<p>List them...</p>
<p>Good:
1. Very good student body
2. Some well rated programs especially in business, engineering, and education,
3. Very reasonably price
4. Has very good reputation in Maryland and in Mid Atlantic region
5. Has lots of things to do, and isn't too far from either Baltimore or Wash DC.</p>
<p>Bad:
1. Not well known outside of Mid Atlantic
2. Crime rate for College Park is fairly high
3. Large school with some large intro classes
4. Not all programs are rated very highly especially liberal arts type of programs.
5. They have TAs teaching some intro classes and/or intro sections.
6. It is a very hard school. They have to let kids transfer in from Maryland community colleges. Thus, they don't care how many kids they flunk out.
7. Although not specific to University of Maryland, Maryland State schools have a load of "junk" core requirements. There are 10, count em, categories of general education courses, some of which don't make any sense.</p>
<p>GOOD:<br>
1. AHTLETICS & SCHOOL SPIRIT
2. NICE CAMPUS
3. BIG SCHOOL...MEET LOTS OF PEOPLE...GOOD SOCIAL LIFE
4. NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN
5. CLOSE TO DC.</p>
<p>BAD:
1. BIG CAMPUS MEAN LONG WALKS WHERE EVER YOU GO
2. CLASSES ARE HARD AND LARGE
3. TOO MANY SNOBBY RICH KIDS...(usually from states north of Md.)
4. HONORS DORM...BORING
5. HEAVY WORKLOAD</p>
<p>"It is a very hard school. They have to let kids transfer in from Maryland community colleges. Thus, they don't care how many kids they flunk out." What does this mean TAXGUY?
UMD is required to let kids in from community colleges with a certain GPA ..how did you jump from that to they dont care how many kids they flunk out? If they are required to let them in...and the kids come in..is UMD suppose to water down the work so they can do it, if they are not capable?
And if they are not capable and flunk out - does that mean UMD doesnt care? Maybe it means they should not be there to begin with and UMD doesnt have a choice but to take them. It doesnt mean UMD doesnt care.</p>
<p>D. is in her sophomore year there now and I have been delighted with the care and support she has received.</p>
<p>Once again on the crime..I compared the stats with UNC and William and Mary and with the exception of petty theft ..they were very similar. </p>
<p>Desvw - What do you mean by Honors dorm boring? Is your daughter in the dorm? I thought she got in off the waitlist and was not in the honors program. Did she wind up in an honors dorm?</p>
<p>My daughter absolutely loves the honors dorm she is in. And she makes sure to participate in the community so she can stay there next year.</p>
<p>The classes may be hard but would you prefer they be watered down? This is college. I would hope the coursework would be tough and that my kid would learn something. I would hope that kids admitted will be able to do the work and enjoy the challenge. College includes social life..but learning is a major part of it. A good balance is key and at the right school that balance will be there.</p>
<p>My daughter is taking a very very rigourous schedule which includes more credits than is normally allowed (had to get special permission) and Japanese which is exceptionally difficult esp. if you have never had it before. </p>
<p>Yeah, she said its very tough but she is doing well.
The classes may be tough but hopefully the kids that are admitted can do the work and will be challenged and learn.</p>
<p>Class sizes can be large..but my D. also said she has been in some tiny ones like 5 or so kids. </p>
<p>BTW you are right about the campus being huge and lots of walking. But I see that as a good thing. We dont do enough walking in this country. My D. who is small to begin with is smaller and very fit now after all her walking last year. This year her dorm is more centrally located so she doesnt have to go so far to go anywhere.
But it is a major part of UMD life ..so anyone applying should know that in advance.</p>
<p>My quibbles with UMD would be
1. the main street is not that pretty..
2. TA's teaching classes alot
3. food could be better..
4. in general dorms could be nicer..ie better lighting, air conditioning, etc (honors dorms are better esp some of them..this year my D's dorm room is really lovely)</p>
<p>The good..
