Winter Break Recharge
Winter break is finally here! You worked hard this semester and it doesn’t go unrecognized. Now is the time to get some well-deserved rest and recharge before the spring semester begins! It’s easy to binge-watch your favorite tv shows or go down the Tik Tok rabbit hole, but we’d like to challenge you to do some things that will genuinely restore you during your winter break.
Mental Health and Wellness
- Re-establish good sleeping habits and get the rest you deserve!
- Take a break from your typical college diet and enjoy some hearty, home cooked meals. Check out these easy meals for college students and Retriever Essentials winter hours, if needed.
- Spend an afternoon exploring the great outdoors! If you call Maryland home, you could explore many of the state parks that are still open. If you like skiing, there are many local spots to check out too! And if you aren’t feeling as adventurous, even a walk around your neighborhood can do a world of good!
- Reconnect with family and friends to keep your support system strong and growing into the spring semester.
Academics
Take some time to evaluate your fall semester and plan for the spring.
Note: There is still time to register for Winter Session!
- How did your course load feel this semester? How did you do in online vs. in-person classes? Did you connect with professors or advisors in your department? Did you seek academic support when you needed it? This can be a great time to ensure you get all the help you need to move forward!
- Create, revise or update your academic plan. Here are suggestions for a pathway you can take toward graduation, including a helpful planning worksheet! Don’t forget to refer to your myUMBC profile for more academic information!
Future Planning
- Take time to research graduate or professional programs. Whether you are just starting to think about grad school or currently working on applications, many schools offer virtual fairs or meetings to prospective students.
- Find out what a profession is like and connect with people in your future field by conducting an interview unrelated to a job search. Sample question: “What are the most important qualities for an aspiring pilot/engineer/dance therapist?” Keep a journal to record notes from these experiences. We also have a lot of UMBC alumni for you to connect with through our Retrievers Connect network!
- Update and upgrade your resume. Opportunities sometimes come up quickly, and you want to be ready with that polished resume. Check out these tips from the Career Center!
- Are you looking for funding? Check out Scholarship Retriever, which offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to new and current UMBC students. The Scholarship Retriever lists institutional, merit, financial need, and department scholarships.
- Look ahead to summer and get a jump on searching for summer internships, which can provide both $ and valuable experience. The more competitive internships have deadlines in the fall, but some are still open in January-March. If you have already missed a deadline, get all the information so you can apply early next year. Check out some tips for getting started here!
We wish you all a restful, well-deserved winter break and look forward to welcoming you back in the new year!
Want to connect with us? Check out Advising Quick Links below!