The Princeton Review and the University of Maryland, College Park: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is often featured in The Princeton Review's annual college guide. This article delves into various aspects of UMD, drawing from The Princeton Review and other sources, to provide a comprehensive overview for prospective students and those interested in higher education rankings.

University of Maryland, College Park: An Overview

The University of Maryland, College Park, a vibrant public research university, is located near Washington, D.C. Undergraduates have access to over 100 majors and can even design their own program through the Individual Studies Program. UMD is known for its "top-notch honors program," impressive engineering school, "nationally recognized business program," political science department, and "top-ranked criminology program." The university also provides "high-level courses taught by the nation's top researchers."

For students seeking international experiences, UMD offers nearly 300 study abroad programs. Education Abroad Advisors offer resources and support for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and students of color, ensuring inclusive programs. The campus is continually improving, with the administration showing "a desire to always upgrade facilities," including the "tremendous business school" and the engineering building that opened in 2022.

Diversity and Inclusion at UMD

UMD is described by students as "an especially diverse school," where diversity encourages peers to be "more tolerant and accepting of people from different backgrounds and cultures." One student noted, "Coming from a very diverse area, I thought it was going to be hard to find a school that had that same representation of minority and atypical students until I found Maryland. I don't think I have ever learned so much about different religions, cultures, orientations, or lifestyles. All of them are accepted and even celebrated." It's highlighted that "there is no 'typical' student here. Everyone will find that they can fit in somewhere." The community is inclusive, with different groups being very accepting of each other, including Greek life and non-Greek life students.

Campus Life and Activities

"Life at UMD is awesome," with students appreciating "one of the country’s most beautiful campuses." Many students choose to live in optional living-learning communities organized around academic interests. This setup allows students to live and attend classes together, creating a sense of community and making the large campus feel smaller. The proximity to D.C. allows for clubbing, nights out, and visits to the city. The student union is "loaded with fun places like the arcade area [and] bowling alley," as well as "tons of places to eat." The campus recreation center includes pools, an extensive gym, a rock wall, squash courts, and an indoor track for those interested in staying active. Division 1 men’s and women’s basketball teams are popular, and "there are always open games of soccer, football, or ultimate Frisbee being played on the mall and elsewhere." As one student put it, "You can never get bored because there is always something to do" at UMD.

Read also: Decoding Princeton Admissions

Mental Health and Support Services

UMD provides numerous resources for mental health and well-being. Training to Evaluate, Respond to and Prevent Suicide (T.E.R.P.S for Terps) is available to all faculty and staff, based on Campus Connect. The Counseling Center offers 10-12 CE bearing presentations on various topics each year for staff training and continued education. Peer-to-peer support options include The Help Center, a student organization advised by the Counseling Center Director that provides phone-based and in-person support. Lean on Me, another student organization, offers text-based peer support. Year-round trainings, programs, and events focused on mental health and wellness are initiated by various offices in partnership with Residence Life, and a mental health curriculum is offered as part of the Freshman Connections program.

Location and Accessibility

The University of Maryland, College Park, is located at 7999 Regents Dr., Clarence Mitchell Bldg. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is 25 miles from campus, and Washington National Airport is 15 miles away. Metrorail trains are available for transportation from the airport to the campus. Amtrak and Greyhound are available to Washington, D.C., with a Metrorail connection to College Park from Union Station.

Directions to the campus are as follows:

From Baltimore and the north: Take I-95 S. to the Capital Beltway (I-495 around Washington, DC); follow signs to College Park.
From the west: Follow the preceding directions from the Capital Beltway (I-495).
From Annapolis and the east: Take U.S. 50 W. to the Capital Beltway (I-495); head north on I-495 to College Park.
From Washington, DC: Take New Hampshire Ave. (Maryland Rte. 650) north to the Capital Beltway (I-495); head north on I-495 to College Park.

Nearby hotels include The Hotel at The University of Maryland, The Cambria Hotel College Park, and Best Western Plus College Park.

Career Opportunities and the President's Promise

The President's Promise initiative is central to UMD's career philosophy, focusing on helping students connect classroom learning to real-world experiences. In cooperation with the University Career Center, President's Promise links students with career exposure and experiential learning opportunities such as internships, job shadowing, service learning, study abroad, and research, complementing the academic curriculum. The Bright Futures Fund supports unpaid interns with awards ranging from $250 to $1,250. Opportunities to work with nearby federal agencies and labs, such as NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, are plentiful. Annually, over 1,200 employers participate in UMD's career fairs or visit for on-campus interviews and networking events.

Rankings and Recognition

The University of Maryland is recognized as one of the nation's top institutions for undergraduate academics, according to The Princeton Review’s annual college guide. UMD is also recognized on its list of Best in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Princeton Review profiles UMD in “The Best 391 Colleges” based on surveys of college administrators and students.

UMD's progress reflects its advancement across important measures of excellence in higher education and investments in areas that support learning, engagement, and opportunity. The university has been recognized for prioritizing financial resources for programs that support student success and investing in faculty.

UMD holds several notable rankings:

Top universities for veterans.
No. 10 among public institutions in Forbes' rankings of America's Top Colleges.
Top institutions in the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development survey.
No. 13 among public universities for Pell Grant recipients' graduation rates.
No. 7 in the nation at promoting student entrepreneurship, according to The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.
No. 1 producer of computer science and information science bachelor’s degrees among non-online universities.
Top 5 American producer of doctorates in technology areas.
Top public institutions and on News & World Report's list of Best Global Universities.
Top 2% of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Student Perspectives on Rankings

Some students find certain rankings, such as party school rankings, to be generous. However, The Princeton Review has also recognized UMD for its entrepreneurship programs.

Other Maryland Colleges Recognized by The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review also recognizes other Maryland schools, including:

Read also: Princeton Transfer Guide

Goucher College
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola University Maryland
McDaniel College
Salisbury University
St. John's College
St. Mary's College of Maryland
United States Naval Academy
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Washington College

These rankings are based on student opinions and experiences.

University System of Maryland (USM) Achievements

The University System of Maryland (USM) comprises 12 institutions, including UMD. USM institutions and programs are recognized for quality and value.

USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman stated, “These strong rankings affirm the excellence we achieve every day. They speak to all the things we value, all the things we strive for: an affordable education, one that produces exceptional student outcomes and drives social mobility. They speak to our outstanding teaching, research, and scholarship, to our mission of civic engagement and public service.”

Other USM institutions recognized in various rankings include:

Salisbury University
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
Bowie State University
Coppin State University
Towson University (TU)
Frostburg State University (FSU)
The University of Baltimore (UBalt)
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)

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