You often hear talk of the sophomore slump- a time where students can experience heightened uncertainty and lower motivation, in addition to second guessing choices they have made in their first year of college.
However, with all of the uncertainty the pandemic has brought to our lives, we recognize that this same type of slump is likely impacting students at all levels – a college slump, if you will.
Below we lay out strategies and resources for overcoming a challenging season in college.
Socially, you may be feeling isolated and/or disconnected from your friends. You may be craving peer interaction and support in ways you never have before.
It can be hard to take the initial step, but try mixing it up a bit.
Additionally, don’t forget that Campus Life offers opportunities for student engagement. Check out their myUMBC page or follow the Student Events Board (SEB)’s for a list of events. Many student organizations are meeting again in person or are still connecting online.
Academically, you may be feeling a lack of motivation to attend class or study. You may still face challenges in some of your online courses, as it may not align with your preferred learning style. You also may be questioning your choice of major and wondering if you should completely change your academic path.
Generally speaking, slumps are a normal part of any college experience. It may seem like everyone around you has things 100% figured out, but most certainly, that is not the case. It’s what you do in the midst of a slump that will set the course for your remaining time at UMBC. The solution is almost always to take some form of action, no matter how small the step. If making social or academic changes seems too much right now, perhaps a step in the direction of your mental health and well-being is a better fit. If that’s the case, we encourage you to visit University Health Services and Health Promotion or the Counseling Center for support.
]]>Welcome back Retrievers! We are excited to have our campus community connecting again in-person. Whether it is your first time joining us, or it’s been a long awaited return, it’s expected that the transition back to campus will impact students in different ways.
You may be apprehensive about returning or you may be ready to jump in full speed ahead. Wherever you are, it is okay! UMBC is prepared to support you and help ensure that your return to campus is a successful one!
Below are some tips as you start the fall semester:
Take care of your emotional and mental well-being.
First and foremost, it’s important to check in with yourself throughout the semester and prioritize your personal health.
The Center for Well-Being is located on Center Road between Chesapeake and Susquehanna Halls, The Center for Well-Being includes Retriever Integrated Health (University Health Services, the Office of Health Promotion, and the Counseling Center); Student Conduct and Community Standards; and the Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. It also includes the Mind Spa—a student space equipped for the practices of mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation—and an informal student meeting/lounge space.
You can also pay a visit to the newly renovated Retriever Athletics Center for a workout or facilitated class.
Proactively seek academic support.
While it may seem counterintuitive, seeking academic support before you encounter academic difficulty can help provide accountability and a solid foundation for tackling the workload you’ll face during the semester. The Academic Success Center offers a variety of support services, including appointment and drop-in tutoring, the Writing Center, academic success meetings, and much more.
Perhaps over the last year you’ve had time to reflect and are considering an alternative academic pathway. Advisors in the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising (OAPA) welcome the opportunity to discuss your academic plans, including any potential major changes you are considering.
Additionally, consider attending the 4th Annual Major Event, virtually, on October 20th. This is great opportunity to further explore your major options, or connect with faculty & staff in your selected academic department.
Connect with other students in a way that feels right to you.
Building relationships with your peers provides you with an invaluable support network as you navigate back onto campus.
One way to do this is by joining a student organization. This year’s Involvement Fest , on September 9th, is offered in a hybrid format with both a virtual and in-person component.
If you are living on campus, The Office of Residential Life is hosting a variety of programs throughout the semester. There is also programming through the Off Campus Student Services offices for commuter students.
Still unsure about larger gatherings? Don’t hesitate to keep up with virtual study groups, video game sessions or outdoor meetings with a few close friends.
One Final Note: Please call or check a campus office’s website prior to visiting in-person to check their current protocols. While all offices are physically open this fall, some may be operating in a different capacity due to social distancing measures.
Ultimately, give yourself the chance the take this transition at a pace that feels right to you. In trusting yourself, you are sure to adapt well to the return to campus. We hope your semester is a great one!
