University of Maryland, Baltimore County Reviews

"A diverse campus that gave me lifelong experiences that extended beyond the classroom. This campus is undergoing rapid change and growth with new facilities. It is conveniently located between 2 major cities and very close to a major airport, which makes it very easy to travel."

"UMBC is the ideal environment for those who seek hands-on learning and a wide variety of resources. There are plenty of academic and social clubs and groups available as well as useful resources for admissions, financial aid, tutoring, and student support. UMBC is an institution where there is a place that every belongs to and no student is left out."

"Overall, a good school. The experience is really what you make of it. If you actively join clubs and talk to others, you will make a lot of close friends that you'll see often around campus. The campus isn't that big, but that was what drawn me to it because I hate walking a lot and having to wait for a shuttle to get from class to class. This school is effective at putting all the class buildings in one centralized area, which makes it easy to navigate. I enjoyed my time there."

"I would recommend UMBC to people looking to focus on their academics. UMBC has very little to no social culture, so if you are looking for a place that will fulfill you outside of class it is not there. You may get lucky and find friends but that is also not guaranteed. The professors are kind and knowledgeable, they will take time to help and advice you. Connections I made there helped me to launch my career in the scientific industry. I highly recommend the education I received there."

"The History Department has incredible people that are personable, helpful, and inclusive of diversity of opinion. They are also well-read and interesting to talk with. I think some programs are hit or miss..the faculty of the history, physics, and many of the social sciences departments are excellent! Unfortunately, the only interesting people on campus are either faculty or older students. I would not recommend this school for undergraduate studies to my children. Though I felt it was a very safe school, most of the students representing the undergraduate population were maturely sterile of anything interesting in terms of activities or social events and did not seem to have any depth, adversity, or color beyond their knowledge. I can see why some students who want more of a human experience could be miserable. I think if you're head is screwed-on-tight-to-your-objective, the school serves its function. If you want other aspects of education such as why we are human beings and have certain drives towards activities that are enjoyable, the school is severely lacking. I recommend this school to older studentsRead Less"

"UMBC is a very liberal college and all of my major related classes have been very one sided to the professors political agendas and didn't focus on the materials. Even In my art classes the teachers used the class time to discuss their political opinions rather than teaching the class. I had one class where we had to stay late because the professor used the time to talk about their opinions on BML and then had to quickly go over how to use the computer program we had to know how to use to complete the assignment at the very end of class time. Another professor almost canceled class because he wanted to protest police brutality, which A: how does that protest anything? and B: I am PAYING for you to TEACH me, not to protest. I really couldn't care less your political view or what you protest but I am paying you for a service and you can't just not teach the class you're being paid to teach because you want to do something else. Most of my professors were very politically isolating and made people who had differing views feel un-welcomed and there was no room for respectful conversation. One class had at least three class periods where we discussed materials that were COMPLETELY unrelated to the class and were clearly just the teacher pushing her own political agenda. I am disappointed at the disregard for education the professors have, not to mention the lack of professionalism. The way this university has handled COVID-19 has been less than impressive as well. The exemptions for the vaccine are limited to only a few students will actually be allowed to be exempt and the ONLY medical exemption allowed is if you're allergic to the vaccine which is absolutely ridiculous. Also they are making no effort to accommodate people who are unvaccinated. They are't offering many online classes so basically your only choices are get the vaccine or you don't get an education. This illegal because the vaccine is cleared for emergency use only and not approved by the FDA. They aren't addressing the valid concerns of people who can't be vaccinated. The fact that they're forcing students to chose between the vaccine or education is coercion and directly violates the Nuremberg Code. It wouldn't be as big of a deal if they were mandating this vaccine but offering adequate online alternatives, but they aren't and it shows that this university doesn't value education.Read Less"

"UMBC was/is an awful place to be. I went into it with my AA degree from a community college and LOVED social work. I am now about to be in my senior year and absolutely hate my major and future career due to UMBC's ridiculous and unnecessary requirements that have nothing to do with the major itself. Every time I thought it was not that bad, UMBC did not disappoint and made me more miserable somehow. I am genuinely a good student who has never even missed a college class without a valid excuse and it is safe to say that I will leave UMBC embarrassed that I went here and unsure if I will even be able to pass the exam for my license. UMBC went out of its way to make every thing ten times more difficult than it needed to be and I would still end up learning nothing of value. If you want to go to a money-grabbing, mental health wrecking university, UMBC is the place to be (they will then send you 8 emails a day telling you to work on your mental health as they are single-handedly ruining it). Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else but here, trust me.Read Less"

