Orientation Cards are being sent out!

Hey new Terps!

Sorry I've been MIA for the past couple weeks. I have been doing some traveling and conferencing before our big summer gets here.

I just wanted to let you know that our Orientation Registration Cards are being sent out as I type. You should be receiving one in the next couple of days.

When you receive this card, go online to orientation.umd.edu and follow the steps. As you click onto the "Summer Orientation" link on the bottom left, a pop-up screen will show. Click on "Transfer Overview and Registration." Click on each tab individually to complete the necessary steps.

One question we often get is, "Do I need to take the Math Placement Exam?"

The answer is yes and no.

Students in Engineering, Business and Behavioral and Social Sciences Colleges DEFINITELY need to take the Math Placement Exam BEFORE coming to Orientation.

Students who have taken a class that transfers to UM with a 2.0 GPA and an equivalency of MATH140 (Calculus) do NOT have to the exam.

HOWEVER!, we recommend that ALL students take the Math Placement Exam. This exam combines with your SAT and AP scores to give you placement into a certain math course. Taking the Math Placement Exam and doing poorly on it will not hurt you in any way. Scoring high on the exam can only help you place into higher math courses that you may need to graduate faster. So we say, JUST TAKE IT.

If you have any specific questions about your major math requirements and if you have the proper transfer credits, visit tce.umd.edu or call your college directly.

Our first orientation program is this Friday! Get excited.

What questions do you have about the Math Placement Exam or registering for Orientation?

Math Placement Exam- dun dun dun!!

Dun dun dun! Another exam?! Well, kind of.

That Math Placement Exam IS an exam, but, unlike many others, it doesn't determine if you pass or fail or even get into the University of Maryland.

The Math Placement Exam is a tool that we use to place you into the appropriate math courses here at the University. We don't want you to have to take a class that you don't need to or to place you into a math too hard or too easy for you.

It is important that you take the Math Placement Exam before coming to your Orientation so that your advisor has the necessary information to advise you.

Even if you have taken a math class at another university or taken AP exams or have high SAT scores, you should still take the Math Placement Exam. The rigor of another course may not match the level or rigor at the University of Maryland. Or, it could have been many years since you have taken your last math course and you don't really remember as much as you thought you did.

Remember, the Math Placement Exam CANNOT hurt you in any way. It can only HELP YOU. Even if you have a high grade in a calc course, but then score lower on your Math Placement Exam, your high grade in calc will override your low grade on the Math Placement Exam.

It is important to note that some majors and colleges REQUIRE that you take the Math Placement Exam and will never use other courses or test grades. If you are not sure if you fit into that category, please contact your college to find out.

Moral of the story: Take your Math Placement Exam!

What questions do you have about Math at Maryland?!