The Albin O. Kuhn (AOK) Library and Gallery is a prominent focal point on UMBC’s campus.

With comfy chairs and study rooms, a coffee/snack shop and sweeping campus views (check out the 7th floor!), the library is the perfect place to hunker down as you prepare for final exams and complete end of the semester assignments. Don’t believe us? Ask yourself some of the following questions:

Will your study sessions with classmates likely go into the late hours of the night? Not to worry! The Retriever Learning Center (RLC), located on the main floor of the library, includes a 24-hour group study space equipped with computers, comfortable seating and white boards.

Need some final pointers before your math final or editing suggestions on your last paper? The Math and Science Tutoring Center and Writing Center are also part of the RLC. 

Prefer to study alone in a quieter setting? Fear not! The library has 17 open study rooms that are open on a first-come, first-served basis.

That horrible moment when your laptop dies days before your final paper is due? You're saved! The library has loaner laptops available at the circulation desk.

Need a book for a project or research that our library doesn’t have? The AOK Library is actually connected to a network of other university libraries. Librarians can request materials from another library and have them sent to you free of charge.

And what's studying without a little caffeine or snacks (sweet or savory - your preference)? The new Einstein Bagels is located in the main atrium and ready to serve you when you need a break!

As you prepare for finals week, make sure to check the library website for information on extended hours (select the Library Hours link halfway down the page).

Written by OAPA Peer Advisor, Malaysia McGinnis, Class of ‘19.

The common stereotype of a middle child is exemplified in the sophomore year of college. It is the year where the school, the people, the academic life no longer feel new, but it is not quite old. The classes become a steady slew of assignments, studying, and cramming. This overwhelming feeling often gives rise to the “Sophomore Slump.” During this period, a lack of motivation, boredom, and anxiety about the future (and present) are at their peak.

Socially, the friends you made in the first year of college may no longer be the people you click with, or they are not the people you want to be around.

But recognize that there is nothing wrong with needing a different circle of people to feel right at home. Your group of friends can make or break your college experience, and it is important to keep friends that you feel comfortable and positive with around you.

With so many vibrant organizations on campus, you can try to meet new people, and gain some new experiences to shift your life’s perspective.

Additionally, as there is a general perception that you should make friends and connections to people “higher” than you (in terms of success, social prowess, etc.); it is also beneficial to make friends “across” from you. The lateral relationships you develop in college can result in a stronger mutual uplift.

Academically, you may realize your major is just not what you want, or you simply grow tired of learning the same subject. You may realize that you may not be in the right field, and you want to go through a complete revolution in your academic career.

This is okay. Take time to explore, and utilize any time you have outside of class to gain insight about what you want to do, including meeting with your academic advisor. Even if you are in the right field, maybe the 18 credits you took this fall in the same subject was just too much? UMBC is a liberal arts university, so you can balance out the GEP courses throughout your career to take classes that add a bit of diversity to your course load.

Sometimes it may seem as if everyone around you has it all figured out and are throttling into their success quicker. A word of advice: in college, no one has it 100% figured out. The journey to success and self-assurance is ever changing. So for those who feel late in finding out who they are, sophomore year is a great opportunity for growth.

Plain and simple, there is no one way, or right way, for a student to select a major. The process is unique to each student and many factors can influence the decision.

At UMBC, we want to support you in your journey to choosing a major. We believe this process is so important that we created a three-day event solely dedicated to major exploration: The MAJOR Event.

Have you already declared your major? Great! Still check out the following events to learn how to make the most of your academic major, including internship, study abroad, research opportunities, etc.

Monday, October 1

3pm – Fine Arts Building Recital Hall

Internationally recognized career expert, Dr. Don Asher, will give a dynamic talk entitled “You Can Major in Anything You Want: If and Only if You do These 5 Things in College.”

The first 55 students to attend will receive a free copy of Don Asher’s book!

4:30pm-5:30pm – UC Ballroom

Join us for a MAJOR Networking Event! Come play People Bingo to meet department/program alumni and student representatives and discuss how majors work in the real world.

Food will be provided.

Tuesday, October 2

1:00pm-4:00pm – Commons 318. 328, 329

What Can I Do with This Major? Several of UMBC’s unique academic programs will showcase ways to experience what it’s like to pursue a particular major. Featured programs will include: 

• Dental Hygiene
• Education
• Theatre
• Geography and Environmental Systems
• Individualized Study (INDS)
• Management of Aging Services
• Bioinformatics

This will also include a session on “How Do I Talk with my Parents About my Desired Major?”