"I am seeing many reviews complaining about the "lack of party scene." If you want a continuation of high school partying whilst getting by with mediocre grades, there's UMD, Townson, Sailsbury, and Frostburg. UMBC is not the place if your main reason for going to college is to RP American Pie Beta House. Pros: The academics for language majors are truly challenging. Especially the translation courses. Upper level courses are taught in the language, and faculty reach out to students all year round with opportunities to practice and meet exchange students. There is also a paid Fall&Spring internship for students pursuing Japanese to help teach English at a Japanese high-school. Furthermore, the Japanese faculty keep up to date with new material and make it a point to change the textbook about every 4 years. My professor went to Japan summer 2019 and met with the publishers of a textbook that was on Japanese tv due to it's effectiveness. We currently use this new textbook published in 2017. What I love about this textbook is it teaches speaking strategies and kanji recognition. So even if I forget the kanji when writing, I can remember when reading and typing papers. As a result I can read much more Japanese literature, and my speaking has improved greatly thanks to the strategies. Furthermore all the volunteering opportunities I participated in helped me make connections to practice with native Japanese speakers. The public transportation is pretty good. I live in Howard and can get to campus in an hour via public transport. Cons: The buildings are hella old, and way too many elevators are broken. The food is way way WAY too expensive. Also the lines to get food are always crazy long in the afternoon. On top of that, the food places close way too early. By time I get out of class at 4pm, everything's closed. And the student workers are often really slow which holds the lines up.Read Less"

"I think from the educational aspect this school is fine, they are a small university and this allows students to get ample opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities. This also allows students to get to know their professors and take an active role in their education. One big negative is that this school does not take sexual assault seriously. There was a case two years ago of sexual assault that the school brushed off which then came out in the newspaper, the school did not handle it properly and tried to use rebranding as an attempt to bury the story and the underlying problem of sexual assault on this campus.Read Less"

"UMBC was great! The professors there invest in the students success. I had many professors who would spend their time helping me one on one and really making sure that I understood the course work. If I did badly on a test, they would offer their time to discuss where I might have gone wrong. There are so many resources offered as well. The library has many places to study and is the place to find all the resources needed to complete assignments as well as get coffee. The other cool thing about the school was the activities that were held on campus. The school itself really makes you feel as if you are at your home away from home. I would recommend this school to any prospective student and encourage them to really check it out.Read Less"

"I started off majoring in Biology. I switched to environmental science in my sophomore year because the classes offered for that major fit more with my interests. These classes included conservation, a wide variety of ecology courses and GIS. Changing majors was the best decision that I ever made. I started doing way better in classes and actually enjoying my undergrad. I was still able to conduct research in a wonderful biology lab and purusre many internships. My teachers were all very engaging and supportive as well.Read Less"

"UMBC is a highly acclaimed academic institution. The strenuous programs push students to their highest potential. This ensures that the students being molded at UMBC, will be ready to succeed in their careers or will be given all the tools to get into top graduate and professional schools. Diversity is a core concept UMBC expresses to its staff and students. UMBC has many international students who are ecstatic on receiving and education in the United States. We have many clubs that express and embrace different cultures and they want to share with the school activities to show glimpses of a different culture. Grit is another core theme UMBC instills in its students. Grit is what the students at UMBC use to succeed in the tough programs. We, students, are held to a high standard because this school holds up to the highest academic standards. Grit gives the determination and strives for succeed possible. It is getting done to wire and knowing that we can accomplish the exams and projects being bestowed on us because in the future it only makes us better and more educated in the field. Graduating UMBC and getting accepted to all the pharmacy schools I applied for shows that being a UMBC graduate is highly looked upon. UMBC is a school that I highly recommend to students who want to succeed in their careers or get into graduate schools. You will be held to standards that will make you one of the best candidates in your field.Read Less"

"I am currently enrolled in the Social Work program and was recently accepted to the International Field Placement Program, so I will be studying abroad in London this fall. This program is excellent in the quality of the content that is taught to students. I have had varied experience with professors thus far, but overall I believe most professors are intelligent and well spoken. I have learned a lot about the field of social work and about myself in the 7 months I have been in this program and would absolutely recommend this school to anyone interested in pursuing a graduate degree in social work.Read Less"

"The University of Maryland Baltimore County is a superb small school that provides a very personal classroom experience. The professors are industry experts that know their subject matter inside and out with a strong desire for their students to succeed. The curriculum is consistently adjusted to keep pace with the every changing technical landscape which provides graduates with a very strong understanding as soon as they enter the workplace."

"This program is very relevant to what is currently happening in the work place . It helps with team building and working together in teams. This program will provide you with the required qualifications needed to enhance your career in all major areas of information systems management."

"When I first chose UMBC as my undergraduate university, I had my doubts. The school is in the middle of nowhere Catonsville with nothing really around unless you drive. If you're looking for a social party life, this is not the school for you. However, if you're looking for a good education with several career opportunities during and after college, this is your school. In my four years, I have learned so much not only about Psychology, but also by myself. I made life long friends, was exposed to so many different cultures, all while building my future career. The professors were extremely helpful and passionate about what they were teaching and wanted their students to excel. You'll often get the one or two professors that are not that great, but don't let that dishearten you. UMBC is an honors university that lives up to its reputation. I am fortunate that I listened to my family and attended UMBCRead Less"

"An amazing program that is flexible and cost effective."

"UMBC is an incredibly inclusive and supportive place where students are nurtured and developed."

"There is an excellent support for graduate students to succeed include a graduate student association and a graduate student mentoring program."

"A medium size university that is full of research opportunities and diversity."