The nature of my classes and how they're structured has been slightly similar, but mainly different than my expectations. I think the biggest shock for me was actually the timing of the classes, because in high school I was so used to full-year classes that it was hard for me to grasp the fact that semester classes go by so quick. So when we only had a certain amount of assignments, I didn't realize that all these assignments are weighted so heavily because the class is half as long. But I did adjust to the change. I think something that I did expect was how heavily exams would be weighted. I knew that in college there's less assignments but that they really that matter, maybe some for practice but nothing that really heavily affects your grade, but rather exams that are really determining how your performance is. One thing I actually like is how a lot of classes are separated into lecture and discussion. In high school, classes were mainly just listening to the same lecture every day. And although that could be good because the classes were smaller, it wasn’t really a time where you could sit down and discuss the course material with your teacher or ask specific questions. Here, you can have a discussion section and really sit down with your peers in a smaller group and talk about the work, how things are going, how to do certain problems, and how they’re figuring things out. I like that aspect.
When I came into College Park Scholars, I honestly didn't know much about the course or what to expect. It was a pleasant surprise to realize that it was a combination of learning new material and getting to know my peers. I really enjoyed the activities we went on, like the service day at the beginning of the school year. Even though it was hard digging in the weeds and mud, it felt like it helped build a sense of community in our class because we were doing an activity together.
Some things we covered in class that I didn't expect included the beginning-of-the-year discussions about the nature of science and how fake science plays such a huge role in the community. We talked about how things like paranormal sightings, UFOs, and aliens can usually be explained and have reasonable causes for why they happen and why hysteria can build up around them. Even though I didn't know we were going to cover that, it was very interesting to me. Sometimes you look at something and think that the first explanation must be the only answer, but then you learn there are different ways of thinking and processing ideas that you wouldn't have considered, and they can give a plausible explanation. I really enjoyed that section. What I did expect to be covered in this class was environmental science and how things work on Earth. I enjoy learning about it because it reminds me of my environmental science and biology classes. I like understanding how things function in the world and how different scientific processes can be explained.
I think many of my ideas about what college life would be like have actually met my expectations. One of the biggest differences, though, is the relationships I've made with people in my dorm. In high school, I expected people to keep to themselves and not really want to branch out, but it's been the opposite. I've made a lot of friends on my floor, I've become good friends with my roommate, and I've met people through classes and just being out on campus. It's been a very pleasant surprise to see how friendly people are and how open they are to hanging out and meeting new people.You have to realize that the people here are looking out for you, want the best for you, and want you to succeed. It's not a competition or a race, or about figuring out who can do things better. Everyone is in this together and wants to see you do well. Once you understand that, it becomes a lot easier to talk to professors, talk to friends, and figure things out.
I'd also say not to feel like you're behind just because other people seem like they have things more figured out than you. Someone might look like everything is going perfectly for them, but that's not necessarily true because you're not living their life. You can't make assumptions based on what you see. Most people are in the same boat and are feeling many of the same things.
Overall, college has been an amazing experience for me. It has met and even exceeded my expectations. That doesn't mean there weren't difficult moments when I felt stressed or felt like I didn't have everything under control. But the people I've met have been wonderful, and the professors are supportive and always looking out for me. I really enjoy being here and the community that UMD creates. If I could go back in time and choose a college again, I would choose this place every time.