Every Business Major Needs to Know...

Business is a booming major at the Robert H. Smith School, University of Maryland College Park - both Main and Shady Grove campuses - so much so that early advising is critical to admissions success.

What does it take to get into Smith?

Besides a terrific grade point average, each student's application is examined for evidence of leadership activities, work experience and a willingness to take challenging courses. This is information that incoming freshmen at MC must know. Involvement in activities should begin early on. The Smith Advising Page states this clearly. Students should also have a Plan B ready. Many students are attracted to Smith because it's nearby, it's reasonably priced as a state school, and because of its growing reputation. But Smith is not the only way to succeed in business.

• Consider alternate majors at UMCP
• Choose another school -- check out the MANY other public and private schools in DC and MD - see the full list of "Schools within a 50-Mile Driving Radius of Rockville" for links: www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studev/business50mile.htm

Stump the Transfer Advisor!

Dear Transfer Advisor,

I love Montgomery College and to be honest, I really don't want to leave. I've heard a rumor that MC is going to offer four-year degrees, is this true?

Maria Montgomery

___________________________

Dear Maria,

If we had a nickel for every time counselors have heard this question... well, you may have seen the pile of nickels on my desk. MC will not be offering four-year, bachelor's degrees in the known future. HOWEVER, the good news is that you CAN earn a four-year degree while staying in Montgomery County through the Universities at Shady Grove. http://www.shadygrove.umd.edu/programs/undergraduate/

Nine different universities offer the programs below at the Shady Grove Campus, located at the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Route 28, just past Shady Grove Hospital. If you enroll in one of these programs, your diploma will read, "Towson University" or whichever school offers the program, not "Universities at Shady Grove." There are many exciting majors offered, check them out!

New Programs at USG:

B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Towson University)
B.A. in History (UMBC)
B.S. in Public Health (UMCP)
B.S. in Respiratory Therapy (Salisbury University)

Do I have to have an AA to transfer?

It’s not always necessary to complete an AA before you go, although completion of an Associates degree can be helpful if:

1. Your overall GPA is less than a 2.5 – MOST Maryland public schools will accept students who have completed either an AA or 56 credits if their overall GPA is a 2.0 or higher.
   
   See the Maryland HigherEducation Commission’s Guide to Transfer or ask a counselor. Of course, your chances of surviving at the next school are better with a higher GPA, aim high. Here is the Maryland State Transfer Policy.
   
2. Your native language is not English – UMCP requests that students whose native language is not English either submit TOEFL scores or complete an AA degree to demonstrate their proficiency of English.
   
3. You want to transfer with junior status – it’s economical to earn as many credits as you can before you go, as long as the courses you’re taking fit your major at your four-year destination. Why not wrap those 60 credits into an AA degree along the way? Remember that the key to course transferability is getting advised each semester for help in choosing courses. Just presenting a completed AA degree does NOT mean that all courses taken will transfer to a four-year school. Check to see how close you are to earning an AA degree here.

Do I stand a better chance of getting in to a competitive major if I apply as “Undecided’?

Probably not, especially if the University of Maryland, College Park is your destination. See an MC counselor to discuss this.

TRANSCRIPTS - What are they and why should I care?

1. What is a transcript?
   
   A transcript is an official copy of a student's academic record. It records all courses successfully and unsuccessfully completed and all courses attempted ("withdrawals"). Midterm grades do not appear, only final grades. Transcripts show your official grade point average (GPA) and the number of credits you have earned.
   
2. How do I request a copy of my transcript?
   
   This link will take you to the three methods: web, mailed in request, or walk-in request. A fee of $5 is charged for each official transcript requested. www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions/Records/TranscriptRequests.htm
   
3. What are electronic transcripts?
   
   Montgomery College sends copies of transcripts electronically to most Maryland public schools. This system is very efficient - the information is sent somewhat like a fax, eliminating paper copies, and transcript information is downloaded right into a student's application file. You don't have to request an electronic transcript - if you ask MC to send a transcript to a Maryland public school, it will automatically go as an electronic, not a paper, copy.
   
4. Is it better to include a copy of my paper transcript with my application package, or have MC send it for me?
   
   Some programs will specifically instruct you to include an official copy of your transcript with your paper application (especially scholarship programs). If you don't see this specific request, then having MC send it for you is the best way to go.
   
5. What if I my transcript arrives before my application gets there?
   
   This is not a problem for either paper or electronic transcripts. Transfer institutions usually recognize that a student's application will soon follow - they typically hold onto transcripts for 6 months to wait for the rest to arrive.
   
6. What's the difference between an official and an unofficial transcript?
   
   An official transcript, in paper form, has been imprinted with MC's official stamp and it is sealed in an envelope. Opening the envelope means that it is no longer official. Electronic transcripts sent from MC to the transfer school are official. Get an unofficial transcript from your MyMC account - this is a printout of your courses and grades by semester. Even if you have sent an official transcript to your transfer school, it's always a good idea to print out your unofficial transcript from MyMC and bring it to any information sessions or orientation/advising sessions at other schools.
   
7. Aren't schools more impressed if I hand-carry a copy of my transcript to their admissions offices?
   
   Can you picture an overflowing "In Box" at a popular university? Paper copies take time for someone to open it up and enter the data in the system. Electronic is the way to go for a MD state school.
   
