Pre-Transfer Advising Strengthens Transfer Success at UMBC

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:35:13 -0400
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When Emily Abrams-Stephens, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Services in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), nominated two Enrollment Management colleagues for UMBC’s Collaborators of Excellence Award at the 2025 Service Awards, she was recognizing more than teamwork — she was honoring a collaboration that has helped shape transfer student success at UMBC.

Desiree Sterling, Coordinator of Pre-Transfer Advising in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, and Valentina Leon-Ledezma, Transfer Coordinator in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation–nominated alongside Emma Jett (COEIT), Krista Wallace (COEIT), Kim Casimbon (COEIT), Julie Crosby (CNMS), and Abigail Granger (Shady Grove)--have developed a collaborative, high-touch experience that supports prospective transfer students from early planning through enrollment — contributing to measurable enrollment growth and improve student outcomes.

“As a result of their hard work, UMBC saw its largest incoming class of transfer students last year, and we have seen increases in the retention and graduation rates of our transfer population,” Abrams-Stephens says.

Addressing Barriers and Celebrating Results

UMBC’s recent enrollment data reflects the impact of these efforts. The university welcomed 863 transfer students — a significant increase compared with the previous fall and one of the largest incoming transfer populations in recent years.

This work also aligns with broader institutional goals around retention and graduation. Over the past decade, both overall transfer populations and college-specific transfer cohorts have shown upward trends in graduation rates, reflecting stronger transitions from community colleges to bachelor’s degree completion.

Financial concerns and credit transfer uncertainties are among the most common barriers for community college students. By helping students make informed decisions early — clarifying coursework, financial planning, and understanding career pathways — Pre-Transfer Advising reduces uncertainty and increases confidence.

A Holistic Approach to Transfer Planning

To help students maximize the transferability of their coursework, Desiree’s advising approach takes a holistic view of each student’s academic journey. She highlights the advantages and opportunities of transferring to UMBC while helping students understand how their academic history and interests align with long-term academic, graduate, or professional goals.

Her advising sessions aim to ensure students leave well-informed and equipped with strategies for future academic success. One key recommendation is completing an associate’s degree whenever possible, which can strengthen a student’s pathway toward earning a bachelor’s degree at UMBC.

A significant part of Desiree’s work also involves traveling to Maryland community colleges to provide embedded advising support directly on those campuses, demonstrating UMBC’s commitment to engaging prospective students early and building seamless transfer pathways.

Desiree specializes in advising students planning to apply transfer credits toward undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, as well as social work, aging services, teacher education, pre-allied health pathways, and major exploration.

Pre-transfer advising sessions typically include:

Transfer credit policies and course articulation

Unofficial transcript review and academic journey discussion

Course recommendations at current institution

UMBC degree suggestions based on prior coursework/interests

Explanation of general education and major requirements

Referrals to academic departments, co-curricular opportunities, and campus resources

Many students take advantage of these advising sessions while completing their community college degree, though some begin even earlier — including high school students who are dual-enrolled at local two-year colleges.
Students prepare for advising by completing intake questions, providing unofficial transcripts, and exploring online tools such as UMBC’s Transfer Central and the University System of Maryland’s articulation database (ARTSYS). These resources help advisors provide context and guidance as students navigate the complexities of transfer planning.

And while pre-transfer advising helps students plan their academic pathways, early outreach also plays an important role in helping prospective students understand their options and begin building connections to UMBC.

Building Early Connections

Rather than focusing on recruitment alone, Valentina’s approach centers on educating students about the realities and opportunities of transfer. Her conversations with students often begin one to two years before they apply.

These discussions focus on major and career exploration, financial aid and scholarships, admissions processes and deadlines, reviewing transfer credits, and connecting students with campus resources and events.

During this stage, she is able to learn about students’ goals, connect them with relevant resources, and stay engaged through follow-up communication and invitations to campus tours, visits, and events. Once a student applies and is admitted, Valentina continues outreach through admitted-student programming and remains a point of connection through a student’s first day of classes.

Helping Students See Themselves at UMBC

For many community college students, financial considerations and credit transferability are primary concerns. Advisors help students make informed decisions about coursework, financial aid, and career pathways early in the process — clarifying options and expectations rather than leaving important choices to chance.

Equally important is the welcoming environment students experience when they visit campus. The connections they build with advisors, faculty, staff, and peers help them envision themselves as part of the Retriever community.

For many prospective transfers, that sense of belonging is what ultimately makes the difference. When students can clearly see a pathway to their degree and feel connected to the campus community, they are more confident in their decision to enroll — and better positioned to persist and succeed once they arrive at UMBC.