Expert: Bruce - 5/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello my name is Brandon. I will graduate in June and I am having trouble picking the next school. I will have my associates degree and want to get my bachelor's degree. However, I am worried that my credits will not transfer. I am concerned that I may have to start over. I have looked at going to another community college and then go for the bachelor's degree, but I fear it will take to much time. Also, I contacted the University of Maryland University College, but they told me I have to be a student first in order for them to possibly accept my credits for transfer. What should I do? Thank you very much for your time.

ANSWER: Hi Brandon,

A couple questions for you -

your associates degree, is it an AA, As, or AAS?  What did it focus on, and what degree do you now wish to pursue?

Are you looking to go full or part time?

You may want to double check the info you got from UMUC - it may be that what they mean is that you have to be accepted for admission first, before they will advise you about credit transfer - not necessarily attending classes. That would not be user friendly.

If you can let me kow about your assoc degree, I can provide more info.

Regards,

Bruce

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's going to be an associates of applied business. The focus was on digital media technology and the degree is in broadcast journalism. I plan to pursue political science or communications and plan to go part time. The info I got from UMUC is that I would have to be a admitted first before they consider transferring credits. Also, is UMUC is good school to go to and what do you mean by not user friendly? Thank you for your time.  

Answer
Hi Brandon,

My reference to user friendly was in response to your reporting that UMUC would require you to be "a student first", that is enrolled, before evaluating your credit. Such a policy would be burdensome to students. You've since clarified that you need to be accepted, but not necessarily enrolled. That's a more typical approach.

I'm afraid that you will probably have some difficulty transferring some of your credits, though its up to UMUC to decide, of course. You have taken some very specific classes in applied/tech areas, and these are probbaly not going to match up well with the liberal arts requirements that UMUC will have for you. This would be especially true in Poli Sci, I bet, maybe a bit less so in communication, depending on what the UMUC program looks like.

If you take a look at the curriculums for the two UMUC programs you are looking, compare your AAS courses to those and see how much overlap there is, that will give you some idea of transfer credit. Also, if there is elective credit in the UMUC program, that's likely a place where you can transfer in some of your AAS classes.

It's really going to be up to the folks at UMUC. I encourage you to apply, so you can see how this will work out, but you may want to also check out possibilities at UMBC, U of Baltimore and other area colleges, just in case.

Best wishes,

Bruce


My Bro in Law is a UMUC grad and he enjoyed the experience, found the school a good fit and the staff helpful.