You are so close to earning your UMBC degree! Keep up the momentum!
If you've earned 90 or more academic credits, you received a message from the Registrar's Office informing you that you are eligible to apply for graduation.
However, eligibility is only the start of the graduation application process. Below are four simple steps you can take now to ensure that you’ll soon be celebrating the completion of your UMBC degree.
Note: Even if you do not plan to attend the commencement ceremony, you still need to apply to graduate in order to earn your degree.
Step 1: Review your Graduation Card
Once you’ve earned 90 academic credits, you will have access to a Graduation Card on your myUMBC Profile page. The Graduation Card is a personalized, step-by-step guide that will ensure a smooth process forward until you cross the finish line with your UMBC degree.
Please be reminded that UMBC confers baccalaureate degrees to undergraduate students who successfully complete a course of study that meets the minimum university requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree Completion Policy. Only those students who have every single requirement needed for degree completion (i.e., currently enrolled in all remaining courses and/or pending transfer credit to be sent to UMBC), will be permitted to apply for graduation and participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Step 2: Wrap up any outstanding details ASAP!
Step 3: Apply for Graduation
You should check your Graduation Card periodically to ensure that you are staying on track with all degree requirements as this will be the only way to access the application for graduation when the time comes. Please note that students may only participate in one commencement ceremony based upon the semester in which all degree requirements will be complete.
If you intend to complete all degree requirements by the end of the Fall 2021 semester, please note that Wednesday, September 15th is the last day undergraduates can apply for December Graduation by logging into the Graduation Card on the myUMBC Profile page.
Step 4: Let the celebration begin!
Participating in the commencement ceremony and other celebratory activities on campus is the culmination of all of your hard work. Take time to recognize all it took to get you to this moment and be proud of your accomplishments!
If you have any questions about the gradation application or review process please do not hesitate to contact the graduation team.
Before you know it, your undergraduate education will come to an end. You’re probably excited to say good-bye to papers, lab reports, and exams (unless you plan to attend graduate school)!
Learning does not have to end when you graduate; your educational journey could just be getting started.
Lifelong learning can come in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to:
Below are a few tips/resources to becoming a lifelong learner:
UMBC Graduate School: If you plan on pursing an advanced degree, look no further! Visit the Graduate School web site to learn more about our exciting program offerings!
UMBC Division of Professional Studies: Already have a job lined up but still interested in continuing your education? UMBC's Division of Professional Studies has courses, certificates and programs, designed to fit the busy schedule of the working professional. Check out some of the upcoming online events at our Main Campus or Shady Grove next month!
UMBC Training Centers: If you are looking to gain a new skill and need flexible and affordable options, you may want to visit our Training Centers. High quality, flexible professional education and training opportunities are available year-round! Some courses are open to all individuals (no application needed)!
Remain active: Clubs/organizations are available outside of college! A simple Google search will direct you to a variety of local activities where you can participate, take lessons from aerobics, to sports, to even learning a new language! Meetup.com is an excellent resource for connecting with people who share similar interests!
Build your brand: Our Career Center is not just for current students! Alumni can make connections through various services that the Career Center offers. Seek out professional development opportunities within your workplace, including conferences, workshops, mentoring programs, or leadership trainings. Now that you are in a real-world setting, there will be other skills you will need to learn!
Stay in touch: As your graduating class prepares to travel down different paths, you will have so much to offer one another as you gain further knowledge and life experiences. By staying in touch with former classmates, you may encounter opportunities to collaborate in work or network in a field different than your own. To start, you can join UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni, open to graduates of the last decade. Membership is free via the UMBC Alumni Association, which offers chances for networking and fun throughout the year. Also, participate in the Career Center’s new initiative Retrievers Connect – an “online platform that provides an opportunity for alumni to connect with each other support UMBC students, and connect with faculty and staff all in one space to support professional and career connections.”
Join our LinkedIn page to see where over 60,250 UMBC alumni are working!
