terrapinsanity.com

Prospective students are often caught short by UM’s “priority consideration” deadline for application to this campus. November 1 comes awfully early, in fact seems to be the earliest of the “early decision” dates we can find.

Of course, this is not an “early decision” deadline. The fine print says: “Students should apply by this date for best consideration, for merit-based scholarships and invitations to special programs.” There is an extra comma in that sentence. You can apply later – people do and in fact gain admissions right up to nearly the first day of class. But if you want scholarships or programs, November 1 is it.

So what’s been going on in the last twelve weeks since the deadline? Admissibility decisions were made before Thanksgiving. Vetting for Honors program (and similar) opportunities commenced and concluded before Christmas. That’s the obvious activity, but doesn’t explain why we are still a week or two away away from any general decisions being released. Why does a process which started before Thanksgiving take until after Groundhog Day to become public? What else is going on?

While eager but otherwise ordinary applicants watched the clock, applicants from China were notified of offers in early December. By MOU, these students in specific STEM paths (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) have priority and get notice months before Maryland residents.

Through early January, athletes who are to be recruited for the various (remaining) programs here get their offer packages.

Only after China and the athletics program have cherry-picked their applicants from the pool does the Admissions and Honors program know how many slots are available for them to make offers.

When UM says November 1 is the deadline for best consideration, it means for these special programs – not Maryland residents who thought their bright kids might have priority at the flagship campus. Those of the latter group who applied last October will learn the outcome of their application in a couple weeks.