<p>I went to my orientation yesterday which was December 12th, the earliest date I could schedule for my major. I KNOW that some of you are probably like me before I went, anxious to know how it'll be and what activities'll be included. So I'm posting this thread to get you ready and informed, and for some, ease your fear.</p>
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<p>For those who have registered for their orientations, you know that the orientation starts at 8:30am at Cole Field House(basketball stadium). Parking is in lot 1, to the west of the the stadium and right behind Benjamin(closest lot 1). </p>
<p>When you walk over to the front of Cole Field House, you'll see two doors and signs indicating that the left door is for students, and the right door is for parents(assuming there'll also be a parents' orientation on your date). I walked in the door into the lobby and saw two information tables set-up on top of which laid our name tags and stacks of paper. </p>
<p>The people told everyone who arrived early to just wait until 8:30am. So we just stood around the railing that circles the stadium. Truthfully, it was kind of awkward. Some people knew eachother and were chit-chatting away. I did a quick look-around the stadium, trying to pretend like I was busying myself. Inside, I could feel the butterflies in my belly getting rowdy again. </p>
<p>So I don't recommend arriving too early. In fact, arrive 2-3 minutes late because by then you could just walk in and start having breakfast. The breakfast table was set up adjacent to the parents' information table. Breakfast included orange juice, coffee, and bagels. People just got their food and ate it while sitting in the stadium(for a while, I was wondering where everyone had gone).</p>
<p>From the table, we picked up our names tags(though few people wore them), a Winter/Spring 2009 Registration Guide, the orientation schedule, and a black bag with Maryland logo in which to put all of our stuff in(I didn't pick up one because I brought a purse). Here's what's listed on the schedule:</p>
<p>8:30am-8:55am Check-In </p>
<p>9:00am-9:15am Welcome to Orientation</p>
<p>9:00am-9:25am Resident Life Housing(Only available on Dec.12, Jan.9 and 14)</p>
<p>9:15am-9:30am Off Campus Student Involvement(Not available on Dec.9)-funny we didn't have this</p>
<p>9:30am-10:00am Terp connections-connect with your orientation advisors and your new school</p>
<p>10:15am-4:30pm Meet Your College/Advising-learn about major requirements and receive advising and schedule for classes</p>
<p>1:00pm-4:30pm Orientation Closing-pick up your photo ID card at the Mitchell Building</p>
<p>The reason that the last two events overlap is because some people might take longer than others to get advised and finish scheduling for classes. But I was done around 3:30pm.</p>
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<p>After we finished our breakfast, we walked over to the Stamp Union to watch a slide show and receive a warm welcome from the univerity. </p>
<p>One professor from the University gave a speech full of practical advices. Very likable, not grandiose or far-fetched statements. </p>
<p>Then a representative from the Residential Life office talked to us about living in dorms, hall rules, regulations, what to and not to bring, as well as some tips about move-in day. Dorm assignments will be available on January 9th. Move-in day'll be on January 24th after 10:00am which is a Saturday, two days before the first day of classes. And shall I mention that I'm quite excited! </p>
<p>After that, we watched a video on student life at Maryland. What I found particularly interesting was that you could actually bring in a recipet from home and the school's dining hall will cook it for you and everyone else to try. </p>
<p>The video ended with the Maryland terrapin victory song, and we see our orientation advisors making their appearences through the back doors singing along to the song while clapping at the same time. But no one stood up or sang along. We told that it was okay, haha. </p>
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<p>Next, it was time to go on our separate ways. </p>
<p>Each school has an advisor, and we were called to follow our advisors. You'll find your advisor's name by looking on your name tag right below your name. </p>
<p>I'm in the School of Behavioral and Social Science and my orientation advisor's name was Greg, such a frisky guy. He led us to the Bejamin building(I think?). </p>
<p>We basically just sat in a random, seemingly secluded classroom in which Greg entertained us. This is the point where I started to loosen up. We did an ice-breaker-esque activity in which we introduced ourselves by stating our name, major, and one thing about ourselves. </p>
<p>He also took questions and answered them and passed out free lanyards. It's $3 at the school store.
