Welcome to RetrieverNation! As a transfer student, you bring tremendous collegiate experience with you, and we know this experience will serve you well as you continue your studies at UMBC. We hope that you will extend beyond your classroom experience and explore all that UMBC has to offer. Below, we have highlighted just a few resources to assist you in your transition and help you make the most of your honors university experience.
Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS)
OCSS coordinates the Transfer Student Network (TSN). TSN hosts events throughout the semester and is a great place to connect with other transfer students. The OCSS staff are great resources for helping you get involved in leadership roles across campus!
Academic Engagement and Transition Programs
AETP is a great office to connect with if you want to ensure that you are on an Academic Pathway that works for you, or are trying to figure out a plan to make the most of your UMBC experience. AETP staff members enjoy hearing transfer students’ individual stories and learning about their goals and priorities. If you are a first-year transfer student, you may want to consider taking a Transfer Student Seminar (TRS) designed to assist in your transition to the UMBC Community.
Through a coordinated approach and an unwavering commitment to student success, the Academic Success Center fosters a welcoming environment that provides a one-stop opportunity through Academic Policy, Academic Resources, and Academic Advocacy for students to achieve their academic goals and claim their future with a UMBC degree.
Undergraduate Research/Prestigious Scholarships
If you would like to get involved with undergraduate research or want to learn more about prestigious scholarships such as the Rhodes, Truman, and Marshall scholarships, stop by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Workshops are available to all students who need getting started with their research.
The Career Center is the place to go if you would like to connect with internship opportunities (many of which connect to our 70,000-strong global alumni community). The Career Center can assist you in putting together or refining your resume to start your internship search. They can also help you find an on-campus job, a summer position, or a permanent job after graduation.
The Shriver Center can connect you with Service Learning experiences throughout the Baltimore area. Volunteering is an important way to give back but also can be a great achievement to highlight on a resume.
THREE HELPFUL TIPS
1. Start connecting with UMBC faculty, staff, and fellow students. Create your UMBC network.
2. Think about how you can build on the activities and experiences you participated in at your previous institution.
3. Be open to fellow students who want to connect and network with you to learn about your experiences.
BONUS INFORMATION
If you have completed 15 or more credits at a community college and have not completed your Associate’s degree, we encourage you to explore our Credit When It’s Due initiative to learn more about the reverse awarding of the Associate’s degree:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS AT UMBC
OFFICE FOR ACADEMIC & PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISING
TRANSFER STUDENT RESOURCE PAGE
POLICY ON THE AWARDING OF UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER CREDIT
]]>Written by OAPA Peer Advisor, Jenika Brown
Stressed over your grade, or that oh-so important GPA? You know who’s great at alleviating that stress…your professors. It’s easy to forget that the person teaching in front of the class has been through some variation of what you’re going through right now as a college student. Your professors make the best study partners and are some of the best relationships you could leave college with. Get to know your professor and allow them to get to know you. All you have to do is connect. Want to know how? Keep reading!
How to Connect:
Set-up a Meeting
Don’t wait until your struggling in a course to set up a meeting. Connect early in the semester!
When emailing, try to stay within the frame of typical business hours or their office hours if possible—you may get a faster reply this way.
After You Connect:
Follow up with your professor after your sessions. Whether it be assurance that you are implementing their advice correctly—or to simply say thank you—following up with your professor shows you care and makes the relationship one of reciprocity.
Network:
Attend departmental events or other campus events your professors promote in class to establish a relationship that surpasses the classroom, as well as discover new interests.
College is a time for self-discovery and personal growth. Part of that self-discovery comes from deciding what you see yourself doing in the future, which isn’t always easy. You may think “But that’s so far away," “I’m too young to be thinking about that”- although that may be true, having an idea of what you see yourself doing in the future will help you be as academically successful as you can be here at UMBC.
Consider these “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for choosing a major:
“DO’s” for Choosing a Major:
Get to know all the majors available at UMBC.
Some major fields may be completely unfamiliar because they were not taught in high school. Interdisciplinary Studies (the “build your own major” major), Health Administration and Policy, Geography and Environmental Systems, and Business Technology Administration are interesting major’s students may not have been aware of prior to arriving at UMBC. There’s no harm looking through the list- you never know what you might find!
Educate yourself on potential majors.
It’s a good idea to talk to a friend or advisor about the major you’re interested in, so that you can get a better understanding of the potential courses and path you may want to pursue in your selected major. Doing research on your own is highly recommended, as well.
List 5-8 possibilities based on your interests and aptitudes.