8. If I send an official copy of my transcript when I apply to a university, will MC also send my final transcript?
   
   MC doesn't have a way of knowing which school you will decide to attend - you must request a second copy of your final transcript at the end of a semester. For example, if you want to become a Frostburg Bobcat next Fall 2009 and you've sent one transcript in February of 2009, you'll need to request another copy at the end of the Spring semester so that those earned grades and credits can be reviewed and transferred to FSU.
   

University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Alliance Program

For students just starting at MC: work toward both an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree seamlessly.

http://www.umuc.edu/prog/community_college/alliances/alliances_md.shtml

• One application enrolls students at both campuses, and UMUC's $50 admission fee is waived.
  
• Provides access to UMUC's library, tutoring, writing assistance, career counseling, computer labs and more.
  
• Students may transfer up to 70 credits earned at MC to UMUC.
  
• Apply for scholarships at UMUC up to $3,300 for full-time students and $1,650 for part-time students per year when transferring with an AA degree, 3.0 GPA minimum.
  

Questions, contact:

Jennifer O'Brien
Community Relations Coordinator
University of Maryland University College
301-821-7525
jobrien@umuc.edu

UMBC Transfer Student Alliance: A partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore Countyand Montgomery College

UMBC is known for attracting highly motivated students - eager learners who get involved in their education. A top research university with a national reputation, UMBC is a place where undergraduates have easy access to professors working on the cutting edge of their disciplines. Every student has access to exceptional resources, stimulating teachers and individual attention.Students who begin their college education at Montgomery College (MC) with plans to transfer to UMBC to complete a 4-year degree may be eligible to participate in the Transfer Student Alliance (TSA) Program.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TSA PROGRAM, PLEASE CONTACT:

Kelly Reese, Transfer Coordinator, UMBC, 410-455-1320, kreese1@umbc.edu

Visit one of these TSA Webpages for an Application Form: UMBC: www.umbc.edu/tsa

UMCP-Bound? Apply for Guaranteed Transfer Admission

The Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) guarantees transfer admission to Montgomery College students who complete 30 or more credits and who have a 3.0 grade point average (for all majors except Limited Enrollment Programs). MTAP students are also invited to participate in advising information sessions for all majors while enrolled at MC, and they have opportunities to take courses at UM while enrolled as students at MC.

MTAP is FREE - for further details regarding the requirements & benefits of this program, go to the MTAP Website.

Top 100 Associates Degree Granting U.S. Institutions

Where does Montgomery College rank?

The results may surprise you. Remember, though, that many students come to MC for the sole purpose of transferring, and in doing so, they may not complete a degree before they transfer.

http://www.ccweek.com/news/templates/template.aspx?articleid=483&zoneid=5

UMBC Transfer deadlines for Fall 2009

March 15 (priority) and May 31 (final)

New: UMBC Admissions Counselors Blog http://umbcadmissionsblog.wordpress.com/umbc-undergraduate-admissions/

UMBC Open House Program for Transfer Students UMBC offers an open house program just for prospective transfer students in the fall and spring. Prospective transfer students have the opportunity to learn about admissions, financial aid, scholarships and program offerings and to meet faculty, staff and students.

The Transfer Open House will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Click here to register.

RIGHT NOW - It's Time to Explore Experiential Learning

What distinguishes one college graduate from another? Real-world experience gained while still in college.

Find out more about internships and volunteering:

Montgomery College Opportunities

New! Internships in the White House. Montgomery College students have an opportunity to apply for internships in the White House. Summer 2009 White House internship applications are due by Sunday, March 22. To download the application or for more information, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/26/apply-for-an-internship.

Internships Advertised on E-Jobs - this service, open to all MC students, lists not only jobs but also internship opportunities for students.

Montgomery College Collegewide Cooperative Education and Internship Program

Montgomery College Smithsonian Internships - An internship at the Smithsonian Institution through Montgomery College is an experience like no other! It is a prearranged, structured learning opportunity within a defined time frame. MC students in any discipline may apply for an internship.

Montgomery College Library of Congress Students with an interest in history and/or languages may find interesting opportunities in this program.

The Macklin Business Institute, Montgomery College, Rockville Campus. The Macklin Business Institute offers an honors and mentoring program to business students. The college-wide program includes participation in business honors courses, a seminar each week, and mentoring by both a faculty member and a corporate executive. A business internship and scholarship support may be available to students accepted into the Institute.

Internships that earn college credit within specific subject area at Montgomery College - ask about these courses in the Counseling Center or check a current schedule of classes for coordinator contact information. Most of these for-credit internship courses have a prerequisite of completion of one or more courses in the subject field.

Q: Where Do They Go From Here? A: Everywhere!

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TRANSFER DESTINATIONS 2008
5,081 students who earned 12 or more credits at M.C. in 2007 enrolled at these four-year institutions in 2008.

[Print out The Destinations 2008 List in PDF]


Source: National Student Loan Clearinghouse, Student Enrollment Data (Note: not all institutions participate in the NSLC program) and Montgomery College Office of Institutional Research & Analysis 3/4/09