The Best Upperclassman Advice? Get Involved Now.

Undergraduate student Madeline Dixon, class of 2019, marketing and psychology major, writes about the Smith Involvement Fair, held September 4­–5, 2018, at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

At 9 a.m. on the first day of the Smith Involvement Fair, just one table is assembled in the Van Munching atrium. Students are making their way to morning classes. By 10 a.m., fraternity representatives are standing up colorful, trifold posters with Greek letters on them. I stop to chat with a member of Delta Sigma Pi and she smiles as she explains, “We’re all really passionate about our fraternity, so we’re very interested in sharing that with others.” She says the fraternity is close-knit, kind of like a family.

In the next hall over, things are beginning to bustle. Accounting and supply chain majors chat happily with passersby. I spot the Maryland Music Business Society and I’m intrigued. One representative gives me a nod and starts her spiel, “We provide lots of different opportunities based on interest level… You can come and talk about your favorite artists, or if you want to go into artist relations or event planning or venue booking, then we have lots of different workshops for that too.” I also speak with Sophie, the president of the Women in Business Association. “A lot of companies bring in their leadership teams specifically because they want to connect with the women of Smith,” she says. Sophie’s group makes those connections.

Upperclassmen often lament the fact that Smith has so many amazing opportunities; there can’t possibly be time for everything. But maybe if you start right now, you can create a Smith experience that really captures what’s important to you, and doesn’t miss a thing.

Learn more about the Smith School's undergraduate program.