Take courses that are steered towards potential majors you have chosen. Read the entire catalog sections, all the course descriptions, faculty bios, and any other information about these majors available on the Department websites.
“DON’Ts” for Choosing a Major:
Don’t let anyone else choose your major for you.
Your parents, friends, and siblings all have ideas about what you should major in, but it is very important to make your own individual choice. You are the student and you are making the decision that could affect the rest of your life.
Don’t assume that a college major will necessarily lead directly to a specific type of job.
The skills acquired from college are of a general nature that can be applied to many different professional settings. The workforce is full of people whose undergraduate majors bear only an indirect relationship to the positions they hold.
Don’t stick with a major when it is clear that you are performing poorly in the required courses.
If you notice your grades are low in your major, this is an indication that it is not appropriate for you. Consider other options in which you can be more successful!
**SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT**
To further your exploration of UMBC academic pathways, please check out our upcoming Major Event!
Helpful Links
“What can I do with my major?” via the Career Center
List of UMBC majors, minors, and certificates
UMBC Academic Pathways (sample four-year academic pathways for each major)
]]>Spring 2020 registration is just around the corner, and the process starts with connecting with your academic advisor.
Your advisor is a vital member of your support team at UMBC. Often your advisor is a professor in your major department, but could also be a professional (full-time) advisor. If you have any doubt at all about WHO your advisor is, below is a link to the department contacts for all majors. The person listed as “advising coordinator” or “advising contact” can help you find out who your advisor is, or assign you an advisor.
· Departmental Advising - Main Campus
· Departmental Advising - Shady Grove
When should I meet with my advisor?
We encourage you to schedule an appointment with your advisor as early as possible. In order to register for Spring 2020 classes, your advisor must first provide you with registration clearance (permission). This happens during your appointment when you discuss your semester progress and develop a plan for the next semester.
**Want to connect with someone in your department sooner? Join us for a Majors Fair on October 3rd as part of our office’s 2nd Annual Major Event**
What should I do to prepare?
Review your degree audit and, if applicable, transfer credit report in advance and go with a list of topics/questions to cover.
If you need help planning your coursework, our Academic Pathways provide a suggested four-year pathway for completing your degree program.
The Schedule of Classes will be available on Monday, October 21nd. Please review the courses that are offered and be prepared to bring a list of courses that you are interested in when you meet with you advisor.
Be ready to discuss any outstanding items or questions you might have from previous advising meetings. We also recommend that you take notes; never go to an advising session without the capacity to take notes, whether with pen and paper or on laptop.
When can I register?
Spring 2020 registration begins Monday, October 28th. Your exact registration date depends on the total amount of credits earned. Please note that the dates reflect the earliest time you are eligible to register for courses. You can still register for courses after your designated date and time. Information regarding your exact registration time will be available in early October.
Have questions?
Check out information on several personalized degree planning tools offered at UMBC
Share your concerns in the comments section below or contact the Office of Academic & Pre-Professional Advising at oapa@umbc.edu.
If you have a quick question, send us a DM on Instragram @umbc_advising!
]]>The end is in sight! If you've earned 90 or more academic credits, you received a message from the Registrar's Office informing you that you are eligible to apply for graduation.
However, eligibility is only the start of the graduation application process. Below are four simple steps you can take now to ensure that you’ll soon be shaking hands with Dr. Hrabowski as you receive your UMBC diploma.
Note: Even if you do not plan to attend the commencement ceremony, you still need to apply to graduate in order to earn your degree.
Step 1: Apply for Graduation!
Sunday, September 15th is the last day undergraduates can apply for December Graduation.
Only those students who have every single requirement needed for degree completion on their fall semester schedules will be permitted to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
If you are taking a course at another institution that you plan to transfer, you must have an approved Verification of Transferability form on file with the Registrar’s Office and be prepared to submit a copy of your schedule.
Step 2: Embrace your degree audit!
Your degree audit indicates your progress toward degree completion. If you see “unsatisfied” items, these are requirements that appear to be missing and need to be addressed immediately. Your degree audit is located on myUMBC, under the guide link “Advising and Student Support.”
Make sure any substitutions or waivers of major requirements are documented in your degree audit; you may need to submit a Help/RT ticket to the Registrar’s Office to add these notations to your record.
Step 3: Wrap up any outstanding details ASAP!
If you have Advanced Placement or CLEP scores, transfer transcripts, foreign language waivers, or other items you need to provide to UMBC, delay no longer! If the major, minor, or certificate program on your record is out of date, or if you have additional majors or minors that you need to remove, submit a new Declaration of Major form. Any of these items could prevent you from being able to graduate.
