<p>Just curious as to what people are facing in their decisions. If you haven't already paid your deposit, are you still trying to decide between UMD and another school? Which schools are you waiting for their decision before you commit?</p>
<p>4 years ago for DD1, she was waiting to hear from MIT. Boy, did THEY make a mistake !!!! I don't know if the undergrad snub played any part in her decision not to apply to them for grad school for the fall, hahaha.</p>
<p>My son has been accepted to all his choice and has narrowed his decision to three schools:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>UMD, loved the visit, did the overnight in the dorm had a blast. He was accepted into Scholars and seems to like what that program. But we are OOS and still have not heard anything on scholarship or aid, without it this may be a little tight to swing.</p></li>
<li><p>UDel, again loved the campus, loved that main street runs through it. On our visit it was the day of the Greeks games lots of kids having fun. Still oos but we did get 4000/year in merit so that helps.</p></li>
<li><p>Richard Stockton College of NJ, the only reason this is still on his list is because it is in state, very affordable also gave him 7000/ year in merit award and offers a 5 year Masters in his Major. They also guarantee an internship in Washington DC.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any thoughts or opinions would help</p>
<p>Much as I would like to go on and on about why UMD is the right choice (probably what you’d expect to get on a UMD forum…). … If he has not received any scholarships, his financial aid will most likely leave a big gap. UMD is notoriously NOT good as far as financial aid, and many of their awards are state awards and apply only to MD residents. sorry…</p>
<p>Those are 3 very different choices. Would your son be happy at a college where the 75th percentile for the ACT is 23? One of the best things about being at UMd is the people (such as those your son will meet in the Scholars program).</p>
<p>Seconded.
The programs are good and everything, but the people at UMD are what make it great. If you go dig and find a thread in College Life called “Chill Schools in the East Coast” UMD came up in 6/14 posts.
There are people who are stuck up or whatever here of course, but with a population so large the few people don’t matter. The people are overwhelmingly friendly, and you can start a conversation with just about everyone. People will help other people out randomly, whether it’s offering to help someone carry something to their car, or three strangers working to get the same stubborn waffle out of the waffle irons at the diner. On Friday night, any small groups of girls will have groups (usually mixed girls and guys) making sure they’re alright and asking if they want to be walked home. We once passed a group of guys (not UMD students) calling across the quad to one girl who was waiting to be let into a building. My three guy friends stayed with her until her friend came down and opened the door.</p>
<p>Got accepted to UCLA, UCSD, CAL POLY (engineering), Tulane, UMD waiting on Duke and CAL</p>
<p>DD currently choosing between UMD, UMN, and Purdue - engineering in all cases. UMD is IS, but offered her the least $, so UMN would actually be cheaper. Also, Purdue identified her as one of their top 95 applicants, but UMD didn’t invite her to interview for B/K. Still waiting to hear from Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell and Princeton.</p>
<p>(Honestly, I was pretty surprised by the B/K snub, even though I know it can be unpredictable. UMD has been a big disappointment to me. I assumed it would be her least expensive option, and I don’t want her to go as far away as the other choices are, but it’s not looking too good at the moment. UMD only offered her $5K/year President’s. Still hoping she’ll get something from the engineering school, or some money for National Merit scholarship, but not holding my breath.)</p>
<p>@HoComom, what about MDS? That’s another $3K/year for IS.</p>
<p>Kydanmom, I agree whole-heartedly with what plum and gina said above. But if it comes down to $$$, I am afraid UMD might disappoint, especially compared to OOS tuition. I hope I’m wrong. The Scholars program is awesome, and the proximity to Washington DC was a big draw for my two terps…</p>
<p>33dmjjm, will you have to wait until March 30 to hear? Congrats on a great group of schools to choose from.</p>
<p>My D is heading down to UDel scholar’s weekend, and is up for B/K. We are OOS for both. The results of those two determinations will obviously be a big factor in considering those schools. She also received a “likely” from Penn and admission to UNC. She’s not big on the Ivy environment, but if she doesn’t get the merit aid she’d like from UMd or UDel, she may head that way. At our income level, Penn aid would probably be very good. </p>
<p>Any thoughts on the similarities / differences with UMd and UDel (academics and school culture)? Have already considered proximity to DC (that is a big plus for UMd) and fact that UDel has a program UMd does not.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people are unhappy with OOS financial aid but you are very lucky you dont live in Califorinia. Financial aid is a nightmare here. The UCs and state schools in California are giving out very little need-based or merit aid. I have not received a penny for any schools in the state of California. It will actually be cheaper for me to go to OOS to Tulane or UMD. Only cheaper school would be Cal Poly.</p>
<p>plumazul, yes, she will get MDS too. Although, I remember hearing rumors last year that it might not get funded (although it ultimately did get funded), so I’m not counting on that 100% until she actually gets the money.
Does anybody here know anything about National Merit scholarships at UMD? DD has not “declared” her first choice school yet, since she hasn’t decided. If you declare UMD as your #1 school by the NMSC deadline (sometime in May, I think), does UMD usually give you a scholarship, or are they pretty limited in number?</p>
<p>Got full B/K at MD, accepted to William and Mary Monroe Scholars, USC with half tuition, BC honors, St Mary’s of MD, and Lafayette marquis scholars.
Waiting on Yale, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, UVA, Claremont McKenna, Vassar, and Holy Cross…fingers crossed!</p>
<p>@xogenxo, “fingers crossed”?? You’ve already won the grand prize! 
The ONLY entries on your list that might come close to UMCP/full BK, would be Y or P (because their FA is so good), but they will STILL cost you.</p>
<p>For your parents a full BK means, no more FAFSA/CSS, while all the money you save can go to grad school instead.</p>
<p>Was turned down by MIT, still waiting on Harvard, U Chicago, and Princeton. Honestly though, Princeton is the only one that will make this a hard decision, after getting the full BK letter today.</p>
<p>I’m still waiting for Syracuse(newhouse) and Northwestern(medill) and UNC. Already accepted to TCNJ, UMiami, Penn State, and Uconn.</p>
<p>Trying to decide between Towson ($5500 a year), UMBC ($3500 a year), Bowie (HBCU with full ride) & UMD, which I was offered two loans and work study. It sucks because UMD was my first choice but this money thing is a killer. I would think that since I got accepted into the Honors College, I’d at least get something…but no. Pretty frustrated. I might just save my money & go to Bowie.</p>
<p>HoCoMom</p>
<p>As per the financial aid office: For instate students irrespective of the financial need it is $2000. For out of state students with financial need it is $2000 and without financial need it is $1000</p>
<p>Banker, hadn’t heard that. That would be nice. Did you hear that from the financial aid office yourself?</p>
<p>HoComom, yes I have talked to the financial aid office.</p>