Transfers – Priority Deadline is TODAY

This is a last minute reminder for Transfers.  The priority deadline is today, March 15.  Why apply by the priority deadline?  A few reasons include, but are not limited to, hearing back from us earlier in the year, having more time for planning, and if admitted, you will receive your transcript evaluation before Orientation.  Applying early can not hurt you.  It can only help you.

Once everything is submitted, make sure that you receive the following three email confirmations from Common App to ensure that we have all the documents we need to evaluate your application.
.       Confirmation of Payment
.       Confirmation of Supplement
.       Confirmation of Application

Once your application is complete, you will be hearing from us in three weeks.  Please note that complete means that all three sections of the Common App were successfully submitted, and we have official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended.

http://www.umbc.edu/ug/apply/transfer.html

A UMBC Student’s Dare

This afternoon, I left the office to venture out into the cold.  I was heading over to the AOK Library to pick up a book I ordered about a week ago. (Super quick turn around time!)  On my way out, I hear a male and female voice in conversation.  They were close enough it wasn’t technically eavesdropping, right?  See it as you may, I heard the male voice saying, “O.K., I am going to dare you…”  Oh man, where is this going.  He continues, “…to make eye contact with someone and smile. Seriously. It makes my day every time!”

That put the biggest grin on my face.  UMBC students.  What do they dare each other to do?  Smile.  I love this place.

So, I dare you.  Next time you make eye contact with someone, smile.  It just might make your day.

UMBC Caters To Their Students

ALL Students Should Be Able To Eat and Be Happy!

Today, I was very happily surprised.  I am allergic to milk (milk protein – WHEY), so I sometimes run into trouble when it comes to finding a meal that doesn’t have milk hidden in it. (I end up feeling awful.)  If you don’t already know, you’d be surprised by the number of products that contain milk.  Anyhow, at lunch time I was walking around The Commons (where a variety of food venders can be found) looking for a bite to eat.  I passed by the vegetarian counter and came to discover that they are now completely vegan!  This may mean nothing to you, but to me, it means no milk products and a place I know I can go to buy a meal that will not make me sick!  In my world, that is cause for celebration.

UMBC is very aware of the variety of allergies and beliefs out there, so they do their best to cater to all of our students.  If you go to their website, you will even see that one of their logos is “You First”.  Not only do they have vegetarian and vegan options, but they also  have gluten-free and kosher choices!

And let us not forget the popular chains that are represented on campus.  These are staples to many college students’ diets: Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, Au Bon Pain, Subway, etc.

When UMBC says that they are focused on their students, they are not kidding around.  From small class sizes, to amazing resources, to food options, UMBC is constantly figuring out how they can *cater to their student population the best!

*pun intended 😉

Love and Money

I just wanted to reiterate what Lisa mentioned; it’s time to get started on your FAFSA!

No matter what your situation is, fill out the FAFSA.  By filling it out, you may qualify for free money to finance your education.  Sounds good right?

FAFSA computes for need-based aid, which includes consideration for low-interest federal loans, need-based scholarships, work-study, and grants. Be sure to note that some on campus jobs are only available to students that have filled out their FAFSA.

**Important Note** – You are allowed to estimate your numbers using 2011 tax information.  (If you are under 24, you are probably considered a dependent student and the parent section needs to be filled out.)  In a few months, once you have updated tax forms, be sure to go back and update the information.  So, fill it out and then go back and revise it if you need to.

Don’t miss out on free money just because you didn’t take the time to fill out a form online.  That’s just silly.

UMBC’s priority deadline is February 14^th.  So, don’t forget to apply online by Valentine!

This article explains the dependent/independent student question:
http://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/699-fafsa-and-the-independent-student

Office Holiday Sweaters!

To keep up with the spirit of fun and festivities, a few us decided to have a Festive Sweater Day in the office.

Happy Holidays everyone and we hope you are enjoying this holiday season!

Kena had the day off, however, she didn’t want to miss out on the fun.

For All of You Gamers Out There

I just received this email and I want to be sure to spread the word.  UMBC’s GAIM (Games, Animation and Interactive Media) club is very much involved in a global game design contest that only lasts 48 hours!  It’s called The Global Game Jam.

