Welcome to RetrieverNation!  As a transfer student, you bring tremendous collegiate experience with you, and we know this experience will serve you well as you continue your studies at UMBC.  We hope that you will extend beyond your classroom experience and explore all that UMBC has to offer. Below, we have highlighted just a few resources to assist you in your transition and help you make the most of your honors university experience.

Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) 

OCSS coordinates the Transfer Student Network (TSN).  TSN hosts events throughout the semester and is a great place to connect with other transfer students.  The OCSS staff are great resources for helping you get involved in leadership roles across campus! 

Academic Engagement and Transition Programs 

AETP is a great office to connect with if you want to ensure that you are on an Academic Pathway that works for you, or are trying to figure out a plan to make the most of your UMBC experience. AETP staff members enjoy hearing transfer students’ individual stories and learning about their goals and priorities. If you are a first-year transfer student, you may want to consider taking a Transfer Student Seminar (TRS) designed to assist in your transition to the UMBC Community.  

Academic Success Center

Through a coordinated approach and an unwavering commitment to student success, the Academic Success Center fosters a welcoming environment that provides a one-stop opportunity through Academic Policy, Academic Resources, and Academic Advocacy for students to achieve their academic goals and claim their future with a UMBC degree.

Undergraduate Research/Prestigious Scholarships 

If you would like to get involved with undergraduate research or want to learn more about prestigious scholarships such as the Rhodes, Truman, and Marshall scholarships, stop by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Workshops are available to all students who need getting started with their research.  

Career Center 

The Career Center is the place to go if you would like to connect with internship opportunities (many of which connect to our 70,000-strong global alumni community). The Career Center can assist you in putting together or refining your resume to start your internship search. They can also help you find an on-campus job, a summer position, or a permanent job after graduation.  

Shriver Center 

The Shriver Center can connect you with Service Learning experiences throughout the Baltimore area. Volunteering is an important way to give back but also can be a great achievement to highlight on a resume. 

THREE HELPFUL TIPS 

1. Start connecting with UMBC faculty, staff, and fellow students.  Create your UMBC network.  

2. Think about how you can build on the activities and experiences you participated in at your previous institution. 

3. Be open to fellow students who want to connect and network with you to learn about your experiences. 

BONUS INFORMATION 

If you have completed 15 or more credits at a community college and have not completed your Associate’s degree, we encourage you to explore our Credit When It’s Due initiative to learn more about the reverse awarding of the Associate’s degree:  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS AT UMBC 

OFFICE FOR ACADEMIC & PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISING  

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR  

TRANSFER STUDENT RESOURCE PAGE 

POLICY ON THE AWARDING OF UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER CREDIT 

Name: Shrijana Khanal

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Brookings Institution

Position Title: Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Economics

Current Class Level: Junior

Work Term: Summer 2019

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

This summer, I interned at The Brookings Institution, a think-tank in Washington, D.C. that conducts research in the social science field focusing on economics, foreign policy, governance, metropolitan policy, and the global economy. I was part of the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings. I worked as an intern under Senior Fellow John McArthur to conduct research, collect and analyze data regarding how powerful Canada is, in eight categories (Economic resources, Military capability, Resilience, Future resources, Diplomatic influence, Economic relationships, Defence networks, and Cultural influence) through the published work of the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index. I was able to replicate the Lowy Institute Asia’s methodology to calculate Canada's power score and finished a 10-page report, which detailed my research and the data mining process. At the internship, I also collected data for the Southeast Asia Korea US Aid Project. Lastly, I helped organize and plan the Brookings Blum Roundtable, an annual forum for global leaders such as John Allen and Madeleine Albright to explore various facets of global poverty with a focus on how technology and innovation promotes economic growth. 

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I heard about the position through different outlets: the Sondheim Scholars Program, Dr. Mitch (the department chair of the Economics Department at UMBC), and the Career Center. I applied through myUMBC, submitting my resume, transcript, cover letter, and writing sample around March. Afterwards, I completed a phone call interview with Brookings, which went well. Weeks later, I received an email instructing me to complete a background check and submit two letters of recommendation. Then, I finally got the offer letter!

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization? 

This internship has a very special place in my heart because it revealed the power of data and ignited my passion for data science and statistics. I became exposed to the power of big data and how I can combine my interest in economics and math. On a personal note, the other thing I enjoyed the most about my internship was the connections I made with my supervisor and my fellow interns. My supervisor was a great mentor who helped me become a better writer, a better researcher, and a better learner. He gave me a lot of insight into the directions that I could take my career. The friends that I made at the internship will remain in my life forever because we all learned a lot from each other and supported each other’s goals. And finally, living in the heart of our nation’s capital was a life-changing experience. D.C. is so diverse and I hope to work there one day!

