Newly Admitted Transfers

Congratulations on your recent admission to the University of Maryland! Once you receive an admission letter from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, you are officially considered to be a New Transfer Student. In order to understand your admission letter, register for your courses, and prepare for your first semester at the University of Maryland, there are a few important steps for you to follow. This page is dedicated to walking you through each step and will provide you with resources as you embark on this next phase in your educational journey.

welcome terps lawn sign

Step 1: Confirm Your Enrollment

We are glad you're #NowATerp! Once you’ve decided to continue your education at UMD, be sure to confirm your enrollment with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly as soon as possible. To learn more about your admission decision, please visit the Admissions FAQs page.


Step 2: Understand Your Major

Now that you’ve been admitted to UMD, you can review the major you were admitted into on Standout Admissions Network. Read on for information about why you may not have been admitted into your preferred major and advising resources to assist you once you transfer.

Certain majors at UMD have a limit on the number of students that can be admitted and are designated Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP). Students interested in an LEP major must successfully complete a specific set of courses, or "gateway" requirements, before being reviewed for admission to the major. If you applied for an LEP but were not found admissible, you were placed in Letters and Sciences.

Letters and Sciences (LTSC) is the advising home for students who are interested in exploring their choice of a major, if they have chosen a pre-professional program, or if they were not admitted to a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) at the time of applying. Academic advisors in LTSC will help you explore course possibilities and instruct you on choosing required gateway courses to gain entry to an LEP once all the requirements are met. Newly Admitted Transfers may discuss their eligibility for an intended LEP major before accepting admission to the University of Maryland during Prospective Transfer Drop-In Advising Hours offered at certain times during the semester.

If you were denied direct admission to one of the programs when you first applied to Maryland, you still have the ability to take gateway courses for the LEP major and apply again (as an "internal transfer") as long as you have not violated the LEP repeat policy and can achieve the necessary overall GPA. Students who have violated the LEP repeat policy, or are unable to reach the necessary overall GPA for their major and are no longer eligible for that major, will be advised on alternate majors that best fit their interests and career goals. Letters and Sciences has additional resources to help you determine if you are ineligible for your intended major.

To request a change of major, email the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (ApplyMaryland@umd.edu) with your full name, date of birth, current major and the desired major. Please note "Major Change Request" in the subject line of your email. Once your email has been received, an admissions representative will be in touch with you regarding your request. All change of major requests will be reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If you intend to change your major, it is recommended you complete this step before registering for New Student Orientation. Please note that if you are requesting to change your major to one that is a designated LEP, it will have to go through a competitive review process. View the LEP website to review the application process into your desired LEP as an admitted student.


Step 3: Attend New Student Orientation

We are excited to welcome you to the Maryland family! At New Student Orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor, connect with other new Terps, and register for classes. New Student Orientation is a one-day on-campus program, and is mandatory for all newly admitted transfer students. You must attend an orientation program in order to register for classes.

Orientation programs are held throughout the summer and winter terms, but certain colleges only advise on certain dates. As soon as you have confirmed your enrollment, consider reviewing orientation dates and registering for the earliest program convenient for your schedule. Review a sample schedule for a Transfer Orientation Program to see what topics will be discussed.


Step 4: Understand Your Transfer Credits

The Transfer Credit Services team in the Office of the Registrar is here to help you understand transfer credit policy and to assist you in navigating the transfer evaluation process! Below are some additional tips to better prepare you for transfer to the University of Maryland.

  • Prior to orientation, students can review their unofficial transcript to see how their credits have transferred. Incoming credits are posted on a continuous basis depending on when your final transcripts are sent. Be sure to send in your final transcript(s) from your prior institution(s) and continuously monitor your UMD transcript to ensure that all credits are posted.
  • All courses that have been accepted for transfer will be noted, and courses that are listed as credit pending, needs a syllabus, or needs an evaluation (N1 or NE) will require further review to determine transferability. To learn more about how to interpret your transcript, please visit the Transfer Credit website.
  • Students can begin the Transfer Credit Evaluation Process at any time by submitting syllabi for review.
  • Students with Prior Learning Credit (e.g., AP, IB, CLEP, etc) will need to send an official score report directly from the appropriate organization (e.g., College Board). Pending receipt of the scores, students can determine how these credits will transfer by viewing the corresponding Prior Learning Credit chart.

Step 5: Plan Your Finances

Planning for your finances is an important part of being a new Terp. Below you will find information about various financial resources at the University of Maryland.

The Office of Student Financial Aid offers assistance to students and families as they plan and prepare to pay for college. The very first step is to ensure that you submit an application for Financial Aid, if you have not done so already. A step-by-step guide of the financial aid process is available for your reference.

Tuition at UMD is charged per credit for part-time students and at a flat rate for full-time students. In order to be considered full-time, students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits. The Student Financial Services and Cashiering, located in the Lee Building, is your central location for all billing questions. On this website, you can learn about Undergraduate Tuition & Fees and set up your payment plan.

Students enrolled in the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, or who are declared as majors in the Department of Computer Science, and who have earned 60 or more credits, will be charged Differential Tuition. Details regarding differential tuition can be found on the Student Financial Services and Cashiering.

In order to ensure that you have everything set up for your first semester, be sure to check out the Student Financial Services and Cashiering New Student Checklist.

The University of Maryland (UMD) utilizes a scholarship matching platform called Scholarship Universe to help students find and apply for scholarships offered by the university and outside scholarships, offered by non-university affiliated organizations. The Office of Student Financial Aid lists scholarships offered through UMD’s college and schools. Also, the Office of Transfer and Off-Campus Student Life has gathered information on different scholarship opportunities offered across campus.

The video below, How to Find a Scholarship, provides more information about seeking available scholarships.

Topic Time
Types of scholarships 2:05-3:15
Preparing an application 3:15-4:51
Understanding Scholarships 4:52-5:51
Scholarship Resources 10:24-12:18
National Scholarships 16:15-18:00
Gilman Scholarship 18:15-25:55
PPIA (international Affair and policy) 25:55-29:05
Fulbright US program 29:05-32:50
State District & Delegates Scholarships 35:00-39:00
Scholarship Essay 40:00-51:00
Transfer Scholarships 53:00-54:50
Undocumented Students 54:50-55:50

Students attending the university under the Veterans Education Assistance Act can receive assistance and enrollment certification at the Office of the Registrar.

Additional veteran student resources include Veteran Student Life and Veteran Scholarships.


Step 6: Find Housing and/or Plan for Your Commute

The University of Maryland offers support to students who are interested in finding housing options both on-campus and off. In this section, we will help guide you through your options for housing and/or, if you are planning to commute to campus, information about transportation.

Where do I find housing?

What’s the best way to get to campus?

The Department of Transportation Services provides information related to purchasing a parking pass, sustainable commuting options, shuttle bus lines, and campus maps.