Margaret Kreysa

I began my collegiate career with a scholarship to Montgomery College (MC) and transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). At first it was exciting being at a large campus, meeting new people, and getting into the school spirit. I realized though, that it was a big change from attending MC; I was overwhelmed at the class sizes and uncertain about my undergraduate program.

While at UMCP, I interned in Houston, Texas selling educational products door-to-door for a publishing company. This was an arduous adventure, but I was humbled to learn about myself and use the experience to grow.  I wanted to continue to develop my career in a positive manner, and sales ignited my passion for learning about human behavior. As a result I decided to pursue my degree in Psychology.

I attended an open house at the Universities of Shady Grove (USG) and was pleasantly surprised that I could obtain my Psychology Degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) without a long commute and even save money by living at home. I applied immediately and was more eager than ever to go to school. 

The benefits of attending UMBC at USG have been extremely rewarding. The environment on campus is welcoming, inclusive, and full of networking opportunities. I joined the Psychology Student Association and Tau Sigma Honors Society, which enabled me to connect to students at USG and UMBC, plan events for our organization, and to volunteer outside of campus. I attended Mindfulness Workshops offered by the Center for Counseling and Consultation, to learn skills for leading a successful life. My classes were small enough to allow me to acquaint with my instructors, which was instrumental to my future. These experiences at USG influenced me to further my education after graduating, and the connections I made with my instructors were pivotal in helping me obtain admission to UMBC’s I/O Psychology graduate program at USG.  

While currently enrolled in the I/O Psychology program, I work as a Legal Assistant in Gaithersburg and as a Graduate Assistant for UMBC at USG. After graduating, I hope to become a business consultant and eventually a business coach for leadership and development. I am confident that my education and employment at UMBC at USG have been imperative to my success and hope to continue being a part of the USG community.