Why did you choose to attend UMD?

 I had heard nothing but good things about the school and it was actually the only school I applied to. I wanted a big school with a great reputation for academics, sports and a social scene.

What do you like most about UMD?

The friends I made there and the sheer size of the school. No matter what you’re interested in there’s probably a club or some people who would like to be in one. It’s a hugely diverse campus with a ton to offer anyone.

What did you like most about living in College Park?

The school dominates the town and offers it a lot of structure that it might otherwise lack, as well as an added sense of security that the rest of the area lacked. The town didn’t offer much, but the school and it’s huge population more than made up for it. 

What do you like to do for fun/hobbies?

I played rugby at UMD, as well as flag football with some friends. I worked at the outdoor recreation center where I climbed and led workshops at the ropes course, which was both my job and a fun hobby. I love reading and playing video games with friends.

Do you have any advice for incoming freshman at UMD?

Get a bike, the campus is huge and you can waste a lot of time walking places. It’s a bike friendly campus and saves you a ton of time. Get outside your comfort zone, meet new people and find new interests. That’s what college is about after all. Go to your classes, good attendance cuts down on the amount you have to study for exams. One of my professors told us that every time an in-state student skips a class, they throw away $85, it’s more now I’m sure and way more for out of state students. Get your money’s worth out of the school and study something your passionate about and will help you get a job. A degree alone helps, but you might as well get a degree that correlates with what you want to do. That’s how it pays off in the end. If it won’t help you get a job, study it online in your free time. You’ll have plenty of time to research it after school is over anyway.