🍦 Today's Scoops: Is a college even right for you? (Oct 19)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Info Zone: Upcoming Visits Refresh

2. School of the Day: UMD, College Park

3. Admissions Blueprint: Evaluating college fit

INFO ZONE
UMD, College Park

Why Princeton? Virtual Open House - Monday, October 21, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM

MIT Online Information Session - Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM

(NEW) Duke Virtual Admissions Session - Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM until 1:45 PM

Leadership at Cornell Engineering - Monday, October 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM

Stanford University Virtual Visit - Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 3:30 PM until 5:30 PM

(NEW) Columbia Engineering Student Q&A Chat - Friday, October 25, 2024 at 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
UMD, College Park

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: College Park, MD
🎓 Student Body: 30,353 undergrads out of 40,792 total students
📊 Acceptance Rate: 45% (56,761 applicants) - lots of impacted majors though
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1440/33
💸 Tuition: $9,889 (in-state), $38,690 (out-of-state)
📅 Admission Options: Early Action (Nov 1), Regular Decision (Jan 20)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Public Health (#17), Computer Science (#17), Physics (#17) (US News)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Computer Science (17%), Business (15%), Social Sciences (13%), Engineering (11%) (Scoir)

Some Positives

💻 Top Computer Science and Engineering Programs: UMD’s A. James Clark School of Engineering and Department of Computer Science are highly ranked, offering students hands-on learning through state-of-the-art facilities like the Maryland Robotics Center and the Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES) honors program. Explore UMD Engineering Learn about UMD Computer Science.

🎯 Prime Location Near Washington, D.C.: UMD’s proximity to the nation’s capital offers unmatched access to internships, government jobs, and networking opportunities with organizations like the Smithsonian and NASA, ideal for students interested in public policy, law, or tech. Discover UMD’s Location Advantages.

🚀 Innovation and Entrepreneurship: UMD is a hub for entrepreneurship, with programs like UMD’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) helping students turn their ideas into startups. Explore Entrepreneurship at UMD.

📚 Ease of Application: Applying to UMD is streamlined with just 6 short 650-character questions, and unlike many other top schools, UMD’s priority deadline offers an excellent chance for merit-based scholarships and consideration for the Honors College. Learn more about UMD Admissions.

🏈 Strong School Spirit: With its Big Ten membership, UMD is known for strong athletics, especially in basketball and lacrosse. The Terrapins community comes alive during sports seasons, creating a vibrant and spirited campus culture. Check out UMD Athletics.

Some Negatives

🏙️ High Cost of Living in the Area: While UMD is close to D.C., the cost of living in the surrounding areas like College Park and Washington, D.C., can be high, making off-campus housing expensive for students. Learn about Cost of Living.

🚉 Traffic and Public Transportation: Despite its excellent location, getting around can be challenging. The D.C. metro area is notorious for traffic, and while UMD has a metro stop nearby, it can still be a hassle for students commuting or visiting the city. Check out UMD Transit Info.

📊 Large Student Population: With over 40,000 students, UMD can feel overwhelming, and some students may struggle with finding smaller communities within such a large school. Explore UMD’s Size.

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Evaluating college fit

🏫 Academic Programs
Make sure the school offers strong programs in your areas of interest. Look into specific majors, research opportunities, and special academic tracks like honors programs or dual-degree options.

👥 Student Community
What kind of people do you want to be surrounded by? Consider the size, diversity, and overall vibe of the student body. Are they collaborative? Competitive? Do they share similar values and interests?

📍 Location
Where do you want to spend the next few years? Think about the climate, proximity to home, and whether you prefer a city, suburban, or rural setting. The environment can shape your college experience more than you think!

💸 Financial Fit
Consider the total cost of attendance, including tuition, living expenses, and potential financial aid. Is the school within your budget or offering enough scholarships to make it viable? Remember to weigh the value against the cost.

📚 Class Sizes and Teaching Style
Do you prefer small, discussion-based classes or large lectures? Some schools emphasize intimate classroom settings, while others might rely more on lectures with hundreds of students.

⚽ Extracurriculars and Campus Life
What are the clubs, sports, and activities like? If you’re into a particular hobby, make sure the school has opportunities for you to stay engaged outside the classroom. Campus life can make a big difference in your overall happiness.

🚀 Career Support
Look at the school’s career services, internship opportunities, and alumni network. A strong support system can be crucial when it comes to securing jobs or grad school placements after graduation.

🎓 Post-Graduation Outcomes
Check out data on job placements, starting salaries, and grad school acceptance rates. These numbers can give you a good sense of how the school prepares students for life after college.

✨ Gut Feeling
Sometimes, it just comes down to how you feel when you step onto campus or interact with students. Trust your instincts—if a place feels right, it probably is!

LINK LOUNGE
Yesterday’s Resources & Scholarships

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

(NEW) Sprig by HackClub - Code a video game (in JavaScript) for a free console!

(NEW) CaliforniaColleges.edu - California’s official college and career planning platform with lessons to prepare parents and students for life after high school

Polygence - Get ahead on the competitive road to college with passion-fueled research opportunities

Cyber Patriot - Cyber education program and competition for high schoolers.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
UT materials due by Oct 23!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

University of Texas Materials Deadline: October 23
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

Is there a question you’ve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!