Minor annoyances with UMPI application process

[degree4nana]

I have ~90+ college credits through a combination of RA credits, CLEP and ACE but they are hassling me about submitting my HS transcript from 35 year ago.  Seriously?  I have ~ 40 RA credits from a major RA university and an RA community college.  I applied to WGU, Excelsior, COSC, TESU and UMPI and UMPI has been the most frustrating (and the only one to request HS transcript BTW).  

I sent the application 3 weeks ago and in addition to holding up my academic evaluation for the HS transcript (they have all my others), they inexplicably closed my application file.  I spoke with the admissions sales person a little earlier and she was very nice but she kept asking me questions that I had already answered, kept reminding me to submit my application (even though she confirmed multiple times that they received it 3 weeks ago), and continued to remind me to send all of my college transcripts, after we had already established that they had received all of my college transcripts.  She even asked me if I had prior college-level course work after discussing all of this.  It was kind of bizarre.  It was clear she was just going through a pre-determined list of questions but had no recollection of any of the answers I gave.  It makes me worry about about possibly enrolling, although I will likely go with TESU or Excelsior.  I am getting one last academic evaluation from each of them before I enroll.

I know many of you have had a great experience with UMPI from an academic standpoint.  Hopefully my case is unique in the frustrations with applying.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[rachel83az]

Are you trying to get financial aid? I know some students have reported not needing to send in their HS transcript. It's apparently a financial aid thing, or UMPI thinks it is. If you don't have an Associate degree, they want your HS transcript. I think (but am not positive) that Pierpont's Associate degree doesn't require a HS transcript, so that could be a way around the mess.

[degree4nana]

Are you trying to get financial aid? I know some students have reported not needing to send in their HS transcript. It's apparently a financial aid thing, or UMPI thinks it is. If you don't have an Associate degree, they want your HS transcript. I think (but am not positive) that Pierpont's Associate degree doesn't require a HS transcript, so that could be a way around the mess.

No.  I am not trying to get Financial aid.  I am self-funding.  Perhaps they have a large number of students (probably like most state colleges and universities) who apply for aid so that is their default approach.

[Ann7]

You are probably having communication by those 3rd party enrollment specialists. I had a few of those calls that didn't make sense. I had awesome response through email communication and no problems whatsoever. Maybe try that route.

[TMcClary]

Try emailing. The phone sales people have a lot of wrong information. I didn’t need to send in my HS transcripts but I have an AA.

I did, however, need to do a little pushing through e-mail to get my evaluation done in time to let me start last term. A couple of emails and it was all sorted out.

[ss20ts]

Do you already have an associate degree or any other degree? If not, then yes you will need to have your high school transcripts sent to UMPI. This is a University of Maine systemwide policy not just UMPI. Many colleges require one of these for transfer students. One way around it is to get your associate degree from Pierpont. There's lots of info about that degree on the forum.

The people calling you are enrollment counselors who are a nightmare. They do not work for UMPI. They're like used car sales people. My dogs know more about UMPI than they do. I don't talk to them. You can call admissions and talk to them. They will be able to help you not the people calling you trying to get you to apply.

[bjcheung77]

Yeah, I usually don't deal with enrollment counselors, I like to decide things for myself and "learn the rope" that way... Your best bet is to email the admissions or academic advising team for YourPace and see what they can do for you. If you've sent everything, I think they're just busy and going through the admissions/evaluations accordingly... patience is a virtue, email them to confirm!

[NoStudentNoCry]

I brought 10 RA credits and ~90 ACE credits and have never submitted my HS transcript. Even though I earned associates from Pierpont, it happened after UMPI admitted me.
I simply told them that I don't have access to any HS documentation and it worked. Call them.

[DolceDolce]

I have ~90+ college credits through a combination of RA credits, CLEP and ACE but they are hassling me about submitting my HS transcript from 35 year ago.  Seriously?  I have ~ 40 RA credits from a major RA university and an RA community college.  I applied to WGU, Excelsior, COSC, TESU and UMPI and UMPI has been the most frustrating (and the only one to request HS transcript BTW).  

I sent the application 3 weeks ago and in addition to holding up my academic evaluation for the HS transcript (they have all my others), they inexplicably closed my application file.  I spoke with the admissions sales person a little earlier and she was very nice but she kept asking me questions that I had already answered, kept reminding me to submit my application (even though she confirmed multiple times that they received it 3 weeks ago), and continued to remind me to send all of my college transcripts, after we had already established that they had received all of my college transcripts.  She even asked me if I had prior college-level course work after discussing all of this.  It was kind of bizarre.  It was clear she was just going through a pre-determined list of questions but had no recollection of any of the answers I gave.  It makes me worry about about possibly enrolling, although I will likely go with TESU or Excelsior.  I am getting one last academic evaluation from each of them before I enroll.

I know many of you have had a great experience with UMPI from an academic standpoint.  Hopefully my case is unique in the frustrations with applying.

Thanks for letting me vent.

THIS IS ME!  I just got notified of a need for a HS transcript.  Why?  I'm transferring 52 CC credits... although old, I have 15+ new certifications plus a U of AZ certificate program.  What is the deal?

[bjcheung77]

You can only bypass the high school diploma option if you have an associates degree. Since you have 52 credits, you are missing a few... I would again follow my reply to you earlier to complete the Pierpont BOG AAS as it requires just 60 credits to do! Once your Pierpont BOG AAS is complete, then go for the UMPI degree. While waiting, complete required transfer credits using Sophia.org...