umbc honors college supplemental essays

University of Maryland, Baltimore County | UMBC

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University of Maryland, Baltimore County | UMBC’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Honors college short response.

What are your principal areas of academic interest? What are your career goals? (25-250 words)

What are your areas of interest and involvement in and outside of school? (25-250 words)

What service and leadership experience have you engaged in through school or the community? (25-250 words)

Select-A-Prompt Essay

In reviewing applications, the Honors College places special emphasis on the written material submitted. The strength of the high school curriculum and GPA are also very important. First-year students who wish to apply to the Honors College should have a high school GPA of 3.5 or better. Please note that for Fall 2023 applicants, the Honors College is following UMBC‘s test-optional approach to admissions, to provide students the opportunity to apply with or without standardized test scores. Our admissions process is holistic, and you will not be penalized if you apply without submitting test scores.

Please select one of the following prompts to address:

The Constitution of the United States currently has 27 amendments. What should be the 28th Amendment and why?

What historical event do you wish you could witness? Please explain why you chose this event.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Honors College

Honors college courses.

Honors College students take at least six honors courses to complete their Honors College Certificate, taught by faculty across the disciplines at UMBC.  Whether they are “Honors sections” (enhanced versions of existing courses) or stand-alone Honors seminars, these courses give Honors students the opportunity to work closely with professors.

Honors Seminars

Honors seminars are an essential part of a challenging Honors curriculum: they give students a small-class setting in which to work closely with faculty members on current research problems, and introduce them to the rewards of work in different disciplines. In turn, Honors seminars provide faculty with the chance to explore new topics and to experiment with innovative teaching methods, while helping students develop critical thinking skills.

Listed here are a sample of recently offered Honors Seminars:

HONR 200: Ethics and Public Policy

Honr 200: being human: the brain, the mind, & pieces of you, honr 210: great books seminar i: narrative, dramatic and visual traditions, honr 300: robots and society, honr 300: race, science, and society, honr 300: a history of kermit, honr 300: race, poverty, and gender in baltimore, honr 300: animal reproduction, honors courses.

Honors (H) sections are enriched versions of regular classes that allow an instructor and the student to explore course issues in greater depth.  H-sections may involve different readings and assignments, field trips, more advanced laboratory work, or extra language work, and typically involve an extra hour or two of small-group meetings with the instructor.  For many Honors College students, H-sections will also fulfill their major, minor, or General Education Program requirements.

Listed here are a sample of the regularly offered H-sections:

BIOLOGY 141H: Foundations of Biology-Cells, Energy, and Organisms

CHEMISTRY 101H: Principles of Chemistry I

DANCE 202H: Dance History II

ENGINEERING 101H: Introductory Engineering Science

ENGLISH 100H: Composition

HISTORY 110H: Western Civilization to 1700

MATH 151H: Calculus

PHYSICS 121H: Introductory Physics

GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES 100H: Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies

SOCIAL WORK 200H: Social Issues-Social Action

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How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application — especially if you’re applying to selective colleges.

Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.

We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.

College Essay Basics

Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.

• Why do essays matter in the college application process?
• What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
• How to format and structure your college essay

Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:

How a college essay fits into your application

What a strong essay does for your chances

How to create an application theme

Learn the Types of College Essays

Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.

• How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges
• Personal Statement Essay Examples
• How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity Essay
• Extracurricular Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay
• Diversity Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay
• How to Write the “Why This Major” Essay
• How to Write a “Why This Major” Essay if You’re Undecided
• How to write the “Why This College” Essay
• How to Research a College to Write the “Why This College” Essay
• Why This College Essay Examples
• How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
• Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type

What each type of essay is really asking of you

How to write each essay effectively

The Common App essay

Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.

• How to Write the Common App Essay
• Successful Common App Essay Examples
• 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
• 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them

How to choose which Common App prompts to answer

How to write a successful Common App essay

What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers

Supplemental Essay Guides

Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.

These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.

See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.

Essay brainstorming and composition

Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.

• Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
• Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay
• How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
• What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
• 8 Do’s and Don’t for Crafting Your College Essay
• Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Understand how to write a great hook for your essay

Complete the first drafts of your essay

Editing and polishing your essay

Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.

• 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
• Getting Help with Your College Essay
• 5 DIY Tips for Editing Your College Essay
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
• Essential Grammar Rules for Your College Apps
• College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?

Proofread and edited your essay.

Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.

Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.

Advanced College Essay Techniques

Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.

