University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

How to manage time

I wish I had known the availability of housing. It seems that the University of Maryland has too many students and too few dorm and housing options available. I personally wasn't able to get a dorm for the Fall semester and had to wait until the start of the Spring semester before I was able to get into a dorm room.

The essential skill of balancing out a social life and academics is key. I found that college was even more social than I had expected and my new independence was much different than just leaving my parents. I also wish I knew to involve myself more in structured activities.

There is only one thing I wish that I knew before I attended the University of Maryland, College Park (since my sisters attended UMD, I was already familiar with the school before hand). I wish I knew that they did not have a business management major. In the beginning, I was uncertain on my business major concentration; however, I was leaning towards business management and that's not a major at UMD, so now I I'm deciding between international business and general business as my major concentration.

I wish I had known certain programs have limited enrollment only guaranteed to incoming freshmen, and it is very difficult for current students to transfer into the desired program.

That getting a bad grade in a class is not the end of the world. Try your best and always stay positive. Plan ahead and be responsible for your actions, you are considered an adult in college.

I wish that I had known more about what clubs I wanted to be involved in so I could maximize the number of things I could get involved in.

Growing up I didn't have study skills and now that I'm in college, i feel like I have been cheated out on. Also college isn't here to teach you, its more like teaching yourself. You are giving information and it is up to you to learn this information. Also books are really expensive, if you think paying tuition is all you have to pay, then you were miseducated.

I wish that I had have known that all of my life prior to shool was based on how to present myself and caring to much about trite things. Since, my first year and a half of college I have learned that humans are amazing. As hard as something seems we usally get it done and wonderous things are created. I wish I had have known to be original and not care so much about everyone and everything else. .. people like people who are true to themselves.

Be prepared to involve yourself with a group because this campus is huge and it can be overwhelming to try and meet people. Also, you will definitely spend a lot of time studying so having your skills in the area down is crucial to success.

Before I entered college, I wish I had known how difficult the classes were going to be. The transition between senior year of high school and freshman year of college was pretty surprising. Senior year had been more relaxed for the most part, I would say, and entering college with that attitude was a completely different experience. However, I feel that I have settled into college life and find myself successful in my academic work.

Not everyone has it all figured out. It is OK to be unsure of yourself. The amount of undecided majors I met my freshman year is a testament to that. You come to college to learn... about economics, art history, math, and also about yourself.

Before I came to the University of Maryland I wish I had known how to completely use the resources available to me. The campus has four different libraries and the largest one, McKeldin library has 7 floors. The library has many resources to help with your research projects and utilizing documents in the library. I also hadn't realied how many diverse subjects I could take. I was able to take a WestAfrican Dance Class along with my other science classes since I am a Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Major. I wish I had known the opportunities available.

I wish I would have know that in college, you actually have to study... A LOT. I also wish I would have known how important it is to fill out the FAFSA. I missed out on a lot of free money!

I wish I had known how long it was going to take to get to my classes. I also wish I had known that taking an 8 am class is a bad idea, especially when it's a 20 minute walk to get to it from my dorm.

That the school (generally) makes the course work intense, keeping grades low and students on the edge until the end when a curve MAY be applied at the professor's discretion. The curve may or may not have made up for the extra difficulty in the course.

I wish I had known how to prepare for college classes moreso than I had originally thought. AP classes offer only a glimpse into the academic world of college life, and I felt a bit overwhelmed at first at the structure of college classes.

Before attending school, I wish I knew how able or independent one may be once presented with the opportunity. Aside from the financial aspect being taken care of, I found it acceptionally simple, even enjoyable to live on my own. The freedom of making your own decisions and witnessing the immediate rewards/consequences trandscends anything I experienced in my early adolescence. Sometimes students do not fully understand how capable they really are when thrown into a situation that forces them to do so.

Before arriving to the University of Maryland, I wish I was aware of the fact that I should have a job while in college. I knew that they saying was that all college students were broke, but I was not certain that that was actually the truth. So had someone really got the message across to me, I would have been working my first semester in school even if that just meant the weekends. With a job, I would be guaranteed some sort of income.

The lecture halls are so big and the science programs are rigorous.