Stay on Track at UMUC - Tips for Students

We’ve put together a few helpful tips for UMUC students to ensure a smooth transition from one semester to the next during the academic journey.

Stay In Touch Designate a primary e-mail address to communicate with UMUC, and check often for updates Sign up for MyAlerts, UMUC’s emergency communication system for stateside students Contact your advisor prior to the beginning of each semester to discuss upcoming classes and your degree progress report	Manage Your Finances Log into MyUMUC to view any outstanding documentation Visit Student Accounts to learn how to submit payments if you have financial aid, military tuition assistance or employer tuition assistance
Submit Military/Veteran Documents If you have updated ACE or military credit, send copies of official transcripts To be granted military tuition rates, submit a military identification card or other documentation Check UMUC's veterans benefits site for instructions on applying and/or certification	Keep Track of Important Dates Check the UMUC Stateside academic calendar (or calendars for UMUC Asia or UMUC Europe) for registration, drop and withdrawal deadlines

More information is available at UMUC Connect. Read tips on navigating each step of the undergraduate experience, visit the Advisor Corner, get advice on what to do when things aren’t going as planned and find ways to connect with other students.

And be sure to take advantage of UMUC’s many online support services. We’re here to help!

UMUC’s History Serving Military and Veteran Students

“I had an academic advisor in a war zone. They were right there with us, helping us, giving us access to education no matter where we were.” – UMUC student Gregory Barber, retired from the Air Force

More than half of UMUC’s students are military servicemembers, reservists, veterans or their family members.

UMUC’s military heritage dates back to 1947 when the university was founded to educate the post-World War II workforce. After developing educational programs throughout Maryland and D.C., the university expanded to Germany to establish college classes for GIs in the field.

Over the past six decades, UMUC’s relationship with the U.S. military has grown and strengthened. UMUC is now on-site in more than 150 locations in 25 countries and territories across the globe.

DCMilitaryEd.com posted an interesting article from a military veteran student's point of view. We wanted to share that with you: Why UMUC Has Mass Appeal For Veterans. If you are currently in the military or a veteran and attending UMUC classes, tell us your story in the comments below. Let us know how your classes are going or share an interesting anecdote. We would love to hear from you!

Researching Prospective Employers: Part Two

In last week’s blog entry, Researching Prospective Employers: Part One, we discussed the types of information you should research about a company before applying for a job. It’s just as important to know where to look for this information. Here are four resources that can help you uncover everything you need to know about a company before you apply.

Company Web Site 

The company’s Web site is the first place to start and one of the most important. An organization’s Web site can provide a great deal of insight. Not only can you find basic facts, the company’s mission, what they’ve done and how they work; you can also gain a better understanding of an organization’s strengths, weaknesses and culture.

Social Media Sites 

On the homepage of most major Web sites, you will find icons linking to the company’s social media accounts. If those are not available, visit Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and search for the company on each site. Seeing what a company shares with its followers will help you gauge what they find most important, what they’re interested in and how they present themselves to the public.

Online Searches 

Whether you’re a Google fan or a Bing user, look the company up. With the help of a search engine, you can find everything from news articles written about the company to discussion forums about the company’s products or services.

Tap Your Network 

Reach out to your network to see if any of your contacts has a connection to the company. Whether it’s a friend, family member, classmate or faculty member, one of your contacts might know more about the company or know someone who works there. If your contact has a connection to the company, you might be able to get introduced to a hiring manager or learn additional information about the organization to help you impress the interviewer.

By researching a company, you’ll prove you are genuinely interested in becoming a part of the organization. If you take the time and do your homework, your extra effort will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

In the meantime, visit UMUC’s Career Services Web site to download the Job Searching Guide, explore industry-specific job Web sites, research salary information, polish your resume and cover letter  or get tips on preparing for an interview.  If you need help with your job search, request to Talk to a Career Counselor.