Written by Irene Thomas, UMBC '21

College is a time for self-discovery and personal growth. Part of that self-discovery comes from deciding what you see yourself doing in the future, which can be challenging. You may think, "But that's so far away," or "I'm too young to be thinking about that"- although that may be true, having an idea of what you see yourself doing in the future will help you be as academically successful as you can be here at UMBC.

Consider these "Do's" and "Don'ts" for choosing a major:  

"DO's" for Choosing a Major: 

Get to know all the majors available at UMBC. 

Some major fields may be utterly unfamiliar because they were not taught in high school. Individualized Study (the "build your own major" major), Public Health, Geography, and Environmental Systems, and Business Technology Administration are interesting majors students may not have been aware of before arriving at UMBC. There's no harm in looking through the list - you never know what you might find! 

**SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT** 

One timely way to explore UMBC's diverse majors is to attend our upcoming Major Event on November 16! 

Educate yourself on potential majors. 

Talk to an advisor or current students in the major you're interested in so that you can get a better understanding of the potential courses and paths you may want to pursue in your selected major. Researching on your own is highly recommended, as well. 

List 5-8 possibilities based on your interests and aptitudes. 

Take courses that are steered towardthe potential majors you have chosen. Read the entire catalog sections, all the course descriptions, faculty bios, and any other information about these majors on the Department websites. 

"DON'Ts" for Choosing a Major: 

Don't let anyone else choose your major for you. 

Your parents, friends, and siblings all have ideas about what you should major in, and it is okay to listen to their insights, but ultimately it is essential to make your own choice. You are the student, and you are making the decision that could affect your future career trajectory (at least in the short run – many people change careers throughout their lifetime!). 

Refrain from assuming that a college major will necessarily lead directly to a specific type of job. 

The skills acquired from college are of a general nature that can be applied to many different professional settings. The workforce is full of people whose undergraduate majors only have an indirect relationship to their positions. 

Don't stick with a major when it is clear that you are performing poorly in the required courses. 

If you notice your grades are low in your major, this may indicate that it is inappropriate. Consider other options in which you can be more successful!

If you think you need extra support in major exploration, The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising is always here to assist you! Students are always welcome to set up an advising appointment with an OAPA advisor.

Helpful Links

• Your adjustment to college
• Major and career choices 
• Course selection  
• Long-term academic planning 
• Academic difficulty 
• Academic "extras" such as minors, internships, education abroad, etc. 

• Departmental Advising -Main Campus 
• Departmental Advising -Shady Grove 

• Develop and update your degree plan 
• Check your degree progress  
• See how coursework transferred over from your previous institution 
• Access suggested four-year pathways for completing your degree program 

• How am I doing in my major?  
• Do I need to make any changes or seek academic support next semester?  
• How long will it take me to complete all my coursework?  
• Does my academic plan contain all my GEPs, upper-level credits, and writing intensive?
• Should I plan to take a winter class? 
• Are there other topics I'm interested in exploring by adding a minor or certificate program? 

Whether you are enrolled in online, hybrid or in-person classes, building relationships with your professors can greatly impact your satisfaction and overall success in a course. But with larger class sizes and less frequent class meeting times than in high school, you may be tempted to think that initiating a conversation with your professors is challenging or daunting. 

However, we are here to tell you that it is quite simple and absolutely something that professors want you to do! Just having the assurance that your professors know who you are by name can make all the difference in your motivation and feelings of connectedness to your courses. 

Additionally, building connections may open the door for future support/opportunities, including:

• Serving as a teacher’s assistant
• Independent Study/Research
• Letters of recommendation for professional or graduate school 

Below are some easy ways to get started and tips for doing so! 

How to Connect: 

Stop by During Office Hours 

Utilize your professor’s office hours! The sole purpose of these hours is to help you outside of class. Whether it be the 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 one-on-one sessions. 

Office hours or 1:1 meetings may or may not still be held virtually at this time. Refer to your class syllabus to determine where and when these hours are held.  

Helpful Tip: Many professors are willing to set up meetings with you on days, and at times, outside of their listed hours to better accommodate you. Some professors with challenging schedules are willing to have meetings via phone call. Just take the initiative to ask.  

EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL! 

 Our busy schedules as students don’t always allow for a 1:1 meeting. Connecting through email is better than no correspondence at all. As a courtesy, please allow for a 24-hour response time. It may take a bit of back and forth to get your questions answered, but in the end, you should still be able to get the assistance you need. 

Note – Your emails should include an initial greeting, your name, Campus ID,  what class you are in (sometimes professors are teaching multiple courses/sections), and a respectful closing.  

When to Connect: 

· Don’t wait to set up a meeting until you are struggling in a course. Connect early in the semester! If there are extenuating circumstances, including student-athlete travel schedules or accommodations you receive through Student Disability Services, these are helpful things to let your professor know about at the beginning of the semester.  

· When emailing, try to stay within the frame of typical business hours or their office hours if possible—you may get a faster reply this way. 

 After You Connect: 

· Follow up with your professor after your sessions. Whether it be an assurance that you are implementing their advice correctly—or to say thank you—following up with your professor shows you care and makes the relationship one of reciprocity. 

Network: 

· Attend departmental events or other campus events your professors promote in class to establish a relationship that surpasses the classroom and discover new interests.  

