University of Maryland - College Park Reviews

"I was a transfer student from a small community college. The first day I started at UMD, I was extremely overwhelmed with the size of the campus, the parking, and the number of people. It seems so large at first, but then it gets much smaller. Most of my classes took place in one building so I got the hang of it pretty quickly. The teachers are excellent. I am still in touch with one of my professors. She wrote me a letter of recommendation for graduate school. It's a really good school, I would recommend it to someone looking for a diverse community, close to two cities (Baltimore and Washington, D.C.), rigorous academics, and a good degree. I got a job less than a month after I graduated and have been employed since."

"I attended UMD as a nontraditional student - returning to school as an adult, veteran, transfer, commuter student. What I loved the most about UMD is that there no matter what walk of life you come from, there is some form of support available here to help you. In the same vein, no matter what your interests are, because this is such a large school, there are undoubtedly others who share your interests. Diversity of one of Maryland's greatest strengths!"

"University of Maryland provided me with everything I needed after graduation. UMD has such a huge network outside of campus. My first job interview was with a UMD grad, and I truly believe that connection was a major factor in me getting the job. UMD had numerous career fairs and opportunities to get in the face of numerous companies and sell myself. They provided help in finding jobs and internships while in school as well. The social life was beyond amazing, I always say it was the best 4 years of my life!"

"Great University. For anyone considering attending a school in the DC area, I feel this is the one to be. Has a traditional campus setting and is one of the largest research institutions in the country. Business and Engineering programs are nationally ranked. If you want the full University experience, this is the place to be!"

"I am currently taking classes part-time towards the completion of a Masters in Library Science with a concentration in Archives and Digital Curation. I have completed approximately 2/3 of the coursework to graduate. I took the lower level required courses during the first two semesters, and I realize now that this was the best possible step I could have taken. These provide a background (especially theoretical) for later courses, and many are taught assuming the students are in their first or second semester. They are demanding but set the pace for graduate study. The last two semesters I have taken more in depth and hands-on courses, many provide additional (outside of class) opportunities to participate in research and conferences. Professors are extremely knowledgeable about events and conferences.The iSchool does host many events on campus, but unfortunately the majority of guest speakers are during the middle of the day - unfortunate for students working off-campus or with full-time jobs. The iSchool program was revised around 2015, and coursework is continually being added to meet student and future-employee needs. This includes a number of hands-on, practical courses in addition to the theory-based requirements. The professors I have worked with include diverse backgrounds and job perspectives, providing greater awareness and appreciation of the numerous sub-fields that make cultural heritage institutions the important fields of work and study that they are."

"I loved the University of Maryland, it was a great place to grow and mature. There are many opportunities for students who want to get involved. I recommend doing all that you can during your undergrad and making the most of the experience. The campus is beautiful and being close to DC is a huge plus! There are internships and job opportunities galore."

"Everything I've learned so far in the MBA program at University of Maryland has been immediately applicable to my job. I am gaining the analytical skills necessary to understand and interact with C-level executives. Data modeling has been my favorite so far."

"The geography program is great. Very good instructors and many avenues to pursue. Prepares you well for the world while also providing resources to enjoy time in school. GIS can be applied to many things and can most likely be paired with another academic interests of yours"

"Taking my first steps on the University of Maryland, College Park campus for the first time was definitely one of those life-defining moments for me. I did not know how many experiences and memories I was going to gather in the next four years. It was exciting, yet nerve-racking. Over time, I joined many different organizations that the college offered from becoming President of a social sorority to leading volunteer groups to perform eye exams on elementary children. The vastness of the universitys potential was in the palm of my hands and all I had to do was reach out and grab it. And I did just that. I networked with leaders and professors with a variety of backgrounds and thrived to become educated on numerous subjects outside my major as well. And that was the best part; being given the chance to learn about anything and everything while at the same time pursuing a specialty. Incorporating those new teachings with your own and having the opportunity to create my own major if I wanted too. I will always have UMD to thank for the opportunity to network with a diverse crowd and teaching me that its good to be different it helps you stand out. Whichever degree you pursue, from business to biology, each and every member of the UMD community wants you to thrive and be passionate. And they want nothing more than to help you reach your potential. I hope to one day teach at UMD myself and be able to give back to future generations what this diverse community has taught me. Go Terps!"

