<p>Hey guys, I applied to UMD as a junior transfer student and was admitted for this fall. UMD has always been my dream school - I've wanted to attend since I moved out of MD 10 years ago. My family's also moving back to MD this summer, so I was planning on picking up in-state tuition my senior year. But then I was put into the Letters and Sciences major instead of Journalism. I noticed I didn't meet all of the requirements/gateways for the school of Journalism and was confused about how my credits would transfer, so I called and found out a lot of stuff that made me depressed. First, I didn't know that I would have to complete the CORE. As it turns out, basically none of the classes I've taken at my current school, Elon, can be used for the CORE. In fact, the classes I've taken for two years are basically worthless at UMD and only count/satisfies lower level electives, humanities and behavioral and social science. Fantastic. I also have three journalism gateways to complete before I can apply, which I could possibly take care of in the summer. Ultimately, however, after looking at my unofficial transcript, the guy said out of 40 requirements, I had 8 done and I would need at least one additional year tacked onto my senior year to graduate. Maybe more. What is this? What's the point in transferring if none of my classes transfer and I would have to do extra time. I can't do this for financial and logical reasons. I really had my heart set on Maryland and it's the one school I've always wanted to go to, but I can't attend now. Is there some way you guys know of that I can bypass anything or I guess what I'm saying is that is there anything I can do so that I can attend UMD and graduate on time?</p>
<p>Yeah, that sucks for various reasons 
Did you know that your parents need to live in MD for a year before you can claim in-state tuition? </p>
<p>Anyway, your problems with the courses transferring is the reason why when people have plans to transfer, they should make extra sure to communicate with the desired school about what classes they should take in order to be in the best position to transition smoothly. Of course, that’s no good to you now.</p>
<p>I would go back to the adviser and stress that you can’t attend MD if you’re forced to spend an extra year there. Ask if he/she can spend some time with you working out a plan that will have you out on time. That said, summer and winter classes add up - it’s often a better bargain to just spend the extra year as a full time student. Well, they add up at MD. If you take them at a community college in the state (perhaps the residency requirements are less strict at some? I’m not sure) they may be cheaper, but you’d have to be careful then to make sure you are taking classes that transfer!</p>
<p>Additionally, you could consider not being a journalism major. Journalism has a lot of credits you’d need to rack up…maybe you could do a different program, such as environmental science, history, etc. focused on a topic you want to report on. The government school also has special admissions requirements, but a gov and poli sci major might be doable since you said you have social science credits. This is another thing to talk to the advisor about…some majors will be more doable than others. You should also join the newspaper and get clips/experience that way, which I think is more important than actually being a journalism student.</p>
<p>Good luck…it may make sense just to stay at Elon and finish up there…I hope you can figure out something that works!</p>