Thoughts on UMD's acceptance?

Hello everyone, I'm curious about University of Maryland's acceptance rate. Is it considered a super competitive university or is my chance decent? For context, I have a good GPA and decent extracurricular activities.

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), is quite competitive with an acceptance rate hovering around 45%, but it's not as selective as some of the Ivy League or top private institutions.

Based on the acceptance rate, nearly half of the students who apply get accepted, which means you have a relatively decent chance of getting in, especially if your GPA is above average (the average GPA of admitted students tends to be around 4.45, given the school's use of a weighted GPA out of a 5.0 scale).

In context to your extracurricular activities, UMD looks favorably upon applicants who exhibit a high level of involvement and leadership in their activities. They value quality over quantity, so having a few activities in which you're heavily involved, especially in Tier 1, 2, or 3 activities, can make a difference in your application.

That being said, it's crucial to keep in mind that admission processes consider a myriad of factors. Your academic profile is certainly important, but so are your essays, letters of recommendation, and demonstrated interest. Even if you have strong grades and extracurriculars, it's important to also spend time crafting a strong personal statement and supplemental essays for UMD specifically, and consider getting strong letters of recommendation.

UMD employs holistic admissions, meaning they evaluate your application as a comprehensive picture of you and your achievements, rather than focusing singularly on any one factor. So, make sure all aspects of your application are strong and congruent to your educational goals and personal narrative. But do rest assured that having a good GPA and decent extracurriculars definitely put you in a favorable position.

Good luck with your application!