Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Hey, I just wanted to know something about UMCP... All of a sudden it seems like everyone is soooo excited about getting in and I never thought it was that special. For those of you who think it is, please enlighten me.

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 08:29 pm: Edit

ranked #17 in the country from undergrad business

ranked #21 in the country (i think) for undergrad engineering

one of top programs in nation for journalisim not sure of exact rankiing

...really nice and fun campus, great athletic teams, intelligent yet socially apt people

plus relativily cheap tuition when you compare it to the $40,000 a year private schools

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 08:33 pm: Edit

the only knock on maryland cp is that the actual surrounding area of college park isnt the greatest of all areas for a college kid....however my personal opinion is that the actual campus is so big and has so much to do on it that you will rarely find yourself leaving.. and when you do leave chances are you will want to spend the day in the cities of baltimore or washington dc, both a short metro train ride away

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:56 am: Edit

I agree with I1l...I live in MD and thought of CP as being a large party school..would not consider letting D. go there.
Well when college search time comes..she wants large school. CP sounds pretty good from the stats and I say ok go visit. She comes back and says it GREAT! Her picky dad agrees.
I read more and discover its a very "desired" school..getting very competitive, also am told that the partying is not as present as on other campuses.
So she applies and gets in honors (so now its serious consideration).
I go visit.
Love the beautiful campus. Clean. The new buildings are phenomenal..!! The athletic center was amazing. And the performing arts center was awesome. PLUS even though its large its easy to navigate. Think 3 giant horseshoes..everything right there.
and 3 swimming pools..
And the students LOVED IT.. I cant imagine going anywhere else was what several told me. This is the place etc.
HOWEVER I agree with I1l the immediate surrounding community was not all that. BUT they just put in a new restaurant which is cute and I can see where the little strip near the college may get gussied up. That said with everything going on campus and a major city nearby..I can overlook the area that she probably wont spend much time at anyway.

By Vpof2005 (Vpof2005) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Thanks guys. I appreciate your response. Any other comments?

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 03:15 pm: Edit

BTW her guidance counselor called UMDCP a "POWER SCHOOL"..
If you are into sports you should see the new complex..comcast I think it was called..
I couldnt believe how nice it was. LOL I think I was expecting some tacky highschool gym.
This was big time nice

By Woogiewilly25 (Woogiewilly25) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 04:14 pm: Edit

I'm from New York and I wanted a big school that was school spirited but had a good rep...and I needed a school that didnt just look at boards (ie: penn state)...Maryland's become really competative and getting in has become a big achievement...it's kind of an all around school, has everything, and despite the town of college park, u have dc andbaltimore really close...and a ton of other colleges around too...

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

UMCP is extremely overrated. There not as good as the 'rankings' show. Its extremely competitive only because so many people applied there because their bball team was was good for a while. Academically, UMBC honors college is far superior. Only for Business, UMD is truly as good as the ranking show. For IT and Engineering, the neigboring UMBC is far better.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 05:34 pm: Edit

UMBC is awful, don't even go there.

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:01 pm: Edit

umdcp is ranked #21 in the nation for engineering.. judging by the combative tone in your post chillinnigerian you are obviously being subjective with your opinion; an opinion that i don't think you will find many others share

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:03 pm: Edit

umdcp is ranked #21 in the nation for engineering.. judging by the combative tone in your post chillinnigerian you are obviously being subjective with your opinion; an opinion that i don't think you will find many others share

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:07 pm: Edit

and to top it off you don't even have your facts straight.. umdbc is not well known for engineering.. it's best department is science ..however there was another thread where a kid who wanted to be a veterinarian wasn't sure whether to choose umdbc or umdcp.. despite umdbc supposenly being such a great science school, most posters disregarded it and told the kid he would be better of at CP; even tho science is umdbc's best department, they felt CP still surpassed it even in that area

