(UBaltimore) I transferred from a top 5 liberal arts college

Educational Quality	A	Faculty Accessibility	A
Useful Schoolwork	C	Excess Competition	A-
Academic Success	A+	Creativity/ Innovation	D
Individual Value	C	University Resource Use	A
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	F	Friendliness	A
Campus Maintenance	B	Social Life	F
Surrounding City	C	Extra Curriculars	F
Safety	A+

Describes the student body as: , , ' color='class=grade' > Describes the faculty as: , ' color='class=grade' >

Female

Not so bright

Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	F

Academic Success	A+

She cares more about Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty than the average student.

Date: Nov 11 2008
Major: (This Major's Salary over time)
I transferred from a top 5 liberal arts college to UMBC, and I must say, UMBC is a third tier school with first tier quality education. It is an up and coming school, and in forty years or so, it will be quite a competitor for College Park. Aesthetically, it is clean and there are lovely lakes, and although the buildings are not very appealing, the learning that goes on inside of them is fruitful. The library is huge and imposing, and even has a special collections section with rare books. Safety? This school is located a bit far from Baltimore City, so you won't have to worry about the safety issues that students at a school like Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland, Baltimore would. Catonsville, MD is a quiet suburban neighborhood and I felt safe the entire time I was at UMBC. Of course, one should not take things for granted and neglect to use common sense. There have been cases of robberies, but usually these were due to carelessness and not locking the door. The students are well fed (the food is spectacular with commercial and non commercial foods, as well as steak and lobster nights). Many dorms are new and wonderfully maintained but the older dorms could use some updating. Everyone has cable TV including HBO in his/her room as well as high speed internet. Some dorms do not have wireless (the older ones usually) but internet service is consistent. Please realize that this is not a party school. If you want parties, go to College Park. If you want to study hard all the time, and party occasionally, go to UMBC. Professors here are dedicated and although you'll meet an occasional bad egg (I had the luxury of having professors who were all kind), they are extremely helpful and accessible. UMBC gets a bad rap because College Park is down the road, but really, it attracts a different clientÃ¨le. The people who come to UMBC tend to be more ethnically diverse (hailing from numerous countries around the world) and are interested in the sciences, such as engineering and biology. The majority of students here are extremely bright and open-minded. Many go on to the top Ivies and win prestigious merit scholarships. This is not a school to be sniffed at. The downside of the school is of course its reputation when compared to College Park, but really, it is nothing that time can't heal (UMBC was founded in 1966). The buildings could be a bit more attractive. Generally, I would recommend this school to people who want to study engineering, natural sciences and computer science. The arts at this school shouldn't be ignored; they are a bit ostracized, but you'll find professors who are truly dedicated and students that have gone on to work for the top federal agencies in the U.S., as well as become established artists. I enjoyed my time at UMBC. The only thing I have to worry about is explaining to people that I didn't go to that pesky College Park. But in a way, I'm glad that I chose UMBC over College Park. We're the quieter, more assiduous campus.

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