University of Maryland-Baltimore County Top Questions

UMBC is famous for great support for science majors, so there are many intelligent students majoring in science majors. Thus, people often think that UMBC's students are very smart or even nerdy. People joke that UMBC stands for "(U)You Must Be Chinese," due to the stereotype about Chinese people being smart. I admit that the stereotype of UMBC's students is partially true because most of the students are very smart and studious.

As a student at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the two biggest stereotypes that usually get bundled together is that we're a school without much of a social scene, and are comprised of mostly geeks/nerds/socially awkward people. To a certain extent, I think this stereotype holds, but it tends to be exaggerated. It's true that it's probably harder to get involved in parties or various other social activities at UMBC than at other campuses, but it's not the barren wasteland that it's made out to be, either. The best way to put it (that I've heard) is that you can always find something to do at UMBC if you look, whereas you'll get swept up into it at College Park, or similar universities.

There are several jocular proposals for what UMBC really stands for, and one of the most popular is: "U Must Be Chinese." This mainly stems from the fact that UMBC actually does have quite a strong presence of Asian students (close to 25{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of first year students identify themselves as "Asian.") The stereotype also has its roots in another feature of UMBC : its notable emphasis on the sciences and technology. Thus, the stereotype of Asian students being highly tech savvy also plays into the perceived accuracy of the name, and some people appear to be under the impression that UMBC is only for "computer nerds" and "science junkies." They say that it lacks a creative vibe with regard to the fine arts, and that the students tend to be rather boring. But these stereotypes are totally overblown. Sure, UMBC certainly has great strength in the fields of science and technology, which is one of the positive aspects of the university that attracted me in the first place, but it is also one of the most ethnically, socially, and ideologically diverse universities in Maryland. So naturally, there are many students with a myriad of interests, many of which don’t have anything to do with computer engineering or biochemistry. I have several friends who major in the humanities or fine arts and never step foot into another science or math class after they've fulfilled their general requirements for such courses. I know a student who is double majoring in biology and dance, and in her free time she works as a writing tutor in the Writing Tutorial Center. I myself am an environmental science major, but I'm also a scholar of the Sondheim Public Affairs Program, which focuses on service learning experiences and public policy issues. I'm also training to become a writing tutor, and I study Spanish as a minor under the Modern Language and Linguistics Department. In other words, despite my major being concentrated in science, I, like many other students, am still pursuing my many other interests that are not directly related to the focus of my studies in environmental science. Additionally, UMBC is filled with young people who actively participate in recreational and competitive sports as well as in student organizations that range from College Democrats and Model UN to the Break Dance club and the Cleftomaniacs (an a cappella group.) UMBC’s campus is a multicultural environment filled with students who have a wide array of interests, talents, and skills that they continue to develop throughout their time at the university.

The stereotype of my school is mostly smart, nerdy, or asian kids. And the accuracy depends on how you look at it.

Because UMBC is an honors university many people assume UMBC students are extremely committed to their studies and, consequently, very straight-laced and boring. I've found that this stereotype holds true for a portion of the UMBC community, but it doesn't take too much effort to find students who know how to balance doing coursework and having fun. Although there is a reason the stereotype exists, many students on campus want nothing more than to defy the stereotype of the typical UMBC student.

Because UMBC is an honors university many people assume UMBC students are extremely committed to their studies and, consequently, very straight-laced and boring. I've found that this stereotype holds true for a portion of the UMBC community, but it doesn't take too much effort to find students who know how to balance doing coursework and having fun. Quite often I find that the students who speak up and share their insights in the classroom are the same students that get involved on campus and know how to have fun outside of the classroom. So although there is a reason the stereotype exists, many students on campus want nothing more than to defy the stereotype of the typical UMBC student.