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:28 pm: Edit

Not inif youre at the UMBC honors program, or if youre in iT. In IT and science, UMBC is the way to go. The "average sat" of a school is likely how the majority of people at this site form an opinion about it. And besides, if UMBC is so poor then how the heck do they crush everyone in Chess, which is definetly an activity that only 'the intelligent engage in for the most part. UMBC is only disrespected because nobody knows much about it, and their average SAT is not as high as UMCP's. The opinions of messageboard posters are not nearly as accurate of those of several guidance counselors with whom i have spoken. And besides, my 'combative' statements were only jokes anyway. I do this to UMD'ers all the time. But i am absolutely serious when i say that the UMBC IT, science and Comp engineering depts. are far superior.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:33 pm: Edit

No they are not. And I know alot about UMBC considering I passed off their crappy Meyerhoff scholarship for a better school. I was immediately turned off after going there for an interview despite subsequently receiving this "esteemed" scholarship. The #2 school in the nation good at Chess is University of Texas-Dallas, another mediocre school. I guess you can conclude Chess is not taken very seriously by the top schools. College Park offers far more special programs and opportunities such as Gemstone and internships that UMBC has no chance in competing with.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:43 pm: Edit

"And I know alot about UMBC considering I passed off their crappy Meyerhoff scholarship for a better school."

LOL. There is no point arguing with the ignorant.

"College Park offers far more special programs and opportunities such as Gemstone and internships that UMBC has no chance in competing with."

LOL^345.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:44 pm: Edit

And BTW, you did NOT get the scholarship. From what i hear, you dont get the word on it till april 15.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:48 pm: Edit

Maybe you can't read? Key wording is "I passed it off for a better school" which implies I am at college already smart guy.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 07:34 pm: Edit

No, that could simply imply that you never even attempted to get the scholarship. That and considering that youre name is 'Fanatic' and you go to UMD, you are bound to be biased. I am simply a Duke fan who dosent plan on attending UMD, but thinks of UMBC as a better safety option. And btw, many of your statements were completely incorrect. Especially this one:

"College Park offers far more special programs and opportunities such as Gemstone and internships that UMBC has no chance in competing with."

Nobody who actually knows about both would say this, simply because UMBC offers equally good or better oppurtunities, for tech & science majors.


BTW, what turned u off about UMBC? The interview reason seems a little shaky since it could imply that you just did badly on the interview.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 07:53 pm: Edit

How can I do badly if I ended up getting the scholarship? Nope, I go to a much better school, JHU. It was the campus and poor lab quality. Also the students I talked to there had low school spirit and were generally unintelligent albeit some honors kids were quite the contrary. I got a much better feeling from UMD.

By Baltodad (Baltodad) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 08:45 pm: Edit

UMCP and UMBC both have a lot going for them, and both have been on a consistent rise for more than a decade.

UMBC is smaller and would offer a better opportunity to be a "big fish". It doesn't have as much social activity on campus, but it has nicer dorms. An easy shuttle bus ride to the clubs of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Intercollegiate sports aren't a big deal.

UMCP has more national prestige and a broader range of courses. A very active campus, and a big-time intercollegiate sport program. An easy Metro ride to the clubs of Washington DC.

My son has applied to the Engineering program at both... has been accepted at UMCP (honors) and hasn't heard from UMBC yet.

By Maryville (Maryville) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 09:15 pm: Edit

I'm an out of stater (Missouri resident). My top two choices are U of Maryland-College Park and U of Missouri-Columbia. Maryland has alot of diversity which I really like, good sports teams and a good reputation. However, from my visit there, it seems like that if you don't know anyone prior attending UMDCP, it could be tough making alot of friends. College Park also isn't the greatest college town. I guess my question is are the students very friendly? and can out of state students like myself adjust to the social scene at Maryland?

BTW, I was accpeted into scholars with a 1270. My last question is: is it true that students in the scholars program just do community service?