• 10 Guidelines for Highly Readable College Essays
• How to Use Literary Devices to Enhance Your Essay
• How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your College Applications

At UMBC, students find many resources to help them achieve their academic goals. Listed below are special programs and facilities available to enhance students’ academic pursuits.

Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center provides centralized support services to all undergraduate students at UMBC. Through a coordinated approach and an unwavering commitment to student success, the Academic Success Center fosters a welcoming environment and offers free academic support including  Academic Learning Resources  (tutoring, writing support, supplemental instruction and academic success courses),  Academic Policy  (petition support), and  Academic Advocacy  (individual meetings coordinating resources for academic success) for students to achieve their academic goals and claim their future with a UMBC degree.

Academic Policy

• Academic ombuds services
• Admissions interviews involving prior academic misconduct
• Course repeat petitions
• General undergraduate academic policy questions
• Grading method petitions
• Late-add petitions
• Non-applicable semester petitions
• Petitions regarding the General Education Program and/or University Requirements
• Petitions regarding undergraduate commencement participation

Academic Learning Resources

• Appointment tutoring
• Computing Success Center
• Drop-in tutoring
• Early Academic Alerts
• Internationally certified tutor training program
• Math and Science Tutoring Center
• Placement testing
• Proficiency-building courses
• Supplemental Instruction Peer-Assisted Study Sessions
• Workshops (math, writing, study skills)
• Writing Center

Academic Advocacy

• Coordinated care to connect students to appropriate university resources and services
• Early outreach with students to enhance persistence, progression, and timely degree completion
• Guidance for students in navigating institutional policies, processes, and petitions
• Individual student appointments for academic success
• Response to individual student inquiries and faculty/staff referrals to assess and address academic matters that may be barriers to graduation
• Academic Peer Advocacy

Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising

The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (OAPA) provides advising services to exploratory (undeclared) students and pre-professional allied health students (such as nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, etc.).

Through one-on-one appointments, workshops, and online materials, exploratory students are able to assess their interests and find fields most closely matched. OAPA  also hosts the annual MAJOR EVENT, an opportunity for students to explore academic programs at UMBC and gain confidence in future or current choice of academic major and/or minor. In addition, the office provides information and appropriate referrals to students about academic enrichment and career development opportunities, such as study abroad, undergraduate research, and internships.  

Specialized pre-professional advising for allied health professions supplements the advising provided by a student’s major department. This advising helps students develop competitive application portfolios and supports students throughout the complex application process for admission to professional schools. OAPA hosts an annual Allied Health Symposium where students have an opportunity to interface with allied health professionals and school representatives to learn more about their intended profession. The office also offers personal statement review sessions and supports the pre-professional student societies on campus.

OAPA supports students who are facing academic difficulties. The office oversees the academic actions process which includes reviewing academic probation, suspension, and dismissal cases. It also provides advising support to EDUC 113 - Academic Success for Lifelong Learning (2)   .

The office also reviews students’ requests to enroll for credits in excess of the normal limits per semester (19.5 for fall/spring, 8 for summer, 4.5 for winter).  

OAPA is located in Sherman Hall B-Wing 224. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Both appointments and walk-in services are available. The office can be contact via phone at 410-455-2729.

English Language Institute (ELI)

UMBC’s English Language Institute (ELI) offers courses for current UMBC and prospective international students who seek to advance their English language skills for specific fields and purposes. In addition to “conditional admission” where students who successfully complete upper-level ELI courses become eligible to apply for UMBC’s bachelor’s degree programs and master’s degree programs without taking TOEFL, or other English Proficiency test also offers the Bridge Program, which lets students apply for both the English training program at ELI and an undergraduate program at UMBC together without a TOEFL or other English Proficiency test score.

The ELI offers varied program and course options all year round:

• Intensive English Program (full- or part-time study): These courses are non-credit and for those who want to improve overall skills of English language used in daily life.  The skill levels start from basic (Level Intro) up to advanced (Level 5).
• Academic English Program (full- or part-time study): This program is designed for more proficient English speakers at intermediate and advanced levels (i.e., Level 4 through 6) who want to study in an undergraduate and graduate program after their program completion.
• Special Skill-Focused Courses : TOEFL, GRE and TOEIC preparation; accent reduction; business/professional English, and more.
• Extra-Intensive English Programs :  Full- or part- time study in January or August.
• TESOL Training Course (on-campus or online): For those who want to explore the fields of TESOL and TEFL and those who want to teach English to non-native adult English speakers in the U.S. or abroad.

