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

College life is full of financial scenarios you might see in the real world. Taking out student loans, paying bills and managing expenses and saving money all require strategic planning and decision making.

Your financially savvy Extra Credit team has provided some tips and resources for saving money and building a solid financial foundation:

UMBC Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships – http://financialaid.umbc.edu/

Financial aid can come in the form of grants, work, student loans, parent loans, scholarships and other awards. A counselor is available to help walk you through your options.

 UMBC's Payment Plan – http://sbs.umbc.edu/payment-plan/

UMBC's Monthly Payment Plan (MPP) can help you budget your out of pocket costs not covered by financial aid. The plan enables you to pay tuition and fees as well as university room and board on an installment basis.

 Financial Smarts @ UMBC - http://financialsmarts.umbc.edu/

This site provides students with information about credit, budgeting, investing, job seeking and other finance-related topics. Includes videos and links to relevant sources. For ongoing announcements and updates on financial education and literacy opportunities at UMBC, join the Financial Smarts myUMBC Group at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/financialsmarts

 Rent your textbooks:http://bookstore.umbc.edu/SiteText.aspx?id=20462

Not all textbooks are available to rent, but for those that are, this can significantly cut down on your book budget for the semester! Renting can often be a good option for your non-major courses.

 Carpool with Zimride: https://www.zimride.com/umbc

It’s simple, carpooling saves on gas. UMBC has partnered with Zimride by Enterprise to help connect you to other UMBC students in your area who are looking to carpool.

 360 Degree of Financial Literacy - https://www.360financialliteracy.org/Life-Stages/College-Students

Financial education is a lifelong endeavor. This web site offers general information for managing personal finances and developing money management skills.

Some other tips include:

• Using an app to manage your money – There’s an app for that! Online Banking, websites like Mint.com, and budgeting spreadsheets can provide you with plenty of ways to keep your finances organized.

• Keeping an eye out for student discounts – From museums, to movie theater tickets, to cell phone plans --- don’t hesitate to ask retailers and businesses if they offer student discounts!

• Planning for big expenses in advance - Putting a little money aside each pay check will help you avoid the strain of having to decide between splurging on an afternoon at the mall or paying for school expenses such as text books or meal plans.

• Being conservative with credit cards – Having a credit card or two can be good if you use them strategically. Start by maintaining one card and make at least one charge to it every month, such as gas or groceries.

And for fun:

Weekly Run-Down of Free or Cheap Entertainment in Baltimore - http://baltimorecollegetown.org/explore-baltimore/weekly-cheap-and-free

Do you have some financially savvy ideas you would like to share? Feel free to post them below!

Transferable Skills Mind Meld

Whether you are destined to graduate this Spring or heading warp speed into the final frontier of your UMBC academic experience, we aim to provide you with what is perhaps one of the most critical job search and graduate school admission concepts that students must grasp by or before graduation.  The concept of “transferable skills” is really quite logical when you break it down into simple terms.  Leading edge employers and graduate schools have very specific skills, aptitudes and personal values they are seeking in finalist candidates.

Your Mission 

Your mission is to provide concrete examples in cover letters, resumes, essays and interviews of how you:

•  genuinely possess these traits and skills
• strategically illustrate how your traits and skills TRANSFER to the specific goals and objectives of each employer or graduate/professional school  

Universal Translator of Transferable Traits and Skills 

Fortunately, the most important traits and skills are universal across the galaxy and almost all professional fields.   Here are the big ones according to career development specialists - Randall and Katherine Hansen: 

Human Relations:

Transferable skill example: As a resident assistant at UMBC you were able to develop rapport and actively listen to your residents while cooperating with other members of your community, collaborating and sharing accomplishments with fellow staff, and ultimately asserting authority when it was required.

Communication: 

Transferable skill example: As an SGA senator at UMBC you spoke effectively on behalf of your student constituents, facilitating group discussions regarding various areas of concern.  Throughout your term of service, you negotiated with and persuaded University administrators by expressing your ideas, providing appropriate feedback, and reporting information on a monthly basis.

Planning & Research: 

Transferable skill example: As a Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) Scholar, you identified problems associated with your mechanical engineering team project, gathered information about possible improvements in design, analyzed additional data, and imagined further alternatives.

Organization, Management and Leadership:

Transferable skill example: As the Vice-President of the Pre-Pharmacy Society, you initiated new ideas about the scope and nature of programs, handling details associated with securing new guest speakers, coordinating high level task and delegating other responsibilities to other officers.

Work Survival:

Transferable skill example: As a Peer Student Advisor in the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising, you accepted responsibility for helping to enforce policies of the University.  Moreover, you enlisted the help of your fellow staff members (peer and professional) in the implementation of programs and delivery of critical services. 

RESOURCES – SERIOUS & FUN

Transferable Skills Sets for Job Seekers

How to Identify Your Transferable Skills

Career Center 

The Shriver Center

Star Trek: Discovery

The International Star Trek Fan Association - Starfleet (sponsors of scholarships!)

The end is in sight! 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 shaking hands with President Hrabowski as you receive your UMBC diploma.

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: Apply for graduation!

Thursday, February 15^th is the last day undergraduates can apply for May Graduation.

Only those students who have every single requirement needed for degree completion on their spring semester schedules will be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Step 2: Review your degree audit!

Your degree audit indicates your progress toward degree completion. If you see “unsatisfied” items, these are requirements that appear to be missing and need to be addressed immediately. Your degree audit is located on myUMBC, under the guide link “Advising and Student Support.”

Makesure any substitutions or waivers of major requirements are documented in your degree audit; you may need to submit a Help/RT ticket to the Registrar’s Office to add these notations to your record.

Step 3: Wrap up any outstanding details ASAP!

If you have Advanced Placement or CLEP scores, transfer transcripts or other items you need to provide to UMBC, delay no longer!  If the major, minor, or certificate program on your record is out of date, or if you have additional majors or minors that you need to remove, submit a Declaration of Major form.  

If you are taking a course at another institution that you plan to transfer, you must have a Verification of Transferability form on file with the Registrar’s Office and be prepared to submit a copy of your schedule.  Any of these items could prevent you from being able to graduate, making it seem as though you are not finished with your degree requirements.

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!

Finally, use the link below to determine the criteria for Honors Eligibility.

HANDY LINKS  

University Honors 

Verification of Transferability Form 

Declaration of Major Form