Life after college is what you make of it. Keep an eye open to the countless experiences that are waiting for you outside of UMBC. Your very next lesson may be one that carries you through life!
]]>We see you. Your hard work and dedication to your academics does not go unnoticed. There are a variety of ways we recognize academic achievement at UMBC. This includes the Dean’s List, honor societies, the Honors College Medallion, and merit scholarships in your field. Read below to discover how your success in the classroom may be celebrated.
Academic Honors based on Semester Grades
The academic honor available to the largest number of UMBC students is completely automatic. Full-time students who achieve certain semester grade point averages receive a notation on their permanent UMBC transcripts as follows:
Semester Academic Honors = 3.50 and up
Dean’s List Honors = 3.75 and up
President’s List Honors = 4.00
The beauty of this recognition is that you get a chance at it every fall and spring semester. It is definitely a morale boost also and resume-worthy when you see one of these notations on your transcript. It places you among the most successful students at UMBC in a given semester.
Honor Societies-Multi-disciplinary
Honor societies may be identified by Greek letters, but they are not fraternities or sororities in the usual sense of “Greek life” on campus. Based on your academic performance at UMBC, you may be invited to join one or more of these organizations. You do not apply for membership. The most active honor societies on campus are:
Phi Beta Kappa: The big Kahuna of American scholarly honor societies, PBK was founded at the College of William and Mary back in 1776 (a big year for the American colonies!). To win a Phi Beta Kappa key, a student has to achieve very high grades in a course of study that includes courses across the liberal arts well beyond minimum general education requirements for a degree. A faculty committee here at UMBC evaluates potential selectees for Phi Beta Kappa honors. UMBC’s faculty and staff who were PBK members from their undergraduate days had to demonstrate the breadth and rigor of our academic program to establish a chapter of this prestigious honor society in 1998. This is one invitation you will definitely want to accept if offered.
Phi Kappa Phi: Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi honors high-achieving students in all disciplines, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The UMB-UMBC chapter was installed at UMBC in 2010 and is hard at work at creating campus presence. Phi Kappa Phi’s motto is “Let the love of learning rule humanity.”
Golden Key International Honor Society: Golden Key membership is extended to high-achieving students in all disciplines. The national and international organizations offer a large program of scholarships and awards open to members as well as regional and national conferences. UMBC’s award-winning chapter of Golden Key is well known for its extensive community service commitments, such as hosting an annual Halloween party for children at Villa Maria Children’s Center. A tutoring program at Arbutus Middle School is another project recently launched.
Tau Sigma National Honor Society: Founded in 1999 at Auburn University, Tau Sigma recognizes and supports talented transfer students at four-year universities. This society does require students who believe they meet the criteria to apply for membership. Membership is available to transfer students who achieve high-grade averages during their first full-time semester of enrollment at UMBC. The UMBC chapter was created in 2007.
Graduation Honors
Honors are based upon coursework taken throughout a student’s entire undergraduate academic career at UMBC. To be eligible for Honors, students must have earned at least 60 graded credits at UMBC (excluding Pass/Fail and Audit grades) with a GPA as follows:
Summa cum laude (“With highest honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.95 and 4.0.
Magna cum laude (“With high honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.75 and 3.9499.
Cum laude (“With honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.7499.
Visit the Registrar’s website for how graduation honors in calculated.
Academic Recognition for Varsity Athletes
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other external organizations sponsor a variety of awards recognizing the academic achievements of varsity athletes. UMBC athletes and whole teams regularly receive recognition for maintaining high academic standards despite demanding athletic schedules. Also, UMBC sponsors a chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society.
Academic Merit Scholarships
The great bulk of academic merit scholarships at UMBC are awarded to students at the time they are admitted to UMBC. However, there are some opportunities for students enrolled at UMBC to compete for scholarships based primarily on academic achievement, sometimes in combination with service and need. For example, UMBC sponsors a small scholarship for returning women students. The UMBC Alumni Association also sponsors scholarships for continuing students. The Honors College and the Ancient Studies Department have some study abroad scholarships. The UMBC Theatre Department provides modest scholarships to majors based on academic performance and service. An extensive listing of such scholarships is available.
