You are so close to earning your UMBC degree! Keep up the momentum!

Once you’ve earned 90 academic credits, you will have access to a Graduation Card on your myUMBC Profile page, which you will use to apply for graduation. The Graduation Card is a personalized, step-by-step guide that will ensure a smooth process until you finish your UMBC degree. However, eligibility isonly the start of the graduation application process.

How to Apply for Graduation   

• You should check your Graduation Card periodically to ensure that you are staying on track with all degree requirements, as this will be the only way to access the application for graduation when the time comes. Students may only participate in graduation/a commencement ceremony based on the semester in which all degree requirements are be completed (see the Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree Completion Policy for more information). 
• If you intend to complete all degree requirements by the end of the Spring 2023 semester, please note that Wednesday, February 15ththe last day undergraduates can apply for June graduation by logging into the Graduation Card on the  myUMBC profile page. 
• As you finalize your graduation plan, below are some steps you can take to ensure that you’ll soon be celebrating the completion of your UMBC degree!   

Once you apply for graduation, participating in the commencement ceremony and other celebratory activities on campus is the culmination of all your hard work.

If you have any questions about the graduation application or review process, please do not hesitate to contact the graduation team.

We look forward to seeing you cross that finish line!  

Winter break is finally here!

You worked hard this semester and it doesn’t go unrecognized. Now is the time to get some well-deserved rest and recharge before the spring semester begins!

It’s easy to binge-watch your favorite tv shows or go down the Tik Tok rabbit hole, but we’d like to challenge you to do some things that will genuinely restore you during your winter break.

Mental Health and Wellness

• Re-establish good sleeping habits and get the rest you deserve!
• Take a break from your typical college diet and enjoy some hearty, homecooked meals. Check out these easy meals for college students and Retriever Essentials winter hours, if needed.
• Spend an afternoon exploring the great outdoors! If you call Maryland home, you could explore many of the state parks that are still open. If you like skiing, there are many local spots to check out too! And if you aren’t feeling as adventurous, even a walk around your neighbourhood can do a world of good!
• Reconnect with family and friends to keep your support system strong and growing into the spring semester. 

• Get a group of friends together to play a video game or virtual trivia.
• Organize a small study group. Even if each person is focused on individual work, having the presence of others with you can be a big mood booster!
• Is the weather nice? Meet up with a friend to take a walk/hike or lunch in a park.
• Spend time with Officer Chip! 

• The Academic Success Center has great online learning resources, including a series of interactive videos. Additionally, the ASC offers tutoring services if you need extra support.
• Check in with your professors during their office hours or chat with a TA to get assistance with specific questions you have about your course content. 
• Advisors in the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising welcome the opportunity to discuss your academic plans, including any potential major changes you are considering.
• Get inspired about your academic and professional journey and attend THE MAJOR EVENT happening Wednesday, November 16! 

Written by Irene Thomas, UMBC '21

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 can be challenging. You may think, "But that's so far away," or "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 utterly unfamiliar because they were not taught in high school. Individualized Study (the "build your own major" major), Public Health, Geography, and Environmental Systems, and Business Technology Administration are interesting majors students may not have been aware of before arriving at UMBC. There's no harm in looking through the list - you never know what you might find! 

**SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT** 

One timely way to explore UMBC's diverse majors is to attend our upcoming Major Event on November 16! 

Educate yourself on potential majors. 

Talk to an advisor or current students in the major you're interested in so that you can get a better understanding of the potential courses and paths you may want to pursue in your selected major. Researching on your own is highly recommended, as well. 

List 5-8 possibilities based on your interests and aptitudes. 

Take courses that are steered towardthe potential majors you have chosen. Read the entire catalog sections, all the course descriptions, faculty bios, and any other information about these majors 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, and it is okay to listen to their insights, but ultimately it is essential to make your own choice. You are the student, and you are making the decision that could affect your future career trajectory (at least in the short run – many people change careers throughout their lifetime!). 

Refrain from assuming 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 only have an indirect relationship to their positions. 

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 may indicate that it is inappropriate. Consider other options in which you can be more successful!

If you think you need extra support in major exploration, The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising is always here to assist you! Students are always welcome to set up an advising appointment with an OAPA advisor.

