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Parents & Families

Parenting a college student can be a big change. Feel confident in their decision to attend the University of Maryland (UMD) and get familiar with the resources your student will have at their disposal.

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Parents & Families

SENDING YOUR STUDENT AWAY TO COLLEGE IS NERVE RACKING.

There may be a million questions running through your head, such as: Where are they going to live? Will they be safe? What will they eat? How will they make friends?  You may also be wondering about experiences they'll have both in and out of the classroom, and if it will prepare them for their future careers. Or about how to make college affordable. 

We hope reading through the information on this page will help you find answers to these questions and more, and feel confident that your student will thrive here at UMD.

As a parent, I understand how exciting—and daunting—the college search process can be. The staff in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is available to you.

Shannon Gundy
Shannon Gundy Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Management
Group of students in a dorm room

Home Away From Home

During your student's time here, UMD will be their home away from home. Whether living on- or off-campus, Terps can find support from the Department of Resident Life or Off-Campus Housing Services and enjoy a variety of housing options.

Learn About Housing & Dining at UMD
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Support for Your Student

We know that students thrive in a community they feel safe and supported in. From tutoring and counseling, to campus police and shuttles, UMD offers services to support students academically, care for their well-being and keep our campus safe.

Learn more about support & safety at UMD
Student Union building

The Student Experience

Terps make the most of their UMD experience not just in the classroom, but beyond. Opportunities to get involved, have fun and make a difference are as rich and diverse as the homemade ice cream flavors at the Maryland Dairy!

Field researcher

Research

As soon as they step foot on campus, Terps can begin gaining deeper understanding of their academic field through faculty-mentored experiences that give UMD students authentic research skills to help advance their careers.

Learn about the Office of Undergraduate Research
Group of UMD students standing on a bridge in Taiwan.

Education Abroad

A UMD education extends beyond the classroom, and it goes beyond borders. Our Education Abroad office facilitates international experiences for more than 1,800 undergraduates each year. You can study abroad for a year, semester, summer or winter and globalize your network, earn credit towards your degree and gain skills critical to your professional success.

Learn more about Education Abroad at UMD
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800+ Clubs

With more than 800 clubs, fraternities/sororities and sports, getting involved at UMD couldn’t be easier.

Campus during the Fall

Preparing for Their Future

We're confident your students will succeed at UMD. Terps can take advantage of a variety of services to help them master classes and make connections across campus and beyond. We prepare students for life after graduation and give them opportunities to network and secure a job in their field of interest.

Group talking in hallway

Internships

Earning an internship is a great way to get real-world experience and jumpstart your career. With plenty of internship opportunities on campus and across the Baltimore-D.C. region, academic advisors and internship coordinators can help you get hands-on professional experience in a supervised environment.

Learn about finding internships
Students talking to advisors in the Career Center.

Career Center


Terps receive support at every stage of their career development and will be prepared to pursue a meaningful career path through high-quality services, resources and instruction. The Career Center reviews resumes, helps students practice interviewing skills, hosts career fairs across campus and more.

Explore UMD's Career Center
Riggs Alumni Center on campus.

Alumni Association

The connections students make on-campus continue past graduation. UMD's alumni are 405,000 strong and they continually help Terps get a footing in careers across the globe. The Alumni Association puts together all sorts of events, programs and initiatives to foster networking between students and alumni.

Learn more about UMD's Alumni Association
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Financing a Higher Education

We understand that without financial support, a college degree would be out of reach for many talented students. UMD has a long history of providing financial support to students of all economic backgrounds. We encourage you to learn more about the cost of attendance and types of aid available.

Visit UMD's Tuition & financial aid page.

VISIT UMD

Your student(s) can only learn so much about a school from a website. We encourage them to see campus for themselves! Throughout the year we offer a variety of information sessions and tours.

Review our calendar of upcoming tours and information sessions.

GET IN TOUCH

If you can't seem to find answers to your questions, feel free to reach out to the admission representative for your area! We're happy to help.

Get connected to the admission representative for your area.

Resources

Office of Family Engagement

The Office of Family Engagement offers support to you—as parents and family—so that you can, in turn, provide the necessary guidance, direction, advice, and support for your students. They also provide opportunities to get involved in the University of Maryland community and contribute to the educational experience of your student.

Office of Family Engagement

Office of Diversity & Inclusion

The University of Maryland strives to create an inclusive environment where every member of our community feels that they belong and are empowered to reach their full potential. The Office of Diversity & Inclusion provides many services, events and trainings in support of this mission.

Discover Diversity & Inclusion at UMD