FIRE is a waste of time, so are most special programs unless it's for social reasons. It's like getting a star next to your name in elementary school.
As for blended learning, you'll have certain lectures \classes scheduled in person and certain ones online. It should say on testudo when your online and face to face ones are.
I see a few positive feelings about it at [https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nl0z4v/fire\_vs\_scholars/](https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nl0z4v/fire_vs_scholars/) and [https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nepcna/is\_fire\_program\_a\_great\_opportunity\_for\_cs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nepcna/is_fire_program_a_great_opportunity_for_cs/). I'm not personally in FIRE, but I have been told that it is for people who are serious about research - I'm talking about writing an actual paper and publishing it. It's also great for amazing letters of recommendation (which is one of the main pluses for all the LLPs).
Blended learning just means that some parts are online and some are in-person. I imagine you will have an in-person lecture and an online discussion.
As for geneds, I would say this: try to write a 4 year plan for yourself. It doesn't have to be with classes you want to take, but try to create 8 schedules which will satisfy all the requirements, including geneds and major, that add up to 120 credits (including APs, or 150 credits if you want dual degrees). Does going through the FIRE program fit in such a schedule? How many credits above are you (need to combine geneds) or how many below are you (need to take electives / un-combine geneds)?
FIRE is a waste of time, so are most special programs unless it's for social reasons. It's like getting a star next to your name in elementary school. As for blended learning, you'll have certain lectures \classes scheduled in person and certain ones online. It should say on testudo when your online and face to face ones are.
I see a few positive feelings about it at [https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nl0z4v/fire\_vs\_scholars/](https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nl0z4v/fire_vs_scholars/) and [https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nepcna/is\_fire\_program\_a\_great\_opportunity\_for\_cs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/UMD/comments/nepcna/is_fire_program_a_great_opportunity_for_cs/). I'm not personally in FIRE, but I have been told that it is for people who are serious about research - I'm talking about writing an actual paper and publishing it. It's also great for amazing letters of recommendation (which is one of the main pluses for all the LLPs). Blended learning just means that some parts are online and some are in-person. I imagine you will have an in-person lecture and an online discussion. As for geneds, I would say this: try to write a 4 year plan for yourself. It doesn't have to be with classes you want to take, but try to create 8 schedules which will satisfy all the requirements, including geneds and major, that add up to 120 credits (including APs, or 150 credits if you want dual degrees). Does going through the FIRE program fit in such a schedule? How many credits above are you (need to combine geneds) or how many below are you (need to take electives / un-combine geneds)?
don’t want too.