Terp Young Scholars: A Complete Guide

Taking a college-level summer course will definitely push you to be better academically and personally. But you might also be hoping to earn credits to show for that growth. If that’s the case, the Terp Young Scholars could be the program for you.

In this article, we’ll tell you what you can expect from the program, how to apply, and why you should apply.

• What Is the Terp Young Scholars Program?
• Terp Young Scholars Acceptance Rate
• Terp Young Scholars Application Deadline
• Terp Young Scholars Requirements
• How to Get into the Terp Young Scholars
• Why Join the Terp Young Scholars?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Terp Young Scholars Program?

Terp Young Scholars is a three-week pre-college summer program at the University of Maryland (UMD) that’s designed for high school students from rising sophomores to graduating seniors. In this program, you enroll in one intensive UMD course and earn three college credits upon completion. The 2025 session takes place from July 14 to August 1, 2025

Terp Young Scholars is an academically rigorous experience where you’ll attend class Monday through Friday (about three hours each day) and spend additional time on homework, projects, exams, and possibly afternoon labs or discussions.

Flexible format

The program offers two participation options: in-person commuter and fully online.

If you choose the commuter option, you’ll come to UMD’s College Park campus each day for class. This lets you take advantage of campus resources and facilities, like the libraries, recreation centers, the TerpZone game room in the student union, and even the university’s swimming pools.

However, commuter students don’t live in dorms since there’s no residential housing provided. Instead, you’ll need to commute from home or arrange your own local accommodations.

Meanwhile, the fully online option lets you participate remotely from anywhere. Online students attend live virtual classes and activities, so you should have a reliable broadband internet connection and a quiet, designated workspace for online learning.

Courses

When choosing a course, you can view the course description, meeting times, and sample syllabus to give you an idea of what to expect when you take that class.

Here are some examples of courses that 2025 applicants chose from:

Terp Young Scholars Acceptance Rate

Terp Young Scholars doesn’t publish an official acceptance rate since admission really depends on the availability of slots in the courses. The selection is also first-come, first-served to an extent, so applying early is important.

Basically, if you pass all of the program’s requirements and you apply early, there’s a good chance that you’ll get into the course you want.

Terp Young Scholars Application Deadline

The 2025 application cycle for the Terp Young Scholars has now ended, but here were the important dates:

Applications are reviewed on a first‑come, first‑served basis, so if you’re really aiming to get into the Terp Young Scholars, we highly recommend applying as early as possible.

Terp Young Scholars Requirements

Before you apply for Terp Young Scholars, you should first check if you pass the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Terp Young Scholars, you must:

• Be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior or graduating senior
• Have an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or above
• Be at least 16 years old and no older than 19 by July 1 of the program year (for international applicants)

Required documents

Here are the documents you should submit when applying for the UMD Terp Young Scholars:

• High school transcript. Provide an unofficial or official transcript that shows your courses, grades, and cumulative GPA for all high school work so far. Home-schooled students should prepare a detailed academic report of their curriculum, evaluations, and grades in lieu of an official transcript. If your GPA is below 3.0 because of special circumstances, you have the option to submit a GPA Exception Appeal explaining the situation (along with a transcript and a recommendation letter) for consideration.
• Health insurance card. Scan or take a photo of your health insurance card to make sure you have health coverage during the program in case of any medical needs.
• Application fee. You’ll need to pay an application fee of $75.

If you’re an international applicant, you’ll also need the following:

• Permanent residency card. This serves as proof that you’re a permanent resident since those who still require an F-1 visa and I-20 will only be eligible for the online option.
• Proof of English proficiency. If English isn’t your primary language of instruction, you should submit proof of English proficiency (like TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores)
• Citizenship documentation. If you reside in the US and have a Visa Permitting Study, you’ll need to submit the following to be able to apply for the commuter option:
  • Copy of your passport (all pages)
  • US Visa
  • I-94 card
  • I-20/DS-2019
  • Statement from the sponsor/institution granting permission to enroll in Terp Young Scholars

Program cost

For 2025, the Terp Young Scholars program cost is $1,730 for the in-person commuter option and $1,365 for the fully online option. This fee covers the tuition for the 3-credit course and other university fees for the program.

UMD also offers partial scholarships that cover a maximum of 30% of the program fee. If you’ve previously received a scholarship, you won’t be eligible for one anymore.

How to Get into the Terp Young Scholars

The application process is straightforward, but spots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. So, here are the steps to getting into the UMD Terp Young Scholars:

Step 1 (optional): Submit a GPA Exception Appeal.

If your GPA is lower than 3.0, you’ll need to submit a GPA Exception Appeal before you submit the actual Terp Young Scholars application form. Remember that part of the eligibility criteria is to have a GPA of at least 3.0, and not hitting that could lead to automatic rejection.