Helpful Links

• Your adjustment to college
• Major and career choices 
• Course selection  
• Long-term academic planning 
• Academic difficulty 
• Academic "extras" such as minors, internships, education abroad, etc. 

• Departmental Advising -Main Campus 
• Departmental Advising -Shady Grove 

• Develop and update your degree plan 
• Check your degree progress  
• See how coursework transferred over from your previous institution 
• Access suggested four-year pathways for completing your degree program 

• How am I doing in my major?  
• Do I need to make any changes or seek academic support next semester?  
• How long will it take me to complete all my coursework?  
• Does my academic plan contain all my GEPs, upper-level credits, and writing intensive?
• Should I plan to take a winter class? 
• Are there other topics I'm interested in exploring by adding a minor or certificate program? 

Whether you are enrolled in online, hybrid or in-person classes, building relationships with your professors can greatly impact your satisfaction and overall success in a course. But with larger class sizes and less frequent class meeting times than in high school, you may be tempted to think that initiating a conversation with your professors is challenging or daunting. 

However, we are here to tell you that it is quite simple and absolutely something that professors want you to do! Just having the assurance that your professors know who you are by name can make all the difference in your motivation and feelings of connectedness to your courses. 

Additionally, building connections may open the door for future support/opportunities, including:

• Serving as a teacher’s assistant
• Independent Study/Research
• Letters of recommendation for professional or graduate school 

Below are some easy ways to get started and tips for doing so! 

How to Connect: 

Stop by During Office Hours 

Utilize your professor’s office hours! The sole purpose of these hours is to help you outside of class. Whether it be the assignment you’re confused about or a simple check-in on your progress in the class, you’d be surprised at the kind of insight you can gain from one-on-one sessions. 

Office hours or 1:1 meetings may or may not still be held virtually at this time. Refer to your class syllabus to determine where and when these hours are held.  

Helpful Tip: Many professors are willing to set up meetings with you on days, and at times, outside of their listed hours to better accommodate you. Some professors with challenging schedules are willing to have meetings via phone call. Just take the initiative to ask.  

EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL! 

 Our busy schedules as students don’t always allow for a 1:1 meeting. Connecting through email is better than no correspondence at all. As a courtesy, please allow for a 24-hour response time. It may take a bit of back and forth to get your questions answered, but in the end, you should still be able to get the assistance you need. 

Note – Your emails should include an initial greeting, your name, Campus ID,  what class you are in (sometimes professors are teaching multiple courses/sections), and a respectful closing.  

When to Connect: 

· Don’t wait to set up a meeting until you are struggling in a course. Connect early in the semester! If there are extenuating circumstances, including student-athlete travel schedules or accommodations you receive through Student Disability Services, these are helpful things to let your professor know about at the beginning of 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 an assurance that you are implementing their advice correctly—or to 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 and discover new interests.  

• Make sure all your degree information is up-to-date and that you are aware of all remaining graduation requirements  
• Submit a declaration of major form to update your major, minor, or any other programs 
• Make sure that you have a plan to finish not only all 120 credits but also that your degree includes all 45 upper-level credits  
• Check to see that you have finished all GEP requirements or make sure your remaining semesters include plans to finish these requirements. If you still have a language 201 class, science with lab or last culture class, or any missing upper-level credits, now is the time to plan to get them done! 
• Use UMBC’s Winter session to get GEP course or major elective done – the winter schedule will be available for viewing starting on Sept. 12th 

• Re-check any transferred courses or AP/CLEP test credit, especially if you are using them to fulfill GEP or major electives. You can view your Transfer Credit Report in your myUMBC profile. 
• Submit a Course Review Form if you need to get any courses re-evaluated – to do this, be prepared to submit a syllabus of the transferred class.  
• Submit any updated transcripts to the registrar’s office.  
• Talk your courses over with your advisor If you have any questions about your transfer credit and how it can be used to fulfill degree requirements.  

• Get additional insights from your advisor about how to plan out your remaining requirements and brainstorm your post-graduation plans  
• Revisit advising notes in your myUMBC profile for summaries of previous advising sessions to make sure you are keeping all advising recommendations in mind as you finish your degree.