Rachel Nelson

I first heard about the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) from my sisters. Both of my older sisters graduated from programs offered at USG. One with a degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University, the other with a Nursing degree from the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

I was interested in pursuing a degree in communications. I was excited to learn that the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), offered a Communication program at USG. I was even able to connect with a recent graduate of the program and she was extremely insightful on what the program is like on a day-to-day basis, how the professors are, and what she most enjoyed about it. Additionally, she provided me with the correct contacts to reach out to and information regarding Transfer Access Programs. I applied and got accepted into the Terp Transfer Program on the track of receiving a B.A. in Communication from UMCP.

I was most excited about the fact the UMCP Communication program at USG focused on visual and digital communication. I was very interested in learning more and developing my creative design skills through Adobe Creative Suites (Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop). The small class sizes increased the solidity of that choice because I knew I would receive personalized attention and guidance from my professors. I also wanted to be involved on campus. So I applied to be a Student Ambassador. I help explain how USG works to potential undergraduate and graduate students and their families.

Upon graduation, I am hoping to pursue a career in event planning. I am still exploring different avenues of event planning, i.e., weddings, corporate events, non-profit organizations, youth events. Discerning which route of event planning I want to take is the challenging part. However, I am determined to eventually find a position that incorporates my love of digital media with my desire to create events for people to enjoy.