University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Don't let other people impact your decision about where to go to school. Choose the school that YOU think is right for you because of where you see yourself in the future. Don't let parents, friends, and especially boyfriends impact how far away you decide to go. Do apply to schools that have activites that you are interested in. While the partying life is super fun and you're probably going to want to partake in that, you should try to do other school based things to keep your life balanced. Don't get your heart set on a certain school until you hear back from everywhere you applied. You can be happy at any of the schools you applied to. Do set a schedule that you know will work for you. I'm a morning person and the first semester of my freshmen year I had all classes after 3pm... it didn't turn out too well for my health or my grades (but I was able to party every night). Make time for things you like to do, set a specific studying time each day, and TRY not to procrastinate. It will keep you sane.

Going back in time is somehing many people wish they can be able to do.As to me if i was able to go back in time on my high school senior years,that will be exquisite.I really had a though senior years making sure to pass all my tests and classes which made me to not to be more careful about how to get in college.With the few knowledge that i have right now as a college freshman i will be able to teach myself a lot of things.The advice that i would love to give myself is to be sure of what im doing and the consequence that i may have later.Applying for college is not a easy process.There is a long way to go before getting accpeted which i didn't knew.I would tell myself to get all the documents ready (tax paper for the in-state tuitition,financial aid application,loans and others).The deadline is the main reason and key of success on anything.I would advice myself to work more harder to get my GPA a little higher than it was to go to great colleges or universities.

Although I was constantly reminded by my family, I never fully listened to the words "you don't know everything, have an open mind." It wasn't until this year, that I began to truly understand what it is to be openminded and accepting of the fact that I have much to learn. I am bound to make mistakes, and going through college without making any mistakes results in a futile experience. We learn best from difficult situations, and once we accept that these situations are inevitable, even necessary, we can proceede through life in a more upbeat fashion. College is such a critical time in our lives - we are exposed to so many new experiences, different types of people, new ways of thinking and important decisions that we must make. We need to go into all of this with an open mind and an open heart in order to reap the benefits to the greatest extent. Do not assume that your way of thinking/problem solving is always the right one. Accept that you may be wrong from time to time and allow yourself to readjust and go down new pathways.

My main piece of advice would be to keep an open mind about various colleges. I had my mind set on a big school with a beautiful campus because I thought smaller schools couldn't possibly compare. When I did visit smaller campuses, I convinced myself that they wouldn't be fun, or would be similar to being in high school again. I have since realized that at any university, there will be smaller groups of people who come together because of their shared interests. Throughout my first semester at the University of Maryland, I also learned that pictures can be deceiving. I knew a lot of people who attended UMD before I decided to go there. After seeing their photographs on social media I thought I needed to go to a huge school with a football team, tailgates, cray parties, and tons of people. I now know that none of these things are as important or as fun as they seem. I would rather attend a small school where I am able to create genuine relationships through conversation and smaller class sizes. I want to reorganize my priorities now that I know exactly what I want in a school.

I would study harder and take the study more seriouse and apply myself harder. I would not give up to soon and make sure I always finished what I statred. I would also look for ways to advance myself to better myself and always be good or better at what i do.

First of all I would tell myself to read more. Reading I have realized is such an important and critical component to learning. I'm not just talking about reading school textbooks either but rather reading in general for fun. It is a perfect relaxant and de-stresser. Second of all I would say to take more time just enjoying the material. Learning is about the path you take, it's not about just getting a job to pay bills. Learning is beautiful and there is no reason any class should feel painful and useless. Thirdly, make friends in your field. Having friends in the same field makes conversations more interesting because you can talk about school work and mutually enjoyed topics. This way you can be learning and comparing ideas outside of the classroom but still actively engaging your mind in the wonders of learning. Lastly, apply your knowledge outside of class. build a robot, create a cool program, enjoy the material and think creatively! You will enjoy college. Trust me!

If I could go back in time, I would urge myself to take advantage. Going to UMD affords students the opportunity to interact with renowned leaders in academic fields, experience masterful productions, hear lectures from experts, and join a myriad of clubs geared towards every imaginable interest. As a senior reflecting on my collegiate experience, I wish I had taken advantage of more of what university has to offer. I would urge myself to explore and to realize that in college, much learning takes place outside of the confines of a classroom. This learning is only possible if a student opens themselves up to new experiences and takes advantage of all of the services and opportunities a college provides.

You might think that the hardest part is over, but don't slack off. It's fine to hang out with friends and meet new people, but don't make that a priority. Remember that you're at college for a reason, and that's to get an education, but don't be so hard on yourself if things don't go exactly as planned. Mistakes will happen, just remember that they accepted you because they thought you'd be able to handle the workload, and you can as long as you stay focused. Try to keep in contact with your family, you don't know how much longer they'll be around, and you want to make the most of the time you have left. The last thing I need to just emphasize is to keep your priorities in order. You already know what they are, just remind yourself of them when you have to make a difficult decision, and it'll pay off.

It is pivotal to discover the kind of learner you are before entering into college. Whether you are a visual, auditory, oral, and/or written learner, try to get a sense of your learning style now in your current courses. This will save you lots of time and stress when adjusting to college level classes, and you will make the best of your study time. Another good tip, get to know your professors, advisors, and the Dean or your college! Out of the hundreds to thousands of students that faculty and staff interface with on a daily basis, if they know your name, this will come in handy later on down your academic and career paths. Lastly, do not forget to be social. Yes, studying is a must, especially at UMD, but being social helps to keep you sane and make new friends. Joining a club or two for social or academic reasons is the first step. UMD has about 800 clubs and sports organizations to choose from, so enjoy! College is hard but your life does not have to be harder. Explore yourself, love yourself, love what you choose to study, and your career path!

Leaving high school, I had many issues to deal with. At this time in my life, I had to choose whether or not to go on a mormon mission, stay with my longtime girlfriend, and choose colleges for golf, which I was planning on playing in college. These choices put a lot of pressure on me and I had many assumptions about college that I didn't understand. As it turns out, I didn't go on a mission, got engaged to my girlfriend, and am playing golf at Folsom Lake College. However, knowing what I know, I could have handled these changed more easily. My brother, a recently graduated college golfer, was a big influence on me in the mission, because he seemed unhappy with his choice to go on a mission, and it made his life harder. I didn't talk to him about my decisions, and I should have looked to him for guidance. He would have trusted my decision either way, and I should have trusted him more and asked for help with my decisions, from my mission to college recruiting. I would tell myself to trust those close to me and live fearlessly.