Encouraged by UMPI Enrollment Advisor to Enroll

[2legit2quit]

Yes, I understand this, but I have been accepted and do have an advisor.  The enrollment advisors don't tell you this when you contact them on the phone, because I specifically asked about both PLA and ACE credits.  I told him that I was working through ACE credits and planned to do so up until the next session started and was told it would be no problem and that I should apply while we were on the phone.  

So, I don't know if this is the first time someone has gotten it wrong, but it's my situation now.  If they won't let me bring in my Sophia credits and approve me for the three classes I want to do on InstantCert and SDC, I'll ask them how to drop and reapply and will let people here know what the experience is.

They're enrollment counselors. They're there to aid you through the process of applying. They don't have anything to do with PLA or ACE credits. That's not in their wheelhouse at all.

Look, when you go on the website, they give you a number to call for more information.  There's nothing that says the person that picks up the phone only has a responsibility to enroll you. Their website says contact us and we'll answer any questions, it doesn't say contact us and we'll answer any questions as long as they are in the wheelhouse of an enrollment counselor.  It doesn't even say you're calling an enrollment counselor, it says you're going to speak to a representative of the school.

I called for more information, I spent 65 minutes on the phone with them asking them pointed questions, explaining my background, and mentioned at least twice that I planned to take ACE courses for credit between now and the January session.  It doesn't matter if it's their wheelhouse, they should have the basic information that you need to be approved to take those credits between now and the next session if they are pushing you to apply for admission.  I was told I had to apply for admission to get answers to my questions.  Not everyone who contacts UMPI is going to know about this forum and know that there's a "right" way to apply.

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[quote pid='349547' dateline='1634935715']
Well, I was also encouraged/pushed to apply before I was really aware of the correct order to do things.  I was accepted this week and have not yet sent over any of my Sophia credits.  I checked the box that stated that I was interested in PLA, but no one contacted me about that prior to admission.

I emailed my advisor as soon as they assigned me one and asked her to tell me what I can do about ACE and PLA credits, because no one has yet to contact me about it.  I know from advice here what I need to do for the PLA, but I would think they would have discussed that before finalizing admission.  Anyways, that's a lot of words to say I'll report back here and let you guys know how it goes getting them to accept a LOT of ACE credits after admission.
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Yes, I understand this, but I have been accepted and do have an advisor.  The enrollment advisors don't tell you this when you contact them on the phone, because I specifically asked about both PLA and ACE credits.  I told him that I was working through ACE credits and planned to do so up until the next session started and was told it would be no problem and that I should apply while we were on the phone.  

So, I don't know if this is the first time someone has gotten it wrong, but it's my situation now.  If they won't let me bring in my Sophia credits and approve me for the three classes I want to do on InstantCert and SDC, I'll ask them how to drop and reapply and will let people here know what the experience is.

[b]2legit2quit.  [/b]Wow, the pushy enrollment advisors went after you as well.  It seems they will mislead you and say anything to convince you to enroll right away.  The one I spoke with a few days ago won't leave me alone - emailing and calling constantly.  She sent an email with a direct link to enroll and calls encouraging me to click the link in her email to enroll right away.  I'm going to tell her that I chose another school so she will leave me alone.  When I am ready to enroll, I will just enroll directly via UMPI's website.  I would rather deal directly with the school for my entire enrollment.  

Dealing with these outsourced enrollment advisors is such a tacky approach - reminds me of Ashford University.  If I recall, Ashford got into trouble with the Department of Education for their robo-emails and pushy recruiting practices.  I hope UMPI doesn't follow this same path.

Please keep me posted on how things work out 2legit2quit.  I am going to also have several ACE credits to transfer when I enroll in March 2022.  I hope you are able to confirm if you are dealing with a legitimate UMPI registrar and not just one of the telemarketer enrollment advisors.  Please let me know how it goes getting your ACE credits transferred.  
[/quote]

I'll let you know for sure.  I actually liked my enrollment counselor, he's really easy to talk to and did try to answer my questions.  Unfortunately, it wasn't clear to me that I had to apply after I finished everything I would want to transfer in.  I think he should have known that, but I don't feel like he tried to trick me or anything.

[ss20ts]

I think you should specifically mention to your academic advisor that that enrollment advisor shared misleading information in order to get you enrolled ASAP. It is not OK.

I think if anyone has a complaint about an enrollment counselor that they should let Jessica know. I would send her an email about your issues. It seems like the issues are stacking up unfortunately. 

Just so anyone interested in UMPI knows. You do NOT have to talk to an enrollment counselor. You do NOT need to respond to their emails. I let their calls go straight to voicemail. I have yet to meet one who knows much about the YourPace program. Love when they try schooling me on how it works. I even tell them I'm a graduate of the program and they still try telling me how it works and they're 100% wrong about how it works.

