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Because UMBC is an honors university many people assume UMBC students are extremely committed to their studies and, consequently, very straight-laced and boring. I've found that this stereotype holds true for a portion of the UMBC community, but it doesn't take too much effort to find students who know how to balance doing coursework and having fun. Although there is a reason the stereotype exists, many students on campus want nothing more than to defy the stereotype of the typical UMBC student.

To be honest, I was skeptical about UMBC at the start. About half of the school's students commute, which severely reduces the liveliness of the campus on the weekends and hinders school pride. Luckily, the administration acknowledges these problems and is doing its best in conjunction with the Student Events Board and Student Government Association to find practical solutions. This relates to the most unique, and my personal favorite, aspect of UMBC- the administration is constantly looking to form partnerships with individual students and whole organizations to enhance student life and shape UMBC to address the needs and desires of all students. The Office of Student Life is unbelievably encouraging for students who want to better the UMBC experience and the Student Government Association provides funding for concrete ideas that students develop through Prove It! and other events.

Although I do feel that school pride is lacking, it's definitely getting better. I find that when I tell people that I go to UMBC they're impressed, but also a little hesitant to comment because they do not know all that much about the university.

People complain about the lack of school pride and the absence of a football team, but there are a lot of redeeming qualities about the university that students overlook. There are a lot of places to simply relax and amazing opportunities to build a community with not only other students, but also with faculty and staff. Overall, I think UMBC is a great place for driven students looking to get a great education, gain experience in their field and start a career.

The quality of the classes at UMBC is definitely something to brag about. Every professor I've had has been well organized and has had a pronounced interest in the material he/she is teaching. The professors are also easy to get in contact with. Most have convenient office hours and respond to emails quickly. Class size ranges drastically. In my first semester I had an Environmental Science class with 120 other students and another class with only 11 other students in it entitled Mathematics and What it Means to be Human. Although professors are fair and the workload is only slightly above average, math and science classes at UMBC are notoriously difficult and time-consuming. The general education requirements, however, only require one math class and two science classes. The UMBC mentality is truly one that embraces interdisciplinary learning. I feel that each class I take is preparing me for life after graduation and internships I can work during my undergraduate career.

Like the majority of schools, UMBC constantly boasts about its diverse student population. But I would venture to say that UMBC is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the country. The students are predominantly from the counties surrounding UMBC, but these students have a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. I think students from any ethnic, religious, and socio-economic background are able to feel comfortable on campus.

It's really easy to get involved on campus. Within a few weeks of my first semester I joined the Student Government Association's First Year Council and Senate as a First Year Ambassador. I've also made a few appearances to Rock Climbing Club meetings.

At the start of each semester an event called Involvement Fest is held. Most of the university's student groups and organizations set up a table on the quad and try to recruit new members. It's an easy way to find out what's going on on campus, how to get involved, and discover an organization of which you want to be a part. Organizations and clubs cover a wide range of interests and the school makes it very easy to start your own club if you find that what you want isn't on campus yet.

Both club and varsity sports are also fairly popular. Soccer, basketball, and volleyball games are usually well-attended. There are also a lot of free lecture series on campus that cover many fields of study. UMBC's art culture thrives through orchestra performances, open mic nights, the school's theater, a cappella performances, musical theatre club, and the Albin O. Kuhn Art Gallery in the library.

Even if you decide not to join a club residence halls, dining halls, and majors periodically host fun and quirky events.

The biggest complaints students have are usually about school spirit or the lack of people and events on campus during the weekend.

The campus is a 2-mile loop. The residence halls are grouped at the northeast part of the campus and the apartments are just outside the loop at the northern part of the loop. Fields and parking lots surround the outside of the circle. Most of the academic buildings line academic row at the southeast part of the loop. The Retriever Activities Center (our gym) is conveniently between academic row and the residence halls at the southern-most part of the loop.

The library and commons are at the heart of the campus. Every class is no more than a 15-minute walk away from the residence halls.

The social scene is most active on Thursday nights. There's a local club that is 18+ on Thursday nights for UMBC students and usually some parties. Friday night is almost as active. Fraternities and teams usually have parties on Friday nights and there is an event or two on campus scheduled every Friday.

