Admissions

Make sure you are thorough with your resumes when you are applying, and when you finally get on campus make sure you investigate all of the different student groups so that you can find your own niche here at the University! Oh and don't be afraid of the random roommate selection, or not making friends because the place is so huge--that's the great part about it! There are so many different types of people at the University you really will find a new family, and it's amazing!

Throughout your college search make sure to visit all schools. The University is a great school with a LARGE campus so make sure that you walk around and see if you could get used to walking 10 minutes (or longer) to class. You may also want to check out a sporting event. Most students attend the football and basketball games and going to either one of these games will let you know what it feels like to be a Terp (for a few hours anyway) :-).

One of the most important steps is to bring an open mind. You will be exposed to many different cultures and people here, but if you are willing to understand them, everything that this large university and its students/faculty have to offer will be much more clear, let alone more enjoyable. Also keep in mind that you are studying at one of the top universities in America and that you are competing with some very bright people. Do not take this as a bad thing, but see it as motivation to be better. At this university, it is simply a waste of time to slack off because you should take advantage of studying at a school that has so many resources and great minds. Also, be sure to keep up with deadlines because for the most part you will only get notices in the form of email notifications, and you do not want to deal with any more paper work and phone calls through the administration then you have to. Also, bring a bike. This campus is huge.

If you are a High School Senior looking for a great school Maryland is a great school to apply to. You can stay overnight to get a good feel for the campus. And if you are already interested in applying make sure that you are very thorough with you application. Make sure that you have your resume and recommendation letters ready so that you can complete the application in a timely process. Also keep on top of your deadlines and maybe send in your application a couple weeks before the deadline so you will get your decision sooner. If you are an incoming Terp, take full advantage of what the university has to offer. The university has many options for students to get well acquainted with their new home. There is the Edge Program where in-coming minority students can take a look at the campus and meet other in-coming students. There is also the Bridge Program where incoming students can take summer classes to get a feel of what taking classes in the fall will be like. Last but not least, make sure that you stay on top of your work and don’t get too sidetracked. Make a schedule and stick to it. Once you can learn to balance your work and play you will start getting the A’s.

Some tips for prospective students would be to visit your school(s) as much as possible and make a name for yourself, especially if it is a bigger school. If you can't afford to visit the school, then make sure that you communicate with students from the school. Since I was accepted into the school of Architecture at the University of Maryland - College Park, I contacted the School as soon as I found out. After trading emails with a proffessor for about two weeks, I then decided to ask if I could speak with a student. That very same student wound up being my TA during my Architecture intro course.

Definitely think about dorming, even if it's only for the first year. You'll have a blast and you'll make best friends with the people around you. You need to make sure you can balance schoolwork and having fun. Making a schedule will definitely benefit you.

If you want to attend this University complete your entire application as soon as possible. It will be to your advantage and increases your chances of attending the University.

Apply Early, the admissions is getting more competitive every year so if this is one of your top choices, apply during the Priority Deadline.

To be a Terp, you have to think like one even when you're in high school. This means that you have to work hard and show what you can do with what you have learned. UMD really puts an emphasis on how you apply your knowledge and skills rather than simply test scores and GPA, so it's very important that you have solid extracurriculars and a great college essay. As far as extracurriculars, however, UMD would rather see you excel in a few than be average and put in little effort into many. Additionally, showing an interest in the school is important to admissions as well. UMD holds several events for prospective students, such as Maryland Marquee day, that are a fun way to see if the university is a good fit for you. Visiting your prospective schools is very important in making your decision, and UMD makes it fun to do so.