University of Maryland Freshman Checklist: A Comprehensive Guide for New Terps

Congratulations on your admission to the University of Maryland (UMD)! Your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and diverse experiences have made you a great fit for the UMD community. This checklist is designed to guide you through the essential steps to prepare for your first semester as a Terp.

1. Acknowledging Your Admission and Activating Your Directory ID

You likely landed on this page from your admission letter, so be sure to keep it handy. The letter includes important information about your semester of admission, major, advising college, resident status, and University ID (UID).

Activating Your Directory ID

Your Directory ID can be activated approximately one business day after the date on your admission letter. If you need assistance, contact the Division of Information Technology (DIT). Activating your Directory ID does not require confirming your enrollment at UMD. Both your Directory ID and the MFA will be necessary to complete your Housing and Dining Agreement (required of all students living in residence halls) as well as to access other UMD systems such as student financial aid, registration for orientation and courses, and most other student services. Additional information on how to enroll in MFA can be found online.

Confirming Enrollment

If your answer is YES to attending UMD, you will need to submit your enrollment deposit. This nonrefundable, $400 deposit will reserve your place in the incoming class and will be applied to your tuition.

2. Fulfilling Conditions of Enrollment

If you have been enrolled conditionally, your official admission letter listed the actions that you must take to maintain or secure full enrollment. The most common condition is to have a hard copy of your official transcripts sent directly from the institution to the university (or hand-delivered in a sealed envelope). The transcript must show the degree awarded. If you just recently graduated, wait until the transcript records degree awarded. A common condition for international applicants is the requirement to enroll in an English language course.

Read also: Comprehensive College Guide

3. Understanding Academic Expectations

It is our expectation that you maintain your current level of academic performance. In addition, the university requires you to update our office should you have disciplinary action taken against you between the time you submitted your application and the start of classes.

Exploring Academic Programs

Whether you know exactly what you want to study or are still figuring it out, we encourage you to explore UMD's academic programs. As you explore, you may see that some of our majors are considered Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP). On the UMD application, you'll select a preferred major. This information will not impact whether or not you are admissible to the university. While most students are admitted to their preferred major, some LEP applicants may not be.

Submitting Transcripts and Reviewing Transfer Credits

If you’ve earned credits through courses at another institution or through standard exams (such as AP, IB, A/AS Level and CLEP exams), they may count toward your UMD degree. Submit your most recent transcripts as soon as your grades are posted so we may promptly evaluate your transfer credit. To review which of your credits will transfer, review your unofficial transcript (Directory ID required for access) which will be available roughly 15 business days after you are admitted.

Math Placement Exam

All first-year students, regardless of SAT or AP/IB scores, must take the Math Placement Test before orientation. The Math Placement Exam is a requirement for all incoming first-year students, regardless of any AP or college-level credit they may be bringing in.

4. Registering for Orientation

After confirming your enrollment and activating your Directory ID, make sure you register for new student orientation, which is required of all incoming students, regardless of residency status. The Office of Student Orientation & Transition runs all orientation programs for newly admitted, degree-seeking undergraduate students. All of our orientation programs are major or program specific, and space in each session is available on a first reserve basis. We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to register for orientation as soon as possible. Do not delay registering as all of our programs close at least one week out and spaces fill up quickly. Students can register for Orientation 48 business hours after confirming spring admission and submitting the FC Enrollment Form. The FC Enrollment Form will open on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026. Please note it takes up to 3 business days for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to process your enrollment fee payment and 48 hours for FC to process your enrollment form. Only after that process has occurred can you register for an NSO session. Have any questions or need help with registering?

