I'm Stuck

Paying for College
21

https://www.sfs.opm.gov/StudFAQ.aspx?#num33

^Read the FAQ

This might enable you to get your degree without loans.
The scholarship is not from UMDBC. But it is a participating institution.

You can contact other institutions on the list as well. Maybe some would accept more of your credits.

22

It looks like University of Maryland - Baltimore County has their computer science program set up better for transfer students:
http://www.csee.umbc.edu/undergraduate/computer-science-bs/transfer-students/
They only require 18 credits of CS on their campus - but that should be enough to remediate any deficits from CC.
Talk to an advisor about which CS classes you really need to take.

It may be tough to give up UMD College Park, but it looks like it would saddle you with a lot of debt and additional time in school. UMD - BC looks like a much better option for you. And it has the cyber corps option which is very desirable to DC area employers.

23

Even if there is a sequence to follow for CS, you don’t have to take the full course load all semesters, and a lesser course load typically is cheaper.

24

I second UMD BC. Have you applied/been admitted?

25

You can check the transferability of each and every one of your classes from your current CC to any of the MD publics with ARTSYS http://www.artsys.usmd.edu/ That will let you know pretty quickly whether or not Towson or UMBC will get you to your degree more quickly than UMCP. The transfer advisor at your CC should also be able to help you sort this out. Find out exactly what you need to do to fulfill the Gen Ed requirements at each place.

And run your numbers again. Things might not be quite as bleak as you think - especially if you can hold down a job part-time while you study.

26

Ok…I’m confused.

  1. Have you already applied to and been accepted to the four year university?
  2. If you HAVE been accepted...why didn't you apply for financial aid a LONG time ago. The forms were available last October 1.
  3. Why did you take courses that wouldn't transfer to a four year school towards a degree? Were you working with the transfer advisor at your CC?

Ok…all that aside.

Will financial aid to you as a transfer make a dent in $25,000 a year (right…you have four MORE years)? Well…likely not. You are guaranteed a $7500 loan as a third year student. If your mom is low income, you might get a portion of a Pell Grant. If you are a MD resident, perhaps,they have something for low income residents. But $25,000 a year? I would say it’s not likely you will see this amount.

Is it too late to talk to your CC transfer advisor to find a four year school that WILL accept your credits?

@happymomof1 …listen to her!

27

The UMCP Comp Sci requirement page doesn’t immediately indicate the sequence of pre-requisites. But the coursework does add up to only four semesters (two academic years) provided there aren’t a lot courses that have to follow strict sequences. If the student is in-state, the total shouldn’t come to 100k.

College of Southern Maryland does not have guaranteed transfer agreements with UMBC or with Towson for Comp Sci. If the OP is interested in those options, more research is needed. However CSM does have agreements for that major with St. Mary’s of Maryland, Morgan State, and UMUC (possibly mostly online, but also possibly live instruction depending on availability of on-site classes), that might bring costs down for the OP.