The University of Maryland University College

Date: May 21 2009
Major: PreLaw and Legal (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm in my late 20's and have recently come to the realization that I need to finish up my degree if I ever want to find a fulfilling career. I choose UMUC because it's one of the only schools in the area that is both flexible to working adults and affordable.

I must admit that after the first semester I came very close to transferring. There is no sense of community or belonging within the school. UMUC is the ugly stepchild within the UMD system. The administration isn't very helpful, and most of my classes were filled with subpar students who belong in community college… but after sticking it out through my second semester I'm starting to figure things out.

You have to be proactive in seeking help from advisors and counselors. There are just too many students spread out across the world to expect individual attention. But if you go and seek assistance, you can get it.

I've also noticed that many of the weaker students seem to get weeded out once you get to the upper level courses. I suppose this is a by product of open enrollment education; those who aren't serious or capable will either drop out or fail out.

I've taken classes both on-line and on-campus. I've found the level of on-campus instruction to be very good—every professor I've had teaches somewhere within the UMD System. The on-line instruction has tended to be, "hit or miss," depending on the professor; Some are committed to teaching and some are in it for a pay check. If you can tolerate the busy work and stay self motivated, getting an 'A' or 'B' in online classes is pretty easy.

The bottom line is that, yes, UMUC has a lot of warts and blemishes… but… if you're committed to making it work, you can get certainly walk away with a quality education and a positive experience from the school. You just have to remember to be proactive and understand this is a non-traditional school.