University of Maryland - Baltimore CountyAcademics Summary

Written by Luanna Azulay

Luanna Azulay

Hometown

Arlington, Va./Recife, PE, Brazil

Major

Political Science

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UMBC was voted the No. 1 up-and-coming university in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and this reputation is justified. The University is especially strong in science and engineering, but it does not fall short in other departments, such as ancient students, linguistics, music, visual arts, or voice. Such strong academics also mean that the workload and curriculum are rigorous. Good grades do not fall easily into students’ laps—they need to work hard, which is why it is very common to find students studying in the library’s 24-hour atrium late into the night. The student-to-teacher ratio at UMBC gives students the opportunity to build and create good relationships with their professors, who are always willing to provide extra help, if needed.

One of the weakest points at UMBC is class scheduling. Certain courses are only offered in either in the spring or fall semester, not year-round, and others are only offered during the morning or afternoon, making it nearly impossible for students who work full time to attend. Your adviser at UMBC is there to double check that you’re on the right path—not to tell what classes you should pick. So, before meeting with your adviser to sign up for classes, make sure you have all the proper papers filled out and courses picked out. UMBC has its flaws, but it is the perfect school for students looking for good academics, a smaller student-to-teacher ratio, and an opportunity to be a student teacher.