Hello, I’m trying to transfer to UMD(University of Maryland College Park) from either HCC(Howard Community College) or UMBC(University of Maryland Baltimore County). I’m contemplating on whether to enroll in HCC or UMBC. HCC have much easier classes than UMBC, extremely close to my home, and much less money! But UMBC and UMD Are both “University of Maryland” colleges.Which colleges do you think I should choose to eventually after my first-year transfer into UMD.
Some of the Maryland community colleges – but not HCC – participate in the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program:
If guaranteed transfer to UMD sounds good, then an MTAP school might be a better choice than either HCC or UMBC. If you live near HCC, could you enroll at Anne Arundel CC and go to the branch campus by the Arundel Mills mall?The usual plan would be to start at the community college. It doesn’t make much sense to start at UMBC just to leave it later.
What is your major? Even though HCC doesn’t participate in the MTAP, the Transfer Advisor at HCC should be able to help you devise a good transfer plan. You also can determine which of your classes will transfer by using ARTSYS http://artsys.usmd.edu/chgri.cgi?6008601518679220
I don’t know about UMD specifically, but in many cases, four-year state universities give transfer priority to community college graduates – not to students at other four-year schools.
A student who is enrolled at UMBC is already in a good position to get a bachelor’s degree. So what’s the point of moving him to a different four-year school? Maybe he would like his bachelor’s degree to say “UMD” instead of “UMBC” because it’s more prestigious, but that’s not a compelling reason as far as state university adminstrators are concerned.
A student who is finishing up at a community college is a different position. He obviously has to find a space at a four-year school in order to get a bachelor’s degree. OK, now that’s a compelling reason.
I don’t know if it works this way at UMD, but it wouldn’t surprise me. In California, the UC system makes it clear that community college transfer applicants get priority. It’s possible to transfer from a four-year school, but only if there is room after the community college transfers have been taken care of.
Depending on where you live, maybe also consider montgomery college? Many of people who attend transfer right into UMCP without issue. It’s a way many students save money for a few years since it’s more affordable than UMCP. They may also be part of MTap. Good luck!