Apply for a rigorous private high school if you are not in high school yet and if your local public high school is not academically challenging. Among other qualifications, the University of Maryland looks at a school's academic rigor. However, if you attend a less rigorous school, do not despair. If you perform well there, you will still be more attractive than a mediocre student from a more challenging school.
Align your course work to University of Maryland's requirements. The university requires prospective students to take four years of English, three years of history or social studies and two years of foreign language. Additionally, the university requires three years of science, which must include two courses with labs and courses from at least two different scientific disciplines. Although the university only requires three years of mathematics, including geometry and algebra I and II, you should take four if you truly want to increase your chances of acceptance. Take honors and advanced placement courses as well; since the college's requirements represent the bare minimum a student needs to be accepted, you need more rigorous courses to stand out from the crowd.
Participate in extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities that interest you. Choose a few and stick with them rather than volunteering for a new one every year. If you have four years of drama and music, for instance, you'll be a more appealing candidate than a student who bounces from one activity to another because you will be proving your commitment to your interests. Quality is more important than quantity.
Take the PSAT to prepare for the SAT. SAT or ACT scores are a part of your admission, so the more you practice, the more likely you are to do well and be accepted. If you struggle with the PSAT, take an SAT prep class at your high school or take private SAT preparation lessons.
Participate actively in class. Ask your teachers for extra help if you are struggling. Follow class rules and be on your best behavior. University of Maryland requires teacher recommendations, and all of these behaviors will make your recommendation stronger and more specific.
Write drafts for each of the essay questions and choose the two you like best. When answering the essay questions, use specific examples from your own life. For instance, a question on the 2011 application asked applicants, in response to Aristotle's words "A whole is greater than the sum of its parts," to explain "the parts that add up to the sum of you." When answering this question, you would need to name specific interests or personality traits and provide concrete examples of those interests and traits. Ask your parents and English teacher to look over your essays for you when you finish them.
Practice your short answer questions before writing them on the application. Although you will be fine if you have to write and rewrite answers on the online form, a physical application with excessive eraser marks or correction fluid may raise eyebrows. As with the essays, be specific in your answers.