Get a Head Start on Pursuing Your Bachelor’s Degree

We’re making it even easier to transfer credits by hosting Transfer Month to help incoming students prepare early for transition to UMUC in spring 2012.

From Monday, October 17 to Friday, November 18, students with associate’s degree credits or relevant work experience can get a jump start on their bachelor’s degree by:

• Learning how to maximize transfer credits to earn your bachelor’s degree faster
• Speaking with UMUC advisors to help get started on the right track
• Attending open houses and online events that cater specifically to transfer students
• Test-driving online learning with UMUC 411—a free, weeklong orientation to online learning

The process isn’t as complicated as it may seem, and we’re happy to assist you in any way possible during the transition process. Just keep in mind that when you transfer to UMUC, you’ll be joining an institution with a global reach and learning from a group of well-known and talented faculty.

And while you’re taking steps towards your bachelor’s degree, remember that you can choose from more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs to find the best fit for you and your future career.

UMUC is regionally accredited, so our academic programs are held to a high standard and are carefully reviewed by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. We’re also recognized as one of the 11 degree-granting institutions in the renowned University System of Maryland.

If you have any questions or need additional information about Transfer Month, please contact one of our advisors. You can also join our social communities on Facebook and Twitter to connect with other prospective and current students, faculty and staff. Feel free to tell us about yourself or share your experience. We’re also happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have!

5 Critical Ways to Prepare for Graduation in Your First Year of College

Graduation is a day that college students look forward to with a sense of excitement as well as anxiety, because they know that after getting their diplomas, they have to delve into the exhausting process of searching and applying for jobs. When asked what they wish they’d done differently in the job search, many recent graduates say that they wish they had just started preparing earlier for being sent out in the real world. Here are a few tips to get started the day you start your first class.

1. Create a document or start a notebook about your classes

Jot down a description of every class you take and take note of particular skills or talents you utilize during the semester. One of the most difficult parts of applying and interviewing for jobs is articulating and remembering the ways you’re qualified for a potential job. In many cases, recent graduates are more prepared and qualified than they may think. Did you work on a group project and take the reins? Write that down and make sure to note the ways you contributed or took on a leadership role with the project. Did you do really well on a test or term paper? Keep a copy for your records and note the ways in which your class exercised your analytical and critical thinking skills.

2. Stay in touch with at least one or two professors

Most companies will require recent graduates to have references, either from a former employer, professor or both. By the time you graduate, however, it may have been several years since you last spoke to professors you once knew well. Even through email, getting a professor to know your name and appreciate your enthusiasm as a student will be helpful down the road when you’re looking for recommendations. Make it a point to email or speak with one or two professors every now and then, even after you’re finished with his/her class, to make sure you are still on their radar. By the time you graduate, you will hopefully have built a relationship with professors that will be happy to recommend you to employers.

3. Find an internship

Other than taking classes, one of the best ways to learn about a certain career path is to intern or volunteer with a company in an interesting industry. Make use of UMUC’s Career Services resources, found at http://www.umuc.edu/students/support/careerservices/index.cfm.

4. Keep track of all your financial aid information

Many students take out loans to finance their education. While federal and private lenders send students information about paying back their loans, this information is often confusing and overwhelming if you don’t have good records of how much you owe to each lender. Some students find themselves with several separate loans and lenders by the time they graduate, so keeping your financial aid information organized from day one will help you out in the future when you begin making payments. It’s a good idea to talk to someone at the UMUC Financial Aid Office if you ever feel confused or unsure about your financial aid situation.

5. Socialize

Most graduates cannot emphasize enough how much their peer relationships influence their post-graduation lives. Someone in your class could end up being your future coworker (or even boss) or could lead you to your dream job. Or he could even be the one to introduce you to your future spouse. You never know the role that student relationships may play throughout the rest of your life. An online education with UMUC offers students the unique opportunity to interact with other students across the country and internationally, so take advantage of the networking and social potential of your fellow classmates.

Using Twitter to Pay for College

One of the most stressful aspects of pursuing a college degree is determining how you’re going to pay for it. While UMUC offers plenty of financial aid options for students, it’s often helpful to search for scholarships from external groups. You’ll often hear that there’s plenty of money for school out there for those who search for it, but the scholarship search can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate, with countless websites and organizations offering help to those who qualify.

Recently, however, students have been turning to social media sites like Twitter for help funding their college degree. Some schools even offer social media scholarships for incoming students who have embraced and best utilized social media to meet their goals.

The University of Iowa took this idea even further by holding a contest that asks prospective students to submit a 140-character Tweet in place of a second essay. The applicant who submits the “best” Tweet will win a $37,000 scholarship to University of Iowa’s business school.

Similarly, CollegeScholarships.org is sponsoring “The 140 Scholarship,” which asks students to submit one tweet answering a question about how Twitter can be used to change the world.

In addition to using Twitter to apply for scholarships, it’s also a useful tool for the scholarship search. There are many Twitter accounts devoted to promoting both public and private scholarships. Check out and follow some of the accounts on the list below to stay up to date on scholarships being offered across the country:

@scholarships
@ProjectWorkingM
@ScholarshipsUSA
@FafsaHelp
@Scholarshipscom

It might also be helpful to regularly search for terms like “scholarships” on Twitter to see what fellow students and organizations are talking about. You may stumble across a new scholarship that’s perfect for you!

Many of our students use a combination of scholarships, federal and private loans to fund their education. As you begin to learn about your financial aid options, we recommend visiting http://fafsa.ed.gov and http://finaid.org to explore the best way to pay for college for you.