University of Maryland

"How does this university even have a rating above 4? I have hated attending this university since I joined. Here are my reasons, as a PhD student: Asked for accommodations for ADS. My original university usually has a two week turn around if they're unlucky, so I emailed this university on August 1st before the semester I officially started. They said their next available appointment was September 15th. I asked them how they expect me to not have accommodations for the first two weeks of school? They had an IDGAF attitude, but after much complaining, was finally able to push it up. I have had accommodations in the past. Every university I've attended has been reasonable and has accepted accommodations from previous institutions, no questions asked. For UMD, I have to do more paperwork to "prove" I need accommodations. They never clearly tell me who to send it to, so I send it to an apparently defunct email address (I didn't know), and they take away my accommodations the next semester without telling me. I raise hell, get them back. Needless to say, I have never used my accommodations because I have now a severe lack of trust with ADS. Fortunately, my professors have been more than accommodating. I TA for chemistry. I am assigned 80 lab reports a week, 2-4 hours of office hours, of which I get as many as 30+ students, no training on how to handle these many students, all students are amazing, but clearly need a lot of help (this is COVID btw), ask professor to help, they don't, I have a mental breakdown and they blame me. Needless to say, I never TA for chemistry again. End of year 1 I fail the qualifier because my first advisor dud not prepare me correctly. First advisor dumps me during the qual. I talk with the program chair. He is very helpful (actually my new advisor and I love being in his lab), but at the time, there is a very strong possibility that I will have to master out. Old advisor "talks" with chemistry to try and get me TA there. Needless to say, I was without a TA that semester. Talk with ombudsman. He hears my concerns and does nothing. I have to find a new advisor without him on my own. Fortunately, my new advisor is amazing and takes me on, but it took multiple convos and at first he was reluctant. Decided eventually to give an informal rotation. End of year 2. Apparently, I am not officially a PhD student because of the failed qual (on paper I am, but still need to pass the qual). I get my master's at my new advisor's advise (it really did help). I pass the qual with a new committee. End of year 3 (thank God nothing majorly horrible happened) I am trying to switch from SHIP to State Health Insurance (I finally have a stable TA line). After two months of the promise that it will occur, they reject me for the State insurance, tell me that I will have to pay for SHIP at close to $500 a month (it would have been $1000 for 5 months had I had it for the whole fall, and they did NOT prorate it). I raise hell. They do nothing. I refuse SHIP and get my own health insurance for $66 a month. I apply for TA positions. For background, my department has no undergraduate courses, so we have to outsource to departments in CMNS. Due to a TA shortage, many of us are left without TA lines. Our department has no control over this, but students raise hell, and now many of us fortunately have TA lines next semester CIO of university threatens to revoke my UMD computer access if I don't do "mandatory training" that is required for workers. As per The Graduate School, I am "first and foremost a student." This is more semantic of me and I don't mind doing the training, but it's great to know that I am not "first and foremost a student" in many cases. Keep in mind, the spring semester has not started yet."

"Questions on quizzes that aren’t even remotely touched upon in any discussions, homework or labs. Encouraging laziness in incompetent people who don’t pull their own weight and make the hard-working people pull the weight for them in group projects. Serious attitude problems, and virtually sadistic professors. I am so glad I am paying for this education… This campus is turning into a joke.."

"This uni is not bike friendly at all! The large campus doesn’t have infrastructure or design to keep bikers, skaters or commuters who scooter safe. You basically need a car to navigate around campus. The UMD health center physicians say that the #1 reason students and patients visit for injuries is campus bike, scooter, and skateboard related. More recently signs and street symbols have been posted to inform drivers that they must share the road with these types of travelers, but there are not individual lanes or pathways physically protecting these commuters. The same goes for all of College Park. It is a bit sad since PG county is one of the top 5 wealthiest counties in the Nation and PG county and UMD don’t show action to on improving and promoting sustainable and more inclusive ways of commuting."

"I worked at UM for many years. I see so many changes--new student housing, new hotel, new buildings. What else is new? They are building the purple metrorail. You see construction occurring in middle of campus. The metro will take you into Washington DC and Virginia. On the metrorail map, I have labeled the states (MD for "Maryland and VA for "Virginia"). Washington DC is in the middle of the map. Currently, there is a College Park metrorail on the Green Line off-campus. It is about 5 minutes from campus. What is it like at this university? The university definitely has a diverse population. There are a lot of places to eat and things to do whether it is movies, concerts, or recreation. The Eppley Recreation Center is huge. There is swimming, gym, aerobics, etc. You can Google it. There are also trails surrounding the campus. Check out article from The Diamondback college newspaper) entitled, "For Your Walking Pleasure:Here are the Best Trails in College Park". I believe, one of the trails will take you into DC. If you are looking for a campus that offers a little bit of everything, this is the campus to go."

"Beautiful campus off a not-so scenic main thoroughfare (Baltimore Avenue). I attended for one short semester and it was nice to return and see all the progress and development that has occurred over the years. Numerous new buildings including campus dining and resident halls. The campus tour we attended for my child was long, and they still have covid protocols required for visitors, which is a bit bizarre, but not entirely surprising, since the State of Maryland always thinks it's on the cutting edge of progress. Also surprised how dead it was on homecoming weekend, and the students we did see wandering on campus do not wear their Maryland colors. A bit disappointing."