Fans of the Big Ten conference know that Maryland and Rutgers are the two most recent additions. Not a sports fan? UMD offers students the best of both worlds - a traditional college campus with easy access to the nation's most powerful city, Washington D.C. Here are your fun facts about the University of Maryland - College Park:
1) UMD has the top program in the country for enrollment of women in computer science. As of Fall 2019, 20% of UMD's undergraduate students were women majoring in computer science. The Maryland Center for Women in Computing supports women as they pursue research and academic interests in computing. The MCWC is part of the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing, named for Brendon Iribe, UMD alumnus and CEO of Oculus. Iribe pledged $31 million to help fund the Brendon Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering at UMD.
UMD offers a new Immersive Media Design major that combines studio art with computer science. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Science track, which focuses more heavily on computing, or a Bachelor of Arts track, which focuses more heavily on digital art.
2) Students at UMD have many opportunities to participate in service-learning. The Stamp Student Union - Center for Campus Life has numerous Leadership and Community Service-Learning (LCSL) Programs including America Reads, America Counts, Terp Service and Alternative Breaks, a popular choice for students to engage in community service projects locally, nationally or internationally during school breaks.
3) When students apply to UMD they may be offered admission in fall or spring term. Those offered spring term admission only may participate in the Freshmen Connection program, which is a fall semester program that facilitates the transition to college. This program caps courses at 50-60 students by offering classes at non-peak hours. FC students live on campus, access campus activities, get special academic advising. Course credits taken will fulfill UMD graduation requirements.
4) Over the past decade, College Park has evolved into a top university community thanks to a city/university partnership and the Greater College Park initiative. Check out what College Park has to offer here.
5) If you aren't sure what you want to study when you apply to UMD, it is ok - all applications are read "major blind" so students are not admitted or denied based on their intended major. Letters and Sciences is the home for undecided majors and offers robust academic advising. UMD looks at 26 factors as they evaluate applications for admission.
If you are really interested in UMD, it is highly recommended to apply by the Early Action deadline of November 1 as a large majority of admission offers go to these students.
Go Terps!