Getting Started with Research and Internships by Marina Mizell

I know getting involved in undergraduate research is a great way to gain experience before graduation, but where do I start?

Well, it’s never too early to start research, either during the Spring and Fall semesters, or over the Summer! To get some ideas, first check UMBC’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Resources page. It features links to find research opportunities listed by majors, and also explains the process for applying for an Undergraduate Research Award (URA). An Undergraduate Research Award provides $1,500 to support UMBC students’ individual research or creative projects under a faculty mentor. The site also offers resources to write an excellent URA proposal and includes all due dates for each semester. Lastly, the site lists other off-campus research opportunities such as with the National Institutes of Health or the University of Maryland School of Medicine. 
If you’re looking for summer research, the site also offers links to summer opportunities, and even travel and living expense information. When looking for summer research, most deadlines pass over the Winter semester or early Spring, so don’t forget to get a head start! Here’s a timeline and guidelines for applying to summer research positions.

If you would like even more help getting started, consider attending one of UMBC’s Office of Undergraduate Education “How to Get Started in Research” or “URA How-to Workshop” seminars! Any questions you may have about how to get started can be answered at the seminars. Here’s a list of the upcoming seminars this semester.

After you’ve secured your research position, don’t forget to look into registering for PRAC 098 --UMBC’s 0-credit practicum for research and internships. It documents your university recognized research or internship on your transcript. Students can also obtain course credit for research or internships.  

Don’t forget, there are other students who were once in your same position! If you know someone who is doing the research in which you’re interested, ask for their principal investigator’s (PI) contact information and how they obtained their position. Lastly, if you run into any problems with your research application, personal statement or resume, contact Janet McGlynn at mcglynn@umbc.edu or Devon Fick at dfick1@umbc.edu. They have helped hundreds of UMBC students get started in research and would be more than happy to assist you with your application!

Never be Afraid to ASK for Help! By Marina Mizell

Classes at UMBC can sometimes feel intimidating and tough. STEM classes can be especially difficult, simply based on their class size and the scope of information presented. Where do you turn if you are going to every class and spending ample time studying, but still need to comprehend the information better, get some extra practice and guidance, and score higher on your tests? 

LRC
The Learning Resources Center, offers many ways to get help with different courses through walk-in tutoring, group tutoring, and paper revisions. No matter the class, there’s ALWAYS somewhere to ask for help!

CHEMISTRY
Do you need help with Chemistry? No problem! Check out the Chemistry Tutorial Center in Meyerhoff 145. The Chemistry Tutorial Center offers group tutoring for CHEM 101, 102, 351 and 352 for an hour at a time every day of the week. In fact, I find it helpful to sign up for group tutoring at the beginning of every semester, whether or not I may need it, just to secure a spot ahead of time. Group tutoring spots fill up FAST! It’s always good to prepare yourself just in case you may need assistance down the road. 
In the Chemistry Tutorial Center, students typically sign up for a group session in the beginning of the semester and attend weekly meetings. During these meetings, other students who have previously taken the course and received an A, will go over information presented in class, review exams or even offer review for approaching exams. Often times, they can clarify confusing topics or offer tricks for remembering complex information. Keep in mind, group tutoring isn’t just useful when you really need help, but can also turn that B into an A through more exposure to the material. A little extra practice never hurts!

BIOLOGY
Do you need help with Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, or Anatomy and Physiology? The Biology Tutorial Center, located in the basement of the Biological Sciences building, offers one-on-one tutoring for just about every Biology course that UMBC offers. On the Tutorial Center’s back wall, an enormous whiteboard lists all tutors and their contact information. If you’re wondering...tutoring through UMBC is always free! It’s already included in your tuition and fees, so why not utilize something for which you’re already paying? Not to mention, the computer lab in the Biology Tutorial Center also offers printing for 5 cents per page, which is half the cost of printing elsewhere on campus!

ENGLISH
English courses at UMBC can feel intimidating, especially if you haven’t taken a Writing Intensive course or you need help writing and editing assignments. Don’t worry! The Retriever Learning Center’s: Writing Center is available for help with any class! Located on the first floor of the AOK Library, the Writing Center offers one-on-one paper and essay reviews to help improve writing style and grammar. Some professors will even re-grade revised assignments if the Writing Center is used in the revision process. Even if you don’t have time to utilize the Writing Center, be sure to proofread your writing by reading it aloud!

MATH
Do you need help with your Statistics or Math courses or just want extra practice? The Math Lab, located in the Writing Center on the first floor of the AOK library, is a great place to find a Math tutor, form a group study session, or just get extra practice before your exam. Furthermore, the Math Lab offers much more than just Math and Statistics assistance; it also offers tutoring and extra practice for Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses!