Step 4: Let the celebration begin!
Participating in the commencement ceremony and other celebratory activities on campus is the culmination of all of your hard work. Take time to recognize all it took to get you to this moment and be proud of your accomplishments!
Finally, use this link to check your Honors eligibility, which will be recognized at the ceremony and on your diploma.
The summer is a great time to reflect back on the academic year and re-focus on what’s ahead.
This doesn’t have to be a formal process. It also should not cause you to feel anxious or overwhelmed at what might have gone wrong. Instead, look at this time of reflection as a learning opportunity, and a chance to better grasp how your time at UMBC is growing and shaping you.
So while you’re soaking up the sun this summer, here are some topics to reflect on:
Academically, what kind of year did I have?
What were my successes and what were my challenges?
Did I complete as many credits and courses as I had planned?
Was there a particular class that gave me a new perspective?
Tip: Review your class schedule for fall semester and make sure it still makes sense given the academic year you just completed (i.e.- do you need to repeat a class? Are you enrolled in too many credits?).
Tip: Consider taking summer courses as a way to catch-up or get ahead. Summer registration is still open and doesn’t require advising clearance. Remember, Finish 15 to stay on track!
What was my social/extra-curricular involvement like?
Did I get involved on or off-campus in activities/events that interest me?
How well did I balance my social and academic life?
What lessons did I learn from getting involved?
Tip: It’s never too late to get involved. If you are looking for opportunities on campus, be sure to check out the Student Involvement Festival early in the fall semester. In the meantime, feel free to explore the list of campus organizations here.
What is my current satisfaction and confidence level with my academic major?
What aspects of my major am I enjoying and what uncertainties do I still have?
How does what I'm studying impact my future career goals?
If you are still undecided or are considering changing your major: what steps can I take to make progress towards a decision?
Tip: If you are still exploring career options related to your academic major, spend time this summer talking to people who have careers that interest you.
Tip: Check out the self-exploration resources online via UMBC’s Career Center
Tip: Participate in The Major Event during the fall semester. Stay tuned for updates!
Financially, where am I right now?
How did I budget my money during the academic year?
Do I have concerns about paying tuition or funding other aspects of college?
Am I aware of the financial tools and resources available to me as a UMBC student?
Tip: Check out the status of your student account on myUMBC (under the topic Billing & Personal Finances) to be sure everything is in order.
Tip: Explore the Financial Smarts @ UMBC website for great information on financing your education, living on a budget, and the concept of credit.
Finally, if you need support this summer, please know that UMBC is still up and running! While many faculty members will not be on campus, and staff might have limited hours depending on vacation schedules, campus offices are still open and available to assist students.
Before you know it, your undergraduate education will come to an end. You’re probably excited to say good-bye to papers, lab reports, and exams (unless you plan to attend graduate school)!
Lifelong learning can come in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to: meeting and engaging with new people, traveling, community involvement, reading and keeping up to speed on current events, pursuing career opportunities, certificate programs, and picking up new hobbies! Learning does not have to end when you graduate; your educational journey could just be getting started.
Below are a few tips/resources to becoming a lifelong learner:
UMBC Graduate School: If you plan on pursing an advanced degree, look no further! This fall, UMBC is awarding returning retrievers with a $1,000 scholarship! Visit the Graduate School web site to learn more about our exciting program offerings!
UMBC Division of Professional Studies: Already have a job lined up but still interested in continuing your education? UMBC's Division of Professional Studies has courses, certificates and programs, designed to fit the busy schedule of the working professional. Visit our Open Houses at our Main Campus or Shady Grove next month!
UMBC Training Centers: If you are looking to gain a new skill and need flexible and affordable options, you may want to visit our Training Centers. High quality, flexible professional education and training opportunities are available year-round! Some courses are open to all individuals (no application needed)!
Remain active: Clubs/organizations are available outside of college! A simple Google search will direct you to a variety of local activities where you can participate, take lessons from aerobics, to sports, to even learning a new language! Meetup.com is an excellent resource for connecting with people who share similar interests!
Build your brand: Our Career Center is not just for current students! Alumni can make connections through various services that the Career Center offers. Seek out professional development opportunities within your workplace, including conferences, workshops, mentoring programs, or leadership trainings. Now that you are in a real-world setting, there will be other skills you will need to learn!