UMBC GAIM is a mix of students from two UMBC programs: Visual Arts: Animation & Interactive Media and the Computer Science Game Development Track.  Student’s from both the art and programing side of gaming come together to produce some amazing work.  The Princeton Review recognized this group as one of their “…top 32 undergraduate school for game design and development in the U.S. and Canada.” (http://gaim.umbc.edu/)

Here’s the email:

“The Global Game Jam is a yearly event where participants at sites all over the world try to make games on a common theme in the same 48 hour period over the last weekend in January.

UMBC has been a Global Game Jam site since the very beginning, five years ago. Many Global Game Jam sites have to charge a registration fee, but thanks to the continued support by Columbia, MD-based Next Century Corporation, we are able to be totally free!  It is not necessary to be a UMBC student to participate at the UMBC site, but we are limited to the first 40 participants, so register now at globalgamejam.org.

 

There are more details at gaim.umbc.edu/global-game-jam, including site hours, what to expect, and just what this Game Jam thing is anyway. Even if you don’t participate, you can follow along with twitter #ggj13 and #umbcggj, and after the event is over, find our games on the Global Game Jam web site.”

Fabulous Presto – ONLY Weekend Showings!

Just a quick note to let you all know that this weekend is your only chance to catch UMBC’s Theatre Department’s production of Fabulous Presto.

It is “…a variety show of puppet acts with a bit…(of)…hocus pocus…”  There is more to it than that, so check out the detailed, but to the point, blurb that can be found by clicking here.

I have never been disappointed with productions in the past, so I am definitely looking forward to this one! AND it’s in our amazing new Black Box Theatre located in our new Performing Arts and Humanities Building.

Friday, November 30 | 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 1 | 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 2 | 2:00 p.m.

Please note: this is a production for mature audiences.

An Unavoidable Delay

Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Due to these circumstances, UMBC has pushed back the Early Action deadline (as Josh mentioned in his last post) to November 8th.

Also, take note that UMBC was closed this past Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 29 & 30).  This has had a major impact on our ability to process your materials.  Please realize that an extra week or so of processing has been added to the period from which we previously expected to be releasing notifications.

We hope you, your families, and friends are safe.

Congratulations to Guenet on Two Awards from the University and College Designers Association!

UMBC’s professors are constantly being recognized for their excellence and our very own
Guenet Abraham is no exception.  Professor Abraham graduated from the Yale School of Art with a Masters in Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in graphic design.  At UMBC, she works with graphic design students in our Visual Arts department.  The University & College Designers Association has recently recognized her and awarded her not just one but two awards for her design skills represented in the CADVC’s Visual Culture and Evolution book.

Besides continuing to consult for publishers, such as Doubleday and Viking Press, she has a very successful design practice. Her continual contact with the world outside of UMBC, as many of UMBC’s teachers and professors do on a regular basis, allows her to better advise, connect and assist her students in discerning their talents and helping guide them towards their future careers.

Her work will be on display at the UCDA’s Annual Design Conference, October 13th through 16th, in Montreal, Canada.

The Day Has Come!: The Grand Opening of the Performing Arts and Humanities Building

For the past two years we have been watching the first phase of the Performing Arts and Humanities Building (PAHB) materialize.  The first phase of the building has been completed and it includes:

 PERFORMING ARTS

275 Seat Proscenium Theatre
120 Seat Black Box Theatre
Theatre Rehearsal and Acting Directing Studios
Scene Shops and Performance Support Spaces
Academic and Faculty Spaces for the Department of Theatre
Arts Management Offices

HUMANITIES
English Department Offices, Classrooms and Labs
James T. and Virginia M. Dresher Center for the Humanities
Linehan Artist Scholars Program
20 and 40 seat Academic Classrooms
Humanities Scholars Program

And now it is time to celebrate!

Please join us for any or all of the festivities listed below on Wednesday, September 19, 2:00 – 9:00 p.m.

2 p.m.
Phase One Ribbon Cutting and Phase Two Groundbreaking Ceremony with Governor Martin O’Malley

3–6:30 p.m.
Arts and Humanities Festival

3:30–5 p.m.
UMBC and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance Present: New Space

4:30–6:30 p.m.
Tours of the building

7–8:30 p.m.
Inaugural Lecture: The Humanities Forum Presents “The Humanities, Without Apology,” featuring Pauline Yu, President of the American Council of Learned Societies

For more detailed information about the events that will be taking place, please visit the PAHB website.