Much obliged to you to the greater part of the first-year candidates who have been working so hard to finish their applications by November 1, our early action due date, is just two weeks away. We do ask that you remember that this due date is not our last due date. So by the chance that you aren’t able to meet this due date, we are fine with you applying for our February 1, regular decision deadline. Either way, we look forward to receiving and reading your application.

Over the past five weeks I have received a large amount of questions regarding admissions and also early action. I think it would be a great idea to address the more frequent questions that I have been receiving at  each school I visit. I have enjoyed speaking with each of you over the past few weeks and I hope that this following Q&A will be helpful to you all.

What is expected by the due date? We expect your Common Application and application fee. As we understand, SAT’s are being offered on October 25, which leaves only a few days until the EA deadline. To answer a question that I have received during the majority of my visits this month, we will accept your scores after November 1 as long as your application is submitted by the deadline.

Which due date would it be a good idea for me to pick? Early action or regular decision? We offer two admissions dates in respect to the fact that UMBC likes to provide you with alternatives. Not one of the other due dates will affect your chances of being accepted, and both have the same May 1^st enrollment date. Pick whichever due date best fits your timetable.

When will I receive my admission decision? Early Action candidates will get their choices in mid-December, early January at the latest. Regular decision applicants should expect to receive their admissions decision in mid-May to early June.

Will you acknowledge more than one letter of recommendation? UMBC requires two letters of recommendation. We will not fragment your application for having more than two letters of recommendations. If there is any confusion on the application process or the requirements, feel free to email us at ADMISSIONS@UMBC.EDU.  Likewise please ask your recommender to include your complete name and birthdate on the recommendation.

What is your email address? ADMISSIONS@UMBC.EDU

Whom do I contact on the off chance that I have an inquiry regarding the Basic Application? The Common Application gives help through their site. However, for help or any other questions regarding the application, feel free to contact me or the admissions main office. My information is listed below.

Jason Scroggins | Admissions Counsleor

JASONS@UMBC.edu

Direct Line: 410.455.1729

Main Office: 410.455.2292

It would be a great idea to regularly check your personal and UMBC email account for any updates and the status of your application. In addition, check your MyUMMBC account to see the complete status of your application as well. Accordingly, for the most recent news from our office, please continue going to the University website and follow us on social media as well. (@umbcadmissions on Twitter and Instagram.) Meanwhile, please let us know whether we may aid you in any capacity.

Kind Regards,

Jason

For children, a tub of Legos isn’t just a collection of brightly colored building blocks. It’s a means of self-expression and a tool for learning.

But while many of us drift away from Legos, Jason Burik ’00, psychology, hasn’t stopped exploring their potential.

Burik’s parents and grandparents gave him Lego sets as a child, and his ambitions grew with each set. In seventh grade, he built a scale model of his parents’ house using the blueprints. And by the time he was at UMBC and the Baltimore Ravens were building a new stadium, Burik made a model of that as well.

“I still remember my roommates laughing when I told them I was going to build a Lego stadium on our apartment kitchen table,” he recalls.

Burik sent a photo of that stadium model to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who were in the process of building PNC Park. The photo landed him the first of many commissions. To date, Burik has constructed more than 100 Lego projects for clients around the world – including Yankee Stadium, Stanford University, and the U.S. Capitol. Among his favorites? A model of The Commons at UMBC.

His love for both education and Legos is contagious. When he’s not building with colorful blocks, Burik works as assistant to the superintendent in the Montour School District, west of Pittsburgh. Burik has managed to combine his passion for teaching and Lego modeling as well, conducting Lego building camps for children who may someday go on to build great things of their own.

-Meredith Purvis

Read more from the UMBC Magazine!

• Educate the general public about Turkey and Turkish Americans and voice their opinion on critical issues to interested parties.
• Engage and cultivate a new generation of young Turkish American leaders.
• Promote and advance the interests of the Turkish American community and Turks.
• Foster friendship, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Turkey.
• Protect the character and ensure a realistic portrayal of Turkey and Turkish Americans in the media and the arts.
• Serve as a think tank of expertise and a clearinghouse of information on Turkey and Americans of Turkish descent.
• Identify and recognize the achievements of Turkish Americans in academia, arts, business, education, government, public service and science.

In carrying out its mission, TCA is committed to building coalitions and working with all like minded organizations, based on shared values and goals, on the local, state and national levels in the sponsorship and organization of Educational programs on Turkish American issues, Turkish heritage and Turkey.

• Civic consciousness seminars on issues affecting Turkish Americans and the importance for Turkish Americans being involved in the political process.
• Scholarships and internship programs for Turkish Americans interested in political science, public administration and communication.
• News dissemination about the Turkish American perspective on critical issues and the activities and achievements of Turkish Americans.
• Educational and cultural tours between Turkey and the United States.
• Sister city relationships between Turkish and American cities
• http://www.tc-america.org/about.htm

WEAI Conferences Offer Opportunities for Professional Growth

90th Annual Conference Honolulu, Hawaii June 28-July 2, 2015

http://www.weai.org/AC2015

As midterm-fever rips across the United States, President Obama hit the campaign trail to rally voters in the upcoming Maryland Gubernatorial election.

The President spoke to a crowd of voters in Upper Marlboro High School, encouraging voters to come out and show their support for Lt. Governor Anthony Brown’s election campaign. 

While he worked hard during his re-election in 2012, President Obama isn’t exactly known for his vigorous midterm campaign appearances. When the President addresses voters in person, he’s nothing but business.

Some Maryland voters, however, did not seem to take the President so seriously, as many attendees walked out on Obama, mid-speech. 

According the Baltimore Sun, Brown’s campaign holds a 7-point lead over Republican candidate, Larry Hogan. However, the Sun also noted that a considerable amount of Brown’s supporting demographic groups–namely young voters, among others–are historically the least likely to cast their votes in the election.

Some speculate the walk-out as a bad omen for Brown and the Democratic Party abroad.

Others blame the President’s current unpopularity, as seen by his recently abysmal approval rating. And others still think nothing of the audience’s reaction to the President’s speech. 

What do you think the audience bail-out means for the midterm election this year?

Perhaps no other sporting event can boast the unique elegance of the marathon. A sacred test of endurance, physical grace; who wouldn’t be stirred by the images of sleek bodies, shining medals, pumped-up masses, and…gas masks?

In Beijing, rather than clear blue skies and invigorating breeze, marathon runners
must settle for smog and toxins.

At Last weekend’s’s 34th Annual Beijing International Marathon, runners even had to scrub down their skin to protect themselves from lengthy exposure to the pollutant-saturated air.

Sadly, today was just a more notable example of the toll that heavy industrialization has wreaked upon the air quality of China’s biggest cities.

Even worse, as China’s economic growth persists, its air-quality is expected to only get worse.

So to the 5 a.m. warriors and seasoned vets pushing themselves through mile after punishing mile on this side of the world, count your blessings.

Your lungs may be on fire, but at least it’s not because of the air itself.

October 19-25th is National Chemistry Week (NCW). The theme for this year is “The Sweet Side of Chemistry: Candy.”

In conjunction with this week-long celebration of chemistry, each day the National Science Foundation has been highlighting a different “sweet molecule” in a stop-motion video post. These posts also give mention to the lead scientist(s) working on any relevant NSF research projects.

The video post about glucose mentions CSEE professor and NSF-funded engineer Gymama Slaughter, who has created a new type of sensor that is entirely powered by glucose. This wireless, implantable sensor can be used to monitor the blood sugar level in medical patients. A short video about the glucose sugar molecule can be found below.

You can find out more about National Chemistry Week here.