Freshman Application FAQs

Freshman students applying to UMD can do so using either the Common App or ApplyWeb.

The freshman early action deadline for fall admission is November 1. If you submit a completed application by this deadline, you will receive priority consideration for admission to the university, merit-based scholarships and special programs. For more information, please review our complete listing of all application deadlines.

The November 1 early action deadline is non-binding. If you are admitted, you will have until May 1 to confirm your enrollment at UMD.

If you are unable to complete your application by the November 1 early action deadline, you can still be considered for admission if you submit a completed application and all required materials by the January 20 regular deadline.

Applications completed after the regular application deadline will only be reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis.

You can choose from a selection of essay questions. Please visit our Essay Questions page for more information.

The undergraduate admissions process is rigorous and individualized. UMD employs a holistic review process that utilizes 24 unique review factors.

No. UMD employs a holistic review process that utilizes 24 unique review factors. The Admission Committee will undertake an individualized, rigorous and holistic review of each application, assessing academic merit, achievements and potential in the context of the opportunities and challenges the student faced.

No. The application fee is $75 on both platforms.

You can begin using the Common App at any point in your high school career. Once you create an account, you can complete the Common App tab and add schools to the My Colleges list.

You can begin using the ApplyWeb platform at any time. Once you create an account, you can access the Profile, Locker and Colleges sections to organize items for your college application.

To share your contact information with UMD on the Common App, you must first create an account, opt-in to receiving messages from colleges and add UMD to your My Colleges list. Information entered on the Common App tab will later be incorporated directly into your application(s) when you begin the application process.

To share your contact information with UMD on the ApplyWeb platform, you must first create an account and complete your profile. Profile information will later be transferred directly to your ApplyWeb applications when you begin the application process.

If you are experiencing challenges with the Common App platform, account creation and/or password issues, you should seek assistance via the Common App’s Solutions Center.

For assistance with ApplyWeb account creation, password issues and any challenges with the platform or tools, please contact ApplyWeb's Support Center.

Application process and status questions should be emailed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at ApplyMaryland@umd.edu.

For an application to be complete, all items on the application checklist must be submitted and received by our office. Only completed applications will be reviewed and receive an admissions decision.

In Common App, counselors/teachers you've added to your "Invite and Manage Recommenders" list will be able to electronically submit your official transcript(s) through the School Report in addition to your letters of recommendation. This can be completed even after you've submitted your UMD application.

In ApplyWeb, counselors/teachers you've sent requests to will be able to electronically submit your official transcript(s) and letters of recommendation. This can be completed even after you've submitted your UMD application.

For a list of acceptable submission methods, review our Submitting Documents page. Items submitted outside of Common App or ApplyWeb can take up to 10 business days to process and reflect in your Terps Application Portal checklist.

Yes. UMD requires two letters of recommendation for a completed application: one from your school counselor and one from a teacher. If you have additional letters of recommendation you would like to submit, please feel free to do so.

Yes, we superscore both the SAT and ACT. We use the highest subscores from the SAT and ACT in our review of your application, so it is to your benefit to submit all of your test scores. Please note that we will accept scores from the redesigned SAT, first administered in March 2016, but these scores will not be combined with scores from the old SAT.

No, we do not require subject tests or scores from the writing sections of the SAT or ACT. Even if these scores are sent to us, they are not one of the 24 factors we review for admission.

Yes. UMD is currently test-optional and has extended this policy through to the Spring and Fall 2025 application cycles. This means that students applying between now and Fall 2025 will not be required to submit standardized test scores. Students can decide whether or not to include SAT/ACT scores with their application.

UMD first implemented its test-optional policy due to the limitations of testing in some areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. UMD is currently assessing the impact of this policy on our students and the admission process to inform its standardized test score requirement for application cycles beyond Fall 2025.

You will be able to indicate your test-optional status on your application.

No. Once you submit your application, your response to the test-optional question will be final and your status cannot be changed.

The Admission Committee will not consider submitted SAT/ACT test scores in the application review if the student has indicated that they would like their application to be evaluated without them.

The Admission Committee uses a holistic, full-file review. This means the Committee will consider all factors of your application including grades earned in academic coursework, trends in your grades, your performance in honors, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement, A/AS level courses (when available in your school), your letters of recommendation, your essay, extracurricular activities and other achievements.

