Terp Young Scholars

International Applicant Eligibility

• International applicants must be at least 16 and no more than 19 years of age by July 1, 2025;
• International applicants must be attending high school as a rising high school sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior; and
• Applicants must have an unweighted academic average of 3.0 or better (on a U.S. scale).
  • If there are extenuating circumstances that have negatively impacted a student’s GPA, the applicant must submit a GPA Exception Appeal prior to submitting the Terp Young Scholars application.
  • Submit Exception Appeal: Complete the GPA Exception Appeal form. The form requires an upload of your high school transcript, a letter of support from a high school teacher/administrator and a statement attesting how to succeed in the program.

International Applicants Requiring an F-1 visa and I-20

• International applicants requiring an F-1 visa and I-20s may only apply for the online option. The University does not issue I-20s for 100% online programs. Applicants for the online option must complete Steps 1-4 by the posted deadline.
• The commuter option is NOT open to students requiring an F-1 visa and I-20. The University will not issue the required documentation. There will be no refund of the non-refundable application fee. (Note: the program does not offer an option that provides campus housing).
• B visas are not permitted. See U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs – Visitor Visa.

Select the Online Option

• The commuter option is not available to students requiring an F-1 visa and I-20. International students requiring a visa must select the online option. There are no refunds of the application fee or program deposit if the wrong option is selected. (Note: Terp Young Scholars does not offer campus housing). 

Review the Policies on Grade, Credits, and Attendance

• See Grade, Credits, and Attendance Policy.

Application Fee and Program Deposit

• New Applicant: A $75 application fee is and $250 program deposit are required. The program deposit will be credited towards a student’s total bill within one week of charges posting. The application fee and program deposit are not waived unless the applicant is a returning student. See below.
• Returning Student: Must request an application fee waiver code.
  • Use the EXST contact form. Include the student’s full name, program name, and a complete statement regarding the requested action.
  • Returning students must complete the application as outlined below.
  • Students dismissed from the program in previous years are not eligible to return.

Required Information and Documentation

To complete the Terp Young Scholars Application, ensure the following items are available:

• Health Insurance Card
• High School Transcript/Report Card
  • An English language copy of the secondary school transcript (report card) showing grades and cumulative GPA for all work completed as well as coursework in progress must be uploaded to the application. An unofficial transcript is acceptable.
• Citizenship Documentation
  • International Applicants Residing in the U.S. with a Visa Permitting Study must submit 1) a copy of the student’s passport (all pages), 2) U.S. Visa, 3) I-94 card, 4) I-20/DS-2019 (all pages) and 5) a statement from the sponsor/institution granting permission to enroll in Terp Young Scholars.
  • Permanent Residents must submit a copy of the student’s permanent residency card.
  • English Proficiency (through TOEFL, IELTS or DET scores)
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Required overall minimum score of 95. For UMD to receive the scores, use the reporting code 5814.
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Required minimum band score of 7 in each section. For UMD to receive the scores, use the reporting code 5814.
    • Duolingo English Test (DET): Required passing score of 120.
• Electronic Payment Method (Credit/Debit Card)
  • Application Fee and Program Deposit must be submitted with the application.

Instructions

Access the Extended Studies Forms Portal.

• New Applicants: Select New applicants create an account. Note: University of Maryland faculty and staff must create a separate TerpEngage account for their student and cannot use their own UMD directory information to apply.
• Returning Students: Update the passphrase then log in with UMD Directory ID. See UMD Password Management.

Once the TerpEngage account is created/reactivated:

• Select My Forms.
• Select Start New Form.
• Open Select Form Type: From the drop-down menu, select Terp Young Scholars Program Application.

Need Help?

• Information is posted on the TerpEngage webpage.

Notification

• Applications are reviewed and admission offers made on a first-come, first-served basis. Reminder notices regarding missing items are sent to the email address provided on the application; check the spam folder.
• To inquire about the status of the application, use the EXST contact form. Include full name, program name, and a complete statement regarding the requested action.