MIM Admissions

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APPLY BY JANUARY 31, 2020
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Fall 2020 MIM Admissions Checklist

UMD Graduate School Requirements
  • Complete the UMD Graduate School application.
  • Pay the application fee of $75 to the UMD Graduate School.
  • ► Upload transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate courses at each institution you have attended.
    • Unofficial transcripts may be submitted initially. Official transcripts will be required upon admission and enrollment.
    • Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. If you have questions, read more about this requirement.
    • Applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework. If you do not meet this, provide more detail in your Statement of Purpose.
  • Provide a Statement of Purpose describing your experiences and interests that will help you succeed in UMD’s Master of Information Management program.
  • Submit the names and e-mail addresses of three academic or professional references.
  • Upload a current resume or CV.
  • Send TOEFL/IELTS scores to the University of Maryland (international applicants only).
  • If you are a resident of the State of Maryland or believe you qualify as one, be sure to fill out the Maryland Residency section of the Graduate Application. If you have questions about Residency Classification, email [email protected].
UMD MIM Program Requirements
  • Submit original MIM Supplementary Application Questions.
  • ► Send GRE or GMAT scores to the Graduate School.
    • Historically, successful MIM applicants minimally had verbal scores in the 40th percentile, and quantitative scores in the 60th percentile.
    • The 2019 entering class had verbal scores in the 57th percentile and quantitative scores in the 81st percentile.
    • There are a few occasions when GRE/GMAT scores are not required. You do not need to submit scores if one or more of these situations applies to you:
      • If you graduated/will graduate from a U.S. university with a 3.25 or higher cumulative undergraduate GPA. This applies to domestic students and international students studying in the U.S. for an undergraduate degree.
      • If you have completed another graduate program. This applies to domestic students and international students regardless of location of the graduate degree.
    • GRE waiver requests must be submitted in writing to [email protected] for evaluation.
  • Demonstrated experience, education, and/or substantial interest in technology, information, and management.
  • One or more years of full-time work experience in the information technology field (that might include information technology, management, user experience, project management, business analysis, database management, etc.) is preferred, but not a requirement for admission.

Special Instructions and Helpful Hints

General instructions for completing the UMD  Graduate Application are available in the Graduate School’s Step-By-Step Guide to Applying. For the Master of Information Management application keep in mind the following application-specific information:

► Graduate Program/Department Code

On the UMD Graduate School application form, in box 16 (p.1) and box 34 (p. 2), you should enter "INFM" for the Proposed Graduate Program/Department.

► The Graduate School's Required Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose should be a 1000-2000 word statement that addresses your specific interests, life experiences, and goals. Outline how joining the MIM program will advance your expertise in information management. These goals and interests can include, but are not limited to:

  • Data science
  • Information management
  • Management of organizational information assets
  • Data visualization
  • Information management technologies and methods
  • Data governance and assurance of information assets

The Statement of Purpose is a useful place to describe to the admissions committee things we may not know from the rest of your application. If there are any admissions criteria that you do not meet, or feel warrant explanation, please include that in your Statement.

► MIM's Required Supplementary Application

Please respond to four short answer prompts. Each prompt should be answered in a maximum of 150 words. The questions should be answered separately, not as a single essay. Please adhere to the word count. Responses to the questions should be uploaded to your application as a single file to the Upload Requirements section (Supplementary Application) of the online application.

The four supplementary questions:

  1. Describe a situation you have been involved in where addressing a data or information issue was important. What was the issue, how was it addressed, and what was your role?
  2. Describe an issue you are passionate about and how a MIM degree can help you solve it.
  3. A professional superior assigns you a task that goes against your personal code of ethics. Describe the real or hypothetical situation and how you would behave.
  4. How would you describe to your grandparents, or to someone of that generation, what you hope to learn in MIM?

Reviewers look for applicants who:

  • Demonstrate data awareness or an understanding of the information management profession;
  • Demonstrate characteristics of adaptability, creativity, resiliency, originality, and collaboration;
  • Clearly communicate their ideas, interests, and career goals;
  • Are comfortable with or eager to learn new technologies;

► Selecting References

Recommendation letters help us estimate if you will be successful in the MIM program. It is in your best interest to request that your recommenders focus on your predilection for information management. Recommendations should be provided by faculty and employers who can best speak to your ability to succeed in this graduate program. Note that recommendations should not come from family, friends, or peers.

Individuals who know you well and have completed technical graduate programs are best able to comment on your capacity for graduate school and information management. If you have been out of school for a while, references with current knowledge about your strengths and skills will be more effective than professors whose knowledge is limited to your past academic performance.

► Tips for Writing your Statement of Purpose and Supplemental Application

The Statement of Purpose is the primary way of telling us about your experiences, interests, and goals in joining our program, so please be open and honest.

Keep in mind:

  • Authentic essays help us understand you as an applicant. We are interested in learning about you and how a MIM degree can shape your future.
  • We value academic integrity, so avoid presenting us with unoriginal work (purchased, written, edited, or borrowed from other sources).
  • Express yourself clearly and concisely! Avoid advanced vocabulary words that are meant to impress.
  • Avoid repetition. If you already said it on the statement of purpose, don't repeat it in the supplementary application.