UMBC will host the annual Summer Horizons program for undergraduate students and others who are interested in learning more about graduate school admission, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The 3-hour workshop will feature sessions on the application timeline, GRE, Statement of Purpose, Recommendation Letters, and other topics related to preparing for graduate school. There will be a panel hosted by current graduate students, and the keynote speaker will be the President of UMBC, Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III.
(Read about Dr. Hrabowski in Time Magazine: 10 Best College Presidents, World’s 100 Most Influential People. See Dr. Hrabowski talk about UMBC on 60 Minutes. Watch Dr. Hrabowski’s TED Talk.) Summer Horizons is co-sponsored by PROMISE AGEP and the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program. The chair for the 2015 Summer Horizons program is Justine Johnson, Associate Director for the Meyerhoff grad program.
2015 Summer Horizons Program
- Friday, July 24, 2015
- The 2015 program will begin at 9:00 AM and will end at 12 noon. (Registration and Seating will begin at 8:30)
- Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Chemistry Building, Room 120
- Light refreshments will be served.
- This event is FREE to the public but (participants must register).
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 a.m
- Registration
9:10 a.m.
- Welcome
- Justine Johnson, Associate Director, Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program
9:20 a.m.
- Preparing for Graduate Study: Timelines and Choices
- K. Jill Barr, J.D. – Sr. Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment, The Graduate School
- Gay Warshaw, Manager, Recruitment and Admissions, The Graduate School
10:00 a.m.
- Elements of the Graduate School Application: GRE, Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose
- Dr. Renetta Tull, Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Student Development & Postdoctoral Affairs, Director of PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP
10:45 a.m.
- Understanding Graduate School – Panel of Graduate Students
- Nopondo Esemoto (Chemistry)
- Joshua Brown (Biochemistry – MD/PhD)
- DeLauren McCauley (Chemistry)
- Antione Taylor (Psychology)
- Janae Baptiste (Chemistry)
- Alex Vega (Chemistry, incoming 1st Year)
11:30 a.m.
- Introduction: Dr. Janet C. Rutledge, Vice Provost of Graduate Education & Dean of the Graduate School
- Motivational Talk by Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President, UMBC
The 2015 Summer Horizons program is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about UMBC and the graduate admissions process. The graduate school preparation material that we will present is applicable to most U.S. institutions. Faculty and staff may invite prospective students to this event. Visitors from out-of-town are welcome to attend. Invitations are extended to:
- All UMBC undergraduate students
- As part of the PROMISE Pathways project, undergraduate and master’s students from schools within the University System of Maryland (USM) have a special invitation to attend
- Students from all summer programs within the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region
- Students from NSF programs such as LSAMP, AGEP, NSF ERC, RDE etc., at any school
- McNair programs at any school.
- Students from organizations such as SHPE, SACNAS, NSBE, and AISES at any school in the country are welcome to attend.
- Students from any college or university, who are either local or will travel the distance to learn more about graduate school.
- We also invite professionals who are considering returning to graduate school for an advanced degree.
This program is free, but participants must register.
Summer Horizons is co-sponsored by PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP, The Meyerhoff Graduate Biomedical Fellows Program, and The Graduate School at UMBC. 
For additional resources, including access to funding opportunities: Please visit the Institute for Broadening Participation’s website, “Pathways to Science,” and fill out the form in the left corner: http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/. The website has information on a variety of opportunities, which include as an example, a wealth of information on funding and internships through NASA: http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/nasa.aspx. Our student participants have taken advantage of this resource in the past, and several have had offers for great opportunities. _________________________________________________________________________
Directions and Parking:
http://about.umbc.edu/visitors-guide/directions/
Metered visitor parking is available in the Commons Garage. To get to the Commons Garage, circle around Hilltop Circle (either direction) until you reach Commons Drive. Take Commons Drive toward the center for campus. The garage will be on your left. Meter fees are $.25 for each 15 minutes, quarters only, maximum time of 5 hours.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- UMBC President Named In Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People (baltimore.cbslocal.com)
- Reading material: Tull, R. G., Nino, M. and Ramoutar, N. (2012). Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs. [Spanish Version of Section 4 here: Preparación para Programas de Maestría y Doctorado]
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Partial sponsorship for this program has been provided by the National Science Foundation, Collaborative Research: AGEP – T: PROMISE AGEP Maryland Transformation # 1309290, PROMISE: Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP). Read more about PROMISE: https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/publications/
Related articles
- President Obama Appoints UMBC President as Chair of National Education Commission (baltimore.cbslocal.com)
PROMISE: Maryland's AGEP 2003-2018 
Getting to the Robert & Jane Meyerhoff (Chemistry) Building:
http://chemistry.umbc.edu/overview/visitor-information/
http://chemistry.umbc.edu/home/attachment/6/
Public Transportation
Closest Amtrak Station: BWI Marshall Airport (not Baltimore).
This station supports Amtrak trains and the local Marc Train (Commuter Train, includes stops for Washington, DC, Bowie, and Baltimore) – Penn Line, http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/Penn_Apr12_gridonly.pdf
From Washington DC, take the Red Line Metro Line to Union Station, and take the Marc Train (Penn Line) or take the 30 bus from Greenbelt to BWI.
Schedule: http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/md/b30.pdf
Taxi rides are approximately $20 between the BWI Airport or Amtrak/Marc Station and the UMBC Administration Building.
Driving Directions
From Route 95 (North or South)
The UMBC Exit is THE SAME EXIT off of 95 for the BWI Marshall Airport.
Follow the signs for UMBC, Rt. 166, Catonsville. The main entrance to UMBC is off of I-195. Once you are on UMBC’s campus (landmarks: Silo on the left, BW Research Park), stay in the right lane.
Make a RIGHT onto Hilltop Circle (this street circles the campus).
Pass Administration Drive on your left (immediately past the parking garage)
Metered Parking: Administration Drive Deck
Make 1st LEFT onto Administration Drive
Pass the lower deck entrance and proceed to the upper deck
Make a left into the upper deck.
Other Parking Options: http://www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/campusmap/pdf/2010Map_Parking.pdf
When you park at a meter, you must have coins available to pay the metered fees.
Please bring quarters. Machines are available within the covered parking lots and on top of the parking garages to provide change from dollar bills. Questions? Contact Parking services. http://www.umbc.edu/parking/
Walking Directions from Administration Drive Parking Deck to Meyerhoff Chemistry
From the Administration Drive lot, walk straight. You will pass the following buildings and landmarks:
* Administration Building on the left.
* Sondheim Building with statue of Mr. Sondheim on the right, Academic IV building on the left.
* Math/Psychology Building on the right, Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A in the 3-story University Center on the left.
* The Meyerhoff Chemistry Building is the reddish-brown brick building adjacent to the University Center.
UMBC is undergoing construction. Please heed the directions of the traffic circle, and the signs.
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