  The Math Gym, which offers extra math practice for a variety of courses, is available at various hours in the Administration Building and Sondheim Hall. There are Learning Assistants available during the posted hours to help with practice questions and also offer other resources. You may also find other students from your course during your visits, and can form study groups! Math Gym workouts may also help your grade -- consult Blackboard or your instructor to find out how.


RLC

Even if there isn’t anyone available in the Tutorial Centers when you need help, you can always try the Retriever Learning Center (RLC). The RLC is located on the first floor of the AOK library and is the only academic building on campus open 24/7. Inside, there are many tables, booths, computers and whiteboards to study into the late hours of the night.

ADVICE
Looking back, I wish someone would have suggested that I form study groups during the first week of classes. First exams are always a wake-up call, and in my opinion, there’s no better way to prepare than to study as much as possible. Sometimes, teaching other students in your study group better prepares you for the exam. In order to teach information, you must first thoroughly understand it yourself. Above all, remember that even if you think it's too late, don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Navigating the AOK Library by Arbab Khan

The Albin O. Kuhn (AOK) Library and Gallery is one of the many resources that University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has on campus. It is located beside the pond right in front of the Erickson Field and behind the Walker Avenue garage (see map to right).

The existence of a seven floor library at UMBC is a reflection of how important the study environment is for this school. Students should be aware that each floor has a different noise-level requirement. Starting from the bottom going up, the luxury of being noisy decreases and the floors become "absolute quiet" so that the no one gets disturbed while studying.

Floors two, three and four are floors where talking and group study are permitted up to a certain extent. The seventh floor, on the other hand, is a quiet floor where talking can be kept at reasonable levels and others are respected. To accommodate students who need a completely quiet study environment, AOK has designated the fifth and sixth floors as "absolute quiet" floors. The quiet rules for these floors are more stringent. On these "absolute quiet" floors, there should be no talking above a whisper and cell phone usage is not allowed. Below is a picture that explains the specifications and requirements regarding noise levels inside the library.

Every floor has numerous study rooms, and students can gain access to them by attaining keys from the front desk in the lobby. There is a white board in every room that can be used by the study groups. Besides giving easy access to several books and computers on every floor, the library also has several other resources from which a student can benefit.

In the main lobby inside of the security gates, there is a Retriever Learning Center (RLC) that is open to students 24 hours, 7 days a week. The RLC is an open study zone with tables, white boards and computers easily accessible. The Math Lab is located just beyond the reference desk, and the Writing Center is located in the RLC on the first floor. Both resources offer students tutoring by experienced students and staff by giving advice on writing assignments. This support helps the students in variety of ways when they are struggling with homework and assignments. 
  Due to the presence of a lot of computers and the luxury of talking on the seventh floor, most of the engineers are found working here. Be it the sophomores, juniors or seniors, everyone is engrossed in their studies, working individually or in groups. The seventh floor is a great go-to spot for all the engineers as it can help you get connected with other engineers in your major and you can actually talk to them about your classes and studies. Below is a map of the seventh floor (see map to right) which has a different feel when compared to other floors. You can talk, work on computers, work in groups and have access to a bunch of books of your choice.

Scholarships for Transfer Students By Marina Mizell

Okay, so I’ve been accepted to UMBC, and I have enough federal loans from the FAFSA to cover most of my tuition, but how do I pay for the remainder? What scholarships are available for transfer students and how do I apply for them? What if I am only eligible for merit-based scholarships?

First stop: The UMBC office of Financial Aid and Scholarships!

Thankfully, UMBC offers the Scholarship Retriever service that performs scholarship searches based on the parameters you specify. You may target the search to incoming transfer student scholarships or even areas of study. The database searches both UMBC affiliated scholarships, such as departmental scholarships, as well as outside scholarships such as those from businesses. 
Some scholarships require unofficial or official transcripts with their applications. Your unofficial transcript can be downloaded from your MyUMBC account. Click on Topics>Classes & Grades> Transcript (unofficial). If you need to request an official transcript, choose Transcript (official) from the same page and follow the prompts. Your official transcript can then be picked up from the Registrar's Office in the Academic Services Building next to the Commons. From prior experience, my previous institution’s courses appeared on my UMBC official transcript, but some scholarships may require transcripts from all institutions.

Additionally, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers merit-based scholarships for incoming transfer students. They are listed under the transfer scholarships section. The scholarship requires a 3.5 minimum GPA and the completion of at least 35 credits prior to acceptance at UMBC.

If you are having particular difficulty finding any scholarships for which to apply, UMBC also compiled a list of outside databases of scholarships. Collegeboard.org offers a variety of scholarships to choose from, both with and without an essay section. These scholarships may be based on need or merit.

Lastly, keep an eye on your UMBC email for scholarship and job opportunities. Many professors forward bulletins to class lists. They can be very helpful when searching for departmental scholarships. Good luck!

