Planning to Transfer in Fall 2010?

If you want to transfer from MC to another school for Fall 2010, the time to apply is NOW (or even, yesterday!). Transfer admissions applications are on the rise at all Maryland public four-year schools. Early applications, sent before published transfer deadlines, are the key to acceptance.

Things you need to do:

1. Find the online transfer application of the school(s) to which you wish to apply. Check the Admissions Page website for online application directions.
   
2. Complete a transcript request form ($5 fee) to send your official MC transcript to school(s). Note that MC sends your transcripts electronically to Maryland State schools, this is the fastest way to do it - DO NOT send a paper transcript to a MD state school, it slows down the process! www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions/StudentForms/transcript.pdf
   
3. Send your high school record and SAT scores if you have less than 30 credits showing as COMPLETED on your MC transcript. Contact your high school's registrar for the transcript, and request a copy of your SAT scores from the collegeboard.org. Some schools, like Salisbury, require fewer completed credits (24 total) – check with each school’s transfer admissions requirements.
   
4. FINISH that essay - complete the essay if one is required; don’t let this interfere with finishing your application, get it DONE and send it in! Application Essay Tips.
   
5. Letters of recommendation - request them ONLY if they are required. Many schools do NOT want letters of recommendation. Don’t overwhelm your professors with requests if they are not required. Read more about Letters of Recommendation here.
   
6. Make a plan for housing - many schools are short on space for on-campus dorm rooms for transfer students. Contact the On-Campus Housing Office for details; if on-campus housing is not available, most schools have an Off-Campus Housing website to give you ideas about how to find nearby rooms or apartments.
   
7. Investigate scholarships and financial aid – follow the many suggestions here.
   
8. Finally, give yourself a reality check – does your overall grade point average meet the preferred minimums for transfer consideration? At the University of Maryland, College Park, a total GPA of 3.0 is the minimum GPA to be a realistic candidate. Many majors have additional competitive requirements (called LEP Programs). Most other MD state schools prefer a 2.5 overall GPA or higher. You can call a school’s Admissions Office to ask about overall GPA expectations for transfer students.
   

This Just In from the Department of Redundancy Department:

COMPLETE APPLICATIONS BEFORE DEADLINES! If you wait to send in an application by the printed transfer application deadline, you may be too late. Many state schools (Towson, Salisbury) look at applications in the order they are received and admit qualified students until they run out of space.

Questions? Call the Admissions Office of schools that interest you to ask for more information, and be sure to write down the name of the person who gives you answers.

University of Maryland, College Park Transfer Information

• UMCP Early Transfer Application Deadline:
  
  March 1: Students should apply by this date for best consideration. Admission decisions will be released approximately four to six weeks after a complete application is received, beginning in mid-March. Due to space limitations, early application is strongly encouraged.
  
  March 1: Deadline for all U.S. citizens & permanent residents with any non-U.S. academic records.Regular Application Deadline:
  
  June 1: Applicants who complete their application by this date will have decisions released 4-6 weeks after all materials have been received. Complete applications received after June 1st will be reviewed on a space available basis.International Transfer Students: non-immigrants currently holding or intending to seek a F-1 or J-1 visa must follow the international deadlines which are earlier than regular deadlines.
  
  


• Transcripts: Have MC transcripts sent to UMCP electronically - this is how MC will automatically send them. DO NOT request paper copies of transcripts for UMCP. The electronic transcript loads quickly into your file and assures faster processing of your application.
  
  


• Preferred Overall GPA for Admission: Students with an overall GPA of 3.0 are given priority admission consideration. Students with less than a 3.0 who have completed an AA degree or 56 credits toward an AA degree are admitted on a space available basis.
  MTAP - The Maryland Transfer Advantage Program. This program offers students guaranteed admission if program requirements are met (30 credits minimum completed in specific categories; overall GPA of 3.0, etc.). Benefits include the ability to take a course at UM at a reduced price while enrolled at MC. MTAP does not guarantee admission to Limited Enrollment Programs described below. Visit the MTAP website for details: www.admissions.umd.edu/admissions/apply/MarylandTransferAdvantage.asp
  
  


• Pre-Transfer Advising - take advantage of this service to assure your smooth transfer to UMCP www.transferadvising.umd.edu/
  
  


• Housing: dormitory and university-owned housing is generally not offered to transfer
  students. You may apply; however, also pursue off-campus housing information. On-Campus: Office of Resident Life: www.resnet.umd.edu/ ; Off-Campus Housing Services http://www.och.umd.edu/
  
  
• MC Equivalency Chart for UMCP CORE General Education Requirements: www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studev/corecp.pdf
  


• Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP's) have additional specific Gateway Course Requirements as well as GPA requirements. These majors at UMCP are Limited Enrollment Programs: Architecture ; Business ; Chemical and Life Sciences (Fall 2010 and after); Communication ; Criminology and Criminal Justice ; Engineering ; Government and Politics ; Journalism ; Landscape Architecture ; Psychology (Fall 2009 and after)Some general notes on LEP's at UMCP:
  
  
• Only one “gateway” or performance review course may be repeated to earn the required grade and that course may only be repeated once. Repeats include withdrawals from courses noted by a W on the transcript. A student who has repeated two gateway courses will be denied admission. Any student denied admission to the major may appeal directly to the Assistant Dean of the College (MC adviser’s note: very few students are granted admission by an appeal, typically only when a student has a stellar overall GPA and an unusual circumstance to explain why more than one gateway was repeated.)
  