1. great value for a great education
2. many many choices in classes
3. many opportunities to try new things - meet people like oneself etc
4. caring support with good system of checks and balances
5. beautiful campus..overall super facilities</p>
<p>I could go on....</p>
<p>I have no idea but I think it's because she's in a "triple"...those are the last students placed. None of her roommates are "honors" students either. Not much social scene there at all and she usually has to go to other dorms for the fun....this is just her opinion.</p>
<p>As for the walking, that is something that applicants need to be aware of. The first two weeks of classes, (and a week before THAT because she was "early arrival") that was the biggest complaint I heard, but you do get used to it....</p>
<p>Mine is not an honors student and seems to have to work TWICE as hard as most of those around her,which is frustrating, but she is managing very well considering all the commitments she has. Everyone has their own opinions of what they want and what they like. She literally had to beg to get in but is reaping the rewards and probably appreciates her experiences a lot more than most. She goes to all her classes BUT knows many who don't but still get excellent grades.??? You have to adapt no matter what college you attend.</p>
<p>I was just curious why if she is not in an honors dorm..she finds the honors dorm boring?
My D. loves the honors dorm she is in. </p>
<p>As far as working hard, I know my D. is working her butt off also..but this is by choice. She signed up for the tough curriculum and opted to take Japanese. She could have taken easier classes but this is what she wanted to learn. I am glad UMD has so many options.</p>
<p>Things will likely get better for your D. when she gets finished her core classes and can take things she wants to take and enjoys.
Sounds like she has the right attitude!</p>
<p>She IS in an honors dorm AND finds it boring but she was lucky to get a room at all, so she's not complaining. IF someone is looking for a very social dorm, honors is not the way to go.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, are the girls hot at UMD?</p>
<p>Anstridden asks,"It is a very hard school. They have to let kids transfer in from Maryland community colleges. Thus, they don't care how many kids they flunk out." What does this mean TAXGUY?"</p>
<p>Response: It means what it says. Other schools,notably private schools, have a vested interest in trying to retain as many people as possible for graduation. UMD, and frankly a number of other state schools, have to make room for incomming transfers. As a school, they care less about retention then their private school counterparts. </p>
<p>I wouldn't say that the private schools water down their curriculum more,but, from the private schools that I have seen and lectured at, they do tend to flunk out fewer kids and care more about retention than many public schools such as Maryland</p>
<p>Desvw....If your D. finds the honors dorm boring - why?
You may want to examine her reasons. In my D's case she joined the honors community and participates in the activities.
The honors dorms tend to be quieter and not as rowdy as the non-honors dorm. My D. is VERY happy with this! </p>
<p>Last year she was in Denton and though its an honors dorm..she thought it was a bit rowdy with kids coming in drunk after games etc. She was fine with that her first year..but much prefers the very small honors dorm she is in this year. Very peaceful.</p>
<p>She does not want to be around alot of partying..if this is what your D. wants than yep - honors living must be boring to her. I dont think Denton is as rowdy as some of the non-honors dorms. The dorm my D. is in this year is very, very quiet..and she loves that! So its all what you are looking for.</p>
<p>The honors dorms tend to be much nicer than the non-honors dorms in terms of facilities also. (especially the dorm my D. is in this year..its really lovely).</p>
<p>I am surprised that your D. was placed in an honors dorm as it is very hard to get in one if you are not in honors. </p>
<p>Which dorm is she in? Does she have to move out at the end of this term?</p>
<p>Another advantage of UMD is its proximity to DC. My D. hopped the metro and voila in minutes has been to nice restaurants, the National Gallery etc.</p>
<p>Taxguy - your post doesn't really doesnt explain how other schools are helping kids get to graduation.</p>
<p>If caring about retention equates to watering down the curriculum - its not much of a school is it?</p>
<p>A school may have a vested interest in seeing kids graduate so how are they doing that? Are they making easier classes?