Stay in touch: As your graduating class prepares to travel down different paths, you will have so much to offer one another as you gain further knowledge and life experiences. By staying in touch with former classmates, you may encounter opportunities to collaborate in work or network in a field different than your own. To start, you can join UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni, open to graduates of the last decade. Membership is free via the UMBC Alumni Association, which offers chances for networking and fun throughout the year. Join our LinkedIn page to see where over 60,250 UMBC alumni are working!
Life after college is what you make of it. Keep an eye open to the countless experiences that are waiting for you outside of UMBC. Your very next lesson may be one that carries you through life!
You are not at UMBC only to seek recognition. You are here to gain an education. But, if you are a strong student, you may find yourself making the Dean’s List, joining (or even leading) honor societies, working toward an Honors College Medallion, or applying for merit scholarships in your field. Here is some information to help you navigate these opportunities at UMBC.
Academic Honors based on Semester Grades
The academic honor available to the largest number of UMBC students is completely automatic. Full-time students who achieve certain semester grade point averages receive a notation on their permanent UMBC transcripts as follows:
Semester Academic Honors = 3.50 and up
Dean’s List Honors = 3.75 and up
President’s List Honors = 4.00
The beauty of this recognition is that you get a chance at it every fall and spring semester. It is definitely a morale boost also and resume-worthy when you see one of these notations on your transcript. It places you among the most successful students at UMBC in a given semester.
Honor Societies-Multi-disciplinary
Honor societies may be identified by Greek letters, but they are not fraternities or sororities in the usual sense of “Greek life” on campus. Based on your academic performance at UMBC, you may be invited to join one or more of these organizations. You do not apply for membership. The most active honor societies on campus are:
Phi Beta Kappa: The big Kahuna of American scholarly honor societies, PBK was founded at the College of William and Mary back in 1776 (a big year for the American colonies!). To win a Phi Beta Kappa key, a student has to achieve very high grades in a course of study that includes courses across the liberal arts well beyond minimum general education requirements for a degree. A faculty committee here at UMBC evaluates potential selectees for Phi Beta Kappa honors. UMBC’s faculty and staff who were PBK members from their undergraduate days had to demonstrate the breadth and rigor of our academic program to establish a chapter of this prestigious honor society in 1998. This is one invitation you will definitely want to accept if offered.
Phi Kappa Phi: Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi honors high-achieving students in all disciplines, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The UMB-UMBC chapter was installed at UMBC in 2010 and is hard at work at creating campus presence. Phi Kappa Phi’s motto is “Let the love of learning rule humanity.”
Golden Key International Honor Society: Golden Key membership is extended to high-achieving students in all disciplines. The national and international organizations offer a large program of scholarships and awards open to members as well as regional and national conferences. UMBC’s award-winning chapter of Golden Key is well known for its extensive community service commitments, such as hosting an annual Halloween party for children at Villa Maria Children’s Center. A tutoring program at Arbutus Middle School is another project recently launched.
Tau Sigma National Honor Society: Founded in 1999 at Auburn University, Tau Sigma recognizes and supports talented transfer students at four-year universities. This society does require students who believe they meet the criteria to apply for membership. Membership is available to transfer students who achieve high-grade averages during their first full-time semester of enrollment at UMBC. The UMBC chapter was created in 2007.
Graduation Honors
Honors are based upon coursework taken throughout a student’s entire undergraduate academic career at UMBC. To be eligible for Honors, students must have earned at least 60 graded credits at UMBC (excluding Pass/Fail and Audit grades) with a GPA as follows:
Summa cum laude (“With highest honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.95 and 4.0.
Magna cum laude (“With high honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.75 and 3.9499.
Cum laude (“With honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.7499.
Visit the Registrar’s website for how graduation honors in calculated.
Academic Recognition for Varsity Athletes
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other external organizations sponsor a variety of awards recognizing the academic achievements of varsity athletes. UMBC athletes and whole teams regularly receive recognition for maintaining high academic standards despite demanding athletic schedules. Also, UMBC sponsors a chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society,
Academic Merit Scholarships
The great bulk of academic merit scholarships at UMBC are awarded to students at the time they are admitted to UMBC. However, there are some opportunities for students enrolled at UMBC to compete for scholarships based primarily on academic achievement, sometimes in combination with service and need. For example, UMBC sponsors a small scholarship for returning women students. The UMBC Alumni Association also sponsors scholarships for continuing students. The Honors College and the Ancient Studies Department have some study abroad scholarships. The UMBC Theatre Department provides modest scholarships to majors based on academic performance and service. An extensive listing of such scholarships is available.
