Jennifer Riehl, USG Senior Recruiter

One of my favorite aspects of my job as the Universities at Shady Grove’s (USG) Senior Recruiter is being able to meet prospective students and families at various college fairs, presentations, on-campus conversations, and of course our biannual open house events. Hearing a student say that they have a better understanding of how USG works or now know what their next steps will be in the confusing college application process – as a direct result of our interaction – is extremely rewarding. 

So it goes without saying that when we were instructed to cease all in-person interaction with prospective students a few weeks ago until further notice, I was visibly disappointed. But just as students and professors are being asked to adapt to online courses, I realized that I, too, could create an equally meaningful and informative experience for prospective students using just the technologies available to me.

After two intense weeks of telework (emphasis on the “work” part!), my colleagues and I are proud to unveil two new webpages, USG 101 and Academic Program Information, that each contain a plethora of resources for prospective students and families and offer alternate ways to connect with USG and academic program staff. Some highlights of both pages are below:

General USG Campus Information:

• Watch a presentation led by yours truly about the “What, Why, How, and Next Steps” of USG
• Review digital copies of each of USG’s recruitment pieces, including materials geared specifically to MC students and MCPS families, among other populations
• Schedule a phone call or video chat with a member of our recruitment team  

Academic Program Information:

• See the most updated list of degree programs offered at the USG campus by our 9 partner universities
• View PDFs containing information on each of the respective majors offered at USG
• Find contact information for program-specific representatives who can review your transcripts, discuss prerequisites, share career outcomes, and more

Scholarships & Financial Literacy (at USG, students have access to scholarships from their home university AND from USG!):

• Read more about USG-specific scholarships and how to fill out the FAFSA
• Learn about a brand new scholarship for STEM students starting at USG in Fall 2020!

USG Services & Student Life:

• Check out the services available to all students at USG, including career guidance, writing support, professional counseling, and more
• Explore USG’s many student leadership opportunities
• Discover the many offerings of USG’s Priddy Library

MC-USG Transfer Access Programs (if you have at least one semester left at MC, you may qualify for a Transfer Access Program):

• Attend an upcoming VIRTUAL Transfer Access Programs Information Night
• Contact a Transfer Access Programs representative

ACES at USG:

• Learn about additional benefits students in the ACES Program can receive at USG
• Contact the USG ACES Coach, Jessica Diaz Council, at jdiaz2@umd.edu

Hear from Current Students:

• Meet the Spring 2020 USG Student Ambassadors and learn about their favorite things on campus (Coming soon: video testimonials!)
• Check out stories from current students in a variety of majors

Stay Connected:

• Update your information for customized emails
• Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
• Download the USG Mobile App in the Apple Store or Google Play Store
• Email us anytime at shadygrove@umd.edu

As you can see, while we regret not being able to meet you in the same physical space at this time, that doesn’t mean we can’t connect! We look forward to doing just that through one or more of the ways listed above in the coming weeks and hopefully being able to welcome you back to our campus this summer and beyond.