Yes. The review processes for merit scholarships and for our living-learning and other special programs will also be test-optional.

The review processes for Limited Enrollment Programs will also be test-optional.

Yes. Standardized tests such as the Duolingo English Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are still required for non-native English speakers. To learn more about this requirement, please visit our English Language Proficiency page.

You can track your application status and confirm receipt of application materials online through the Terps Application Portal (TAP). Within two business days after submitting your application, you will receive an email with instructions on how to create a TAP account. It may take up to 10 business days for recently submitted materials to be listed as received on your checklist and it is your responsibility to confirm receipt of all required materials.

Standardized test scores can take several weeks to process and be received by our office. Please confirm that the testing agency submitted your scores to the University of Maryland, College Park, using the SAT code 5814 or ACT code 1746. Applicants often send their scores to other institutions in the University System of Maryland by mistake.

If your scores were sent to the University of Maryland, College Park, confirm that the first, middle and last names indicated on your test are the same as those used on your application. Different spellings can result in scores not matching with application files.

If you have confirmed both of these details and still have questions, please email us at ApplyMaryland@umd.edu for assistance.

Only materials received or postmarked by the deadline will be reviewed for admission. We cannot guarantee that new scores or materials received or postmarked after the deadline will be reviewed as part of your application

If you listed the incorrect social security number on your application, please email us at ApplyMaryland@umd.edu using the subject line "SSN Error" and include your full name, date of birth and a message regarding the mistake. Do not include your corrected number or a copy of your card in your email to our office. Once we receive your email, we will provide you with next steps for resolving this issue.

If you intend to apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it is important that you include your social security number on your application to ensure your FAFSA information is processed correctly.

Please email us at ApplyMaryland@umd.edu using the subject line "App Demographic Info Changes". In the body of the email, please write your full name, date of birth and the high school you attend along with any demographic information that should be updated.

Our office will send you an email notification when your admission decision is ready. When you receive this email, you can view your admission decision online by logging in to your Terps Application Portal. For security and privacy reasons, we cannot reveal admission decisions over the phone or email.

If you are offered admission to UMD, you will also receive a general welcome letter from our office in the mail a few days later. Unlike the virtual letter, this hard copy will not include your major or university identification number (UID).

We are most interested in how you performed in your high school courses. Admission decisions will be based primarily on factors typically submitted in the application, although college credit may be used as one additional piece of information.

Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website to review the estimated tuition and fees for UMD.

If you submit a completed application by the November 1 early action deadline, you will automatically be reviewed for all merit scholarships. No separate application is required.

If you plan to seek need-based financial aid, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can submit your FAFSA prior to completing your UMD admission application. Be sure to include your social security number when submitting both your FAFSA and UMD application. We encourage you to review the Office of Student Financial Aid's website for information on the financial aid process and FAFSA FAQs.

UMD's priority deadline for submitting the 2024-25 FAFSA is April 1, 2024. Our school code is 002103.

There are various types of financial aid available at UMD which can be classified as either need-based, meaning you and your family are not able to cover education expenses, or non-need based, which generally refers to aid you receive based on merit or qualification.

For admitted freshman students who applied by the November 1 early action deadline, financial aid decisions will be released electronically as soon as possible. Students awarded a merit scholarship will receive an email notification by April 1. Admitted freshman students who applied by the January 20 regular deadline are not considered for merit scholarships but will be notified in early April.

In order to qualify for in-state tuition, you must prove that you (or your parent/guardian if you're a financially dependent student) are a financially contributing citizen of the state of Maryland and have been so for at least one full year (12 consecutive months). To demonstrate eligibility for Maryland residency, you must submit the residency questionnaire portion of the admission application. Residency can be determined by factors such as holding a Maryland driver’s license, paying Maryland taxes and proving that the primary reason for living in Maryland is not to attend the university. For the full policy, please visit the Office of the Registrar's website.

You may be eligible to receive these benefits at UMD. Information regarding veteran benefits can be found on the Office of the Registrar website.

We do not need proof of military service and other related documentation until after you are offered admission to the university.