Western MD was cold-Back to Baltimore!

Last week I got to experience the changing leaves and the unexpected COLD in Allegany and Garrett counties.  The scenery was beautiful but I definitely did not pack accordingly.

I did, however, have some great visits with transfers as well as freshmen!  I was excited to be getting the chance to attend some of the local college fairs and visit some high schools.

It was a long (and cold) week and it was very nice to get home and enjoy my Hepburns pie a la mode when I returned on Thursday evening.

This week I got the pleasure of staying local and doing the CCBC/BCCC circuit.  It was nice to be in our own backyard for a change.  I went through tons of Transfer Open House brochures so I expect to see lots of you there!

If you still have not signed up for the Transfer Open House on Friday, November 6th do so NOW!

A great week!

What an exciting week.  Carroll, Howard, and Frederick all in a row.  I was impressed with the number of students I was able to talk with and the interest in UMBC!  I came back with a lot of inquiry cards so we will be following up with more information.

I want to remind you that coming up next month is our Transfer Open House.  We are offering it on a Friday during the day this semester and have already received a lot of students registering for the program.  If you are interested in seeing the campus, getting more information on the admissions process, financial aid, and scholarships, as well as meeting with top notch faculty and staff in addition to our awesome students please register now!

I am gearing up for a long, but fun, week in Western MD.  Garret and Allegany counties here I come!  Hope to see you out there!

495 is fun!

This week I got to travel down 95 and 495 to visit the Montgomery College campuses.  I give people a lot of credit who have to make that commute everyday!  The good news is that I survived and spoke with TONS of great students as a result-even a few that I had been working with.

One thing that these visits made me realize it that a lot of students have never used (or even heard of) ArtSYS.   It was shocking to hear how many students have never even heard of it and they were all ready to transfer for the spring!  ArtSYS is a great tool if you are transferring from a MD 2 year institution to a MD 4 year institution.  It will recommend courses for you to take as well as give you an idea of which courses are transferable.

I would encourage you to use this great tool!

Southern MD was a success!

This past week I spent some time enjoying the beautiful weather and the sites in Southern Maryland.  My journey began with visits to CSM Price Frederick and Leonardtown ending with visits to Prince Georges CC and wrapping up with CSM LaPlata.

What great visits!  I really enjoyed CSM Laplata’s transfer day as it was outside in the beautiful weather-even though it was a bit warm, I was thankful to have a nice spot in the shade!

I enjoyed talking with everyone who attended the fairs this week!  Lots of great students with interest in UMBC!

Next week I will be off to Montgomery County!  If you attend any of the MC campuses I will be there this week so please come out and see me and pick up more information about UMBC and the transfer process.

Tuesday, September 29th-MC Takoma Park

Wednesday, September 30th-MC Rockville

Thursday, October 1st-MC Germantown

Looking forward to it!

Attention all Spring 2010 applicants…

The Spring 2010 application is now currently available so start applying!!  The priority deadline is November 1st with the final deadline being December 15th.

What’s the benefit of applying early you say?  Well not only will you hear from us sooner (as long as your application is complete!)  you will also have the chance to register early for your choice of an orientation course selection day program and will be reviewed first for transfer merit scholarships if you are transferring from a 2 year institution .  You will also be able to apply for housing sooner.

So what do we need from you?  What we will need is a completed application along with your official college transcripts from each institution attended.  Have less than 30 graded credits?  That’s ok!  We will also need then your high school information including transcripts and test scores.   There is no separate application needed for merit scholarships, however if you are interested in need based aid such as grants and loans you will need to complete or update your FAFSA as soon as possible for the Spring semester.

We are looking forward to reviewing your applications!  Apply now!

Back and ready to hit the road!

Greetings!  Well I am back after a very excited 2 weeks vacation!  It’s now time for me to hit the road and begin the lovely season of recruitment travel.  I am hoping to see many of you out there!  If you are currently attending a MD community college click on the Transfer Advising Day link to find out when I will be at your school!  This coming week I will be visiting the beautiful Southern MD visiting CSM and PGCC.  I always love visiting the south of our state-it’s one of my favorite places and I always love visiting beautiful Solomons Island!

Hope to see you out there!

Out of the office…for good reason!

Hi everyone!

I will be out of the office for 2 weeks starting August 31st with no access to e-mail or phone.  Don’t worry…I will be back I just have to go get married and go on a honeymoon…no biggie! 

In case you need to reach someone in the admissions office you can send an e-mail to admissions@umbc.edu or call 410-455-2292 and a member of our staff can assist you.

Please keep in mind that I will be shortly hitting the road in September and will hopefully be visiting your campus this Fall.  Click on the Transfer Advising Day tab at the top of the page to find out when I will be at your school.

Good Luck with the start of classes and I look forward to speaking with or meeting with you when I return or out on the road!

We’re #1!!!!

UMBC has been recognized as the #1 up and coming school of the year by US News and World Report America’s best Colleges Guide.  This means the UMBC has been recognized as THE top school that has recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus and facilities.

Click here to read more

Some other points to brag about…UMBC also was tied for 4th place with Stanford University as one of the top institutions for faculty commitment to undergraduate teaching.   We were also mentioned in an unranked list of schools best known for giving our students opportunities for undergraduate research and creative programs.

To read more about UMBC’s accomplishments visit our website.    We have always known that UMBC was a diamond in the rough and an up and coming institution and we are so proud that UMBC is getting the national recognition we have always deserved!  Go Dawgs!!

Spring 2010 Applicants

With many of you anxious to apply as soon as possible for the Spring 2010 semester, I thought I would emphasize that currently the Spring 2010 application will become available the beginning of September.  For priority consideration I would encourage you to apply on or before November 1st.

That being said, it’s never too early to start preparing for the Spring.  Visit our campus, speak with a counselor, and try to get as much information you can about our departments and programs.

We are also still accepting Fall 2009 applications on a space available basis.  Please apply and submit your official transcripts as soon as possible.   So those of you who thought you were too late, think again!

Summer is a time to reflect, relax and think… Transfer!!

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing 4th of July weekend!  The summer is a great time to relax and take a break from school, but also a great time to begin thinking about what your next step will be.  A colleague of mine recently shared with me this article that includes 9 tips for Community College Students.  I couldn’t not share this informative article with you all.  It includes a lot of great advice.  To read the article click here.

Summer ‘mode’, as I like to call it,  is often a great time to be able to unwind and reflect.  You have more time to clear your mind and think…what a great chance to think about your future and the possibilities that await you.  Most colleges and universities are open during the summer so using this time to visit schools and talk to counselors.  Many offices, like ours, can be busy during the summer with orientation, however,  they are often a lot less busy which allows you to have more time with an admissions counselor or transfer coordinator.

So while sitting by the pool and getting a snow-ball everyday seems ideal, I highly recommend setting aside sometime to do some research, visit some schools, and really think and reflect about your future plans.  Those 2 years go by faster than you think!