Wednesday, October 3

10:00am-12:00pm – UC Ballroom

Majors Fair. Join us for a fun and lively opportunity to meet with faculty and staff representatives to explore and learn more about the vast and diverse majors at UMBC.

Free breakfast and a free t-shirt will be provided!

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Participants at any of our events will be entered into a drawing for a $100 UMBC Red Card Credit.

We hope to see you next week!

As a college student, you can use the summer to re-charge. It’s also a great time to reflect back on the academic year and re-focus for what’s ahead.

This doesn’t have to be a formal process. It also should not cause you to feel anxious or overwhelmed at what might have gone wrong. Instead, look at this time of reflection as a learning opportunity, and a change to better grasp how your time at UMBC is growing and shaping you.

So while you’re soaking up the sun this summer, here are some topics to reflect on:

Academically, what kind of year did I have?

• What were my successes and what were my challenges?
• Did I complete as many credits and courses as I had planned?
• Was there a particular class that gave me a new perspective?

Tip: Consider taking summer courses as a way to play catch-up or get ahead. Summer registration is still open and doesn’t require advising clearance. Remember, Finish 15 to stay on track!

From a social/extra-curricular standpoint, what was my involvement like?

• Did I get involved on or off-campus in activities/events that interest me?
• How did I do balancing your social and academic life?
• What are my biggest takeaways from getting involved? What lessons did I learn?

What is my current satisfaction and confidence level with my intended major of study?

• What aspects of my major am I enjoying and what uncertainties do I still have?
• How does what I'm studying impact my future career goals?
• If you are still undecided or are considering changing your major: what steps can I take to make progress towards a decision?

Tip: Check out the self-exploration resources online via UMBC’s Career Center.

Financially, where am I right now?

• How did I budget my money during the academic year?
• Do I have concerns about paying tuition or funding other aspects of college
• Am I aware of the financial tools and resources available to me as a UMBC student?

Tip: Explore the Financial Smarts @ UMBC website for great information on financing your education, living on a budget, and the concept of credit.

Finally, if you need support this summer, please know that UMBC is still up and running! While many faculty members will not be on campus, and staff might have limited hours depending on vacation schedules, campus offices are still open and available to assist students.

What does it really mean when someone says, “study abroad changed my life?” Can a semester outside of the United States really make that much of an impact on your future self? We unpack this commonly heard statement below by highlighting some scenarios that show how study abroad can lay the foundation for important life skills:

Independence

You are studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, a city with a complex public transportation system (seriously, look at this map!). You’ve only been in country for a few days. You have a 9:00am class and live in a part of the city where few people speak English- the metro is your only option to get to campus on time, but you haven’t taken it yet. You haven’t even bought yourself a metro pass! Oh yeah, and in your rush to get ready, you’ve misplaced your guidebook of the city. What do you think you would do in this situation?

Adaptability

You are studying abroad in Bangkok, Thailand. You’ve never traveled outside of the U.S. and are a commuter student at UMBC, living at home. You’re very comfortable with your lifestyle and routine. Bangkok, on the other hand, is significantly different than your life at home. Since being in the country, you have been served rice for breakfast, you have a hand-held water sprayer in your bathroom shower, and you just can’t seem to find the kind of deodorant that you are used to using. How do you think you would react to these seemingly small, but nonetheless, differences from your home life in the U.S?  

Cultural Competency

You are studying abroad in São Paulo, Brazil and staying with a host family close to campus. There is also an international student from France living with the family. A month into your stay, you are all sitting around the living room one night and a conversation forms between the French student and your host family regarding customs and traditions in Brazil versus France. Even though you’ve been thinking a lot about the cultural differences between Brazil and the U.S., you’ve been too timid to discuss them with your host family, because you’ve never had a conversation like this before with someone from a different cultural background. How do you think you’d approach this situation and what might you gain from having this type of conversation with your host family?

Independence, adaptability, and cultural competency are only a few examples of ways that study abroad can have a long lasting impact on a person.

It’s important to remember that studying abroad isn’t life-changing just because you went. In many ways, it’s what you do to carry your experiences and lessons-learned forward. For example, a person does not become culturally competent from one conversation- it takes multiple conversations and actions to develop this skill. It is an ongoing commitment to learning who you are and what your role in the world is meant to be. But study abroad is a great place to build this foundation.