• Make sure all your degree information is up-to-date and that you are aware of all remaining graduation requirements  
• Submit a declaration of major form to update your major, minor, or any other programs 
• Make sure that you have a plan to finish not only all 120 credits but also that your degree includes all 45 upper-level credits  
• Check to see that you have finished all GEP requirements or make sure your remaining semesters include plans to finish these requirements. If you still have a language 201 class, science with lab or last culture class, or any missing upper-level credits, now is the time to plan to get them done! 
• Use UMBC’s Winter session to get GEP course or major elective done – the winter schedule will be available for viewing starting on Sept. 12th 

• Re-check any transferred courses or AP/CLEP test credit, especially if you are using them to fulfill GEP or major electives. You can view your Transfer Credit Report in your myUMBC profile. 
• Submit a Course Review Form if you need to get any courses re-evaluated – to do this, be prepared to submit a syllabus of the transferred class.  
• Submit any updated transcripts to the registrar’s office.  
• Talk your courses over with your advisor If you have any questions about your transfer credit and how it can be used to fulfill degree requirements.  

• Get additional insights from your advisor about how to plan out your remaining requirements and brainstorm your post-graduation plans  
• Revisit advising notes in your myUMBC profile for summaries of previous advising sessions to make sure you are keeping all advising recommendations in mind as you finish your degree.  

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou  

And just like that the spring semester has come and gone but you’ve made it!   

We know this year brought on a new type of adjustment for many students, returning to campus and in-person learning. We see you out there working hard and moving forward! 

As the spring semester winds down, we encourage you to approach the summer season as a time to RESET with some well-earned rest and reflection. Recognize the growth and development that took place over the entirety of this past year and be proud of your accomplishments. Take some time to celebrate your wins, big and small!   

We also are aware some of you may have faced challenges and obstacles over this past year. Take this opportunity to develop new goals and/or strategies that will better position you for the road ahead. 

Again, we congratulate you for all you have accomplished this semester. We hope you use the following months as a time to keep moving forward towards your goals. It is never too late to reassess your plans and set yourself up for success. Never forget that we are here to help you make it happen!

• meeting and engaging with new people 
• traveling 
• community involvement 
• reading and keeping up to speed on current events 
• pursuing career opportunities, certificate programs, and picking up new hobbies!  

Social media is most likely part of your daily routine and can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family. But how can you also use social media to maximize your own college experience? 

We checked in with UMBC Alumna Frankie Cerquetti ’14 (B.F.A, Intermedia) for some insight on how to engage more meaningfully online. Frankie co-owns Storia Studio, a company that specializes in branding photography and videography for small businesses.

Her pro-tip? Treat engaging on social media like networking an event: “I am a firm believer in the power of one. One person. One conversation. One lead. If we begin to treat social media as a networking event, it might give us a fresh perspective. Let’s focus on the quality of meeting that one person instead of trying to appeal to hundreds or thousands. Let’s look at social media as a place to build community and exchange our passions!” 

So how can you use social media usage for academic and networking purposes? Here are some tips for you to think about! 

Get to know the UMBC community 

Many UMBC offices and organizations have their own active social media accounts. You can follow a UMBC office or organization to learn more about the services they provide or exciting opportunities for students. And many also welcome DMs (direct messages) from students regarding any questions or concerns. This can be an interactive and approachable way to connect with different groups across campus! 

Check out some of these UMBC social media accounts:  

 UMBC Life  

UMBC Campus Life  

SEB (Student Events Board)  

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships  

Career Center  

UMBC Athletics  

UMBC Academic Success Center  

Network with potential employers 

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 about its mission, values, and community. This can give you some insight into whether a place would be a good fit for you. Some companies and organizations might even use their social media accounts to advertise employment opportunities. 

Suppose 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. - learn about how they entered into the field or learn more about their job). You could also use LinkedIn to join interest groups and participate in online discussions related to your field of interest. 

Learn more about LinkedIn and how you can use it effectively as a college student here. 

You can also check out Retrievers Connect, a networking platform just for UMBC students and alumni. In partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement, the Career Center has launched this platform to connect alumni with students to foster the career success of the UMBC community. You will have the chance to learn from those who have been in your shoes, discover industries and trends, and possibly get feedback on your resume and interviewing skills. These connections could provide you with an inside look into internship and career opportunities. 

Use social media for research and collaborative purposes 

Do you need to conduct research for your class? Whether posting qualitative questions you want students to respond to or sending out a survey link, consider using social media to help you get responses from a larger group of people in a shorter amount of time – just be sure to check ahead of time to make sure your professor is okay with you using this method to gather information! 

Additionally, suppose a class assignment requires community-based work or research. In that case, you can use social media to help you connect and network with local organizations that may be able to assist you. The use of social media in education is an especially engaging topic right now amid the increase in online learning and examining trends on social media or using social media as a tool for collecting data could give projects an interesting angle!

Beyond class assignments, social media can be a great way to collaborate with your classmates and make studying more efficient. Platforms like Facebook and services like Google Drive and Box can help you create study groups, organize class materials, and share resources. 

It seems that more and more, social media has the potential to help you engage with your professional connections as you navigate your time in college and beyond. We hope this helps you realize just how many ways you can use social media to your advantage! What are some other ways you use social media to build meaningful community online?