Astronomy and Physics,
College Park Scholars-Science and Global Change Program
Activity Two: Freshman Time Capsule Essay
As we approach the end of the semester and then end of my first year at University of Maryland, I’m proud to say that I’ve done my best to make the most of my time here so far. While I’ve definitely struggled with some aspects of the college experience, overall I would consider this year a success.
The most surprising classes for me were Calculus two and Calculus three. Growing up, I went to very small, rural schools. The largest class I was ever in was a 25 person freshman english class. I’m very accustomed to small classes where frequent engagement and discussion with the professor were expected. Going from learning math in the background to walking into a 200 person lecture hall with people I don’t know was a huge culture shock for me and it made it very difficult for me to engage with the content. On top of that, these classes both cover notoriously difficult and complex topics, so it was a struggle for me to make it through them. Despite the surprising difficulty and environment, I was able to eventually succeed in both courses.
Incoming students from similar backgrounds, don't be discouraged! While taking these types of classes your first year at college might be intimidating, there are plenty of resources and faculty members who are here to help you. A big reason why I was able to make it through these challenging courses was because I had a lot of help from both my TA and Professor. Frequently going to office hours and participating in discussions helped me build connections with math faculty members, so when I was really struggling I was able to get personal help.
The main reason I was able to succeed throughout my freshman year was because I was able to rely on my friend for support. Coming into the school year I didn’t have a single friend on campus. My biggest piece of advice for incoming students who will be in a similar situation is to just put yourself out there and be earnest and kind when meeting new people. Every first year student is going to be nervous and shy, but the sooner you’re able to make new friends around campus and develop a strong social network, the better off you will be. Building relationships with people in your classes, especially in your major course, is essential for long term success. Studying in groups and doing practice problems together is a really great tool for mastering content and preparing for exams.
The aspect of college life I was the least prepared for was the time commitment for each class. I was definitely a procrastinator back in high school and I could generally get assignments done within an hour or two of their due date. I quickly learned that that wouldn’t fly at UMD. The amount of assignments I had each week was easily triple the amount of work I was used to previously. To adapt to this, I had to be much more proactive and organized with my time management. I had to start assignments days or even weeks ahead of when they are due. The system that works best for me is to put all of my assignments and due dates into the calendar on my phone and computer so that I never forget a due date and can get started on them well in advance.