These scholarships are as much a way for UMBC to recognize top students as they are a means of financial support. Applying for merit scholarships at UMBC is therefore very worthwhile, even if the amounts involved are modest. These scholarships come and go, so be sure to do careful research.
]]>You may have plenty of Instagram, Tik Tok and/or Snapchat friends, but are you connected with professionals within your career field of interest? Networking and developing relationships with professionals are some of the most effective ways to learn how to navigate your career path. Who knows - someone in your professional network may provide an opportunity for you to take your first or next career step!
Below are a few tips on how to leverage your social network to make professionalconnections!
Tip 1: Ask everyone for advice, ideas, leads and referrals
You may gain a lot of insight just by listening to the fascinating and inspiring career stories from professionals in your field. Many professionals (new and seasoned) are happy to talk about their career pathways with aspiring professionals just like you! Politely asking them if they could share a little time with you via phone, Zoom or email could open up the opportunity for you to discover key facts and details about someone who is “actually doing” the things you are considering doing in the future. Furthermore, they also might help you find “insider” opportunities for internships, part-time jobs or high-profile volunteering assignments.
BONUS: Listen to this panel discussion with UMBC alumni from the 2020 Major Event.
Tip 2: Create a professional email and/or professional networking profile
LinkedIn is a social network created primarily for building professional connections. Your profile serves as an interactive resume, where you can list your professional experience and educational credentials. You can join professional groups and search/apply for jobs. There are over 68,000 UMBC alumni currently on LinkedIn!
Tip 3: Start Connecting at UMBC!
The Career Center hosts networking events and job fairs on a regular basis (even now in our virtual format). Participate in informational interviews, Networking 101, LinkedIn 101 or join the UMBC-Alumni Student Networking Group on LinkedIn!
Now is the time to focus on your “Future Selfie”! In addition to building your personal brand, you can attend events/presentations, grab badges along the way, get connected to the rest of the world and explore professional options!
There are many career networking and professional mentorship opportunities available through the range of services, programs and initiatives sponsored by the Shriver Center – especially with respect to civic engagement and community based service delivery.
And Remember…
Follow up, follow up, and follow up (you get the point) – with your professional contacts! Whether it’s sending them an email every few months, or a message through LinkedIn, or placing a call to check in – it’s important to maintain all of the connections you make. They’ll be sure to come in handy when you are ready to make your next step! ]]>You are so close to earning your UMBC degree! Keep up the momentum!
If you've earned 90 or more academic credits, you received a message from the Registrar's Office informing you that you are eligible to apply for graduation.
However, eligibility is only the start of the graduation application process. Below are four simple steps you can take now to ensure that you’ll soon be celebrating the completion of your UMBC degree.
Step 1: Review your Graduation Card
Once you’ve earned 90 academic credits, you will have access to a Graduation Card on your myUMBC Profile page. The Graduation Card is a personalized, step-by-step guide that will ensure a smooth process forward until you cross the finish line with your UMBC degree.
Please be reminded that UMBC confers baccalaureate degrees to undergraduate students who successfully complete a course of study that meets the minimum university requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree Completion Policy. Only those students who have every single requirement needed for degree completion (i.e., currently enrolled in all remaining courses and/or pending transfer credit to be sent to UMBC), will be permitted to apply for graduation and participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Step 2: Wrap up any outstanding details ASAP!
If the major, minor, or certificate program listed in your graduation card is out of date, or if you have additional majors or minors that you need to add/remove, submit a new Declaration of Major form.
If you have Advanced Placement or CLEP scores or transfer credits from another institution please make sure that you have an approved Verification of Transferability Form on file and are prepared to submit the official scores/transcripts.
Step 3: Apply for Graduation
You should check your Graduation Card periodically to ensure that you are staying on track with all degree requirements as this will be the only way to access the application for graduation when the time comes. Please note that students may only participate in one commencement ceremony based upon the semester in which all degree requirements will be complete.