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

At the beginning of my internship, I was feeling somewhat discouraged because I could not see the big picture of my project. However, through the amazing mentorship of my supervisor and the connections I fostered with the other interns, I was able to see the impact of my work by talking more about my research with others and seeing other indexes like the Global Hunger Index or the Human Development Index, which portrayed similar work. Through my research about Canada, my supervisor will be able to see the strengths and weaknesses in Canada's power, which will help dissect Canada's role in the US-China Trade war. 

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

I would tell everyone to network, no matter how uncomfortable it may make you feel. 

And to remember that the 9AM-5PM lifestyle might take you a while to adjust to; therefore, prioritizing self-care is just as important as focusing on your professional growth. 

Like the Career Center on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

#UMBCintern

Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!

Welcome to UMBC Scholarship Retriever!

On their website you will find a listing of scholarships available to students with brief information about the scholarship qualifications. To apply to scholarships:

1. You must first sign in with the same user name and password you use to access your My.UMBC.edu login portal.
2. Complete the General Application.
3. Once submitted, if applicable, you will be notified if you are eligible to apply for additional Apply-To Scholarships.

For more information click on the link to the website below!

Happy Saturday everyone! 

This is a beautiful day to acknowledge some of our hard-working UMBC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance  (VITA)  participants for the 2019 tax preparation season:

Brevin Franklin - Highest Volunteer Hours

Javonnah Ford - Highest Savings Bond Sold

Michael Bugg - Highest Refund to Taxpayer
Aissata Diallo - Most Tax Returns Prepared
Sumayyah Mahdi - Most Complicated Tax Return Prepared

Last but not least, we want to recognize Sherrie Brun, who was awarded the VITA-L award by Cash Campaign of Maryland!  This award recognizes volunteers who were critical to VITA operations. 

UMBC VITA volunteers also have the opportunity to earn two different badges that can be highlighted on social media pages like LinkedIn! 

Name: Rusif Eyvazli

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Food and Drug Administration

Position Title: Student Trainee (Administrative Support)

Major(s)/Minor(s): Computer Science, Mathematics Minor

Current Class Level: Junior

Work Term: Summer 2019

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

This summer, I started my internship with the Pathways Program at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is an administration that is responsible for protecting public health. It is still an ongoing opportunity. My day-to-day responsibilities are to make sure that my learning objectives are met by completing the given tasks by my mentors. Those tasks include scaling applications that are written in Java and C++ on HPC clusters, understanding and analyzing the given data and creating a sample of it, and generating comprehensive performance graphs with non-trivial plots using given data on Python to analyze HPC Cluster systems that help applications run faster. 

I also have to regularly share my progress with my mentors, get feedback on projects, and update the FDA Wiki page to make it accessible for others.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I discovered this position through USAJOBS. I had previously received a lot of interview and resume training through workshops and professional development sessions. I had my resume reviewed by Jennifer Heilman from the Career Center and worked on a 30-second elevator pitch with her as well. 

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization? 

I have enjoyed being able to learn more about the computer science industry and develop new skills throughout my day-to-day work. I have also enjoyed meeting people who have helped me foster these skills and be successful throughout the internship. 

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

I would advise students seeking employment to network! Be sure to make those connections and gain knowledge by communicating with other people. Sometimes the best way to get a foot in the door is to sneak in with someone else. Also, the Career Center is a great tool to help jump start your career, so take advantage of those resources!

Like the Career Center on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

#UMBCintern

Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!

Connect with Rusif:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rusifeyvazli

Personal Website: https://eyvazlirusif.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram: @rusif.e99

Written by OAPA Peer Advisor, Jenika Brown

Stressed over your grade, or that oh-so important GPA? You know who’s great at alleviating that stress…your professors. It’s easy to forget that the person teaching in front of the class has been through some variation of what you’re going through right now as a college student. Your professors make the best study partners and are some of the best relationships you could leave college with. Get to know your professor and allow them to get to know you. All you have to do is connect. Want to know how? Keep reading!

How to Connect:

Set-up a Meeting

• Utilize your Professor’s office hours! The sole purpose of these hours are to help you outside of class. Whether it be an assignment you’re confused about or a simple check-in on your progress in the class, you’d be surprised at the kind of insight you can gain from a one-on-one session.

• Our busy schedules as students don’t always allow for an in-person meeting…that’s why we have technology! Corresponding through email, is better than no correspondence at all. Anything you would ask in an in-person meeting can be translated to email.