Advising for Maryland Transfer Advantage Program Students

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Choosing Courses for Your First Semester at Montgomery College

• Your placement in classes depends on assessment results.  

Your assessment test results (Accuplacer, LOEP, or SAT scores) determine your placement in classes during your first semester at Montgomery College.  Your class levels in English and math, among other subjects, are based on your scores.  Most students will take MC's Accuplacer Assessment Test, or the LOEP Test if English is not a first language.  Some students can decide to use SAT scores if the scores in both English and Reading are 550 or higher, and Math - 550 or higher.  You will find out which test(s) you need when you call the Admissions Office after receiving your acceptance letter.  Note that SAT's are not required, but if you have taken them, we can use those scores if you have 550 or higher on some sections.

• All new students attend a MAPP Session.

After you take the Accuplacer or LOEP or submit a copy of your SAT scores, you'll be scheduled to attend a MAPP (Montgomery Advising and Planning Program), where you'll receive your placement results.  At the end of the MAPP, you'll be able to meet with a counselor/advisor who will help you select courses based on your placements.  In case you want to see placements for yourself, here are some charts, but remember that you'll be able to discuss this with someone who will walk you through the process. 

• English Course Placement Chart

• Math Course Placement Chart

• Reading Course Placement Chart

Important Things to Mention When You First Meet with an Advisor    Identify yourself as a Maryland Transfer Advantage program student, or point vigorously to a Fear the Turtle t-shirt. Give the advisor an idea of what major or majors you might possibly be considering.  Even if there's only a slight chance that you might consider a particular major, be sure to mention it.  Your choice of major(s) will often determine what courses you should take.  It's OKAY not to have a major in mind, but start thinking about possibilities.  Look over this UM Majors List for ideas.  If you want to see specific MC courses required for majors, go to the Majors Advising Page.

3. UM has specific requirements for Limited Enrollment Programs (more competitive majors).  
   Here's the list of LEP majors:  
   
   Architecture, Business, Communication, Education, Engineering, Government & Politics,
   Journalism, Landscape Architecture, and Psychology. 
       
   If you're considering (even slightly) one of these LEP majors, go to the LEP Information Page.   
   

4. General Education Courses - CORE Requirements:  All majors, regardless of subject area, have certain general education or "CORE" requirements.  CORE courses are designed to acquaint you with a variety of academic disciplines, ideas, ways of thinking about the world, and ways of approaching problems. All majors include courses from the CORE requirements list.  Here is a link to MC Equivalencies of CORE Requirements, and a link to the CORE page at UM for more information.  If you're undecided about a major, choosing  courses from the CORE list is a good idea. The advisor who helps you after your MAPP session will discuss CORE choices with you.  At MC, we call CORE courses "General Education" courses.
   
5. Some general advice for the many students who may be completely undecided about a major:

• Choose CORE courses described above from this page:  MC Equivalencies of CORE Requirements
• Take the highest level math possible.  If your placement is Intermediate Algebra, either MA 101 or MA 103, then go for MA 103 if you feel relatively comfortable with math.  
• MA 101 and MA 103 will track you into the right math for specific majors.  Look at the UM Majors chart - programs that require higher level math courses (and therefore have MA 103 as a prerequisite) are highlighted in yellow:  UMCP Majors Advising Page.  Even if you're unsure of a major, looking at this chart may give you some ideas. 

6. If you know what major you want to pursue, find it on the UMCP Majors Advising Page.  Print out ARTSYS Pages as well as Four-Year Plans and discuss course choices with an MC adviser.
   
7. After you've earned 15 credits at MC, you'll be contacted by UM's Maryland Transfer Advantage Program staff who will outline additional advising opportunities available to you.  Remember to identify yourself as a Maryland Trasnfer Advantage Program student each time you talk to an adviser on either campus.

Special Advising Considerations:

Preprofessional Program Advising for UM-Bound Students

Advising Links for MTA Students and Advisors:

• UM - MC CORE General Education Equivalency List
• Maryland Transfer Advantage UMCP Majors Advising Page
• List of Undergraduate Majors
• UM Undergraduate Catalog
• UM Schedule of Classes
• UM Transfer Credit Center -  View course equivalencies and transferability
• For general transfer questions, please see the UM Transfer Frequently Asked Questions Page  
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program

Other Links of Interest:

• Link to the Maryland Transfer Advantage page at UM:  www.uga.umd.edu/admissions/apply/MarylandTransferAdvantage.asp 

• Montgomery College Main Page www.montgomerycollege.edu

• Montgomery College Transfer Information Page: www.montgomerycollege.edu/transfer

• UM Main Page www.umd.edu/

• UM Undergraduate Admissions  www.umd.edu/admissions/

• UM Programs at Shady Grove  www.shadygrove.umd.edu/institutions/umcp/
  

Contact Us

• Montgomery College:   Germantown | Rockville | Takoma Park/Silver Spring  

• E-Mail: HelpAtaDistance@montgomerycollege.edu 

Last update:  03/31/06