Read also: Your Guide to Enrollment

New Student Orientation (NSO)

No matter what type of New Student Orientation program you attend, you will have the opportunity to meet with faculty and staff, connect with your peers and upperclassmen, become familiar with campus resources, and register for classes for your first semester. If students register for the two-day overnight NSO, they will spend the night in a traditional residence hall with a roommate, eat meals in a dining hall or the Stamp Student Union, visit the Eppley Recreation Center, explore essential campus spaces, and engage in fun community building activities. ** Overnight accommodations are not provided for family members or supporters. Only the student will stay overnight in the residence hall. College Park has many local hotels that welcome family members and supporters during NSO. The Office of Student Orientation and Transition does not affiliate with any specific hotels in the area. If students register for the online NSO, they can expect to meet and connect with an Orientation Advisor in the morning before their academic advising sessions. During this time, the OA will give the Terp Life presentation, which connects students to campus resources that will assist in a successful transition to UMD. Academic Advising colleges will welcome students with a Meet Your College presentation before they register for classes.

Orientation, Advisement & Registration (OAR)

One of the main ways we offer support in your journey to UMD is through the Orientation, Advisement & Registration (OAR) experience. Mandatory for all incoming students, OAR will introduce you to campus resources available to you throughout your time as a student, help you to begin to understand your UMD academics here, lift holds from your student account, and give you a chance to meet other students going through the same experience as you! Log into your Application Portal and make sure you are completing your Checklist.

Two Types of OAR Experiences

There are two types of OAR experiences available for new bulldogs, on-campus and virtual. Incoming Freshmen are required to attend the on-campus program.

5. Housing and Dining

If you wish to live in an on-campus residence hall, you must complete the Residence Hall Housing and Dining Agreement by May 1. The agreement will collect information on your housing preferences. Rooms are assigned in the order of agreement submission date. Roommate preferences will be taken into account but are not guaranteed. As part of the agreement, you will also need to select a dining plan. All students living on-campus in a traditional residence hall are required to have one of four Resident Dining Plans. These plans provide you with unlimited access to food, seven days a week for the whole semester, while classes are in session and during finals.

Allergen-free, vegan and vegetarian selections are available and students who keep kosher can select a platinum plan from Maryland Hillel. As a spring admit, you'll be given priority for spaces that open in our residence halls at the end of the fall semester. Most students have residence hall housing by the first day of classes.

Read also: Do Colleges Care?

6. Financial Matters

From merit scholarships and need-based aid, to understanding your payment options, learning how you can finance your education at UMD is an important step. We are committed to providing you with helpful information and resources that can assist in making a UMD education affordable for you and your family. To help you get started, we recommend reviewing the estimated cost of attendance. Additionally, as an admitted student, you now have the ability to find and apply for scholarships through the scholarship matching tool, Scholarship Universe.

7. Registering for Classes

The university’s web-based registration services are available online at testudo.umd.edu. Follow these steps to register for classes:

Select “Registration (Drop/Add).”
Enter your Directory ID and password.
Select the term for which you are registering.
Create your schedule for that term.
See the Schedule of Classes.
Review the Graduate Registration Policies.

You must register for classes in the term for which you were admitted by the end of the schedule adjustment period, or your admission will be canceled. If you would like to defer your term of admission, you will need to contact the program where you were admitted to see if this is a possibility. If you have questions about which courses to register for, or need further assistance registering for courses, please reach out to your academic department.

Selecting the Correct Classes

An advisor will review your schedule to make sure that you’ve chosen the correct courses for your intended major.

Full-Time Students (12 or more credits)

An advisor will review your schedule within 10 business days (two weeks) of your registering for 12 or more credits.

FC Registration Modules

The FC Registration Modules are online tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions on how to register for classes and, importantly, provide details regarding which courses to take based on your intended major and any transfer credits you may have. As a reminder, registration occurs on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain courses, particularly math and science, fill early.

8. Health and Immunizations

In order to keep our campus healthy and safe, all incoming students are required to submit proof of immunizations prior to their arrival on campus. Domestic undergraduate students will also need to provide proof of health insurance by September 15, or enroll in the school-sponsored plan. International students will automatically be enrolled in the school-sponsored plan.

If you have not done so already, turn in the required immunization records to the University Health Center as soon as possible. If you have any questions regarding immunization, contact the University Health Center at (301) 314-8114.

