5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting at UMPI
Enrolling in UMPI’s YourPace program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s flexible, affordable, and designed for people like me who wanted to move quickly toward a degree. But — like most things — there’s a learning curve. Looking back, there are definitely a few things I wish I had known before I got started.
Here’s my top five:
1. Credits Don’t Always Transfer the Way You Think
Not all credits are created equal. Some courses that sound like they should fit don’t actually match UMPI’s requirements. That means you might end up with extra electives when you thought you’d be shaving time off your degree. I learned the hard way that a credit evaluation up front makes a huge difference in building the most efficient plan.
2. Pacing Yourself Is an Art
YourPace is exactly that — your pace. You can finish courses as quickly or as slowly as you want within a session. At first, I thought I’d just “go as fast as possible.” But burning out by week three isn’t exactly productive. The trick is finding your rhythm — steady enough to make progress, but realistic enough to stick with it session after session.
3. Writing Matters More Than You Think
Even if your degree isn’t English or Communications, be ready to write — a lot. Reflection papers, project write-ups, and discussion responses all require clear writing. Having templates and frameworks makes this way less intimidating (and keeps you from starting at a blank page every time).
4. The Right Degree Choice Saves Time and Stress
It’s tempting to pick the degree that “sounds best” or what someone else chose in a Facebook group. But the smartest move is choosing a degree that matches both your career goals and your transfer credits. Otherwise, you risk doing extra classes you didn’t actually need.
5. You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
When I first started, I was piecing together advice from Reddit threads, Discord chats, and Facebook groups. Helpful? Sometimes. Overwhelming? Absolutely. The truth is, having a clear plan tailored to you makes everything smoother — no second-guessing, no wasted effort, no confusion about what comes next.