If you’re starting to think study abroad might be in your future, we’ll end on three important tips to keep in mind as you consider whether or not study abroad is right for you:

• Study abroad is a learning experience. You will definitely have fun and there will be opportunities for relaxation; however, it is important to view it as a learning experience, not a vacation.  Challenge yourself with the classes you choose to take, make an effort to speak the native language, and try to gain as much knowledge as you can about the culture.
• There are varying levels of immersion. Different study abroad programs will offer different levels of cultural immersion. Conduct research and consider what level of immersion is best for you. Do you want to take classes in a different language or classes taught in English? Do you want to live with a host family or in an apartment with other U.S. students? Do you want to go on an exchange program where you are essentially by yourself, or with a group of other students?
• The earlier you plan, the less likely you’ll feel the financial pressure of studying abroad. Study abroad doesn’t have to break the bank, if planned properly. One of the benefits to waiting a few semesters before you go abroad is that you have enough time to save up money, not only for the initial tuition costs, but also for your in-country expenses. You can also talk to the Study Abroad Office about possible scholarship/financial aid opportunities.

UMBC’s Study Abroad Office: http://studyabroad.umbc.edu/

*In order to meet with a study abroad advisor, you must first attend a Study Abroad 101 Information Session*

These take place:

218 Administration Building

Mondays, 12-1pm

Thursdays, 3-4pm

Tips for Making Study Abroad Work for Any Major:

http://www.diversityabroad.com/study-abroad/articles/tips-for-making-study-abroad-work-for-any-major

Who doesn’t love scrolling aimlessly through social media accounts like @dogsofinstagram or @cats_of_instagram when you have some down time?

But did you also know that as a college student, you have valuable access to networking and job seeking opportunities through social media?

How much can you find out about a company in 280 characters or less (if they’ve got a Twitter account, that is)? Likely more than you think!

Many companies, organizations and universities are now connected to social media. Whether you are on the hunt for an internship, job, or exploring graduate school opportunities, following the social media accounts of places you’re interested in can tell you a lot about their mission, values, and community. This can first give you some insight into whether or not the workplace would be a good fit for you. Some companies and organizations might even use their social media accounts to advertise employment opportunities.

If you are preparing for an internship or job interview, the information you gather from social media can then be used to show that you’ve done your research and have a working knowledge of the company or organization’s practices and current ventures.

Having a LinkedIn account is a great way to connect with professionals working in the field you are interested in. Using LinkedIn, you can message professionals to set up informational interviews (i.e. - to learn about how they entered into the field or to learn more about their job). You could also use a site like LinkedIn to join interest groups and participate in online discussions related to your field of interest.

Twitter can also be a great networking tool, especially if you are headed to a conference or large event. Nowadays, conferences and events often have their own unique hashtag that participants can incorporate into their Twitter statuses. Not only does this enable you to see what other attendees are saying about the event, but it can also serve as a tool for scheduling meet-ups while the event is taking place.

If you’re going to leverage social media in this way, you want to make sure that your own online presence reflects who you are in a positive light. How can you do this?

1.       Participate!

Social Media done right is all about active participation. Don’t join only to sit back and passively scroll through other peoples’ posts. Add your voice and ideas to the mix!

2.       Brand Yourself

Tell people who you are and what you are about. Streamline your usernames to make it easier to search for you. Keep your bios concise, but make a point about your intentions. Make connections and post things that relate to who you say you are.

3.       Keep it Clean

Now a timeless rule in social media, make sure to conduct yourself professionally online. Think before you post- is this something you want your mom, professor, or future employer to see?

4.       Don’t Make it All About You

Go easy on the “selfies” and posts that only focus on you. Share a thought-provoking article. Advertise for an upcoming event in your local community. Re-post items from those you follow.

Upcoming Events:

LinkedIn Profile Checklist

LinkedIn UMBC Alumni Page

The Career Center will also review student LinkedIn accounts by appointment.

Check out and follow these UMBC Social Media Accounts!

Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising Instagram: @umbc_advising

Facebook

Instagram: @umbclife; @umbccampuslife

Twitter

Bonus Links:

45 Things to do on Social Media to Find Jobs by Erin Greenawald

https://www.themuse.com/advice/45-things-to-do-on-social-media-to-find-jobs

Study: Over 68% of Students Use Social Media in Internship Search by Michael Schramm

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/07/14/most-students-use-social-media-in-job-internship-search/

How to Brand Yourself on Social Media by Jasmine Sandler

http://www.fastcompany.com/3036488/hit-the-ground-running/how-to-brand-yourself-on-social-media