If you intend to complete all degree requirements by the end of the Spring 2021 semester, please note that Monday, February 15th is the last day undergraduates can apply for May Graduation by logging into the Graduation Card on the myUMBC Profile page.
Step 4: Let the celebration begin!
Participating in the commencement ceremony and other celebratory activities on campus is the culmination of all of your hard work. Take time to recognize all it took to get you to this moment and be proud of your accomplishments!
If you have any questions about the gradation application or review process please do not hesitate to contact the graduation team.
It’s finally here – Winter Break!
You worked hard this semester and it doesn’t go unrecognized. Now is the time to get some well-deserved rest and re-charge before the spring semester begins.
It’s easy to binge-watch your favorite tv shows or go down the Tik Tok rabbit hole, but we’d like to challenge you to do some things that will truly restore you during your winter break.
1. Catch up on Sleep
Did you pull more all-nighters this past semester than you would like to admit? Now is the time to re-establish some good sleeping habits.
2. Do some light brainstorming for next semester plans.
If you found yourself too overwhelmed and busy last semester, consider what activities you may need to let go of. On the other end, if you feel you had too much time on your hands, consider some clubs or activities you may be able to get involved in this spring. Many organizations are still meaning virtually and Campus Life continues to offer regular online programming for students.
3. Take time to reconnect with family and friends.
Tell your friends you cherish them! Keep your support system strong and growing into the Spring semester. FaceTime the elders in your family and learn more about your family history and heritage. This discovery about your family roots can be the inspiration you need to keep pushing forward when the going gets tough.
4. Eat a good meal! Or two. Or three...
Take a break from your typical college diet and use this time to enjoy some healthy meals. Check out these easy meals for college students.
5. Spend an afternoon exploring the great outdoors!
Yes, it’s a bit cold in the winter, but all you need is some winter gear to enjoy some fresh air and nature. If you call Maryland home, many of the state parks are still open. And if you aren’t feeling as adventurous, even a walk around your neighborhood can do a world of good!
6. Research a graduate or professional school.
Whether you are just starting to think about grad school or are actually working on applications, many schools are offering virtual fairs or meetings to prospective students.
7. Set up an informational interview with a working professional.
Find out what a profession is really like and make connections with people in your future field by conducting an interview unrelated to a job search. Sample question: “What are the most important qualities for an aspiring pilot/engineer/dance therapist?” Keep a journal to record notes from these experiences.
8. Update and upgrade your resume.
Opportunities sometimes come up quickly and you want to be ready with that polished resume. Every college student needs a polished resume!
9. Plan an independent research or creative project and prepare an application for the UMBC Undergraduate Research Award (URA).
The URA provides up to $1500 to support research expenses such as equipment, travel, and materials. Here is a link to the full details.
Summer internships can provide both $ and valuable experience. The more competitive internships have deadlines in fall, but some are still open in January-March. If you have already missed a deadline, get all the information so you can apply early next year. Some internships are open to recent college graduates.
10. Work on your graduation game plan.
Winter break is an excellent time to create, revise or update your plan. Here are suggestions for a pathway you can take for graduation, and it includes a worksheet to start the plans on! Don’t forget to refer to your myUMBC profile for more academic information!
]]>You often hear talk of the sophomore slump- a time where students can experience heightened uncertainty and lower motivation, in addition to second guessing choices they have made in their first year of college.
However, as we find ourselves in our second semester as a virtual community, and with the uncertainty the pandemic has brought to our lives, we recognize that this same type of slump is likely impacting students at all levels – a college slump, if you will.
Below we lay out strategies and resources for overcoming a challenging season in college.
Socially, you may be feeling isolated and/or disconnected from your friends. With little opportunity to connect these days, you may be craving peer interaction and support in ways you never have before.
It can be hard to take the initial step, especially if you are burnt out on video calls, but try mixing it up a bit.
