University of Maryland-Baltimore County Top Questions

The best advice I would give myself would be to be on the computer applying for FASFA as soon as the clock is counting down for the new year, as soon as the calendar says January 1st hit the submit button. I would also tell myself to never procrastinate. Never leave certain things to the last minute because it only becomes stressful in the end. I would also tell myslef to check and know your deadlines because they are very important for applying for certain things. College is very expensive, and no one should have doubt about going to college due to money situations, apply for all the scholarships that you can because it is very helpful.

Struggling with applied calculus when I first came to Umbc, made me wish I took AP calculus in high school. My first time in a college calculus class was very weird. Because I could not make sense of what my professor was saying. All she said was “cos sin” “beta” “alpha” “derivatives” and the worst part was we could not use calculators. The bad part or you might say good part about high school is you get to use scientific calculator in finding stuff like derivative or finding the cos sin of something, but it was very frustrating that I could not use any calculators, so calculus 1 for me was a struggle but my professor was very helpful and since I worked hard, and i got a B for that class. Another thing I wish I did in high school was, playing sports from the 10th up to 12th grade so I can be very good at it and plays for Umbc. Athletes at Umbc are spoiled, they get free food, find jobs easily, get scholarship and go on road trips, and they even get extra time to get their homework done. They have more fun, they are respected.

Going back into time talking to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give to myself is talk with other high school teachers and counselors for extra advice, apply early, look for the best, but least expensive school, and apply for many scholarships. I would also consider going to a local 2 year community college after high school. Starting off at a 2 year community college can save a lot of money, avoid college debt, and allow other opportunities to build your academic portfolio. I would also suggest getting involved early on in activities, meeting professors one on one outside of class, and explore many of the opportunities given as a college or freshman student. It is important to stay focused, if you don't understand something ask the professor for extra help; seek tutoring or other online useful resources to help in understanding any specific subject planning a weekly schedule and goals will help motivate you in disciplining yourself to become a great student and multitasking abilities. For instance, one should set a schedule for study time, extracurricular actives, or a part-time job etc. Overall, these suggestions can help in making a productive college transition.

I have learned a lot in my college career so far and there is a lot of advice I wish I could go back and tell my high school senior self. One thing sticks out in my mind however over all, to embrace the struggles and changes that are bound to happen. I currently am in attendance at my fourth college since high school and am studying my now third different major. Although this was not the plan right out of high school I would not go back and change a single thing. It is likely that my undergraduate degree may take longer than the average person but the life lessons and the things I have learned about myself far outweigh what could be learned in the classroom. I embrace the fact that I was wise enough to realize when situations were not what I wanted and I was not afraid to stop myself and start from scratch. There are peers my age that are graduating college right now with a degree in something they may not thoroughly enjoy; I however have found my passion and truly love the path ahead of me. Embrace the Change.

i will advise myself to prepare financially for college. i would advise myself to take up more jobs and make more money because college is very expensive.

If I could go back in time, I would have taken my academics more seriously. Being a first generation college student, I wasn't really prepared for the challenges that college presented.

Ok, so you have been told a lot of things about the college experience and what is expected of you but, there is so much they did not tell you about college. They are right now telling you about how you should go to the best school in Maryland because a Hispanic student will look better attending one than a regular public university or a private institution; well I am here to tell you that they are wrong. It does not matter what university you attend or even what you decide to major in because it is not all about what they want, it is all about how you piece together your future and how you make of your time. Just because they say that Hispanics will make better money as doctors or lawyers, do not let that keep you from your dream of becoming who you want to be, an educator. Only you can decide if their vision of you is worth wasting in college instead of following your path in life.

I would tell myself the same words my mom told me halfway through my college freshman year: Don't dwell. As a high school senior and a college freshman, I suffered severely from anxiety. A lot the anxiety stemmed from my mind not being able to let go of small, insignificant events. Telling myself to not dwell on the things that I can't change, to let the insignificant events go and instead work on coping with the events, would have saved me from feeling trapped inside my head. I would also tell myself that I'm not alone, that I'm not the only person dealing with anxiety. Just knowing that there are others out there dealing with the same issues I was dealing with would have helped me to not feel so isolated from my friends and those around me.

Jasmin, By now, you've grown accustom to your isolation. Things have been rough for you, indeed. Don't allow that to hinder you. Don't be afraid of your past. Don't be afraid to open up to others. Be loyal to the good people you meet because the friends you make here could be the friends you have for the rest of your life. Often the responsibility you have makes you feel older than you actually are. Remember that you are young. Don't allow yourself to settle in one way of living. I know how badly you crave love but romance will blind you from the opportunities that lie in front of you. You are an ever-changing being and you should put yourself, your growth, your development and your goals first. Love will come after you love yourself. All of the choices you will soon make will have long-term effects. Each action is engraved inside of you and affects you in subtle ways that you may not even notice. Keep in mind what you want for yourself and the person you want to be. Be conscious, be selective and most importantly be yourself.

