The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), founded in 1856, is the flagship public research university of the State of Maryland and the leading institution of the University System of Maryland. Located in College Park, just outside Washington, D.C., UMD benefits from a strategic location that gives students and faculty close access to federal agencies, research laboratories, policy institutions, and major employers throughout the capital region.

As a preeminent public research university, UMD is known for its excellence in teaching, research, and public service. The university’s mission is to provide outstanding education, advance knowledge, and serve the state, the nation, and the world. Over time, it has grown from its early agricultural roots into one of the most influential public universities in the United States.

Academically, UMD offers a broad and rigorous range of programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, business, engineering, computer science, education, journalism, public policy, and the life sciences. According to official university data, UMD offers 107 bachelor’s degree programs and 311 total degree programs, giving students extensive flexibility to pursue specialized academic and interdisciplinary interests.

The university has a large and dynamic student body. Based on official university figures, UMD enrolled approximately 31,133 undergraduate students, 10,592 graduate students, and 41,725 students in total. Its size, academic breadth, and research resources make it a major center of higher education and innovation in the Mid-Atlantic region.

UMD is especially well regarded in areas such as engineering, computer science, business, public policy, life sciences, and journalism. Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., students benefit from exceptional opportunities for internships, government-related work, research collaboration, and career development in both the public and private sectors.

Beyond academics, UMD is also known for its diverse and energetic campus community, strong school spirit, and well-established athletics tradition. Its teams, the Terrapins, are a prominent part of campus life and identity. With its combination of academic strength, research excellence, public mission, and location advantages, UMD remains one of the most respected flagship public universities in the United States.

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Additional essay questions of the application.

Please answer one of the following essay questions. Make sure to include the question itself at the start of your essay. Your essay should be no more than 650 words; the question will not be included in the essay total word count.

1. 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.

2. 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?

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

4. 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?

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

6. 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?

7.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.