Well what is that accomplishing?</p>
<p>At UMD I can vouch that the counseling my D. has received - the system of checks and balances has been excellent. The counselor is right there to make sure she is on base in course selection etc.</p>
<p>Now are we to expect the system to do the work in the classes for her also so we can have a higher retention rate?</p>
<p>Angstridden, I certainly can't speak for most private school;however, I can use a school that my older son attends. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>First, the amount of D's and E's seem to be less than what is given at some state schools. Thus, fewer flunkouts.</p></li>
<li><p>Second, there are a lot of tutoring opportunities and other types of academic help at the school.</p></li>
<li><p>Teachers, for the most part, are very accessible and are required to maintain office hours. Many maintain hours above and beyond the university requirements.</p></li>
<li><p>Academic advising seems to be more personalized and overall better quality at the private schools that I have seen. I have seen advisors advise against taking certain professors because of bad ratings or other negative information that they are aware of.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>There are other types of help,but I think that you get the message.</p>
<p>Why are D's and E's given less often? That is not proof that there is greater help. That only indicates that fewer low grades are given out. This could be because the kids are coddled, the curriculum is watered down or any number of reasons. It is not proof that there is greater help.</p>
<p>As far as academic advising..I think that would vary according to the advisor. My D. has a terrific advisor who has been very available for her and they have met several times regarding courses, schedules and talked on the phone. From our experience the advising at UMD has been excellent.
I also had a few questions early on (when D. was a freshman) and talked to several advisors at UMD, response time was quick and very helpful.</p>
<p>Teachers..my daughter just the other day said she needed to contact one of her teachers about something and I know of several times where she had to contact teachers to either get special permission to take a class, ask a question regarding curriculum etc. Only one time did she have trouble getting someone.
My friends son on the other hand who attends a small private college was subjected to several changes of teachers (two got fired during the semester). He may have tried to get help in one of the courses he was taking but didnt. He flunked this course but was allowed to retake it and wipe out his other grade.....
As far as teachers maintaining office hours and helping kids.TAXGUY you know as well as I that anywhere you go you are going to have a mix of good and bad teachers and mediocre teachers.
Indicating that the teachers at UMD are not as good as the ones at a private school and/or dont keep the hours is very unfair to them. You dont know what each teacher does. You are making a gross generalization.</p>
<p>As far as tutoring opportunities..I do not know what the opportunities are at UMD..but are you saying they dont offer tutoring? I find that hard to believe. I know my D. has not had a need for tutoring so has not experienced it, but I am willing to bet tutoring is in place for the kids that need it.</p>
<p>So yeah I think UMDCP is offering a strong curriculum and a great system of checks and balances.</p>
<p>My D. is home for Thanksgiving break. I asked her about the teachers at UMDCP. She said that in all her classes the teachers have given contact information and encouraged kids to get in touch if they need too. (This also includes the huge classes).