Thanks.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 12:57 pm: Edit

Baltodad is on point, i said college park was 'overrated' in comparison to UMBC, simply because folks dont realize that UMBC is not a poor school at all, while they praise UMD incessantly. People should At least get their facts straight before making such sweeping generalizations based on what their friends have told them. My dad is a guidance counselor and told me to apply to UMBC INSTEAD OF UMD(and its not like my stats are poor, im a urm with a 1420, 3.8 GPA, etc.) because of my major (IT & Compsci). My counselors also advised me the same. But i applied to both because CP has a better business program and i was thinking of that as a possible major as well. The point is that UMBC is not that far behind UMD and is ahead of it in some areas. UMD is more popular, but most dont know enough about UMBC to like it.

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 02:15 pm: Edit

Maryville, We live in MD..my D. knows only one other student going to MD (and they are not close)..
Believe it or not most kids we are know are going to ELON in NC..
So my D. wont know alot of folks there either.
I think if you just make the effort to be friendly there will be plenty of students looking for friends.
And with such a large student body plenty to do on campus..that said CP was not very pretty BUT I noticed a new restaurant going it..maybe it will get better.

By Woogiewilly25 (Woogiewilly25) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Only 5 kid from my schcool applied, 4 got in (including me)...my friend courtney is between there and Fordham, my friend Kenny is def going, and I don't speak to the other kid who applied...if Court goes we agreed not to dorm together...I dn't think it will be that hard to make new buds...you have orientations and stuff beforehand too...

By Lebronathon (Lebronathon) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 03:37 pm: Edit

my sister is a senior at college park, and I have to say that from the people I met, including her friends, almost everyone is down to earth and friendly. compared to the snotty culture that is the northeast (I live in CT), people here are not only suprisingly intelligent, but hospitable as well. As long as you avoid Greenbelt and some of the more sketchy areas surrounding the campus, your experience meeting people should be an easy one. it's also absolutely huge, and you are bound to find someone with similar interests as you. D.C. is a short metro ride away...

This is kind of off topic but for all you out of staters who may be visiting umdcp on a road trip, you should stop by Annapolis, which is only about a half hour car ride away. It is beautiful, and historic as well. Once you can grasp how wonderful college park's location is, relative to D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis, you can truly appreciate the campus.

By Baltodad (Baltodad) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 08:24 pm: Edit

For someone worried about not knowing anyone when they get to UMCP, check out the Summer Freshman Seminar program. Three weeks in August, living in an air-conditioned dorm with other incoming freshmen, taking a freshman seminar for credit (four diferent ones are offered), and developing an nice peer group by the time the fall semester starts.

By Wlrsqtr (Wlrsqtr) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:28 pm: Edit

Hate to bash colleges but would suggest non-Baltimore area folks look at alternatives to UMBC. At least do visit the school on a weekend and see if anything is going on. Rumor has it that the school is totally empty on weekends.

They may have an honors program (and can't speak about the quality of any specific program) but the programs are not a big draw in DC suburbs and counselors recommend UMBC to students they think need a backup to UMD (here in DC suburbs). Local commuting students may be stronger academically, I don't know.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 07:31 pm: Edit

And to 'Fanatic' the feel you get from a school has little weight compared to what guidance counselors and people who actually know a lot about colleges say. & UT-Dallas is actually a good school in case u didnt know. Also, u still havent explained exactly what happened it that infamous interview.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 07:35 pm: Edit

UMCP's campus is nicer than harvard's

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 11:19 pm: Edit

Chillinnigerian, I obviously had a great interview considering I got the scholarship. The campus sucked, and after talking to numerous honors program students and seeing honors classes in session, I was hardly impressed. Quite the contrary at UMD. You still are misinterpreting my posts.UT-Dallas is not that good. It is the back up to UT much like UMBC is to UMD, quite a coincidence. I turned down Meyerhoff and UMD's Banneker Key Scholar for JHU and I have no regret in doing so. The real decision was between Banneker and JHU, not the Meyerhoff.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 04:32 pm: Edit

UT-Dallas is academically equivalent to UMD (Look it up b4 u attmpt to counter). But thats besides the point. The point is that your statement is based on personal prefererence and not fact. It really dosent matter if you were more 'impressed' by UMD because so was I, as UMBC's campus is dull on the weekends. However, i know that for my major (IT, compsci) UMBC would be the superior choice.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 04:35 pm: Edit

