MD CAPS Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to the most common questions that we receive from students.  The complete MD CAPS User Guide for Students can be found on the homepage of the MD CAPS system​ once you log in.  Click on the “Help” icon at the top of the page.​

How do I get to the MD CAPS system?

 

Go to the following website: https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us​​​​​​​

How do I create a user id so that I can log in and see my information?

 

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You must click on the “Create a Student Login” link. You will then be taken to a web page where you will enter personally identifiable information so that the system can ensure that you are the correct user. 

As part of your user id creation you will need to enter your email address. This MUST be a unique email address that no one else in the MD CAPS system uses. For example, if your brother already has an MD CAPS user id, you will NOT be allowed to use the same email address for your account. You will need to use a different email address. 

You will be required to enter your Name, Social Security Number and birth date to confirm your identity. Please be sure to enter this information correctly. Incorrect information will significantly delay your access to the MD CAPS system, as the system will not be able to confirm your identity. Parents, if you are creating the account for your student, DO NOT enter your own information or that of another child (a common mistake). 

You will be required to accept a user agreement, and then you will need to click on the “Create Login” button at the bottom of the page. 

After you have created your login, an email from the MD CAPS system will be sent to the email address you listed in your login information. The email is for authentication purposes and requires you to activate your user account. You must click on the activation link in the email in order to activate your MD CAPS user account. Once you have activated your account, you are eligible to log in to your MD CAPS user account with the user name and password you created.

If you do not see an email from the MD CAPS system, check your spam folders, junk mail, automatically deleted mail, and spam filters. You MUST receive the email in order to activate your account. We can resend the email if you delete it by accident.
 

Be sure to write down your username, password, and the email address that you used to create your account so that you don’t forget it.​​​​

I have been offered awards at several colleges, and I know that I have to accept the award at only one of them. How do I do that in MD CAPS?

 

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When you are in the MD CAPS system, on the home page you will see a menu option for “Enrollment.” Click on this link. Once you are on the Enrollment screen, you will see the colleges currently associated with your record. Next to each institution is the assumed enrollment for the fall and spring terms. You will need to change the enrollment at the institutions that you will not attend to “Not Enrolled” and ensure that your enrollment and housing plans at the institution you will attend is correct. When you change your enrollment for all terms to “Not Enrolled,” the institution will be deleted from your record. It can be added back by following instructions in the next question.​​​​​

The college that I will be attending is not on my record. How can I add it?

 

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In the MD CAPS system, go to the Enrollment page. On that page you will see a section titled “Add an Institution” where you will be able to choose your institution, indicate your enrollment for each term, and indicate your housing plans for each term. Then you need to click the “Add” button. That will add the new institution to your record.​​​​​

How can I check on the status of my application?

 

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Log into MD CAPS and click on the “Check Your Application Status” option. All of your applications will appear on the application page. The status of the application will also appear.

If you click on the name of the program, a description of that program will appear.

If you click on the status of your application, you will be taken to another screen where the program name will be listed along with a status icon for that program. Click on the icon for a description of your current status.​​​​​

I forgot my MD CAPS user password. What do I do?

 

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Go to the MD CAPS login page at https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us​ and click on the link for “Forgot your username or password?” You will be taken to a page where you will enter your username under the Forgot Password section of the page. When you have entered your username, click the “GO” button. The MD CAPS system will send you a new password at the email address associated with your user account. Be sure to check your spam folder if you don’t see the password email in your inbox. You will use the temporary password to log in and immediately be prompted to change your password to something you will remember.​​​​​

I forgot my MD CAPS username. What do I do?

 

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Go to the MD CAPS login page at https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us​ and click on the link for “Forgot your username or password?” You will be taken to a page where you will enter your  first name, last name and your email address (the one associated with your MD CAPS account). Then click the “GO” button. The MD CAPS system will send you your user name at the email address associated with your user account. Be sure to check your spam folder if you don’t see the password email in your inbox.​​​​

How can I update my address or email address?

 

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From the main menu of MD CAPS, click on the “Update Your Contact Information” link. You will be taken to a page where your current information is listed on the left side of the page, and there are boxes where you may make changes on the right side of the page. When you are done updating, click the SAVE button.

Please note: updating your contact information DOES NOT change your MD CAPS account login user name or password, or the email address that is attached to your user profile. To update your profile, you must click on the link at the very bottom of the page.​​​​