Online English Courses: The online courses are designed for advanced English users (Level 5) who are unable to come to the U.S. to study English and want to study English anytime, anywhere in the world to fit their busy daily schedule.

Advantages of ELI programs include access to free individual tutoring, the free “Conversation Partner Program,” where each student is paired up with an English speaker to practice his/her English, individualized academic and immigration advising, online course options, English language learning software, immigration advising, and more.

More information is available at 410-455-2831 or by visiting the ELI website .

Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS)

As a vibrant research university, UMBC attracts a large population of international students who come from more than 100 countries. UMBC’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), in the Center for Global Engagement offers comprehensive assistance to the university’s population of international students and scholars to ensure all international members of the UMBC community are able to complete their programs of study and research in legal status. The ISSS office assists international students with the documentation needed to obtain their F-1 or J-1 visas and reports arrival and enrollment data to the Department of Homeland Security.

Throughout the student’s stay at the university, OISS provides guidance on matters related to travel, off-campus work opportunities, practical training and other matters related to life in the United States. All new international students are required to attend the orientation program sponsored by OISS at the beginning of each semester. The program is designed to provide valuable information regarding both the legal requirements of their stay in the United States, as well adjustment to life in the United States and the U.S. academic experience.

Education Abroad Office

The Education Abroad Office, which handles all matters related to academic programs abroad, also operates out of the Center for Global Engagement. Please see Education Abroad   under Special Opportunities    for more information on summer, semester, academic year and faculty-led, short-term international opportunities, as well as on the many global scholarship opportunities supported by the office.

Further information is available by contacting CGE staff at [email protected] , or visiting the Education Abroad Office’s  website.

Office of Student Disability Services (SDS)

The mission of SDS is to ensure that UMBC students with documented disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all University programs, services, and activities through the provision of accommodations and reasonable modifications that allow for equal access and inclusion. Examples of services provided through SDS may include: alternate format texts; readers; scribes; accommodated testing; notetaking assistance; and American Sign Language or cued speech interpreters. Adaptive equipment and assistive technology is available in the office and also in the Albin O. Kuhn Library. 

Students with disabilities who would like to request classroom, housing, or program accommodations will need to register for services through submission of disability documentation and scheduling of an intake appointment with a disability specialist.

Students may get more information or register by visiting the SDS website , visiting the office in the Mathematics/Psychology Building, room 212 reception desk, calling 410-455-2459 , or emailing [email protected] .

Office of Academic Opportunity Programs (AOP)

AOP houses programs focused on assisting students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education (low-income, first generation in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree and/or members of ethnic and racial groups underrepresented in higher education). The programs include TRIO Programs ( Educational Talent Search , Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement, Upward Bound , and Upward Bound Math/Science ), and the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP).

The McNair Scholars Program serves UMBC students who are low-income and first generation or member of ethnic and racial groups underrepresented in higher education, who are interested in pursuing a PhD.  The Program provides experiences that prepare students for graduate education in all disciplines. It involves students in research, mentoring, and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are from diverse backgrounds and demonstrate strong academic potential.

The LSAMP Program seeks to increase the numbers of students matriculating into and successfully completing high quality degree programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines in order to diversify the STEM workforce. Particular emphasis is placed on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences in support of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders. 

More information about any of the programs in AOP is available at the AOP website , at the main office in the Mathematics/Psychology Building, room 007, or by calling 410-455-6763.

The Honors College

The UMBC Honors College is a special opportunity for students seeking to enrich their academic experience by taking small, intensive courses in areas of special interest. Many courses involve in-depth treatment of materials covered in regular class sections, while others resemble graduate seminars in their small size and depth and intensity of scholarship. Admission to the Honors College is highly selective. Academic records are weighed along with individual characteristics such as seriousness of purpose, intellectual promise and mature judgment as reflected in a recommendation and an essay. For high school students, the curriculum, overall GPA and grades in advanced coursework are particularly important. A separate application is required for admission to the Honors College. A detailed overview of the Honors College and admissions procedures is available at the Honors College    page of the Catalog or the Honors College website . Students may also visit the Honors College in the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, suite 216, call 410-455-3720, or e-mail [email protected] .