Again you are being opinionated. I have looked it up, and I know students in Dallas. UT Dallas is hardly equivalent to UMD. WHats your reasoning? Don't give me this good departments BS again considering you have no facts. US News and other rankings seem to be on my side alot more then you.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 04:49 pm: Edit

Im not talking US News rankings (which are not really 'fact'), but the fact is that if you look at acceptance rates, average sat's, & GPA's they are very similar. Check it out if you dont believe. I have a book with me, but if you need, ill find an internet link.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 04:53 pm: Edit

ANd like i said, im going by what my father, who is a guidance counselor tells me. Which means that it is far more accurate than anything you heard from friends.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Not really considering my friends are advised by Texas guidance counselors which means their regional expertise is alot more valuable than your father's. Lets compare SATs and GPAs since they are similar like you said. UT-Dallas has an average SAT of 1231, an average gpa of 3.40 and an acceptance rate of 53% with 38% in the top 10%. College Park has an acceptance rate of 43% an SAT average in the 1300s and 58% in the top 10%. Hardly similar. Considering UT-Dallas HAS to accept instate students in the top 10%, the percentage of people in the top 10% along with the seemingly low acceptance rate means the quality texas students are applying elsewhere.
If you disagree, include facts.

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:19 pm: Edit

"UT-Dallas is academically equivalent to UMD "

I dont know why you hate umd so much but you are making yourself seem foolish

UT-Austion and UMD are pretty equivalent (both top public universites)

UT-Dallas would be the equivalent to UMD-BC

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:21 pm: Edit

You are absolutely right, UMD is the greatest university ever and no school can compare. I dont know what came over me or why i disrespected the university like i did. I am now turning down the UMBC honors college and the Meyerhoff for UMD's excellent IT and CompSci programs. I am also no longer a Duke fan because UMD's basketball team is far superior.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:22 pm: Edit

I agree with you completely I1lmatics.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Funny, when did I declare UMD superior? It is better now than UMBC. That is my argument. Use some facts to make your argument more believable.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:26 pm: Edit

With your maturity and your lack of rebuttal skills. I hardly see you getting anything even remotely close to the Meyerhoff and an even farther shot, a Duke acceptance.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:28 pm: Edit

UT Dallas isnt in this book, so i used UT Austin stats, i figured they were the same. So just ignore that post and read my previous post.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:29 pm: Edit

I dont feel like arguing for the U of texas, id rather stick to the point. I already screwed up my argument by using the wrong stats.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:30 pm: Edit

Hm...wow. I cant believe I wasted time with someone as uninformed as you.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:32 pm: Edit

Anyway, my point is that UMBC has a better IT/Compsci program, and is also better for the sciences, but i dont have time to waste talking about freakin U-Texas.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:33 pm: Edit

OK, Mr. Stuck up JHU bastid, its not THAT serious. Besides, its only round 1. WHat have you to bring to the table for round 2?

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:38 pm: Edit

The match is won by me since you are an idiot who has no facts. Your only rebuttal was "I dont feel like arguing for the U of texas, id rather stick to the point. I already screwed up my argument by using the wrong stats. " Stuck up? Hardly.

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:50 pm: Edit

I had "facts" i just didnt know exactly which UT was the right UT. Anyway, in my original posts, i had more than just the UT argument, but i made a statement regarding compsci and sciences that you ignored completely (which i actually DID have backed up by my father and not just this cheap college book that i have by my side).

But if you choose to ignore the rest of my arguement and feel smug and as if you accomplished something, remember this clever quote:

"Arguing on the internet is like a cricket spitting contest, even if you win, youre still an idiot"

In other words, you have nothing to be proud of. But since it makes you happy, whatever.

By Fanatic (Fanatic) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:54 pm: Edit

whatever you say.

By Obiwan (Obiwan) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 06:23 pm: Edit

Okay, both you guys dial back the attitude and language or you're gone.

And for the record, I1lmatics is correct.

--Moderator Obiwan

By I1lmatics (I1lmatics) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 08:12 pm: Edit