"I will be attending the University of Maryland College Park in the Fall of 2017 for my M.S. and my review is based upon the application process and the additional support offered along the way. The application process is a standard one, with all forms filled out online. I was required to submit an up to date resume, GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, and 2 application essays. The letters of recommendation use a convenient submission process that allows the student to send the reviewer a link that lets the reviewer upload the recommendation directly, avoiding any regular mail scheduling headaches. The two essays were fairly standard essay questions, and the criteria for each were clearly explained. Overall it made for a smooth application process. Outside of applying, the program I applied for offered numerous "Get to know" sessions at the school and online. I attended an online Q&A session, which consisted of a livestream of a professor explaining the details of the program and answering any questions we had. These sessions were offered every month, 6-7 months in advance of the application deadline, so ample time was given to figure out if I wanted to apply to the program. Once I accepted the admissions offer, I was contacted by a faculty member congratulating me on my acceptance and detailing me on future events where I could get any additional questions addressed. Overall I am very satisfied with the application/post-application process and am looking forward to attending in the fall."

"Maryland's Environmental Science and Politics program is excellent for young people looking to peruse a mission-oriented career but who are unsure how to apply that. It gave me an opportunity to learn the local, national and international politics of environmental policies and figure out which path I'd like to pursue. The proximity to Washington, DC is convenient - I sought an internship at the national solar trade association, where I ended up working post-graduation. This program also provides students with a fundamental subject matter expertise in environmental science with the option to focus on either technical/hard science or political science. I chose the latter because I'm most interested in policies, but it's designed so that both tracks are intertwined so that left and right-brained students work together throughout the program and complement one another's skill sets."

"Great program at UMD. I found that it was extremely rewarding and challenging. The Department of Biology and Chemistry were amazing. There were tutors constantly available and organized study sessions that were very helpful. I am extremely happy with my education from University of Maryland"

"My time at the University of Maryland was the best four years of my life. It taught me a lot about who I am as a person and professional. Through my history degree, I was able to make connections and obtain critical research skills. My degree allowed me to understand the way people work by studying their social and cultural history. In addition, my degree allowed me to fully explore the diverse nature of the UMD campus. Without this degree and campus, I would not know how to get along with a variety of different cultures, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. My experience here exposed me to a multitude of ideas and experiences. I highly recommend for any future students to consider this school because it perfectly captures a drop of the many different types of people there are in the world."

"The University of Maryland experience is all about what you make of it. Certain majors have more useful opportunities which can help with networking from an early place in school, whereas others are more lacking. The career center staff were not a helpful resource despite their efforts in offering practice interviews and resume assistance, but the career center website is a great tool to look for jobs. Most of the academic programs are good to excellent, but of course this depends on your major. The campus is beautiful, and will probably look completely different in a few years due to all of the rapid construction taking place in and around the school. Safety was never an issue for myself, but there have been thefts and assaults, as with any college town -- just be vigilant and don't make yourself a target. All in all, I'd recommend the university."

"The Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had. When I first began my classes freshman year, I was worried because I felt that the majority of my classes were math, physics, and chemistry requirements as opposed to just chemical engineering classes. However, progressively, a larger and larger percentage of my classes were focused on chemical engineering and what used to be lecture halls of hundreds of random Clark school students turned into smaller classes of all Chem E's. The further I got, the more I got to know my professors and the more they tried to teach me about working in the real world. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to stay for graduate school."

"MD was and is a great school and fully prepared me for the rigors of the real world. I left the University with a highly functional set of skills that I was able to quickly apply in the real world. Overall, I highly recommend it for your educational future"

"The anthropology program at UMCP is a great program. The faculty is diverse and has myriad experiences that enrich their teaching. There are also countless opportunities to engage in research and travel that are associated with different areas of anthropology, allowing you to explore these until you find your niche."

"My Undergraduate and Masters degree in Special Education from the University of Maryland launched me on my career that has been both fulfilling and challenging. I am forever in the debt of the excellent professors, staff and fellow students at the University of Maryland who helped me achieve these two degrees. Both programs were excellent. I was able to apply for and double count credits during the 5th year of the 5-year Undergraduate program which then enabled me to take classes while in my first few years of teaching to complete my masters degree."

"University of Maryland provides a great education with a beautiful campus that is centrally located. They were about finding your niche, which was easy to do. It seemed like there was something for everyone, and people felt free to be who they were. The classes were engaging, and even in large lectures the professors took the time to get to know me because I consistently sat in the front. The food was average, but there was always a wide variety. My college experience was great at the University of Maryland. I would recommend it to anybody considering it because it is so huge with so much to offer that anyone can fit it and excel."

"The University of Maryland, College Park is an excellent school that promotes diversity and research. It provides networking opportunities along with career guidance. Professors want to ensure the education you are receiving will aid in getting you a job once you graduate."