Library Resources

The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery contains more than 1,000,000 books and bound volumes of journals; more than 2,000,000 photographs, DVDs, maps, music scores, recordings, microforms and government documents. In addition, the library provides over 13,000 online journals and 50,000 ebooks and access to streaming video . Course reserves, most of which are online, and extensive computing, printing, scanning and photocopying facilities further assist studies. The Digital Media Lab and Equipment Loan program provide access to audiovisual equipment suitable for a wide variety of projects. The Library Media Collection supports academic programs across the curriculum with audio and video recordings, as well as provides music and film offerings for recreational use. The library cooperates with 17 other University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) libraries through an extensive automated system featuring an online catalog of UMBC and USMAI holdings and a discovery tool for locating full-text articles. The library web pages serve as a gateway to the holdings of many other U.S. academic libraries providing online materials and document delivery on request. The Retriever Learning Center is always open - with food and drink available, computers, spaces for group study and close proximity to technical help and tutoring. Highly skilled professionals are prepared to help students locate information needed for study and research in-person at the library, or through phone, email and chat services. Study rooms, a  Presentation Practice Room , and several Assistive Technology rooms are available for students, faculty and staff.

Special Collections

The library’s Special Collections include one of the nation’s major photographic archives, with photographs by Ralph Gibson, Mildred Grossman, Lewis Hine, Lotte Jacobi, Jaromir Stephany, Alfred Stieglitz, and many others. Archival collections include: the Center for Biological Sciences Archives (CBSA) encompassing manuscripts, personal papers, and archives generated by individuals and institutions involved in the biological sciences; the Baltimore Sun  newspaper archives, including  Sun newspapers dating to the first issue in 1837, photographic prints and negatives, and historic labor and financial records; the Azriel Rosenfeld Science Fiction Research Collection, containing science fiction and fantasy books, periodicals, criticism, and reference works, original manuscripts and personal papers, and a large collection of amateur press fanzines; the Alternative Press Center (APC) Archive; UMBC University Archives; Maryland history, including the Joseph L. Arnold Maryland Collection, the Maryland State Art Council’s Maryland Folklife Program, and Maryland Traditions records. These diverse and unique collections support the research of faculty, staff, students, and outside scholars across multiple disciplines.

The Library Gallery

The Library Gallery ’s mission is to provide exhibitions with accompanying publications and educational programming across a range of subjects, media and aesthetic purposes that support the UMBC mission. In the context of a research university, the Gallery serves as a crucible for the discovery of and encounter with ideas greater than any single book, object, image, or concept. the Gallery promotes accessibility of Library collections, particularly the nationally recognized Photography Collections. Exhibitions drawn from the Photography Collections bring to fruition research related to the holdings and result in the publication of catalogues which make valuable scholarship accessible to a wide audience of students, faculty, staff, and citizens of the region and the state. The Gallery, thus, contributes to UMBC’s status as a center of cultural and intellectual activity.

Division of Information Technology (DoIT)

As a technologically advanced campus, UMBC’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT) offers students an array of computing services for research, study, and collaboration. In addition to a robust, campus-wide network and Wi-Fi, computer labs with printing services are available seven days a week. Students can even use the same PC lab software online anytime, anywhere, with any device through the virtual desktop environment. The Technology Support Center (TSC) is located next to the Retriever Learning Center on the first floor of the Albin O. Kuhn Library. In addition to walk up and phone support, the TSC also curates the campus’ very popular Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and resolves or escalates most IT support requests through the RT (Request Tracker) ticketing system. Students can find or request help at the myUMBC Help website .

All entering students should create an account on myUMBC , a campus Web portal to access personal information, campus systems and UMBC’s online community. In addition to UMBC’s Google Apps for Education (including Gmail), students can check course availability, register for classes, use Blackboard for coursework, retrieve final grades, pay bills, reserve library materials, and much more. Also, with a myUMBC account, students, faculty, and staff have access to Box and Google Drive online storage as well as a wide range of software , including Microsoft Office 365, various statistical packages, database and text processors, and many special-purpose software and programming languages. While UMBC requires students to own or assure they have access to a computer, more than 90 percent typically bring a laptop. DoIT provides computing recommendations for students and  faculty/staff .

Student Computing Requirements

To help ensure students are equipped for academic success, UMBC requires all undergraduate students to be technologically self-sufficient. Minimally this requires students to have a reliable personal computer (preferably a laptop) and internet access. To assist students in preparing for these essential IT needs, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) provides a wealth of resources and support, including minimum specifications to consider when purchasing a computer. More information is available at the Student Technology Resources website .

