FAQ
Student veterans have the same admissions process as all other students. If you have questions about the process, contact Taylor Duvall (tduvall1@umd.edu) in the Admissions Office. She has experience in assisting veteran and military-connected applicants. More information can be found on the Prospective Students page. Transfer students should consult the FAQ here.
The best point of contact currently would be to contact us at vetstudentlife@umd.edu. The Student Veteran Orientation will also be a great place to receive valuable information and resources. Additionally, every newly-admitted student veteran is assigned a mentor, who is a current UMD student veteran. They will contact you by email in the first weeks of class, and are a great resource as you make your transition to Maryland.
The University of Maryland is now officially a Yellow Ribbon School and was recently expanded. For more information about the yellow ribbon program and what it entails, click on the following link: Yellow Ribbon Program
Unfortunately, no. VSL is your first-stop-shop and puts on programming to support student veterans in their transition. Programs include the Veterans Adventure Program, our Veterans Networking Socials, Veterans Week events, and other social and professional development activities outside of class.
We also act as advisers and intermediaries for students experiencing difficulties in accessing resources or navigating the college bureaucracy. But the University of Maryland is a large campus with many offices and departments, each responsible for certain activities in their own lanes. We can’t personally register you for classes, locate your DD-214, or get you out of parking tickets-that’s up to you.
We can help you find the correct office or point of contact for you to accomplish these things and talk you through the process if necessary, but we are not the Registrar, the VA, or the Department of Transportation. You’ll need to contact the appropriate office to resolve many issues.
In order to receive access to the Vets Center, please go to https://terplink.umd.edu/organization/veteranstudentlife. Fill out and submit the Veterans Center Access Request form along with your supporting documentation. The Vets Center is located in LeFrak Hall, Room #2123.
UMD requires students to have health insurance; if you are enrolled in the Veterans Affairs medical system, you are considered covered by the University. You can find a guide on how to enroll in the VA healthcare system here. To find the VA medical facility closest to you, use their website here.
You are automatically enrolled in the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan as and undergraduate student. This will allow you to access the University Health Center, conveniently located on campus, for most issues. And because health insurance is required for all students, your GI Bill benefits will pay for the University’s health insurance plan: you will not have to pay out of pocket for coverage, though there may be a co-pay for Health Center services. For more information about the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan, go here. (Please note you will need a University ID Number to enroll, so you will not be able to enroll until you are accepted and have received your UID.)
Yes. Every incoming veteran should complete their FAFSA and apply for scholarships as the GI bill does not exclude you from being considered.
Veterans at UMD have access to a number of activities ranging from social events, community service, professional development, and organized fitness/adventure events. Follow Veteran Student Life on Facebook and Instagram and join the Veteran Student Life group on TerpLink, in order to get the most up-to-date information. Additionally, you can join the TerpVets Student Organization Facebook Group.
The best place to start would be UMD’s family care resources page here.
In addition to the Eppley Recreation Center, a large gym with a competition pool and climbing wall, the University has many intramural sports teams. You can find teams for basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, and more. There’s also the Veterans Adventure Program, which sponsors free outdoor activities like mountain biking, kayaking, and camping for veterans and military-connected students.
The University’s many student groups have pages on TerpLink, our online organizational platform. On TerpLink you can find groups dedicated to everything from archery and interfaith relations to beekeeping and improv comedy. Whatever you’re into, you can find your people here.
The Leadership and Community Service Learning Office helps connect students with volunteer and leadership opportunities so you can benefit the community and yourself. The Mission Continues, a veterans’ community service organization, also has several local service platoons that support the area.