Prospective & New Students

Welcome to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences!

Congratulations on your recent admission to the University of Maryland! We hope you are just as excited as we are to Be the Solution!

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) at the University of Maryland is a premier institution of academics, instruction, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Leveraging the diversity of their backgrounds, ideas and disciplines, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni work to be the solution to the world’s great challenges. BSOS boasts nationally and internationally ranked academic programs in conjunction with our incomparable proximity to the nation's capital. Our college also offers a uniquely colocated career planning and academic advising office. You can learn more about the Feller Center on their website.

If you are interested in visiting campus for a daily visit or an open house, check out the Admissions Events Calendar. You can also see what's happening in BSOS by visiting our events calendar. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @bsosumd and on Facebook at facebook.com/bsosumd to learn more about our students, programs, events, research, and more.

In the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, we are committed to investigating, discussing, and taking action to recognize and to prevent anti-Black racism and violence, as well as structural racism. We are also strongly committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in both our administration and our research. To learn more about our work in anti-racism, please visit our BSOS TerrapinSTRONG page.

If you have any questions about joining BSOS in the fall, please feel free to reach out to us at admitbsos@umd.edu and we will be more than happy to help.

Below, we have gathered a list of resources from each of our undergraduate programs so you can learn about the amazing academic opportunities that the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences has to offer.

Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keep in mind:

PREPARE

Be sure to review our requirements and checklist before you begin your application. You can apply to UMD via Common App or MyCoalition.

COMPLETE

Mark your calendar for UMD’s early action deadline, November 1. Applying by this deadline gives you priority consideration for admission, merit-based scholarships and invitations to special programs.

Deadlines

FAQs

CONFIRM

After submitting your application, you will be directed to create a Terps Application Portal account to track the status of your application materials. You are responsible for confirming the receipt of all required materials.

What does "Early Action Deadline" mean? 

An early action deadline is a nonexclusive, nonrestrictive, priority deadline.  Students applying to Maryland are free to apply to as many universities as they would like, as this deadline is not binding.  Applying by November 1 means you took action sooner, and you will hear from us by the end of January with an admissions decision.

The early action deadline is non-binding; these applicants will have until the date listed in the "Enrollment Confirmation Deadline" column on our Admissions website to confirm their enrollment.

For priority consideration, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the early action deadline where applicable. Freshmen who apply by November 1 for the fall semester will receive priority consideration for admission to the university, merit-based scholarships and invitations to special programs. Transfer students who apply by the early action deadline for the fall semester will receive priority consideration for admission to the university and merit-based scholarships. Applications received after the regular deadline will be considered on a rolling, space-available basis.

Financial Aid

Students and their families are encouraged to begin working on their FAFSA paperwork to identify the best solution for their financial needs.

Test Scores

UMD is currently test-optional through to the Spring and Fall 2025 application cycles. Students can choose whether or not to submit SAT/ACT scores with their application. As part of the online application, you will be able to indicate your test-optional status. If you choose to include your test scores, learn how to submit them on our Submitting Documents page.

Campus Visits

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers a number of on-campus and virtual events and programs throughout the semester. Find out more information on virtual Open Houses and webinars via the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences will be hosting an academic interest session during the Fall Open House on Friday, October 11, 2024. To learn more and register, visit the Fall Open House website.

Questions? 

Visit the Apply Maryland FAQ site, or email us at admitbsos@umd.edu. Be sure to follow us on Instagram - @BSOSUMD!