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Look, when you go on the website, they give you a number to call for more information.  There's nothing that says the person that picks up the phone only has a responsibility to enroll you. Their website says contact us and we'll answer any questions, it doesn't say contact us and we'll answer any questions as long as they are in the wheelhouse of an enrollment counselor.  It doesn't even say you're calling an enrollment counselor, it says you're going to speak to a representative of the school.

I called for more information, I spent 65 minutes on the phone with them asking them pointed questions, explaining my background, and mentioned at least twice that I planned to take ACE courses for credit between now and the January session.  It doesn't matter if it's their wheelhouse, they should have the basic information that you need to be approved to take those credits between now and the next session if they are pushing you to apply for admission.  I was told I had to apply for admission to get answers to my questions.  Not everyone who contacts UMPI is going to know about this forum and know that there's a "right" way to apply.

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Look, they're there to talk about YourPace not every aspect of admissions and being an enrolled student. You have ERY specific questions which are over their heads. I don't know why you would spend 65 minutes on a phone call with anyone at any school ever. Like we keep saying, those of us who have attended UMPI on here know far more than the enrollment counselors. Seriously forget taking a PLA! They're a LOT more work than a course which is 1 paper. PLA's are multiple papers and much longer. They also can't give you advice about which credits to take and transfer in. It's up to the Registrar what transfers and they're not the Registrar. I totally agree that they are now sales people. It's like buying a used car. I don't know when it changed, but it was not like this when I applied in August 2020. There has definitely been a change and it's not for the better. You'll find at most schools, the admissions folks don't have much of a clue about alternative credit and transferring. That's not their department.

[2legit2quit]

I think you should specifically mention to your academic advisor that that enrollment advisor shared misleading information in order to get you enrolled ASAP. It is not OK.

I think if anyone has a complaint about an enrollment counselor that they should let Jessica know. I would send her an email about your issues. It seems like the issues are stacking up unfortunately. 

Just so anyone interested in UMPI knows. You do NOT have to talk to an enrollment counselor. You do NOT need to respond to their emails. I let their calls go straight to voicemail. I have yet to meet one who knows much about the YourPace program. Love when they try schooling me on how it works. I even tell them I'm a graduate of the program and they still try telling me how it works and they're 100% wrong about how it works.

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Look, when you go on the website, they give you a number to call for more information.  There's nothing that says the person that picks up the phone only has a responsibility to enroll you. Their website says contact us and we'll answer any questions, it doesn't say contact us and we'll answer any questions as long as they are in the wheelhouse of an enrollment counselor.  It doesn't even say you're calling an enrollment counselor, it says you're going to speak to a representative of the school.

I called for more information, I spent 65 minutes on the phone with them asking them pointed questions, explaining my background, and mentioned at least twice that I planned to take ACE courses for credit between now and the January session.  It doesn't matter if it's their wheelhouse, they should have the basic information that you need to be approved to take those credits between now and the next session if they are pushing you to apply for admission.  I was told I had to apply for admission to get answers to my questions.  Not everyone who contacts UMPI is going to know about this forum and know that there's a "right" way to apply.

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Look, they're there to talk about YourPace not every aspect of admissions and being an enrolled student. You have ERY specific questions which are over their heads. I don't know why you would spend 65 minutes on a phone call with anyone at any school ever. Like we keep saying, those of us who have attended UMPI on here know far more than the enrollment counselors. Seriously forget taking a PLA! They're a LOT more work than a course which is 1 paper. PLA's are multiple papers and much longer. They also can't give you advice about which credits to take and transfer in. It's up to the Registrar what transfers and they're not the Registrar. I totally agree that they are now sales people. It's like buying a used car. I don't know when it changed, but it was not like this when I applied in August 2020. There has definitely been a change and it's not for the better. You'll find at most schools, the admissions folks don't have much of a clue about alternative credit and transferring. That's not their department.

The problem here is assuming that people spent time on this forum before talking with UMPI, many don't.  That's reality, no matter how much experience you or others may have with the program. 

I don't care if I get PLA or not, the point here is simple - I told them I am interested in it.  I told the person on the phone, and I told them when I checked the box for PLA when I applied. Now they are performing a degree audit for me, without once contacting me about PLA.  If they allow PLA, which they do, and they have a box for you to check during your application, they should be talking to you about PLA before doing your degree audit, period.  Those things have nothing at all to do with the enrollment counselors and nothing to do with whether or not PLA makes sense for YourPace students.

[ss20ts]

The problem here is assuming that people spent time on this forum before talking with UMPI, many don't.  That's reality, no matter how much experience you or others may have with the program. 