If he forgets to pass out to you guys, then please do remember to remind him because I don't want poor Greg to have to have another box full of lanyards in his room, in which he could hardly set a foot in. No, I'm just joking.</p>
<p>Anyway, this was the so-called Terp Connections, and I don't feel that it was too bad, just a little sketchy. </p>
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<p>It was finally time to meet our college/major advisors.</p>
<p>Greg led us to Tydings. We sat in a class room while Greg showed us how to navigate MyUM on an overhead. Our college advisors finally showed up and introduced themselves briefly.</p>
<p>We were passed out a sheet with our AP and transferred credits. If there were anything to add, you just request those credits by completing a form. </p>
<p>A lunch table was set up in the hallway. We had subs, pasta, cookies, and sodas. I only had half a sub and was starving by the end of the orientation! </p>
<p>After everyone finished eating, Regina, one of the college advisors, started the part of the orientation that I truly cared about-major requirements. But I had done my homework and had figured out my graduation plan so my interest soon drained. But I'd still recommend that you, too, look over and understand your major requirements because I see many people in my group getting VERY confused by the looks on their faces. </p>
<p>Before the slide show, She passed out a CORE Academimc Planner & Record Keeper folder with all the information you'll need to know about CORE requirements. In the folder, there's a sample 4-year graduation plan which is also helpful. So she just ran through the CORE requirement slide show and explain everything in detail. I couldn't wait for it to be over.</p>
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<p>When the slide show was finally over, we got to the prelude to our class registration process-advising. I had advising one-on-one with my major advisor. Despite my telling her that I have a perfect understanding of my benchmarks and major requirements, she kept on explaining them because it is "her responsibility." How ineffecient and dead-brained. But I can't blame her. The last thing we did was we signed the contract for benchmark requirements for my major. </p>
<p>We received our math placement test just prior to our advisings. Here're my results:</p>
<p>Part I-Arithmetic: 11 out of 11
Part II-Algebra I: 16 out of 18
Part III-Algebra II: 26 out of 28
Part IV-Trigonometry: 8 out of 14</p>
<p>I was placed in MATH140 which is Calculus I. So I'd say that it's relatively easy to be placed high. </p>
<p>We were then to complete a worksheet with our classes for the first semester. But the advisors basically dictated our schedules by listing the formula:</p>
<p>MATH 3/4
ENGL 3
Major 3/4
UNI 2</p>
<h2>CORE 3</h2>
<p>=14 credits total</p>
<p>I so did not want to have to take University 101. It conflicts with my schedule in everyway. I asked if it's possible to opt out of the class, the answer I got was rather cold-that I'd be responsible for any information that I might miss. Okay, fine.</p>
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<p>After everyone finished planning their schedules, we headed over to a computer lab in Lefrak. Greg was there to meet us and did a quick overview of Testudo and how to register for classes.</p>
<p>I had already register for most of my classes prior to the orientation because, somehow, the block was removed two days before. So I was just struggling the whole time to fit UNIV101 in my schedule. What a pain!</p>
<p>My schedule turned out to be 16 credits which is the maximum an undergraduate could register unless you ask your advisor to up the limit. But after January 26th, you could register up to 20 credits. Though please make sure that you could handle the course load. </p>
<p>For those who had finished registering for their classes early, Regina asked us to follow her to the BSOS advising office. There, she did a finally approval of our schedules and signed the worksheets which we gave her and she kept. </p>
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<p>After that, we were basically on our own.</p>
<p>Regina pointed a group of us to the direction of the Mitchell building to get our photo ID's.
We walked in the cold. The campus was unusually empty and bare. I was reminded how glad I was that my first visit was on a sunny summer day. </p>
<p>The Mitchell building was decorated with Christmas lights and red ribbons which put me in high spirit. But when I interacted with the lady who took my ID photo, I felt so bleh. She didn't even bother looking up. But I can't blame her, it's such a mundane job afterall. </p>
<p>The photo ID should be ready in 2 minutes. And be prepared to see yourself at your worst.</p>
<p>I ate at the Stamp Union food court and dropped my health form off at the health center before I left for home. One last thing to worry about.</p>
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<p>That basically warps up my orientation.</p>
<p>I should note that because I was so excited to start college, I did way too much research on practically everything! I guess that took some surprise and amusement out of the orientation. </p>
<p>If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!</p>