University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

I wish I had known how expensive it would be and how difficult it is to get financial aid. I wish I had taken AP classes and applied for scholarships so I wouldn't be in such a bad place financially like I am now.

I wish I had known that it is okay to change your mind about your path in life. It would have saved me a lot of heartache.

Before coming to this school, I wish I knew more about the rivalries between this university and all others. School spirit is such a dominant feature to the university, as evident through the red, yellow and black colors all over campus; the signs on all the shuttles and even the extravagant designs on the football and soccer fields. By knowing more specifics about the rivals for each sport, I would have had even more excitement for all the games I attended.

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Before attending Maryland, I wish I had became more familiar with the arts. I wish I had already mastered drawing in different styles and using charcoal. For my first semester, I took Art110 to advance my art skills and to aid my goal of becoming an architect. Taking this course exposed to me that I had much to learn about the arts. If I had already used some of the media and drawn in the various drawing styles before attending college I would have been more prepared and created more sophisticated drawings in my art classes and Architecture courses.

I wish I had known how valuable time is. Instead of spending every moment on facebook, twitter, TV and with my friends, I should have tried to push myself to be more. When I read about people like Mark Zuckerberg and all the other young millionaires, it makes me regret how I spend my free time. The youth years are the best time to start an entrepreneurial project because you have the most connections to people your age and have endless amount of free time. I wish I spent more time firguring out what I want from my future.

I would have wished that I had spent time in the university’s career center before selecting classes. That way I could have looked at the internships and jobs available for recent college graduates before I choose what semester classes I should take. That way I would have selected classes that I felt would have had more positive impact in helping me find the jobs that I wanted after I graduated from the university.

I wish I had gone on a real tour. My first tour of the campus was when I actually got here. The university is very large, however it depends on the major that one is involved in that would make all the difference.

i wish someone told me how different college was from high school. it takes alot of effort and patience

Reaching out to professors and learning how to create a teacher-student relationship is vital, especially at such a large school. Going to office hours and letting the professor know you care about your education and progress in the class can be the difference between a B+ and an A. Time management and study skills are vital. Studying for a high school exam does not compare to the way one should effectively study for a college examination. Professors test on different skills; focusing more on thinking outside the box and being able to apply what you learned to everyday situations.

I wish I had known how big greek life is at this school.

I knew that the campus was large. However, I wish I had known that sometimes you have to walk a long ways to make it on time to class in ten minutes or less.

I wish I had known about the different clubs and organizations offered on campus. Since I commute to campus, I did not know there were so many opportunities to meet new people with similar interests and get involved in the community.

I wish I had known that it is a very independent place where most people are competitive.

That the best way to meet people is not through classes, but through clubs. Make friends during orientation, because you will most likely be in classes with them, but most of your friends will come from the clubs you will join.

Make your schoolwork your number one priority. Even though you may have done well in high school, college is a whole new ballgame. You need to develop a different set of study habits in order to succeed. If there is something that you do not understand, make sure to ask for help as soon as you can before you fall even further behind. Also, the area you decide to major in should be something that you want to do, not what someone else wants you to do. If your heart is not in it, move on to something different.

the quality of the dorms and diner food

Before I transferred to the University of Maryland, I wish I had known how long the actual transfer process was going to take. I was not prepared for the amount of background work that I had to do for myself in order to receive the credits that I had already earned. I was unpleasantly surprised by how long it took to get my paperwork in order, and the minimal amount of time I had left to select my classes before the semester actually started.

The importance of getting involved in extra curricular activities.

I wish I had known how helpful the professors and teaching assistants are and how willing they are to help (I thought I would have to figure out most of the material on my own).