• Students may apply only once to an LEP. In most LEP programs, there is only one time frame to apply, during the semester when the 60th credit is earned for transfer students.
  Students who apply to UM are first admitted to the University, then to LEP Programs. The LEP reviews do not require a second application; note that most decisions on LEP majors are made after the current semester is over when final grades are available (for example, Business admits are made in June after Spring grades are received).

• ROBERT H. SMITH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS NOTES: Students at MC are advised to follow this Smith School Course Guide: http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studev/NewSmith.pdf

TOWSON UNIVERSITY Transfer Advising Notes

• Towson's Fall 2010 Transfer Application Deadline: February 15. Although Towson gives priority to students who have an AA or 56 credits with a 2.0 or higher, this admissions is based on space availability. Last year, many qualified MC students who applied after the Feb. 15 deadline were given a deferred transfer admission for Spring 2010 because of the huge volume of transfer applications for Fall.
  
  
• List of All Towson Majors www.towson.edu/main/academics/ugrad/majors.asp
  
  
• Competitive Majors List for Towson University - These majors, including Business, Education, Mass Communications, Music, Theatre and Nursing among others, have additional course requirements and overall grade point average requirements. Requirements for admission to these programs are published in the Undergraduate Catalog and online.
  
  
• Housing for transfer students is limited. Explore off campus options in addition to applying for on-campus housing.

UMBC Transfer Advising Notes

• Deadlines: Fall Admission - Priority: March 15 (for full scholarship consideration); Regular Decision: May 31
• TSA - Transfer Student Alliance - www.umbc.edu/undergraduate/learn/tsa_mc.html The TSA program offers guaranteed admission, housing, and scholarships to students who meet qualifications; also, students may take a reduced-price course at UMBC while enrolled at MC. See the TSA webpage for details.
• Competitive Majors: Only Visual and Performing Arts majors are competitive, see details: www.umbc.edu/undergraduate/apply_now/vpa.html
• Housing for transfer students may be available. www.umbc.edu/undergraduate/live/housing.html
• General Education Requirements:
  1) Note that UMBC requires demonstration of proficiency in another language for all majors. Demonstrate by high school completion of a language to Level 4, graduation from a high school where instruction was in another language, or completion of a college-level language course to the Intermediate (201) level.
  2) MC's EN 101 fulfills one of three Arts and Humanities course requirements.

Must I Complete an AA Degree to Transfer?

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

• Your overall GPA at MC is less than a 2.5 – Some 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 Higher Education 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, so aim high. Here is the Maryland State Transfer Policy: www.mhec.state.md.us/preparing/stuguide.asp
  
  
• You started at another college where your overall GPA was below a 2.5 GPA - finishing an AA degree at MC will help you improve your chances of admission to a Maryland public school.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• You want to be considered for transfer scholarships. Most transfer scholarships require an AA degree or at least 56 credits completed. See the MC Scholarship Page for possibilities: http://mctransferscholarships.blogspot.com/

How close are you to an AA? Use the "Degree Evaluation" link in MyMC, left column below "Register/Add/Drop Classes" to run a degree audit to see what classes you need to finish a degree. Or, use a Degree Audit Worksheet to calculate where you stand. Applications for Spring Graduation are due by March 1 at the latest: www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions/StudentForms/grad.pdf

UMUC - Admission of F-1 Students

Effective December 14, 2009, University of Maryland University College (UMUC) stopped issuing I-20s to students who have or are seeking F-1 visas. This was adopted because the university’s online learning environment was not conducive to students on F-1 status, who must satisfy on-site registration and attendance requirements.

The International Student Advising (ISA) office will continue to fulfill all reporting requirements in SEVIS related to students who have gained full admission to UMUC and were issued I-20s prior to the effective date.

If you have any questions, please contact ISA at (240) 684-2116 or ISA@umuc.edu. .

Morgan State - Tuition Scholarship

Fall 2010 - Scholarship for Community College Students (U.S. Citizenship NOT REQUIRED!!)

Award provides the full amount of your semester tuition and fee costs.

Application Deadline - February 15, 2010

Student must have:

• 3.0-3.49 GPA
• graduated from Montgomery Colelge with an A.A. or A.S. degree or have at least 56 transferable credits by the start of the fall semester

Apply online at http://www.morgan.edu/students/prospective

Questions? E-mail: denise.graves@montgomerycollege.edu