Mobile, Internet Access, and Electronic Services

Over 1,800 wireless access points cover the campus and provide wireless connectivity through all academic buildings and residence halls. Many outside areas are getting wireless connectivity and Internet access is provided to the campus through two, 10 Gigabit/s connections. Also, UMBC is launching a new mobile app (available on the Apple App Store or Google Play) that will provide location specific information integrated with our mobile myUMBC for course scheduling and adjustment. Finally, all administrative services from parking to bill paying are done through myUMBC.

Support for Innovative Teaching & Learning

DoIT supports faculty across all delivery modes in the effective integration of instructional technology into their courses, but also partners with Summer and Winter Programs on a hybrid course redesign program called the Alternate Delivery Program (ADP). In addition, the New Media Studio supports faculty use of digital storytelling in several classes.

Connected Classrooms

DoIT’s Audio Visual Services provides and maintains academic media support on campus for classroom technology services, all audiovisual presentation equipment and lecture halls, and the use of audience response systems (or “clickers”). DoIT’s AV Services manages the UMBC portion of the University System of Maryland (USM) Interactive Video Network (IVN), which allows students to enroll in upper-level and graduate courses taught at other USM campuses. DoIT also supports web-based, group video conferencing options such as SeeVogh (includes HD and IVN connectivity) Google Hangouts and Skype.

Conservation and Environmental Research Areas (CERA)

Established in 1997, the Conservation and Environmental Research Areas (CERA) of UMBC were created to support environmental education, research, and conservation at UMBC. At present, CERA covers about 50 acres of the UMBC landscape and is located in two areas. The larger tract, covering approximately 45 acres of the south end of the main campus, has a variety of ecological settings including mature upland forest, early and mid-successional forests, and riparian and wetland environments. The second, much smaller CERA area (about three acres) surrounds Pigpen Pond. There are also several areas within CERA where evidence of previous human occupancy and use can be found. In addition to teaching opportunities for faculty, CERA offers a wide range of opportunities for students and faculty to undertake short- and long-term research projects in various disciplines. Management of CERA is guided by the need to maintain these landscapes as natural areas to be preserved and protected for approved uses in education, research, and wildlife observation. Faculty and students who want further information or who wish to use CERA for research and/or teaching are encouraged to contact the CERA Steering Committee (Sandy Parker, Chair, [email protected] ) or visit the CERA website .

First-Year Students

• Transfer Students
• International Students
• Returning Students
• Veteran Students
• Non-Degree and Visiting Students
• Lifelong Learners
• Visual and Performing Arts
• The Scholars Programs
• Majors & Programs

Of employed 2020 undergrad graduates previously interned or worked for that organization while at UMBC.

Are You Application Ready?

First-year admission to umbc.

If you have or are currently earning your high school diploma or GED but have not earned college credits AFTER earning your diploma or GED, you should apply to UMBC as a first-year student.

Are you also an international student?

If you are an international student, your first-year application will involve some additional steps.

How We Evaluate Your Application

We weigh a number of factors in making admissions decisions. In addition to grade point average and optional standardized test scores, the strength of your curriculum, class rank, and other achievements as well as your essay will be considered. We expect applicants to have completed a strong college preparatory program of study from an accredited high school.

First Year Class Profile

Total First-Year Enrollment: 2,144 Average GPA: 3.96 Average SAT Score: 1303 (2-part) Average ACT Composite Score: 25.7 47% Women / 53% Men

Are You Homeschooled?

UMBC welcomes home-schooled applicants. In addition to the above admissions materials, home-schooled applicants should submit curriculum vitae describing course content, instructional materials, and an evaluation of the student’s work.

Want to Know if you Have Advanced Standing?

We award credit to students who have completed the Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and who score well on those respective tests. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog to find a guide on how credit is awarded based on exam scores.

If you have taken college courses at an accredited institution while in high school you may receive credit toward your UMBC degree but should still apply as a first-year student.

Our Required Minimum Program of Study

Successful applicants will have a strong college preparatory program of study that includes:

Social Science/ History

Language other than english, mathematics*.

*Your mathematics program of study should include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. Additionally, you are expected to be enrolled in an eligible mathematics course in your senior year of high school study.

Interested in Concurrent Enrollment?

Academically strong students who wish to enroll part time while still attending high school may apply for concurrent enrollment. Successful applicants will present an academic profile comparable to that of our average admitted first-year student.

Upcoming Application Deadlines

Fall enrollment application deadlines, spring enrollment application deadlines, counselor spotlight, we’re here to help, no matter where you are in your college search..

