Let AOP Help You Shape Your Success

Support, community, and opportunity from your first semester through your future goals

You belong at UMBC — and you don’t have to navigate college alone.
AOP connects students to community, academic support, first-gen programming, and future pathways toward research and graduate school.

At UMBC, support is not one-size-fits-all. Some students may begin with the Golden Ticket to build community and confidence. Some may apply to TRIO Student Support Services Program (TRIO SSS) for ongoing individualized support during college. Others may later connect with the Retriever Graduate Preparation Network (RGPN) or the McNair Scholars Program as their goals expand toward research and graduate study. Together, these programs reflect UMBC’s broader commitment to helping students (especially those who are the first in their family to earn a 4-year degree) transition from admission through graduation and beyond. Not sure where to begin? Start by exploring the links below and choosing the option that matches where you are right now.

Incoming first-generation student? Start with Golden Ticket

The Golden Ticket Program is a post-orientation initiative for incoming first-generation students and their families. It is designed to help students transition into college by introducing them to campus resources, support systems, and opportunities at UMBC. The program’s goal is to help first-generation students feel empowered, connected, and confident as they begin. UMBC’s Student Success Initiatives page also notes that Golden Ticket is offered through a partnership that includes AOP. For many newly admitted students, Golden Ticket is the right next step after orientation because it helps make the campus feel smaller, more understandable, and more welcoming.

Looking for academic support and someone in your corner?

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) helps eligible undergraduates build a strong foundation for success at UMBC. The program offers one-on-one support, tutoring, academic advising, financial aid guidance, success workshops, and opportunities for personal, social, and cultural connection. SSS is designed for students who are first-generation, income-eligible, or students with disabilities, and who would benefit from additional support as they move from enrollment to graduation. If you think SSS might be a fit for you, this is one of the best places to start early. Getting connected sooner can help you build relationships, learn campus systems, and stay on track from your first semester forward. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Looking for a first-generation community?

The First Generation Network brings together students, faculty, staff, and alumni to build a campus-wide support system for first-generation students. The current site emphasizes that first-generation students often face both academic and social barriers, and the network exists to help students access information, support, and community throughout their UMBC experience. Students can also receive updates and resources by joining the myUMBC group. If you are the first in your family to attend college, or one of the first, the First Generation Network is a great way to find connection, encouragement, and reminders that you belong here.

Interested in research, graduate school, or doctoral pathways?

Thinking ahead to research, graduate school, or a PhD? AOP also supports students who want to grow into research and graduate study opportunities. The McNair Scholars Program prepares undergraduates for graduate education through research, mentoring, and other scholarly activities. The Retriever Graduate Preparation Network (RGPN) expands that pathway by creating a community for students interested in post-baccalaureate study, with different levels of engagement based on where students are in their journey. You don’t need to have your entire future figured out right now. But if you already know you are curious about research, graduate school, or doctoral pathways, RGPN and McNair show that AOP can support you not only in getting started at UMBC, but in planning for what comes after your bachelor’s degree too.

Connect with AOP

Office of Academic Opportunity Programs
Math/Psychology Building, Room 007
Phone: 410-455-6763