Admitted Fall Freshman Checklist
Admitted Fall Freshmen Checklist
Congratulations on your admission to the University of Maryland! You're #NowATerp!
Review Admission Decision FAQsBefore Confirming Your Enrollment:
You have likely landed on this page from your admission letter. Be sure to keep your letter handy. It includes important information about your semester of admission, major, advising college, resident status and University ID (UID). If you have not yet seen your letter, please log in to your Terps Application Portal account.
Your Directory ID can be activated approximately one business day after the date on your admission letter. Activating your Directory ID is an important step for newly admitted students because it is used across most UMD systems and is needed to register for housing and orientation, access financial aid information and more. Afterwards, you will also need to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
If you need assistance please contact the Division of Information Technology (DIT). Keep in mind, it may take up to two business days for your Directory ID to become effective.
International students must email admit-tech@umd.edu using the subject line "International SID" to receive their Student ID, which is required to activate your Directory ID.
Activating your Directory ID does not require confirming your enrollment at UMD. However, once your Directory ID has been activated, a TERPmail account will automatically be created for you. You will receive an email from DIT with instructions on setting up a password for your account.
If you wish to live in an on-campus residence hall, you must complete the Residence Hall Housing and Dining Agreement by June 1. All students, including those participating in Living-Learning Programs, must submit the Agreement. Students who miss the deadline may not be able to live on-campus. To access the agreement, you will need to activate your Directory ID. You may submit the agreement before confirming enrollment and cancel it without penalty before July 1.
The agreement will collect information on your housing preferences. Rooms are assigned in the order of agreement submission date. You will be notified in June when the Roommate Finder and request process becomes available. Roommate preferences will be taken into account but are not guaranteed. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Resident Life.
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. If you need assistance, please contact Dining Services.
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. If you need assistance, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
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. More information can be found on our Transfer Credit Services website.
Confirming Your Enrollment
Please respond to your offer of admission by completing the Decision Form located in your Terps Application Portal.
If your answer is YES, and we hope it is, 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. It may take up to two business days for your confirmation to be processed.
Students who received an invitation to one of UMD's living-learning programs, must respond to that invitation in addition to submitting their Decision Response and enrollment deposit for UMD.
After Confirming Your Enrollment:
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. If this is the case, please email ApplyMaryland@umd.edu with the subject line "Disciplinary Update". Any significant changes in either of the above could result in the reassessment of your admission decision.
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. You are strongly encouraged to register for orientation by June 1.
During orientation you will get 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 you need assistance, please contact the Office of Student Orientation and Transition.
All first-year students, regardless of SAT or AP/IB scores, must take the Math Placement Test before orientation. There are no exemptions from taking the Math Placement Test for first-year 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. In addition to new student orientation, international students may also be required to attend the International Student Orientation F-1/J-1 immigration session offered by ISSS.
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. All you need to ride Shuttle-UM is your student ID.
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. DOTS also offers services for students who commute by bicycle.
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. If you’ve earned college credits through courses at another institution, you should also submit official college transcripts upon completion of any courses in progress.
Your institution should mail transcripts directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the address below or submit them electronically through Naviance, USM ET or eSCRIP-SAFE. Transcripts cannot be emailed, scanned or faxed to our office.
University of Maryland
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Mitchell Building
7999 Regents Dr.
College Park, MD 20742-5235
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 need assistance, please contact the University Health Center.
As you begin your #AlwaysATerp journey, check these things off your list to connect with fellow Terps and stay updated on all things UMD:
- Reading The Diamondback, the independent student newspaper, and Maryland Today, the university's daily information site, are great ways to stay up-to-date on academics, programs, sports and events on campus.
- Explore the 800+ student organizations here at UMD.
- Scroll through the Student Entertainment Events calendar so you don't miss out on things like Battle of the Bands, free movie screenings, comedy shows and more.
