BEFORE ORIENTATION DAY

Checklist:

____ Become familiar with Testudo (testudo.umd.edu), specifically the Registration (Drop/Add) page. This is the page you will be

using to add your Fall 2020 course to your schedule. There is a helpful Drop/Add and Waitlist How-to video tutorial available (upper

right hand side of page after you log in).

____ ENSP Homepage – read all the links associated with “Advising:” http://www.ensp.umd.edu/advising. This will give you an

overview of your academic responsibilities.

____ Take the Math Placement Exam – Everyone EXCEPT for students who have completed Calculus either via AP exam OR at

another college MUST take the Math Placement Exam. If it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a Math course, use some of the materials

on the link provided to do some basic review, prepare for, and take the exam: http://www-math.umd.edu/placement-test-

information.html

____ Please spend time exploring possible areas of concentration http://www.ensp.umd.edu/concentrations , their related

careers http://www.ensp.umd.edu/careers/what-can-i-do-ensp-degree , and what ENSP alumni have done who majored in this

concentration: http://www.ensp.umd.edu/careers/ensp-alumni-careers Which concentration(s) interest you the most? Our goal in

advising will be to help you explore your interests and choose courses that keep your options open while deciding.

____ Note each concentration requires slightly different kinds and numbers of Calculus courses. Find the “Math Tracks” link here:

http://ensp.umd.edu/advising/advising-policies/benchmarks. Plan to take Math every semester until you have completed the

requirements in your concentration.

____ Learn about Benchmarks. It’s important to get Math squared away soon, because success in many lab sciences depends on

Math. https://ensp.umd.edu/advising/ensp-benchmark-requirements

____ Pick a “Directory ID” and password, then activate your UMD e-mail account: http://www.it.umd.edu/new/student.html

Once you have a “Directory ID” and password, you will be able to access the many academic features on

TESTUDO: http://www.testudo.umd.edu/

____ To determine which of your courses (including AP credits) came in as which Maryland courses, you can print your “UNOFFICIAL

TRANSCRIPT” here: http://www.testudo.umd.edu/ (see right-hand column, gray box).

____ You should also see your AP credits and/or transfer courses, how many credits have been posted, and whether/not there is an

exact equivalent at Maryland. http://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc.html

____ If your AP scores or last semester’s courses at your other transfer institution have not yet been reported, please write a list of

the AP exams you’ve taken (or transfer courses missing) so we may reference that during Orientation. We will avoid

signing up for any courses that you may have earned.

____ Light-blue letters on your transcript show which General Education requirements your previous coursework has completed.

GenEd requirements are explained here:

http://www.gened.umd.edu/for-students/student_gened.html

____ If you are coming from an out-of-state university, please bring a course catalog, syllabi, and/or a list of links to course

descriptions with you to Orientation.

____ Print the attached “Picking Classes” worksheet to pick 6-8 possible classes, according to your University requirements,

academic interests (possible concentrations) and previous coursework.

____ You can check times/days of intended classes here: https://app.testudo.umd.edu/soc/ If lots of classes look closed, check

back again the night before Orientation… often, many class sections will be re-opened for Orientation.

____ Double-check the instructions given by the Orientation Office about the day of Orientation; did you forget

anything? http://www.orientation.umd.edu/

____ Complete the attached ENSP New Student Survey

____ Finally, figure out where you’re going to park and give yourself at least an extra half-hour to find your way to campus and a

parking spot.

AFTER YOU READ ALL THAT – LIST YOUR QUESTIONS FOR ME!

If you have changed your mind about ENSP – it’s OK, it happens :) - try to learn as much as you can about your new major

here: http://www.umd.edu/acad_dir.cfm I am very comfortable helping students get settled on campus, and we’ll still make sure you

get a good class schedule.