With the year coming to an end a lot quicker than I thought it would, it's routine to reflect on the experiences of freshman year and recall the good and the bad to learn and cherish for years to come. After a full year at the University of Maryland, it wasn't easy adjusting to college life. Balancing school, work, extracurriculars, and trying to find time to visit family over the weekend while getting to experience college life with friends wasn't always easy. The courses that came as the greatest revelation or surprise to me were from the fall semester. Classes like Calculus 3, Computer Science, and even English opened my eyes to what a college-level course looks like. In high school, our teachers stressed that taking AP classes would prepare us for college-level courses. Even though I took calc 3 and AP Computer Science (Java) in high school, I still wasn't prepared correctly for the workload and intricacies of these courses. At first, they were difficult, but as the semester progressed, I got in the groove of things and found my footing. I discovered these courses from my older sister who was essentially my academic advisor for the first semester. She helped me weigh my options out and figure out the best plans. Not only did she help me find classes to take, but she was also a huge resource for me whenever I found myself struggling in class. For incoming freshmen, the best strategy that they can use is to talk to old students and upperclassmen and ask for advice. A lot of times, upperclassmen and older students have more knowledge than any academic advisor and can give you the inside scoop on a class before you get blindsided by a terrible professor. Especially in some of these "Weed-out" classes, you won't always have the best options for professors so it's best to weigh your options and put yourself in the best position.
A relationship between an instructor and a student is comparable to a relationship between a parent and a child. Unlike the latter, an instructor for a course won't hold your hand and coddle you through coursework, but similar to the latter, an instructor is one of your greatest resources. One of my greatest successes in developing strong relationships with faculty members has been both this class (Scholars) and my English class (engl101s) from the fall semester. I have personally never been great at English and I didn't challenge myself in high school to try the AP English classes. As a result, I was stuck in college-level English for a semester and while I didn't necessarily enjoy the workload that it brought, I found it rewarding because of the relationship that I created with my professor. Although it wasn't necessary, I found myself trying to go to office hours and have Dr. K read my writing assignments and give me feedback. Through this, I was able to gain a relationship with him and he has seen my work ethic and in the future, I could potentially rely on him for a letter of recommendation. Similarly, in this class I found myself drawn towards Dr. Merck inorganically as I ended up doing my one-on-one interview and eating lunch with him on an excursion. This gave me a chance to get to know him and more importantly for him to get to know me as both a student and person. Incoming students can find these relationships by putting themselves out there and actually trying in their classes. If you try and fly by in your classes, you'll miss out on all of the opportunities that present themselves organically.
My relationship with fellow students helped me adjust to college life by providing me with support and an outlet for my problems. I'm grateful for these relationships because they have truly kept me sane in these tough times as all of us are going through the same struggles. The greatest obstacle in pursuing these relationships is making it past the awkward stage and introducing yourself to a group of people. It's not as easy as just walking up to someone and saying, "Hi, wanna hang out later," or "Hi, wanna study for that midterm together." But, once you get past that stage and realize that everyone is in the same boat as you, you'll have a much easier time adjusting. For incoming freshmen, be open to new experiences, and don't only stick with your friends from high school. It's a big school and there are a lot of opportunities for you to branch out and make new friends.
I was least prepared for midterms and finals. Going to Montgomery County Public Schools here in Maryland, I wasn't exposed to midterms and finals in high school or middle school and as a result, I didn't experience the same rigor that was expected in a college-level course. For prospective students in a similar situation as mine, I would recommend taking these exams seriously. Most of the time, these exams make up a large percentage of your grade and aren't retake-able. Lastly, showing your professors that you care about their course will go a long way. Most of these professors are really passionate about their subjects and take a lot of pride in what they teach. Staying engaged in class and participating helps show the professors that you are trying your best and could help you at the end of the semester if your grade ends up borderline.