Starting with the Fall 2020 semester, all full-time enrolled graduate students are required to have health insurance. Please view the policy in the Graduate Catalog. To learn more about your health insurance options, please visit The Graduate School's Health Insurance Resource page

Special Accommodations and Allergies

If you or anyone participating in one of our orientation programs needs any special accommodations (ADA, dietary restrictions, immunocompromised), please be sure to indicate this in the Pre-Orientation Form in Step 1. Please indicate any allergies you may have in your Pre-Orientation Form.

Kosher Meals

If you are requesting a Kosher meal during your program, please place an order through Maryland Hillel online or call 301-422-6200 (ext. 202). Kosher meals are coordinated and ordered by Maryland Hillel directly, not by the Office of Student and Transition or Dining Services.

9. International Students

If you’re an International student, you'll need to work with the office of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) to receive a Form I-20 and complete additional items for new international students. International students must confirm their enrollment at UMD before their student visa application process can begin.

10. Transportation and Parking

Regardless of where you live, you’ll likely use the resources of the university’s Department of Transportation Services (DOTS). In addition to operating several campus-based routes that run up to 20 hours per day, Shuttle-UM buses travel to local neighborhoods, Metro stations, shops, restaurants and nearby apartment communities. Eligible students who live in residence halls may purchase parking permits and bring their vehicles to campus on a space-available basis. A range of permits, including options for carpoolers and students who plan to drive to campus only occasionally, are available for off-campus students.

11. Student ID Card

As a University of Maryland student, you are entitled to a student ID card. Your ID card serves as a general form of identification for the purpose of accessing University programs and services. Get your student IDStudent IDs are available in the Mitchell building. To obtain an ID, you must be registered for classes and you must have proof of identity, such as a valid driver’s license or passport. If you have questions about the ID system, contact the Office of the Registrar at (301) 314-8240. You may use your ID to withdraw books from libraries; ride the shuttle buses; and gain admission to most athletic, social, and cultural events. You may also use it as a prepaid debit card for UMD food establishments and printing services, and as a general form of identification on campus.

12. Canvas and Online Resources

Many of our academic colleges use Canvas, our course management tool, to share information and receive information prior to orientation. Before you can access our Orientation Canvas courses, you need to first log into Canvas. To do this, simply visit elms.umd.edu and login using your directory id and password. Once you've logged in and seen your dashboard, log out. Please note you also have the option of marking your contact information as “Confidential” if you would rather it not appear in the Student Directory. Your primary name is the name by which you are generally known. Your legal name appears on government issued identity documents such as a passport. Unless you specify otherwise, your default primary name is your legal name.

13. TerrapinSTRONG

TerrapinSTRONG is a shared vision and values for the entire campus community. All new faculty, staff and students participate in the TerrapinSTRONG onboarding course, as well as TerrapinSTRONG onboarding initiatives within their division/college/school. These onboarding experiences are just the first step to creating an inclusive campus.

14. What to Bring to Campus

All students should plan on bringing the following:

A government or school issued photo ID (passport, high school ID, driver's license, etc.)
Comfortable, casual clothing and walking shoes - wear your Terp Pride!
Parking Permit (coming soon!)
Reusable water bottle (to stay hydrated and be green!)
Notebook and pen
A back-up copy of your grades and transcripts
Documents that you need for meeting with campus staff (unofficial transcripts, AP scores, etc.).

15. UMD Mobile App

The New Student Orientation Schedule will be built into the UMD mobile app. Be sure to download the app before arriving to campus for parking information, directions, and a built in schedule. Outside of New Student Orientation, The UMD App puts essential campus services right at your fingertips!

16. Important Reminders

Submit Final High School Transcripts: Incoming freshmen must submit final high school transcripts as soon as they are available so we may confirm your high school graduation and facilitate course credit evaluation.
Read the UMD Honor Pledge: The University of Maryland Graduate School expects all graduate students to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and adhere to the UMD Honor Pledge.
The Graduate School is Here to Help: You are a student of The Graduate School. Contact your department if you have questions. If you have questions about your department's orientation, academic advising, selecting courses, or planning your graduate career, reach out to your department directly.

tags: #umd #freshman #checklist