Saturday and Sunday are much different. Unless a performance is scheduled, there is very little to do on campus and the only dining options are the Dining Hall and Salsaritas. Sometimes the campus feels like a ghost town on the weekends because so many people go home or go visit friends at other colleges. There are parties and minor campus events, but the typical Saturday and Sunday are spent lounging around the dorm and hanging out with friends.

UMBC offers a few different living options. Susquehanna, Potomac, Patapsco, and Chesapeake are the most traditional dorms. These dorms offer singles and suites in which each room is connected to another by a bathroom with a shower. Each floor has a common room area with a mini-kitchen. Each suite has two beds, a sink, two desks, a medicine cabinet, a window, and a wardrobe with drawers and space to hang clothing. Laundry rooms are located in the basement of each building.

Erickson and Harbor also offer suite living, but offer far more closet space, a larger bathroom, and a common room for each set of rooms. There are also on-campus apartments normally reserved for upperclassmen that are more spacious.

I live in one of the most social dorms. It's nice because a lot of people leave their doors open and often study in the common room. My roommate, suitemates, and I all get along and I feel that we have an adequate amount of space. My floor is coed, which I love, and everyone is pretty friendly with each other. It can get loud at night, but I've never had problems getting the sleep I need.

Nothing at this school is going to be handed to you on a silver platter. If you want to find people you really click with or do well in your classes, you need to put in at least a little effort.

Some of the stereotypes are true and some of them are not. It's really up to you to have the college experience you want.

First year students should also know that the majority of the students at UMBC have cars, so the school doesn't do very much to provide transportation to DC or Baltimore or even other colleges if you want to get out for the night. Be ready to befriend someone with a car!

There are quite a few fraternities and sororities, but it's not a huge part of campus life. You'll see a Greek t-shirt, walk through a Greek bake sale, or hear about a Greek party every so often, but there isn't any pressure to join a fraternity or sorority. If you do decide to rush, though, there's a variety of chapters to choose from and most everyone I've met who is a part of Greek life is really nice!

The most unique aspect of UMBC is that it is still developing. It's such a young, growing institution and I'm constantly surprised by administration's openness to student ideas that have the potential to improve the school. The administration's extreme willingness and desire to partner with students to make UMBC better is really unique to the institution.

UMBC doesn't have much of a campus town. There are neighboring suburbs with quaint restaurants and places to shop, but these can be a pain to get to without a car. Baltimore City, however, can be seen from the top of the library and is only a short ride away.

Because I live in a social dorm, it can sometimes be hard for me to get work done on my floor. Although my room is usually pretty quiet, sometimes I feel the need to remove myself from all of the things in my dorm with which I can distract myself.

One of my favorite places to get work done is the 6th floor of the library. Designated as an "Absolute Quiet" floor, the most noise you ever hear is someone typing on a keyboard or unzipping a backpack. It's a great place to study and work for people who need utter silence to focus.

I also like studying in the Commons in the morning. Although busy, the Commons is a very comfortable place to get work done. The hundreds of tables and chairs offer a place to study and eat at the same time or just sit for a few minutes and go over notes before class.

I was accepted by six of the eight schools to which I applied. Although I had no intention of attending a university in the state of Maryland during the application process, I applied to the University of Maryland- College Park and UMBC. Accepted by both, I reviewed the financial aid packages that each school offered me. Both schools were generous, but I still had my heart set on places much further from home.

A couple of months after UMBC offered me a Merit Scholarship and an invitation to join the Honors College, I was invited to interview for the university's Humanities Scholars Program. Entrance to this program is granted to up to 15 scholars every year. Each class of scholars takes two classes together freshman year that involve the humanities in some way. The scholars form their own little community by taking free trips to museums and performances together, discussing course work, attending Humanities Lectures, and sometimes living on the Humanities Floor as a Living Learning Community. It is the community and scholarship this program offered that convinced me that UMBC would be the right choice for me.

Other than the traditional dining hall, UMBC has an area called The Commons that hosts something like a mall food court. The Commons offers freshly prepared sushi, Chinese food, pizza, burritos, quesadillas, subs, burgers, chicken tenders, gelato, vegetarian options, a cafe, and a convenience store that offers practically all the same things as 7/11 or Wawa. The campus also has its own Starbucks and Chick Fil A that are a part of the meal plans! Food is available at all hours and easily accessible. With so many options, it's difficult to complain!