Additionally, don’t forget that Campus Life is still offering opportunities for student engagement. Check out their myUMBC page or follow the Student Events Board (SEB)’s for a list of events, both virtual and socially distanced. Many student organizations are also staying connected online, whether through social media or virtual meetings.
Academically, you may be feeling a lack of motivation to attend class or study. You be challenged by virtual learning, as it may not align with your preferred learning style. You also may be questioning your choice of major and wondering if you should completely change your academic path.
Generally speaking, slumps are a normal part of any college experience. It may seem like everyone around you has things 100% figured out, but most certainly, that is not the case. It’s what you do in the midst of a slump that will set the course for your remaining time at UMBC. The solution is almost always to take some form of action, no matter how small the step. If making social or academic changes seems too much right now, perhaps a step in the direction of your mental health and well-being is a better fit. If that’s the case, we encourage you to visit University Health Services and Health Promotion or the Counseling Center for support.
Whether this is your first semester at UMBC or you were with us in the spring, it’s clear we are all still adapting to learning and connecting within a virtual community. Some days you may feel like you have a good handle on online learning, while other days may feel overwhelming. We understand and want to ensure you that this ebb and flow is normal!
UMBC’s faculty and staff are committed to ensuring you have all of the resources and support you need to have a successful semester. Yes, we are virtual, but similar to in-person learning, it’s often the extra steps you take to stay organized, manage your time, and utilize campus resources that influence the outcome of your semester.
We encourage you to check out The Academic Success Center’s Online Learning Resource website, which includes a series of videos and a link to an interactive module to prepare you for success.
The Division of Information Technology’s (DoIT) Learning Online website also includes some helpful information about how to make the most of the technology you are using for your classes.
If you are looking for a student’s perspective, see what some of our OAPA peer advisors have to say about how they’ve navigated online learning:
Note: Not all online classes are similarly structured. Some of your courses this semester may be synchronous, meaning you meet with the instructor and your class online at the same time, while others may be asynchronous, where your instructor provides you the course content to access at any time.
“Personally, I have found listing all the assignments I need to complete for the week on my laptop to be the most helpful to keep me organized. It can get overwhelming at times, but setting a schedule and planning the day can help tremendously. I've found myself doing assignments back to back just to get it over with, and it can be very draining. Make sure to give yourself breaks in between! The majority of my classes are asynchronous, so when I have a question, I've noticed the Blackboard discussion board [is] the most beneficial [way] to find the answer to my questions.” – Irene Thomas, Biological Sciences
“I keep in contact with other engineering students by utilizing the app Discord. It allows for different forms of chatting, including voice and text. Also, similarly to Webex, it allows you to share your screen with other people in your group. In general, communicating with other students, even outside my major, helps with this new online format and not feeling completely isolated during the semester.” – Tre Barr, Computer Engineering
“When it comes to synchronous classes, I have found one savior...alarms. Using calendars is a great way to schedule and divvy up your time, but when it comes to getting to a class on time from the comfort of your home (or wherever you're beaming in from) that can be tricky. Since this pandemic has started my sleep schedule is relatively non-existent, so having alarms go off throughout the day has been helpful--even if I'm already up it's very in-my-face.” – Jenika Brown, English
“Although most of my classes are asynchronous, something I found helpful to stay on top of work is that I try to do work for each class at that normally scheduled time. (ex: if anatomy was supposed to be from 10-11am, I do my anatomy work at home from 10-11am, even though there is no live lecture.) This helps me stay on top of all the assignments, and not wait till the last minute to do it all.” – Leah Mathews, Health Administration & Policy
Finally, it’s important to make sure you connect with your professor, academic advisor, or another member of your support network, early on if you find you are having difficulty with your online classes. This will ensure you get the help you need with enough time to get back on track.
If you would like to speak to someone in the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising, our advisors are available to meet via scheduled appointments. Additionally, if you would like to speak with one of our peer advisors, we now have a virtual front counter that can be accessed Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm.