge difference.

@Allecto what LEP was he trying to get?

It’s one semester and its late afternoons. Trust me, your kid will be done with it and home for Winter break before you have time to rent out his/her room. :))

I understand its a denial. Its more fifficult to have 17 year old who had his heart set on UMD to understand that and that he has better options. Program-wise I think Rutgers is much better fit for him but out of state tuition may be a challenge

@Allecto if his heart was set on UMD, with all due respect, he was not denied. He was admitted…please give FC a fair consideration. Maybe you can set up a call with someone from UMD that can address each of your concerns.

I agree with @STEM2017. Winter break will come and he will have done it and be in fine shape. If he really is behind, it might only be by a few classes and maybe he can do them over the summer. I heard that UMD is actually very good about accepting on-line classes, so I think you will have lots of choices.

I am instate NJ and Rutgers is a fine school but you cannot compare it to UMD. And the access to DC is so great. And it will be a very exciting time to be there these next few years.

Good luck.

Engineering. OK SAT’s but he was sick during end of 9th mid 10th grade and it impacted his GPA. He did PLTW throughout HS and all of his classes that offered AP.

Engineering is one of the LEPs that you can get into if you take certain classes and I think just get C’s…but don’t take my word for it, call admissions and discuss it. I think it’s totally possible for him to get in Engineering. Business would be harder. (Not that the program is harder, but it’s harder to get in as a transfer. Engineering is rigorous, but they make it quite doable for non-direct admits to get in. I think it’s pretty common.)

Honestly, it’s one semester with classes from 3-9. I agree with @stem2017, that time will pass before you can blink your eyes. If it was 4 years or even a full year it might be different. You take some GenEds and get them over with. If UMd was a top choice and it was offered to my son I would do it without hesitation. Even a late class on a Thursday night gets you out in plenty of time to party with your friends!

@collegegagal Unfortunately no. Only those invited to the Honors college have the potential to be a B/K candidate.

I think I read somewhere that there are 1,000 spots reserved for Freshman Connection, and it’s on a first-come basis.

Anyone know how quickly these spots fill up, based on experience? Minutes, hours, days, weeks?

@Allecto - godson entered in Fall 2017 with Freshman Connection. No issues getting needed classes, great advising, now enrolled in Engineering. The absolute only downside is there will be no merit - the rest is a really smooth transition and still feeling like a UMD student from the get go. But also remember - UMD is not necessarily known to be generous across the board with merit. My high stats kid needs merit to attend but we are well aware that is a long shot even for top kids.

We have the same questions regarding FC. How quickly do spots fill up. If we don’t get a spot then we will move on to another college. We signed up for open house on March 8 and there is a phone number to call with questions which we may do. In the meantime, I find this thread very helpful regarding FC overall. Seems like a great option!

I feel like there are so many MISREPRESENTATIONS of Freshman Connection. My Son did it. You get housing (albeit some of the housing is not as good as others) and you are mixed with other non FC kids. The tuition is a bit cheaper (not a lot, we are OOS). You spend your first semester ONLY in classes that meet later in the day. The professors are the same as the ones who teach earlier in the day. Your child gets to sleep late (not a bad thing) and transition into college with less stress. He joined clubs, socialized with all the other students, no one knew or cared if you were FC. Granted, you cannot do sports that require practices in the afternoon. Other than that is it seamless to transition into a regular student come the second semester. My son was admitted to his LEP - Government and Politics - the end of his second semester. He has not suffered any stigmas or set backs. He is a senior now with a straight A average. For those who want to go to UMD, Freshman Connection is a NO BRAINER. But it is first come, first serve and it is getting more popular each year because it is not a rejection!

Very helpful! Problem is my d won’t go there unless she gets a spot in FC. So I’m unclear on the sequence of accepting the offer, putting a deposit down and then she doesn’t get a spot. Also it’s interesting you get a minor break on tuition. I didn’t know that. I guess when the financial package comes in, that is explained? (I realize there is not merit for spring admits) We are OOS too.

Here is a link for the requirements for transfer into the Engineering LEP

https://www.lep.umd.edu/engr-lep.pdf

@njtwinmom My understanding is that she will definitely get a spot in FC is she indicates she is going to enroll, sneds her deposit and then submits the FC enrollment form. The open question is whether she’ll get all the classes she wants. I think the Freshman Connection webpages at umd.edu do a good job of answering a lot of questions about the program including information https://oes.umd.edu/incoming-current-visiting-students/freshmen-connection. E.g., it says the following:

Step 4: Submit Your FC Enrollment Form
Access the Online FC Enrollment Form (Available March 1)
After submitting the FC Enrollment Form, you will receive two emails: one email confirms submission of the enrollment form; another email confirms submission of payment. These emails are NOT an acknowledgement that you have been enrolled in your course selections. If you did not receive both emails, email fc@umd.edu.

After we’ve received the FC Enrollment Form, you must complete the Math Placement Test (MPT). Your FC Enrollment Form will not be reviewed until the results of the MPT have posted to your student record. Course seats are not held. Course registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain courses, particularly math and science fill and close early. Do not delay in taking the MPT.

After the MPT results post, Advisors review your course selections based on major and Gen Ed requirements (if there are any issues, an advisor will contact you via email), ensure you’ve selected a UNIV100 section, confirm that you’ve selected an orientation session, ensure that the enrollment-deposit fee payment has successfully posted, and, finally, process the form.

You’ll receive a final email confirming that your FC Enrollment Form has been processed. This email contains instructions on how to access and view your fall course schedule.

@STEM2017 @njtwinmom - I’ve been on this forum for a few years, and I tend to look at various UMD websites. I’ve never seen any info on how quickly Freshman Connection fills up. I agree that it would be useful. One thing I might add, is that is was only for the HS Class of 2014, that UMD started offering on-campus housing for FC students.

So it sounds like you can’t officially sign up for FC until 3/1. But that if you want to sign up you should do so as soon as you can on or after 3/1 and then take the Math Placement test as soon as you can (website says it becomes available in mid-March) so that your enrollment form can be processed as quickly as possible and hopefully ensure you get the classes you asked for.

Any Psych majors on here doing FIRE?

Thanks. Our fear was that we’d go through all this, pay a deposit, she doesn’t get FC and then it’s too late to commit somewhere else. We’ll see after she visits March 8. We’d go earlier but she has her senior class trip. Thanks again for everyone’s comments. Very helpful.