Before Starting at UMBC - Tips for Success by Marina Mizell

Primed for Success at UMBC

Alright, I’ve been accepted to UMBC and school starts in a month. I’ve already registered for classes and purchased my required textbooks, but what do I do now? What should I anticipate on my first day? Is there anything I can do now so that I can be ahead of the game when the semester starts? How do I keep track of when my assignments are due with multiple syllabi?

Your first classes at UMBC may or may not be structured similarly to those at your previous institution, depending on the class, but there are certain techniques that can ease the transition into any of your core STEM classes. UMBC class Blackboard sites provide an online segway for the bulk of information presented in class. From my experience, most STEM classes (excluding laboratory courses) open their Blackboard site and upload the syllabus about a week before classes start.

    Any information the professor provides is useful information, so don’t be hesitant to check out their Blackboard site before the first day in order to have a sense of what to expect from the class. Generally, the due dates outlined in the syllabus don’t change unless classes are canceled due to adverse weather conditions, etc. So I usually try to use this free time before classes begin to outline my assignments for the semester.

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With the Google Tasks application you can create individual task lists for each class, and then enter assignment due dates. You can even set reminders so you complete everything on time! If you have an iPhone, the ‘gTasks’ app, among others, allows you to have mobile access to your planner.

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Of the task managing apps I’ve sampled, Google Tasks, which also conveniently integrates to your MyUMBC calendar, turned out to be the most helpful. I feel electronic task organizers are more helpful than physical planners because dates can easily change due to new assignments or canceled classes. Whichever format you prefer, paper or electronic, getting a sense of your assignment load for the semester well ahead of time can be very useful. Additionally, be sure to note dates of pre-scheduled exams so that you can schedule extra study time the week before!

Once you’ve outlined your course load for the semester, from my experience, it is very beneficial to familiarize yourself with the services offered at UMBC. Take a look at the t-STEM Initiative website, which contains a map of the resources available on campus. Try reaching out to any UMBC students you already know, or even post on the MyUMBC Discussion boards! You’ll never know what useful tidbits of information you’ll find or what answers other students have to offer. It’s a little known fact, for example, that the Biology Tutorial Center, located in the basement of the Biological Sciences building, offers printing for 5 cents per page instead.

To sum up, your classes at UMBC may be similar to or wildly different from your previous institution depending on the class, but by preparing yourself ahead of time, organizing your assignment load and exams, and researching resources on campus, you’ll  be primed for a much smoother semester!

Parking on Campus by Marina Mizell

Parking Perils

Because of the high number of students who commute, parking at UMBC can be treacherous if you’re not prepared. I can remember the frustration I felt trying to find parking the first time I arrived to campus. There were so many things I wish I would have known before that first day. For instance, how early to arrive before my first class, which parking lots will most likely be available when I arrive to campus, or a small reminder to make my parking pass visible.

Campus Parking Map

My first course was Chemistry 101 on Wednesday at 1:00pm, so I arrived on campus at 12:45pm and man was that a bad idea! Having never parked on my own at UMBC before, I circled the Commons Garage trying to find a single parking spot, but alas, my search was futile. It was now 12:55pm. Great, my first class starts in 5 minutes and it will take me at least that long to walk to Meyerhoff!

I tried to relax and find another spot by scouring the lots behind the physics building...but still nothing! Now it’s 1:00 pm and I’m clearly going to be late for class. Why does finding parking have to be so nerve racking?!

Taking a glance at my parking map, I then headed to the Stadium Lot. Waaaaay in the back, I FINALLY found one! I quickly parked and ran to class, arriving at 1:15. I may have been late, but at least I actually made it!

Walking back to my car that evening was such a relief. I was so happy to finally be done with my first day as a UMBC student. But of course, just when I thought my day couldn’t have gotten any worse, I found a $40 parking ticket on my windshield for forgetting to put my parking pass on my rearview mirror. I was so frazzled about being late that I had forgotten to get out my parking pass! Thankfully, because I received the parking ticket on the first day, and I appealed the ticket, I was only given a warning and charged $7.

So much for a smooth transition! Looking back, I wish I would have had a guide showing which lots to park in during certain times and reminding me to display my permit. It also would have been less stressful if I had arrived to campus earlier. Perhaps I wouldn’t have been so late to class if I arrived to campus with more time to find parking.

Now that I’ve commuted to campus for four semesters, I’ve learned that arriving to campus 45 minutes before class begins is ample time to find parking and walk to class. I’ve also learned which lots are available when I arrive to campus at various times. Below I have outlined the parking lots where I have the easiest time parking at certain times. Hopefully, my guide is useful and your first day trying to find parking isn’t as hectic as mine! Good luck!

Commuter Parking Guide