She said she did not know about the tutoring at UMDCP as she has not needed it.</p>
<p>Are any of your kids in the CIVICUS program?</p>
<p>Angstriddem. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am basing what I have said from both teaching at UMD and seeing what goes on at some private schools that one of my kids attended. </p>
<p>Yes, advising and teaching does vary from teacher to teacher and school to school. It just seems that my son, at his private school, got a lot more personalized attention that what I have normally seen at Maryland and even Towson. Of course, I am sure there are exceptions.</p>
<p>As far as grading, there is no question that Maryland and Towson both seem to have tougher grading policies ( as do some other state universities that I have seen such as Stonybrook, Albany, Buffalo etc)</p>
<p>I just happened to be viewing grades in various courses in Maryland a few years ago, and it was almost a bell curve with about 12% As, 20% Bs, 40Cs, rest Ds and Es. At my son's private school, the "A" percentages were the same,but fewer Es and Ds.Maybe these were anomolies from the norm. I can tell you that when I taught at Maryland, I gave out a strict bell curve, with the exception of fewers Es. It was my understanding in the business school that this was standard at the time, which was in 1988.</p>
<p>Yes, I do believe that Maryland offers a strong curriculum for a great value. However, I do not like the core requirements found in all the Maryland state universities. Again, this is my opinion. </p>
<p>In all Maryland state universities, they have 10 categories of requirements, which is in addition to the requirements of each school such as the School of Business or Engineering. It reads like a Chinese menu. Some of these requirements make no sense either.</p>
<p>For example, there is a creative category,which requires courses such as art, jewelry making etc; however, there is no music course such as music theory that would meet this requirement! Admittedly, I am basing this on Towson's catalog, which I believe has the same core requirements as all Maryland state universities or so I have been told.</p>
<p>When I taught there, it was a HUGE school, and now it even has more kids than before. There is not usually a lot of personalization. Again, this is what I have witnessed. Are there exceptions? Yes.</p>
<p>GGT my D. is in the honors program not in Civicus.</p>
<p>Taxguy...you are not attending the school..You are speaking from a perspective that was from when you taught there..how long ago was that? And you were not a student there. My D. is attending UMDCP right now and she is getting plenty of personalized attention. The counselor even talked to me at the end of last year when D. got sick about scheduling her classes. She is a wonderful counselor!</p>
<p>You are making generalizations..you can have good and bad counselors and teachers at any school. I am seeing lots of good at UMDCP. Now one of my friends sons goes to a very small private school and he is busy partying and joined a fraternity and he enjoys it..(though he did fail and had to repeat a course)</p>
<p>My D. is in with a group of kids that dont smoke or drink. They hang out at computer parties, work out, take fencing etc. She found her niche at UMD and loves it. She is very happy with the course offerings, the challenge and the teachers.
I am sharing my D and her friends point of view. They all LOVE it!</p>
<p>YES UMDCP is very large. But they have a great system of checks and balances. When she wanted to take additional credits - more than they normally allow this term, it would not let her register without talking to a counselor.
Kids are required to talk to a counselor at certain points in the year to make sure they are on track.
She said the teachers have encouraged communication and she has been in a variety of class sizes. </p>
<p>The school is huge but why does that make it impersonal?
Kids get in with a group and hang out making it their own small community..but because of the size..there are tons of options that smaller schools may not offer.</p>
<p>What private school does your child attend? I thought they went to Towson or is that another child?</p>
<p>With all due respect - since you folks are parents and/or teachers of UMCP students - you have your own perspectives - and I'm just a Terp frequent flyer and wannabee - but there's an interesting website out there that supposedly gives a general view from students on various aspects of a lot of campuses - its called campusdirt.com - supposedly gathers data through surveys of students. Can't determine how valid the data may be or whether there's major bias happening in respondents - or maybe they just make all the stuff up - who knows. But I have visited several times to check out schools I was considering. Frankly - I ruled one out because the survey valiated what I had heard about the dominance of drugs on the social scene. But it also talks about safety - availability of profs - etc etc etc - though you might like to check it out for another perspective.</p>
<p>GGT...when my D. indicated interest in UMD I thought..no way, too big, too much crime etc.
But she took the tour, liked it and so I looked into it. I compared crime stats, talked to students and advisors etc. I also finally took a tour.
(This was all for my reassurance)
Anyway I was impressed. The facility is great. Students that I chatted with loved it. Lots of opportunites etc.
I also read opinions at epinions.com
I am sure you will find different opinions with different people.
TAXGUY for example has found UMD to be impersonal. We have found it to be fantastic. D. absolutely loves it!</p>
<p>Angstridden - what are computer parties?
D is absolutely thrilled to be at UMD! She's switched majors from a small major to a very big major. She said that the counselors at the new major are much more responsive and knowledgeable than in the other major.
Yes the school is big - but that means more opportunities to get involved and meet lots of people.</p>