Clicking on the submit button for my confirmation of my commitment to the University of Maryland, my fantasies of the changes, experiences, and opportunities of my potential college life soon filled my mind and continued through the summer. I completed my preference for a scholars program, and while at the time, it was the least of my worries of which program I would get into, it soon became a very important one. As senior year progressed and summer soon followed, more and more updates from UMD came out. I had found a roommate, I was going to be living in Centreville Hall, I'm talking to future college friends online, I scheduled my classes already, I was in the Science and Global Change program. All these thoughts filled my head while a picture of a perfectly balanced academic and social life in college began to blossom. I imagined high grades, a thriving friend group, and most importantly, having fun.
July soon passed and then came August. Once on campus, I quickly made new friends and my first few days of university were going pretty smoothly. One major event that stuck in my mind was service day for scholars. I did not expect to be so involved with the community surrounding campus. It was interesting and fulfilling to see my actions directly help with the environment. Similarly, the excursions that were required for scholars were different from the typical school field trips I had imagined. The excursions were interactive and it provided a way to absorb information in an entertaining way. Likewise, the scholar's lecture was also different than I had expected. Since the science and global change program's name suggested topics of climate change, I had expected to cover a lot of content about that. That was expected, but what was not was the additional lectures on types of fallacies and the topic of plagiarism. One thing that I had expected to cover more that the lectures did not was a more in depth topic of the prehistoric era of dinosaurs since the'global change' part of scholars convinced me to think so. Overall, the Science and Global Change scholars program brought me unexpected highlights to my college experience including directly making an impact on the environment, gaining valuable knowledge that are applicable to my other courses, and most significantly, the friendships I curated through scholars.
Because of the scholars program, I ended up in Centreville Hall. Living in Centreville Hall has been both exciting and challenging. The convenience of living on campus allows easy access to classes, dining halls, and social events, but it also comes with the adjustment of sharing living spaces and balancing personal responsibilities. Compared to my high school vision of college life, the reality has been a mix of expectations and surprises. While I had anticipated a high level of academic rigor and opportunities to make new friends, I did not fully grasp how quickly time would pass or how independent I would need to be. I learned that college life is dynamic where it is filled with opportunities for growth, but it also requires careful time management and self-discipline to keep up with academic and social commitments.
Excluding CPSG100, my classes are structured quite differently than I expected. High school classes typically involved consistent homework and frequent quizzes, but many of my college courses focus heavily on a few large exams or projects. I was also surprised to see that many different professors had different teaching styles. Some professors rely on lectures, others incorporate interactive activities, discussions, or other resources. The amount of independent study required to succeed was greater than I had anticipated. Additionally, while I knew grading would be more performance-based, I was surprised by the leniency of some professors when it comes to late assignments and the flexibility provided for accommodations.
Outside academics, adjusting to college life brought both difficulties and rewards. The transition to living independently came with unexpected challenges, such as managing laundry, budgeting, and prioritizing health amidst a busy schedule. However, in my opinion, the benefits far outweigh these obstacles. I discovered confidence in handling responsibilities, and the friendships I developed became a strong support system that I would have never expected to have. The highlight of my semester was exploring campus events, such as sports games and club activities, which provided a break from academics and an opportunity to meet people with similar interests. Additionally, I enjoyed being able to hang out with friends more often than in high school.
To future SGC students, my advice is to embrace the opportunities offered by the program. Participate actively in excursions, engage with the material in lectures, and connect with your peers as it will make your experience much more enjoyable. Time management is a major factor in college, so create a schedule early and stick to it to make it a habit. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to professors, advisors, or classmates if you need help, whether it’s academic or personal as I have found that seeking help is beneficial more often than not. Finally, make the most of your time on campus by exploring new interests and balancing your studies with fun and relaxation.
In summary, the semester has been an exciting mix of anticipated and unexpected experiences, all of which have contributed to my personal and academic growth. College life may not perfectly match the fantasy I envisioned, but it has proven to be a valuable experience of discovery, learning, and connection.