Going away to college is a big part of anyone’s life. You’ve graduated from high school, packed your things and now you’re off to see what’s in store for you at the University of Maryland! Starting fresh at a big school is scary — I know — but it will be the greatest time of your life. Here are the five things you need to make your time here at UMD meaningful and unforgettable!
1. School Spirit
Start racking up that school spirit right away, because you’ll need it! UMD is known for its overwhelming support for its sports teams and Maryland pride. School spirit comes in many forms — it’s not uncommon to see a Maryland flag hanging over the window in a freshman dorm. But, if you want to have more traditional school spirit, the UMD bookstore carries what seems like endless collegiate merchandise including backpacks, clothing, bumper stickers and even Christmas ornaments. School spirit is what brings us all together despite our various interests and social groups.
2. Friends
College is an experience, and you need friends to share it with! Friends will be there for you when things get tough — because they do. They’ll be your cheerleaders when you need it. College can be a lot to handle because you’re on your own for the first time in a pretty unfamiliar place. You’ll need to surround yourself with people who care about you. Luckily, UMD makes it easy to find friends!
There are plenty of clubs and organizations on campus as well as Greek Life, that allows students to make connections and build relationships that last a lifetime. During the first week of classes in the fall, there’s the First Look Fair, which is basically every UMD club and organization advertising itself and recruiting new members. There is also a period of time each semester when students can rush sororities and fraternities. UMD has a great social scene, and it’s easy to put yourself out there. Once you have your college friends, they’ll be your friends forever.
3. Self Control
As I said before, college is new and exciting. You’re experiencing things you haven’t before without parents around to control you. It’s really important that you know your limits and stick to them. It’s easy to fall victim to peer pressure, drink too much or stay out too late on a Thursday night. You deserve to have fun but not at the expense of your physical health or education. As a freshman, you’ll find posters all over your dorm that read “don’t sleep through an exam because of a hangover.”
4. A Four Year Plan
Let’s remember the real reason you’re headed to UMD — for a quality education. During your first semester, make sure to check in with your advisor and make your four-year plan. Take it seriously! It’s easy to think that graduation is so far down the road that you don’t need to worry about planning for it but rest assured, you do. Your four-year plan will keep you on track to graduate and hopefully allow for you to add in courses for a minor or just for fun!
There’s a superstition on campus that if you step on the point of failure, where all the cracks intersect, you won’t graduate in four years. I like to think of myself as a realistic person, but I still step around it every time. Use your four-year plan, and avoid the point of failure at all costs!
5. An Open Mind
There is so much to learn from your college career. You find your interests, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses — you find yourself. But you can’t do that without being open to new ideas. I started at UMD as a biological sciences major, and I’m graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in government and politics. I never in a million years thought I would change my mind from the career goals I had when I started, but UMD opened so many doors for me that I never even knew existed.
Keep an open mind and you might find yourself doing something you absolutely love whether that be advocating for a cause you believe in or even starting your own nonprofit. If you do college right, you’ll leave with a brand new perspective on the world.