I don't care if I get PLA or not, the point here is simple - I told them I am interested in it.  I told the person on the phone, and I told them when I checked the box for PLA when I applied. Now they are performing a degree audit for me, without once contacting me about PLA.  If they allow PLA, which they do, and they have a box for you to check during your application, they should be talking to you about PLA before doing your degree audit, period.  Those things have nothing at all to do with the enrollment counselors and nothing to do with whether or not PLA makes sense for YourPace students.

You can take your frustration elsewhere. I have never assumed anyone who has ever applied to UMPI is familiar with this forum. A few of us have said over and over to complain to YourPace about these enrollment counselors. The enrollment counselor is NOT performing a degree audit. The degree audit is done by your advisor whom you would speak to about PLAs. Enrollment counselors get you through the admissions process and many of your questions are beyond their scope. This is true for MANY schools. Admissions and the Registrar don't work together. They're totally different departments and people. 

I just looked at the application process because PLA was not on the previous application. If you look at the application, it is NOT an UMPI application. It is a University of Maine system application. The PLAs are geared towards on campus students. This is a general application and not specific to YourPace. They have streamlined the application process and it's now processed by the U of M system not UMPI. Again if you want to file a complain about the enrollment counselors, write an email to Jessica.

[Claudia P]

2legit2quit:  I sent you a couple of private messages.  

[CanICode]

Do not apply until you've completed all of the courses you want to transfer in. Once you apply, you'll be accepted quickly and you're automatically enrolled at acceptance. You will need permission from your advisor to transfer in courses after you're accepted.

The enrollment counselors do not work. at UMPI like the professors do. They outsource the enrollment counselors. Their job is to sell you on the college and enroll as many students as possible. They may get a bonus for each student. No one knows.

Stick with your plan for March. You know how busy your life is around the holidays and what you're comfortable with.

Advisors don't accept transfer credit. The Registrar approves transfer credit. The number of credits transferring in will be based on your courses. It has NOTHING to do with January or March. Don't let the enrollment counselors push you around! You also do not have to talk to them when they call or email you. I was the first one on here to complete a degree at UMPI so I know the place well. There are several others who have since graduated and many are now enrolled and taking classes. We can answer just about any question you have and we know far more than the enrollment counselors. We're also not trying to sell you anything. Seriously don't apply until you've completed the courses you want to finish at Sophia and elsewhere.

How to withdraw application from umpi?

[ashkir]

Do not apply until you've completed all of the courses you want to transfer in. Once you apply, you'll be accepted quickly and you're automatically enrolled at acceptance. You will need permission from your advisor to transfer in courses after you're accepted.

The enrollment counselors do not work. at UMPI like the professors do. They outsource the enrollment counselors. Their job is to sell you on the college and enroll as many students as possible. They may get a bonus for each student. No one knows.

Stick with your plan for March. You know how busy your life is around the holidays and what you're comfortable with.

Advisors don't accept transfer credit. The Registrar approves transfer credit. The number of credits transferring in will be based on your courses. It has NOTHING to do with January or March. Don't let the enrollment counselors push you around! You also do not have to talk to them when they call or email you. I was the first one on here to complete a degree at UMPI so I know the place well. There are several others who have since graduated and many are now enrolled and taking classes. We can answer just about any question you have and we know far more than the enrollment counselors. We're also not trying to sell you anything. Seriously don't apply until you've completed the courses you want to finish at Sophia and elsewhere.

How to withdraw application from umpi?

If you haven't been accepted yet, email Courtney Boma. If you have been accepted contact Jessica Winslow.

[Chankosumo]

Quick question - who may I contact at UMPI in advance about course transferability if I just want to make sure a course will be accepted before I apply? Like for example, even though the SDC course "History 108: History of the Vietnam War" has been reported to transfer as "HTY 439: The Vietnam Wars", the SDC website still says it transfers as an elective at UMPI. Can I email anyone at UMPI to answer me similar questions?

Thanks.

[amrly813]

I took History 108 a couple of months ago, and it transferred as HTY 439. SDC doesn't update their website very often, so it's best to check with the school first. Though I don't know exactly who to contact if you haven't applied yet.

[ss20ts]

Quick question - who may I contact at UMPI in advance about course transferability if I just want to make sure a course will be accepted before I apply? Like for example, even though the SDC course "History 108: History of the Vietnam War" has been reported to transfer as "HTY 439: The Vietnam Wars", the SDC website still says it transfers as an elective at UMPI. Can I email anyone at UMPI to answer me similar questions?

Thanks.

It's really tricky if you haven't applied. They typically only evaluate courses for applicants. Study hasn't updated their website in ages. One thing to note is that all transfer credit is subject to change until you're enrolled. Once you transfer credit it, it's locked in. Until then, it can change and there have been lots of changes over the last year or so. If folks on here say they recently transferred a course, then I'd go by their info and not Study.