Our team of counselors can guide you through questions about what to study, what it’s like to be a Retriever, and even the basics of financing your education. Explore our list of counselors below and find the person who works with students from your area, whether that’s Prince George’s County, Maryland; Arizona; or across the globe.

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List of Supplemental Essays Required By Top Colleges

By Michaela • October 31, 2021 • College Application Early Admission

Looking for a quick reference to the essays required by the colleges on your list? Check out our list of supplemental essays required by many of the top colleges students apply to each year. If you need help with these essays schedule a meeting with one of our essay coaches today!

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Supplemental Essay Guide 2023-24

What do the 2023-24 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (51)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

Agnes Scott College 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

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The Honors College welcomes applications from incoming first-year students, current JMU students, and incoming transfer students. The College seeks students interested in building a community of students, faculty, and staff united by their commitments to reach their full potential, learn with and from those around them, and address local, national, and global challenges.

The most important component of the Honors application is a 250-word student essay. For first-year and transfer applicants, the Honors Admissions Committee also reviews information on high school and college academic performance that students submit as part of their application to JMU. The Honors Admissions Committee reviews JMU grades for current JMU student applicants.

View Deadlines For:

• First-Year Students
• Transfer Students
• Current JMU Students

2024 Honors Application Essay Prompts

The mission of the James Madison University Honors College is to develop a diverse community of inquisitive and aspirational learners from all parts of campus through distinctive and challenging educational experiences. Our core values are 1) independent, student-centered learnings, 2) interdisciplinary training, 3) collaboration, and 4) active and informed service and leadership.

Respond to one of the prompts below to illustrate how participation in Honors education at JMU is aligned with your plans and values. Please limit your response to 250 words.

• Independent, student-centered learning
• Interdisciplinary training
• Collaboration
• Active and informed service and leadership
• The Honors College provides a source of community for students, faculty, and staff. How would you participate in and contribute to the community of scholars in the JMU Honors College?

Optional: If you feel your prior grades are not a reliable signal of your potential to succeed academically at JMU and in the Honors College, the application provides space for you to provide additional context for the admissions committee.

Direct Admission for Honors Transfers

Direct Admission allows JMU-admitted transfer students meeting certain criteria to join the Honors College without going through the standard application.

Elibigility To be eligible for Direct Admission to the JMU Honors College, transfer students must:

• Be admitted to JMU.
• Complete one year of courses (minimum of 24 credit hours) at another institution of higher education (these credits must be completed post-high school graduation). 
• Complete at least 9 credits of Honors coursework at their previous institution.
• Present a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) upon application to JMU. If a student has attended multiple institutions, they must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) at all previous institutions. 

Additional Terms

• The JMU Honors College may recognize up to 12 Honors credits completed at another institution as Honors Electives at JMU. 
• Students who are not eligible for Direct Admission to the Honors College may still apply through the standard process. 

If you would like to be admitted to the Honors College under this policy, please DO NOT submit the standard application; instead, reach out to the Associate Dean for the Honors College, Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya .

Deadlines and Decisions

Deadlines and decision releases vary depending on your applicant type.

First-Year applicants should complete the Honors application after they have submitted their application to JMU.

Fall 2024 Honors Early Action

• Honors Application deadline: November 8
• If an Honors EA applicant is deferred to Regular Decision by the JMU Admissions Office, the Honors decision will also be deferred to Regular Decision

To be considered for the   Dingledine-Bluestone Scholarship , students must apply Early Action to both JMU and the Honors College, and complete the Dingledine-Bluestone Scholarship through   Madison Scholarships Hub   by November 15.

Fall 2024: Honors Regular Decision

• Application deadline: January 22
• Decisions released: early April

Transfer applicants should complete the Honors application after they have applied and been admitted to JMU.

Spring 2024

• Application deadline: November 15
• Decisions released: early December
• Application deadline: May 15
• Decisions released: early June

There are two application deadlines each semester for current JMU students. Students must apply by priority deadline to be eligible for priority enrollment or Honors housing for the next semester. The Honors College can rarely be completed in fewer than three semesters; please reach out to Honors Advising if you would like to discuss the feasibility of your proposed timeline.

Spring 2024 Admissions to the Honors College:

• Priority deadline: October 1
• Decisions released: late October
• Final deadline: November 15

Fall 2024 Admissions to the Honors College:

• Priority deadline: March 1
• Decisions released: late March
• Final deadline: May 15

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