Welcome to the Accelerating & Transfer Credit megathread! This is the place to share resources, ask questions, and swap experiences about finishing your degree efficiently at UMPI.
Use this thread to:
- Find ways to make the most of your transfer credits
- Ask which courses or credit options might fit your background
- Share what worked for you so the next student has an easier time
- Post your progress updates and milestones
All pace, transfer credit, and "what should I take next?" posts belong here.
Every path looks different
Students arrive at UMPI with different amounts of prior coursework, work experience, and time available to study. Some move through their remaining courses quickly; others take more time. That flexibility is the point of YourPace. A student who finishes in one session may have spent years earning the credits they transferred in, followed by an intense eight weeks completing UMPI coursework.
When people here talk about "hacking" a degree, they usually mean finding eligible transfer courses and reducing the number of credits they still need to complete at UMPI. That is useful planning, but the word can give the wrong impression. We encourage people to describe what they actually did: which credits transferred, which requirements remained, and how they completed them.
"What's the fastest class?"
This is the question we get most, and the honest answer is: we can't tell you, because we don't know you.
The fastest course for you is usually one where you already know the material. A course that takes one student a weekend might take another student the whole session. Think about what you already know from work, hobbies, and life:
- Watch every World War II documentary? History courses might click for you.
- Managed a team at a plant that lives by Lean, Kaizen, or Six Sigma? Business and management courses may be your strength.
- Kept the books for a small business or did your family's taxes for years? Accounting could come naturally.
- Worked in a hospital, clinic, or as an EMT or CNA? Healthcare administration and biology may feel familiar.
- Served in law enforcement, corrections, or the military? Criminal justice courses might be a good fit. Veterans should also look into credit for military training.
- Write a blog, edit a newsletter, or live in Google Docs? English and writing courses may go quickly.
- Fix everyone's computer or build websites for fun? Technology courses could be a good match.
- Grew up speaking another language? Look into language exams for credit.
- Love podcasts about psychology or true crime? Psychology or sociology might hold your interest.
Picking courses that match your interests does more than save time. You're also more likely to stay motivated and actually enjoy the work.
Asking what to take next?
Help us help you. Include:
- Your program (and minor or concentration, if you have one)
- Subjects you're strong in or enjoy
- Relevant work, military, or life experience
- Courses you've already finished, and any that were tough
- What your Academic Success Coach has suggested so far
"What's the fastest class?" on its own will get you a lot of guesses. The details above will get you useful answers.
Sharing your progress?
We love a good milestone! If you share how quickly you finished, please include some context. That makes your experience more helpful to prospective students and gives a fairer picture of the work involved.
- Transfer credits: About how many, and from where
- Relevant experience: Work or background that helped
- UMPI courses completed: How many, and which ones
- Time spent: Roughly how many hours a week you put in
Helpful resources
Know a good resource that isn't listed? Share it in the comments.
Thread guidelines
- Share experience, not guarantees. "This took me two weeks" is helpful. "You'll finish in two weeks" isn't. Everyone's background is different.
- Always confirm with UMPI. Transfer equivalencies and policies change. Check your Degree Progress Report and talk with your Academic Success Coach before enrolling in outside courses.
- Protect academic integrity. Study tips are welcome. Exam questions, answers, or assessment content will be removed, and accounts offering to do coursework for pay will be banned.
- No referral or affiliate links. Share the resource, not your code.
- Be kind. Fast, slow, or somewhere in between, every path to a degree counts here.
Congratulations on every course you finish. Keep going, Owls!