College is an incredible place. It's an entire institution built to give you the tools and time to make you the best version of yourself. You won't find that once you graduate. You have vast potential and raw ability that you need to harness and hone. You'll have access to the most accomplished minds you'll ever meet, and their sole purpose is to pass on knowledge and experience to you. Be smart enough to take them up on the offer. Life after college is full of responsibilties and distraction. Work will consume your time like you never thought anything could, and then you'll start a family and forget what sleep is (and to think you'll have trouble making your morning classes). You'll have bills to pay, rent to make, and children to feed. When you get to where I am, you'll want to look back and know you made the best of every opportunity. Over the next four years, focus on making yourself the best you can possibly be. There won't be a better time.

If I could speak with my high school self, I would advise her to take studying seriously. College is very different compared to what you're used to in high school. You need to find that motivation within yourself to get your work done and learn the material you need to know. Keep focused on your goals and try not to get distracted. Organization is going to be key because no one is going to put everything together nice and neat for you so make sure you're on top of everything, including assignments, exam dates, reading schedules, and anything else you need to be planning for or working on. Develop a clear plan as soon as possible for what classes you're taking during which semester so that you don't end up spending six years as an undergraduate. It may seem sometimes as though you aren't as smart as other people in your major but don't let that mindset overtake you. Realize that if you aren't finding the motivation in one major, there is a reason and maybe your heart is trying to guide you in a different direction. Listen to it.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say that I should be more informed about college before taking any decisions on where I would like to go. Knowledge is a wonderful tool, and knowing the right information would be the start to a rewarding experience. At college you will expand your points of view about life and become a problem-solver. I would also advise to not procrastinate. Most of the times good opportunities will cross you path to success however, if we let them go, there is no turning back. Finally, I would like to remind myself that I may not always get what I have planned but as everybody knows: "when a door closes a window opens," and if I push myself my goals will be accomplished, and my hard-work will be worth it. I will like to thank you for giving students this opportunity; we have to overcome a lot of obstacles to reach to our goals. With this scholarship you are helping a hard-working student to get closer to his/her goal.

I would tell myself to stay focused and not to procrastinate. I would also tell myself to get involved in student activities and to be open to people of different cultures, ethnicities and religions in order to make life-long friendships. I would remind myself how proud I am of myself and wish myself good luck for the future.

Focus on education, and get it out of your mind that college/university is a time of freedom and partying. Pray constantly, and no matter what; do not give up on God.

Nothing at this school is going to be handed to you on a silver platter. If you want to find people you really click with or do well in your classes, you need to put in at least a little effort. Some of the stereotypes are true and some of them are not. It's really up to you to have the college experience you want. First year students should also know that the majority of the students at UMBC have cars, so the school doesn't do very much to provide transportation to DC or Baltimore or even other colleges if you want to get out for the night. Be ready to befriend someone with a car!

Nothing at this school is going to be handed to you on a silver platter. If you want to find people you really click with or do well in your classes, you need to put in at least a little effort. Some of the stereotypes are true and some of them are not. It's really up to you to have the college experience you want.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself not to pursue a blue collar career, I wish I had made this decision to pursue a degree when I was a young man. Blue collar work is a respectable way to make a living, but it can take a seious physical toll on one's body. There is more to a career than just earning a living, you should pursue a career that will offer you personal fafillment. To become educated is an enriching experience that can help one to have a greater understanding of the world and it's future trends. The technology in the future will continue to advance at an unpresidented rate of speed, this will nesessitate learnig as an ongoing process.

In pretty much every college related movie/TV show, students are frequently partying, never studying and overwhelmed by drama. That is not UMBC. If you come here looking for the stereotypical college experience, you will be disappointed. There are lots of things to do, but you have to make an effort to find them. You will have to study for your classes. The amount of drama depends on your group of friends. Freshmen should also know that there is a LOT of help available if they need it. The first year of college can be tough at any school. At UMBC, there are tutors, counselors, resident assistants and particularly helpful staff members if they need help with classes or adjusting to college. These people are paid to help you succeed, so don't be afraid to ask.

Fully research the universities to which you are applying to ensure the programs, faculty, resources, administration, finanicial aid, amenities are a good fit for you. Take time to get to know professors who can be great resources and references for your future employment/postgraduate studies.

Rationality is an invaluable tool. Take an objective approach to every tribulation, event, and observation. Rationality will provide you with a mentality that is conducive to professional success, adding longevity to relationships, and perseverance in the face of personal adversity. It allows you to divest yourself of prejudice, which can only be destructive. You will no longer be impetuous, which I have found will primarily result in regret. Too few people have an ideal level of rationality, which would restrict them from jumping to conclusions hastily, cause them to be prudent, and show sympathy for others. I have seen far too many people damaged or begin lamenting over irrational decisions or the irrational act of another. Irrationality is a vice, avoid it as frequently as you can. Refining your rational thought will give you an outlook on life which I can only describe as mature. We face impending difficulties, and approaching them with rationality will not only facilitate the process of enduring personal adversity, but also will cause you to learn from the experience. You realize the inevitablility of trials such as death and illness, and instead of allowing these to be destructive, you can reconcile with life's challenges.