University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Although I am only a freshman at college, I have already taken away valuable life lessons and dramatically reformed my perspectives on life. For instance, I acknowledge and incorporate the value that diversity has in life. Growing up in a small suburban town, I rarely encountered opinions deviant of my own conventions. Upon attending my first semester at college, I was exposed to a few hundred of the school’s forty thousand of people, collectively possessing a multitude of unique perspectives; these range from ways to solve a calculus problem and which classes to take, all the way to which deities captivate their faith and how best to make a million dollars. Why I might not always concur with my opposition, I’ve learned to honor different perspectives and take away a fundamental understanding of all sides of an issue, using this insight to better shape my outlook on the world and the diverse people that inhabit it. Ultimately, respecting the differences amongst others and using those differences to propagate new ideas cultivates a diverse intellectual within me and an even more adapted person, capable of tackling the world’s diverse problems.

Throughout my college experience I have een enrolled in three schools. First I intended to attend Old Dominion University, but quickly decided that it was not the school for me, while staying there for a summer program. I believed that a school in a different location would provide better opportunities for me. Thus, right before the start of my first semester I enrolled at CUNY Brooklyn College. This school taught me how to juggle extra curricular activities and the demanding courseload. I learned that if I set my mind to it could succeed at both. I was a memeer of the Precision Dance Team, and received a 3.78 GPA my second semester, which no doubt helped me be accepted into the University of Maryland. Through changing schools I learned to do better research when choosing paths for myself. If I had done proper research the first go around, I would have known aout the University of Maryland and the wonderful programs that it offered. It is highly ranked for my intended major, Mechanical Engineering. Because of my not looking deeper into schools, I am now behind in classes, and have to try much harder to catch up.

Yes, thus far I have.

In the beginning of the year, we had guest speakers come in an talk to us about “Don't do anything stupid” or “Make good decisions”. Although I can't say that I have ever been in a position as described by either of the speakers, I have known friends who have. On the other hand, both of them talked about getting involved in your community. I feel that this is an integral part of college. Learning should not be solely about “hitting the books”. Meeting new people should also be included in the process. Social interactions in high school are a lot different that those in college. In high school, you had friends from middle and friends you made in your classes. In college, you have to potential to interact with everybody. On your floor, you can literally walk up and down the halls and meet everyone. There is virtually no difference between freshmen students and the upperclassmen students. College is the transition between your adolescent and adult life. It's a time where you start making heavier decisions. How you spend your days in college affects greatly your years to come.

This is my third year here in Liberty University. My college experiences here has been thus far the best i could ever ask for. i did take a semester off and went to a community college by my house and it was not so good. Libertys' campus is not only safe as all college campuses should be, but it also has a great variety of activities daily in which anyone can join. I have met some amazing people, from all over the world here. i have spotted my chanceller and his wife walking around campus, something that seems very unusual in other schools. the fact that this school has so many things to do injust inside, it makes me want to never leave. i have tried to enjoy the most of it. i love all the concerts, such as coffe house, once every semester. My school is the best and everything in it. Best college experience ever.

Besides for my degree (which is always helpful to get out of any college experience) I made the best friends I have in college. I also was able to experiance the next phase of life, moving away from home, getting a job, and learning to be independant with a bit of a safety net. College allowed me to move beyond the comfort of high school and more importantly really learn to read material critically, form my own opinions and not fear rejection of those opinions. College helped me to grow academically as well as socially. A lot of people say that high school is the best years of their life, for me it was college. I learned how to grow into myself

I have only been at the University of Maryland for a year and a half, but my time there has already proven to be a priceless experience. Coming from a small, private girls high school, I was anxious about the daunting size of Maryland and having to leave my sheltered high school environment. However, my acceptance into the Honors College allows me to be surrounded by a small group of gifted and talented individuals with the same intellectual interests and curiosities as mine. Maryland has given me the opportunity to develop confidence and grow into a strong and independent young woman. I have learned how to organize my responsibilities, work hard to attain my goals and open my mind to new ideas. I also have learned how to plan my different tasks effectively and develop a goal-oriented strategy that has helped me become more efficient. At the University, I have built close and lasting friendships and have become an integral part of a community that embraces diversity, facilitates leadership and independence and addresses challenges. My time at the University of Maryland has provided me with invaluable lessons, resources and experiences that are both rewarding and lifelong.

Some people say that college is the best four years of your life. I believe that is a true statement. Through college I have been able to take classes that weren't offered in high school and I have met lifelong friends through my various classes, and the softball team I play on. College gave me a chance to be myself and find myself through taking different courses and being in different groups and orginizations that are offered to me. College also gave me a chance to be on my own and try new things that I might not have been able to do if I were to have got a job straight out of high school. By taking different courses, I have found out what types of things I am interested in and it has helped me to find what career I want to pursue in the future. I thought college would be just another high school, but it's so much more. There are so many more opportunities given to me just by attending college and I can't wait to see what else I learn and how I grow from two more years of it.

Entering the diverse college community has forced me to continually refine my beliefs. I’ve met many friendly people, but I’ve also noticed that their beliefs may be starkly different from my own. But even if those beliefs border on what I consider bigotry, a difference of opinion on whether homosexuality is natural isn’t a reason to ignore a dorm neighbor. However, I also understand that I should not shy away from explaining that I believe in equal rights for gay men and women when the topic does emerge. In college, I’m continually forced to consider new perspectives while holding fast to my essential principles. Those principles aren’t always about moral issues, but also about less controversial questions, such as the direction that biological research should take. Discussions with professors convinced me that a high throughput approach to biology -- for instance, using microarrays to observe thousands of genes at once -- is essential, but I still believe that good experimental design can cut down on the expenses and inaccuracies of acquiring large amounts of data. The new knowledge and perspectives I’ve found in college have proved extremely valuable in helping me continually better define myself.

My name is Alebiosu Olaoluwa Dami. I was born in Nigeria, a country in West Africa, and at the age of seventeen I moved to the United States to stay with my dad. Growing up in Nigeria as a kid was very tough for me, I had to struggle for my basic needs. What most people in the United States take for granted was not even an option for a birthday present in my household. I took the opportunity to immigrate and study in the United States at the age of seventeen. I have learned a lot studying at Johnson County Community College. I have worked hard in classes and this has manifested in my grade report. I have a grade point average of 3.97 from more than 50 credit hours. I feel blessed to have this opportunity to learn mathematical and technical concepts needed to solve the energy demands in the world. I am enrolled in the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa Program. The Honors program has provided me with the necessary resources needed to excel academically and prepare for a successful career. It has allowed me to participate in social events and campus-wide recognition banquets.