Freshman Application:
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most freqeuntly asked questions we receive from students who are completing our Freshman 2010 Application. If you have been wondering about any of these items - we hope this helps! If you have any additional questions, please do not hesistate to contact us at um-admit@umd.edu.
PRIORITY DEADLINE:
The priority deadline of November 1 is on a Sunday. How can I meet the postmark deadline?
In order to meet the priority application deadline of November 1, any mailed materials will need to be postmarked by the time the post office closes on Saturday, October 31. Your online materials can be submitted until midnight EST on Sunday, November 1.
Is the November 1 priority deadline considered an early action or early decision deadline?
No. An early decision deadline is binding, meaning if you are admitted you are committed to attending that school. Applying by our November 1 priority deadline does not commit you to attending the University of Maryland if you gain admission. Our priority deadline is similar to an early action deadline, in that it is non-binding and you will hear about your admission decision sooner. We encourage you to apply by our priority deadline in order to receive priority consideration for admission and for merit scholarships and invitations to special programs. The majority of applicants do apply by our priority deadline.
ESSAYS AND SHORT ANSWERS:
How many essays are required?
There are two essays required, and 9 short answer questions.
How long should the essays be?
The essays should be no longer than 300 words each. We strongly encourage you to stay as close as possible to this maximum word count. If your essay is slightly longer, it will not be cut off when you submit it online. Your essay can be shorter than 300 words, as long as it shows you have thoughtfully answered the question.
What is the purpose of the short answer questions?
The short answer questions were designed to get a quick snap shot of some of your interests and experiences. The University offers many outside of the classroom options and we would like to better understand what opportunities may interest you most. Please limit your responses to 20 words or less.
I accidentally submitted the rough draft of my essay, rather than the final version. How do I correct it?
If you have already submitted your application, you will not be able to change your essay through the online application. You will need to email, fax, or mail the corrected essay with a note explaining. If you have not yet submitted the application, you should return to the essay section, and click on the button for “delete attachment”. Once you have deleted the incorrect version, you may start again by attaching the correct version.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS (ACTIVITIES LIST, TEST SCORES, RECOMMENDATIONS, FEE, ETC):
What format should I use for the activities section? What if my activities are longer than the space allows?
The activities section can be in the form of a resume, a bulleted list, or even paragraphs. The easier to read the better! We prefer you list the activities most important to you first. If your high school already has your activities in a resume format, your counselor can submit this with your transcript and/or recommendation letters. You should keep the activities section as close as possible to the suggested 350-500 words.
Can I submit my application before my high school sends my other materials? Or, can my high school send my materials before I submit my application?
Yes. As soon as your application or additional materials are complete, you should submit or send them. You do not have to wait until everything is complete. All of your materials will be matched together when they arrive.
If the application is paperless, then how do my teachers and counselor complete the evaluation form?
You can download the recommendation forms here, and give to your counselor and teacher. They should complete the form and mail to the admissions office.
I have checked the document tracking system but I don't yet see the documents I have sent. When will they appear?
Around our priority deadlines we receive a significant number of documents which can take longer to process, up to two to three weeks. Please be patient and continue to check the document tracking site. Also note, even if documents are sent together, they can be separated in our scanning process, causing some documents to appear before others.
I'm planning to take the November SAT, will those scores be included as a part of my review?
The October ACT and SAT test results will arrive in time to meet our November 1 priority deadline. The November SAT test results will arrive after we have begun the application review process. However, we encourage you to submit these scores to us. If you do send your SAT scores from the November test date, we will attempt to use these scores in our review. Please do not request that your scores be rushed from the testing agency. Because of the delivery method, scores that are rushed often take longer to be matched to your file.
I submitted my application but I am having trouble with the application fee payment. Will this delay the review of my application?
If we do not receive your application fee, we will mail you a bill. We will continue to process and review your application without payment.
