Freshmen Connection
Freshmen Connection
Freshmen Connection (FC) is a fall semester program offered to all freshmen students admitted for the spring semester. Participation in FC is optional, and interested students must first confirm their enrollment at the University of Maryland (UMD) for the spring semester. Through this program, students have the opportunity to:
- Take up to 17 credits during the fall semester and remain on track to graduate in four years
- Live on campus during the fall semester
- Utilize the university’s academic resources
- Participate in UMD activities and organizations
Below you will find answers to questions that are commonly asked by students recently admitted for the spring semester. If, after reviewing this information, you would like to learn more, please visit the Freshmen Connection website.
FAQs
FC offers a selection of UMD courses that help fulfill undergraduate major and general education requirements. Courses meet in campus classrooms, 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. FC course offerings are only open to spring-admitted freshmen who enroll in FC; the regular fall semester course offerings are only open to current and fall-admitted students.
FC provides spring-admitted freshmen the opportunity to take up to 17 credits that begin to fulfill UMD undergraduate requirements and to get on track to graduate in four years. FC academic advisors provide guidance throughout the enrollment process and the fall semester. Students are required to enroll in a UNIV100 orientation course which helps develop skills and strategies that will enhance your UMD academic experience. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in fall campus activities and events and meet other freshmen. Finally, there is no need to provide official transcripts or consider credit transfers from another college or university. All courses are UMD courses and appear on your official UMD transcript.
FC students are not eligible for merit scholarships, as those are only offered to our students who applied by the early action deadline and were admitted to the fall semester.
We house FC students throughout our residence halls like all other newly enrolled freshmen coming for the fall semester. However, we may place FC students as roommates since the academic schedules for the program make this more compatible. We also allow roommate requests, if the students request each other, as we do for all students. For more information on Freshmen Connection housing, please visit the Department of Resident Life website.
First, you need to respond to your offer of admission in your Terps Application Portal account. Then you need to review and complete the steps found on the FC How to Enroll page.
You will first need to enroll in FC. Once that is complete, you can visit the Office of Student Orientation & Transition website to register for the specific FC orientation dates.
If you choose not to participate in Freshmen Connection, you will still register for orientation through the Office of Student Orientation & Transition and will select a date based on your major.
FC is an optional academic program that does not affect your spring admission. If you intend to confirm your enrollment at UMD, we encourage you to review these next steps.
You can contact Freshmen Connection by email at fc@umd.edu or the other methods listed on their Connect With US page.
