Get Prepared
Congrats on taking the first steps towards your education goals. Have you received your approval email from Guild? If not, don’t worry, you should receive an email within 7-10 days of submitting your Guild application.
If you have received your approval email, double congratulations! Here are your next steps in completing the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) application:
1 — Make sure you’re eligible
Check to make sure you're eligible for your company's education benefit, right up to the first day of classes. Go to the Guild home page and check your eligibility status in the upper right-hand corner. For more information about eligibility, contact Guild support.
2 — Complete the UMGC application process
Complete UMGC's online application at https://apply.umgc.edu. Be sure to choose the same learning program that you selected on the Guild application, or you may have to pay for the program on your own. Then, connect with the UMGC Admissions Department to complete the process. UMGC Admission Advisors are happy to help you with UMGC application questions. Please call 855-227-0928 for assistance.
3 — Start FAFSA
Gather important documents and complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online. Use the UMGC code 011644. Follow the detailed instructions provided by the Federal Student Aid office. When you're finished, you may be offered awards which you can accept or decline.
To learn more about Financial Aid at UMGC, click here.
Per the Employer policy, each student enrolling in a program that is eligible for federal financial aid may be required to complete one or more of the following items before initial program enrollment and annually thereafter: FAFSA, financial aid packaging / awarding process, accept any grant aid awarded. If any grants are accepted they will be applied to tuition and mandatory fees before employer payment. If you have questions regarding your Employer education benefit policy, please consult Guild support. If you have questions about financial aid, please contact your learning provider's financial aid office.
4 — Request Transcripts
If you have taken college classes before, UMGC will evaluate your official transcripts to possibly apply credits to your new program. All applicants are required to submit official transcripts right away for admissions purposes. After we evaluate your official transcripts, you'll have a roadmap for the classes left in your degree.
Note: You may be able to use a service to request your transcripts. To learn more about this process, Click here to access Guild's Transcript Help Center
If you have previous education outside of the U.S. (i.e., foreign credentials), there are extra requirements to complete to enroll at UMGC.
A course-by-course evaluation of your transcripts by a NACES member agency is required. The evaluation must be sent directly to UMGC from the credential agency. Please review UMGC’s policy for international transcripts:
An English proficiency exam with a minimum score may be required.
Confirm requirements with UMGC's Admissions Department before paying out of pocket for an evaluation and/or exam.
If you need more help with the foreign credentials process, please review this article. You can also message Guild Support or call 1-800-985-4027 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. MT).
If your previous institution offers a secure electronic method to send your transcripts, that option is recommended. If a “send-to” email address is required, please use studentrecords@umgc.edu. Otherwise, you may submit your official transcripts by mail in a sealed, unopened envelope issued by your previous institution(s) to:
Attn: Student Records
University of Maryland Global Campus
3501 University Blvd. East
Adelphi, MD 20783-8075
Note: It may take up to three weeks for transcripts to arrive at UMGC, so order them as soon as possible.
5 — Complete Roadmap to Success new student orientation course
All new students should complete their self-paced ERMN 000 Roadmap to Success orientation course prior to the start of their first UMGC course(s). This course can be accessed by all accepted new applicants at https://learn.umgc.edu and will help new students practice tasks in their online classroom and earn badges as they learn about UMGC resources to support student success, time management skills and how to maintain academic success in their program.
6 — Register for courses and make a plan with your UMGC Admission Advisor
Schedule a meeting with your UMGC admission advisor to select the courses you'll take during the term. Your admission advisor can help you make the best decisions based on your program and needs. They can help prepare you for your courses, discuss course materials, and review available resources. You can also work together to create an individualized course plan that supports your academic journey.
7 — Buy books and materials
Buy books and other materials for your courses. Most UMGC courses have no cost online educational resources. However, please review your course syllabus that is available three weeks prior to each start date to see if you need to purchase any additional materials. Check the syllabus for each course to find out what you need, and be sure to keep your receipts - you may need them for returns or reimbursements.
8 — Start Classes
Work with your Guild Growth Coach and your UMGC success coach to get ready for your first day of classes. UMGC’s online classroom opens 7 days prior to each start date. All students are encouraged to log into their classes at this time to review the syllabus and course content, plan out assignment due dates, familiarize themselves with each class and introduce themselves to faculty and classmates. Be sure to sign in to each course on the first day of class, logging in early will set you up for success in your courses.
9 — New Student welcome call with your UMGC success coach
Your new student welcome call with your UMGC success coach will occur after you register for your first term and is a great way to ensure you are prepared for classes to begin. They will work with you to ensure all of your documents are received and processed, your finances are all set, your course load fits your schedule and to plan your classes for future terms.