I knew that majoring in computer science at UMD would not be easy. Because of this, I tried to take general education courses that focused on the humanities or social sciences instead. It was a refreshing break from my usual workload, and I found myself learning viable information as well. I am a firm believer in exploring new paths and topics while in college. If you need to get your general education credits out of the way, you might as well take a course you find interesting! In my second semester, I took ENES140, an asynchronous course that served as an introduction to business ventures. Not only was it engaging, but it was also very practical and gave me insight into issues I might face in my professional career. I recommend taking a similar course, it does not hurt to know a little business regardless of your major. Moreover, I took AP World History and APIDA Studies in high school and they ended up being my favorite courses I took. This encouraged me to take East Asian Civilization as one of my history credits and I found the course riveting. Sometimes I got tired of staring at my screen working on a computer science project, or solving calculus problems for hours at a time. These classes on the side were a nice break for my brain and I surprisingly enjoyed the work for this class more than my STEM-focused ones.
As a result of taking so many courses in university, you are able to connect with a diverse array of faculty. These professors are able to guide you through your transition into college and give you advice. If you want to create a strong relationship with your professors, it is as simple as sending them a quick email or talking to them after class. It may be nerve-racking to talk to them, but you must put yourself out there. Additionally, I found that taking smaller classes allowed me to get closer to my professor easily. Whenever I get the opportunity, I choose to take Scholars-only sections of certain courses. My ENGL101S class had eight people in it. It was satisfying to be surrounded by fellow scholars, and my professor had an easier time managing the students and aiding students individually. Your professors are also more likely to remember you as they do not have hundreds of students to keep track of like in the major-required courses. Once you establish a relationship with your professors, you can ask them for letters of recommendation or list them as a reference when applying to jobs/internships.
There were times that I was overwhelmed by my workload, and I often found myself avoiding my friends in order to get my assignments done. However, I realized that at college, you are living on your own. This is a huge step in your life, especially as a freshman. Your friends are there to support you and make sure you are taking proper care of yourself. I have always appreciated my friends, but I found a whole new meaning to this since starting my time at university. You have to remember to take occasional breaks or else you will burn out. My friends and I study together and help each other with our tasks. I think it is crucial to make friends within your major or similar majors as they can work out difficult problems with you (struggling together!!). I never realized how vast the student population is at UMD. There are student organizations for everything, and the campus is so diverse. You are sure to meet people from all walks of life. During the first month of classes, I noticed how outgoing everyone was. I could easily strike up a conversation with whoever was sitting next to me in the lecture. Do not be afraid to talk to other people! Everyone is in the same boat as you, trying to figure out their schedule and adjust to campus life. I am sure that living through college without a few close friends would be very challenging.
At the end of the day, college is what you make of it. You may hate to hear it, but you must step out of your comfort zone during your undergraduate career. You will have to manage your time and take several risks. I had to make sure to give myself enough time to destress, relax, spend time with friends, and study. Balancing academics and your social life might seem impossible at times, but as you grow you will learn how to do it. Also, I took it upon myself to apply to several programs on campus and internships. The rejection might hurt, but who knows, you might get in! There is no hurt in trying. You will find yourself much happier if you are able to achieve this, and you’ll have a newfound sense of time-management skills. So much has happened during my first year here. My first two semesters of college have taught me so much and I feel like an entirely new person than the eighteen-year-old who moved in on August 24th.