To make sure you stand a chance of getting your application reviewed despite having a low GPA, you should first check if the admissions committee will let you.

The GPA Exception Appeal form will require the following:

• Personal statement. In this 250-word statement, you’ll explain why you have that GPA and how you’re still prepared to succeed in the course you choose for the Terp Young Scholars program.
• Transcript of grades. Similar to the typical requirements, you’ll need to attach an official or unofficial transcript of grades.
• Letter of support. This is pretty much a recommendation letter from a teacher or school administrator who can confirm your circumstances and attest to your abilities and potential for the program.

Step 2: Pick a course.

If you check all the boxes in the criteria or your less-than-3.0 GPA has been approved, you can start thinking of your application.

However, before you start your application, it’s important that you first get an idea of the courses you can choose from. A big factor that affects your options is whether you want to attend online or on-site since they offer different courses.

The application form asks for your top two choices. Some courses fill up quickly, so try to get your materials in order and submit your application to increase your chances of getting into the course you want.

Step 3: Gather your materials.

Gather all the information and documents you’ll need to make the process quicker and help you avoid mistakes. These should be relatively easy to get.

Step 4: Complete and submit the application form.

Go to the Extended Studies application portal, create an account, and fill out the Terp Young Scholars application form. Double-check that all information is correct, upload your required documents, and pay the $75 application fee plus the $250 deposit (applied toward your total cost).

Review your form before clicking submit. You should receive a confirmation email once your application is received.

Step 5 (optional): Apply for financial aid.

If you’ve been accepted, you have the option to apply for financial aid. Also, take note that scholarships are limited and can cover only up to 30% of the program cost.

The documents you’ll need to submit for financial aid are:

• University ID # (UID), which is found at the top right corner of your Terp Scholars’ admission letter
• Federal Income Tax Return (copy)
• Personal Statement

Why Join the Terp Young Scholars?

Why spend part of your summer in school? Well, the UMD Terp Young Scholars program offers experiences that you’ll rarely get elsewhere. Some of these benefits are:

1. Earn college credits early

One major benefit of TYS is that you get a head start on college credits. Successfully completing the program gives you three credits from the University of Maryland. 

These are real, transferable credits with a letter grade that will appear on your UMD transcript. Later on, you might be able to transfer these credits to whatever college you attend, potentially saving on tuition or allowing you to skip an intro-level class.

2. Push yourself academically

You’ll basically be dealing with a semester’s worth of coursework in three weeks, so you can expect it to be rigorous and fast-paced. However, surviving the program proves you can learn quickly and manage a heavy academic load. It challenges you to push yourself beyond the typical high school classroom experience.

3. Gain college-level soft skills

Three weeks of juggling college-level coursework will push you to learn how to improve your study habits and manage your time effectively because you have assignments and study requirements every day. Of course, you can also expect stricter rules about attendance and participation compared to high school.

You’ll also learn to think more critically and deeply about the subject you’re studying, since college courses demand more analysis and self-driven learning than high school classes. At the end, succeeding in this program can boost your academic confidence as well.

4. Experience college life

If you choose the commuter option, you’ll get the chance to experience campus life at a major university. You’ll attend class, interact with peers, and consult professors.

Outside of class, you’re free to explore and use campus facilities just like a regular student. You can hit the gym or the pool, grab lunch in the student union, play games at the TerpZone, or study in one of the libraries. You’ll get a feel for the independence and responsibility that comes with being on a college campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the difference between the UMD Scholars and Terp Young Scholars?

UMD Scholars is a two-year living–learning program for incoming University of Maryland undergraduates, focusing on interdisciplinary seminars and community engagement. Meanwhile, Terp Young Scholars is a three-week summer program for high school students, offering one UMD course for credit.

2. Do I receive credit for attending Terp Young Scholars?

Yes, you’ll earn three academic credits from the University of Maryland upon completing Terp Young Scholars.

3. Why are UMD students called Terps?

“Terps” is short for “Terrapins,” which is the mascot and nickname for UMD’s sports teams and students. In 1933, the University of Maryland adopted the diamondback terrapin (a turtle native to Maryland) as its official mascot, and ever since then, Maryland students have been known as Terrapins or Terps for short.

Takeaways

• The Terp Young Scholars is a three-week summer program at UMD where high school students can take a 3-credit college course. It offers both an in-person commuter option and a fully online option, so you can choose how to participate based on your needs.
• The Terp Young Scholars program dates for 2025 are July 14 to August 1.
• When you participate in Terp Young Scholars, you can experience benefits like earning college credits early, pushing yourself academically, gaining college-level soft skills, and experiencing college life as a high schooler.
• Looking for other programs that let you earn college credit? We can help you choose the right summer programs and build an application that can increase your chances of being accepted.