When I graduated from Northwest High School in 2012 I had every intention to attend a 4-year university. Due to financial difficulties, I chose to take an alternative route and attended Montgomery College (MC) under the Board of Trustees Scholarship which allowed me to attend for free. During my first semester at MC, I heard a lot of talk about the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). Many of my friends and colleagues were transferring to USG, because it was much more affordable to stay living at home, continue their jobs, and not have to worry about a long commute. I immediately looked into it.

I have always known that I wanted to pursue a psychology degree and I realized USG was the perfect place for me to do it. I applied to UMBC and selected the Shady Grove campus. I had enough AP credits to make it possible to transfer after my second semester at MC but finances still made it too difficult for me to transfer early. I persevered and the UMBC program director and staff at USG worked with me for over a year to ensure that I never lost sight of my goal and were extremely helpful in providing me with all of the resources I needed to make transferring possible.

Prior to transferring to USG, I did my research, got in touch with faculty, attended open houses, etc. Every single interaction that I had with USG, be it in-person or electronically, was welcoming and very helpful. USG really makes it a goal to make students feel as comfortable as possible and ensuring their success. This sense of community is what convinced me that USG was the perfect place for me.

My time at USG has truly helped me prepare for a career by allowing me to participate in leadership opportunities, volunteer activities, social events, networking, etc. During my first semester at USG, I was able to join four different clubs, all of which have helped me grow as a person and as a professional. As a member of Tau Sigma, USG Ambassadors, Peer Advisory Team, and the Psychology Student Association, I can truly say that I have developed skills that I may not have had the opportunity to do elsewhere. I understand how crucial interpersonal skills are in the workforce. These clubs have helped to strengthen these skills, especially in terms of public speaking and networking!

I know that my time at USG is preparing me to have a successful career. My ultimate goal for the future is to attend medical school after graduating with my Bachelor's degree. Ideally, I will complete medical school and pursue a career in pediatrics.

My time at USG has truly helped me prepare for a career by allowing me to participate in leadership opportunities, volunteer activities, social events, networking, etc. During my first semester at USG, I was able to join four different clubs, all of which have helped me grow as a person and as a professional.
Gloria Gutierrez