These scholarships are as much a way for UMBC to recognize top students as they are a means of financial support. Applying for merit scholarships at UMBC is therefore very worthwhile, even if the amounts involved are modest. These scholarships come and go, so be sure to do careful research.
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Did you know that, according to the Kauffman Foundation, two thirds, or more than 2,000 U.S. universities and colleges offer at least one course in entrepreneurship? Fortunately, you attend UMBC – a bold institution that not only provides entrepreneurship courses and a very popular, fast-moving minor in the field but is also home to the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship.
Markus Proctor designed an Individualized Study (INDS) major which focused on Tech Entrepreneurship and Organizational Management. The creator of a web-based platform that helps students keep organized, on task, and up to date with changes in their course syllabi, launched a company called EduPal which pivoted into new directions including virtual reality and analytics. An Extra Credit staff writer sat down with Markus to talk about entrepreneurship, his experience at UMBC and some recommendations for current students.
EC: How can UMBC students approach their education (course decisions, internship choices, significant choices) in an entrepreneurial fashion?
MP: Entrepreneurship can extend beyond its economic/business definition into many different areas of our lives because, in simple terms, it's all about value creation through innovative problem-solving. Students should focus on the "value-add" of their choices as often as possible whether its selecting courses, applying for internships, or declaring a major/minor. Before making rushed decisions, students should ask "how does this create value for me?" and "how can I confirm my assumptions?". This is where leveraging resources on campus to make an informed, decisive decision is critical.
EC: What do you feel has been your greatest success at UMBC and what resources from UMBC contributed to that success?
MP: My greatest success at UMBC is building a reputable start-up in the Baltimore region that has allowed me to meet exceptional people, receive awards, and thoroughly enjoy the process of learning. There are many resources that have contributed to that success:
EC: What experience, course, relationship, or resource at UMBC do you consider to be the most significant "difference-maker" as a student and entrepreneur at UMBC?
MP: The Cangialosi Business Innovation Competitionwas the one experience that made the most significant difference in my journey as an "edupreneur" and student; I highly recommend that students participate in this event.
EC: If you could go back and "redo" your first three years at UMBC, what would you do differently and why?
MP: I would network with more students on campus because we have an abundance of talent on campus. Who knows what can happen if more students integrated their abilities to solve big problems?
KEY LINKS:
The Minor in Entrepreneurship at UMBC
The Shattuck Family Internship Program for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Change
Markus Proctor, founder of EduPal, is ready for career as an entrepreneur
"Five TED Talks Every Entrepreneur Should Watch" by Jayson Demers on entrepreneur.com
]]>You may have plenty of Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter friends -- but are you connected with professionals within your career field of interest? Networking and developing relationships with professionals are some the most effective ways to learn how to navigate your career path. Who knows --- someone in your professional network may provide an opportunity for you to take your first or next career step!
Below are a few tips on how to go beyond your social network and make professional connections!
Tip 1: Ask everyone for advice, ideas, leads and referrals
You may gain a lot of insight just by listening to the fascinating and inspiring career stories from professionals in your field. Many professionals (new and seasoned) are happy to talk about their career pathways with aspiring professionals just like you! Politely asking them if they could share a little time with you in person (preferably); or via email –could open up the opportunity for you to discover key facts and details about someone who is “actually doing” the things you are considering doing in the future. Furthermore, they also might help you find “insider” opportunities for internships, part-time jobs or high-profile volunteering assignments.
Tip 2: Create a professional email and/or professional networking profile
LinkedIn is a social network created primarily for building professional connections. Your profile serves as an interactive resume, where you can list your professional experience and educational credentials. You can join professional groups and search and apply for jobs. There are more than 58,100 UMBC alumni currently on LinkedIn!
Tip 3: Start Connecting at UMBC!
The Career Center hosts networking events and job fairs on a regular basis. Participate in informational interviews, Networking 101, LinkedIn 101 or join the UMBC-Alumni Student Networking Group on LinkedIn!
Now is the time to focus on your “Future Selfie”! In addition to building your personal brand, you can attend events/presentations, grab badges along the way, get connected to the rest of the world and explore professional options!
There are many career networking and professional mentorship opportunities which are available through the range of services, programs and initiatives sponsored by the Shriver Center – especially with respect to civic engagement and community based service delivery.
And Remember…
Follow up, follow up, and follow up (you get the point) – with your professional contacts! Whether it’s sending them an email every few months, or a message through Linked In, or placing a call to check in – it’s important to maintain all of the connections you make. They’ll be sure to come in handy when you are ready to make your next step!