Attending the University of Maryland is a unique and rewarding experience that offers students academic breadth and scope that cannot be found in most high schools. Throughout my time at university, I have discovered numerous interesting courses, developed strong relationships with fellow students and faculty members, and learned how to prepare for university academic life. In this essay, I will address each of these points and offer advice to incoming students on how to navigate these challenges.
The course that came as the greatest revelation to me was Intro to Engineering (ENES101). I had never taken an engineering course in high school, and I was surprised by how much fun the class was. In this class, you have to work as a team to build a vehicle, and by doing this, you will strengthen your group-work skills, critical thinking skills, and more. Though it was required for my major, I found out quickly that the class is worth taking even if you are not majoring in engineering. I recommend that incoming students take the time to read through the course catalog on Testudo, and explore courses outside of their major. They may be surprised by what they find, due to the immense amount of courses UMD offers.
Developing strong relationships with faculty members and students is one of the most important opportunities that a university can offer. My greatest success in developing these relationships was attending office hours and joining clubs. The greatest obstacle to achieving these relationships was to build up the courage to go to office hours, and to attend club meetings. Before, in high school, I never attended any clubs, so this year, it was difficult to get motivated to join one. However, when I did, I realized that it was one of the best choices I made. Clubs can help you make new lasting relationships and can help you find other students to befriend or to work with. I recommend that incoming students attend office hours and clubs, and take advantage of extracurricular activities related to their interests to find common ground with others.
Coping with the adjustment to university life can be challenging, but developing relationships with fellow students can make the process easier. My relationships with fellow students have enabled me to cope with the adjustment by providing a support system and a sense of community. The greatest obstacles to pursuing these relationships were the fear of rejection and the difficulty of finding subjects to talk about. The moving away part of university life surprisingly was not too bad, but talking to others was challenging at times. I recommend new students to branch out, and to find other students with common ground.
In retrospect, the aspect of university academic life that I was least prepared for was the workload. The amount of studying and writing required was much more than I had experienced in high school. If you found yourself cruising through high school, I can assure you that you cannot retain the same habits here at UMD. I recommend that incoming freshmen prepare for this by developing good time management skills and establishing a strong study schedule. They should also take advantage of resources such as study groups, tutoring services, and office hours to help manage the workload.
In conclusion, attending the University of Maryland can offer many unique opportunities and challenges. By exploring courses outside of their major, attending office hours and participating in clubs, developing relationships with fellow students, and preparing for the workload, incoming students can navigate these challenges successfully. It is important to take advantage of the resources and opportunities that the university offers to make the most of the academic and personal growth that can be gained during this time as a first year.