My son was recently accepted to UMD into the Clark School of Engineering. He received an email inviting him to apply for the Virtus Living/Learning Community. He looked into it a little and seems interested. It sounds like a good way for engineering students to get involved socially and also to build a network for support academically. We were wondering though, if he submits an application to Virtus and is accepted, is it binding, or can he decline the offer if he decides to? The Virtus application deadline is April 1st, and he is visiting the school on April 5th for the first time for an accepted students’ day, so he would really like to see the school and learn more about some of the other programs offered, etc. before having to commit to a program. Also, if anyone has any thoughts on the Virtus living/learning program, or any other engineering living communities that are offered at UMD we would really appreciate it.
No, it is not binding. I would absolutely accept it.
Virtus is specifically designed to provide support for engineering students so that they can succeed in this very challenging major.
There is no other living learning community specific to engineering students other than Flexus, the one for females. There will be engineering students in other living learning programs (like honors, scholars, civicus ,etc) but they are not designed with the singular focus of supporting engineers. Only flexus/virtus programs (both housed in same dorm, Easton) have on-site tutoring for engineering classes, block schedules to support study groups, career development for engineering and other bells and whistles all designed to retain students in engineering.
Here’s a thread I created several years ago that might be helpful http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1455365-attn-engineers-special-living-learning-program-for-p1.html
Congrats on direct admission to engineering and Welcome to Terp Nation!
Thank you so much for your help! I was just looking at a thread from February and was so happy to read all of the wonderful information you had provided. We didn’t realize that there was an engineering preview night. I used the link in that thread to sign up for the April 4th session! We really wanted to see some of the engineering facilities and didn’t realize a tour was not provided on the accepted students day. We are staying at The Hotel at University of Maryland. It sounded really convenient but what a bonus to learn that it is right across the street from the engineering school! The Virtus program sounds like a great opportunity for engineering students too! Thank you so much for taking the time to provide a wealth of very useful information!
Absolutely my pleasure!