Completing the Application
Students applying for admission to any one of the University of Maryland College Park at Shady Grove program offerings must complete the University of Maryland application available here. Upon completing the application, students should review it thoroughly to ensure they are aware of all required policies, procedures and application requirements before submitting the application. The application gives students the option of choosing College Park, Shady Grove, or both locations when applying, should they be interested in being considered for admission at either location. All students are required to submit a completed application along with official transcripts from each college or university attended, an essay, a non-refundable application fee and all other required documents.
Application Deadlines
| Student Type | Fall Early Action Deadline | Fall Regular Decision Deadline | Spring Early Action Deadline | Spring Regular Decision Deadline |
| Domestic | March 1 | June 1 | August 1 | November 15 |
| International | March 1 | June 1 | August 1 | Must apply Early Action |
Note: International students and students with non-U.S. credentials applying for the spring semester must use the Early Action Deadline.
Please note, admission to the three Robert H. Smith School of Business programs, the Biocomputational Engineering program, the Biological Sciences program, the Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering program, the Mechatronics Engineering program, and the Information Science program are for fall only. Missing information may delay or prevent the admission process.
*Students can apply earlier than the posted deadline. UMD at USG has rolling admissions. Fall decisions begin to release in mid-April, while spring decisions begin to release in mid-October. The earlier you apply, the earlier you may receive an admission decision.
*For UMD merit-based scholarship consideration, please apply by March 1st for Fall, or August 1st for Spring. USG Scholarships have a separate deadline for each semester.
Transfer Application Checklist
| Step 1 | Completed online application The transfer application can be submitted online via the ApplyWeb application.
As part of the online application you will be required to submit a(n):
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| Step 2 | Official copy of your college transcripts Each institution you've attended must submit an official copy of your college transcripts listing all courses you have attempted. A final official transcript from your current institution must be sent upon completion of any courses in progress. Learn how transcripts can be submitted on our Submitting Documents page.
UMD requires all students with non-U.S. academic credentials to submit a third-party academic evaluation for all post-secondary/university credentials from one of the two evaluators listed below (this is not required for secondary school academic records). Evaluations must be received by the appropriate deadline.
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| Step 3 | Official copy of your high school transcripts (if necessary) If you have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours post high school graduation at the time of the application deadline, you will need to request an official copy of your final high school transcript listing all courses you have completed. Learn how transcripts can be submitted on our Submitting Documents page.
AP/IB credits and placement tests cannot be used towards the overall 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours. |
| Step 4 | Official standardized test scores (optional) Traditionally, students who completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours post high school graduation, would need to submit their SAT and/or ACT scores at the time of applying. However, UMD is currently test-optional through to the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles, which means you have the option to choose whether or not you would like your test scores considered as a part of your application review. If you choose to include your test scores, learn how to submit them on our Submitting Documents page.
If you would like to receive credit toward your degree for successfully completing Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), A/AS level examinations or certain other standard exams, you must submit those official scores upon receiving an offer of admission. |
| Step 5 | Proof of English proficiency (if applicable) If you are applying as an International applicant and/or English is not your first language, you must provide the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with an official English proficiency test score by the appropriate deadline. We accept scores from the Duolingo English Test (DET), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Your test scores must be less than two years old and be sent directly by the testing agency. Your application will not be considered complete until your scores have been received.
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| Step 6 | Letter of recommendation (optional) You may choose to submit a letter of recommendation with your application. Recommendations must be sent to us directly from the recommender, and they can be written by anyone of the applicant's choosing including teachers, counselors, coaches and mentors. Learn how recommendation letters can be submitted on our Submitting Documents page. |
| Step 7 | Activities and awards list or resume (optional) Detail your efforts in the community, arts, leadership, athletics, family involvements, work experience and other extracurricular activities and hobbies in order of interest to you.
You can submit this information via your ApplyWeb Profile Activities/Experience section or by uploading a separate document. |
*Early College or Middle College students (students earning an Associate's Degree while still enrolled in high school) interested in applying to UMD at USG should set up a meeting with the Admissions Coordinator to discuss the application process. Please fill out the following interest form.
Please review the checklist for International applicants here.
Making Sure Your UMD Application Is Complete
Applications are considered complete when the online application and all required documents have been submitted electronically or postmarked by the appropriate deadline. It is your responsibility to confirm receipt of all materials.
Through your Terps Application Portal (TAP) account, you can:
- Track your application status.
- Confirm receipt of application materials.
- Receive your admission decision when it becomes available.
Keep in mind: It may take up to two weeks for recently submitted materials to be listed as received on your checklist.
Admission Review Process
Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis once a completed application is received. While individual admission criteria vary within each program, all applicants must have completed the majority of their first two years of course work (approximately 60 credits) including fundamental English and Mathematics courses, and must meet minimum grade point average requirements.
Admission Decisions
Once an admission decision has been determined, applicants will be notified via an electronic admissions letter in their Terps Application portal. Admission offers may specify full admission or provisional admission as pertains to each individual applicant. All students offered provisional admission may later be offered full admission contingent upon their forwarding additional information or by fulfilling additional requirements as requested. Questions regarding admission status may be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in College Park at usgcp-admissions@umd.edu.
Still Have Questions?
We've added office hours! You can meet with our staff on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Appointments can only be scheduled up to one week in advance. Sign up below.
Expectations for Office Hours:
- Come prepared with questions regarding UMD at USG or the transfer process. (Course selection questions should be directed to our respective programs.)
- Arrive promptly to your appointment. If you arrive 10 or more minutes late, your appointment will be cancelled.
- Appointments are for prospective students. While students are welcome to invite others to join in, the student must be present for the meeting to occur.