Published on Masters Programs Office (https://networth.rhsmith.umd.edu)

Home > Activity Ideas

Below is a list with many options for you to consider during your free time, or during summer or winter months when classes are not in session, including:  

  • Learning Something New
  • Preparing for Certification Exams
  • Providing Service
  • Networking
  • Being Well and Reflecting


Learn Something New

  • Complete LinkedIn Learning courses (all UMD students have free access--see login instructions)
  • Expand your thinking about diversity and inclusion:
    • Seeing White podcast
    • MEN podcast
    • Self Made on Netflix
  • Complete Canvas course offered by Smith School Career Services staff:
    • Master of Finance/Master of Quantitative Finance - Online Career Course
  • Sign up for a UMD class to build your skills or pursue personal interests; review course offerings for Summer 2020 in Testudo (summer courses will likely not count toward your degree requirements--talk to your academic advisor if you have questions)
  • Receive online services, resources, and instruction from the UMD Online Library
  • Complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts course to increase your knowledge about financial markets (students that do not have an existing Bloomberg Terminal login can request free access)
  • Watch YouTube videos to build technical skills relevant to your major or career interests
  • Coursera offers free online courses in a wide range of subjects
  • Codecademy provides free courses for several programming languages, data science, and web development
  • Khan Academy has lessons and tutorials for math, science, engineering, humanities, and more
  • Duolingo provides free language learning
  • Plan or attend a virtual Hack-a-thon
  • Keep up to date on Smith School faculty research through the Smith Brain Trust
  • Read books recommended by Maryland Smith faculty and staff
  • 31 Great Quarantine Reads, Chosen by the Vanity Fair Staff
  • NPR’s Book Concierge
  • Investigate faculty whose research interests you--read their scholarly work and learn about their current researchImprove your business communications
  • Improve your business communications
  • Introduce yourself to a new hobby; suggestions from the MPO team include:
    • Bake (suggested by Kim Gonzalez)
    • Hike Maryland (suggested by Rachel Antoun)
    • Read Poetry (suggested by Rachel Phillips)
    • Watch Good Movies (suggested by Gigi Gibson)
    • Take Fun Photos (suggested by Amy Swann)


Prepare for Certification Exams

  • APICS Certifications
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
  • SAS


Provide Service

  • Create your own tutorials to share helpful tips or demonstrate technical skills for your major with your classmates
  • Idealist and Volunteermatch offer many virtual volunteer opportunities
  • Community-based opportunities are available at the Mutual Aid Hub
  • Use your technical skills to support a political campaign
  • Subtitle and translate TED Talks to bring ideas to others
  • Volunteer to Translate with Translators without Borders
  • Make a global impact by volunteering virtually with the United Nations
  • Transcribe historical documents for the Smithsonian
  • Train others in technology with Right Here at Home
  • Volunteer to create social change via DoSomething
  • Browse volunteer opportunities based on cause area and skillset at Catchafire
  • Use your marketing, tech, HR, strategy, or finance experience to provide consulting work to a nonprofit organization via Taproot Plus
  • Solve real-world analytics problems for nonprofits through Analytics Corps
  • Use HeroX to help companies find innovative solutions on through crowdsourcing
  • Provide project-based work on Freelancer or Upwork


Network with Other Students, Professionals and Alumni

  • Go to a Meetup to meet new people with similar interests
  • Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, and network with personal introductions to alumni and others you want to connect with
    • Target 2/5/10 reach out emails per week
    • Turn LinkedIn connections into 1-3 phone or online conversations per week
    • End your summer with 3-5 strong advocates
  • Explore professional organizations related to your degree program and learn about online events, upcoming future conferences, discounted student memberships, and educational resources
    • ALPFA – Association of Latino Professionals For America
    • Forte Foundation
    • Accounting
      • GWSCPA – The Greater Washington Society of CPAs
      • NSA – National Society of Accountants
      • IIA – The Institute of Internal Auditors
      • AscendNAAMBA
      • AICPA – Association Institute of Certified Public Accountants
      • AAA – American Accounting Association
      • NABA – National Association of Black Accountants
      • IMA – Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
    • Analytics
      • DAA – Digital Analytics Association
      • IIBA – International Institute of Business Analysis
    • Consulting
      • Institute of Management Consultants USA
      • Professional Consultants Association
    • Finance and Risk
      • CFA Institute
      • CFA Society of Washington
      • CFA Society of Baltimore
      • GARP – Global Association of Risk Professionals
    • General Management
      • American Management Association
      • Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM)
    • Human Capital
      • Association for Talent Development
      • HR Leadership Forum
      • National Human Resources Association
      • Professionals in Human Resources
      • Society of Human Resources Management
    • Information Systems
      • AIS - Association for Information Systems
      • CompTIA
      • ISSA – Information Systems Security Association
    • Marketing
      • AMA – American Marketing Association
      • DAA – Digital Analytics Association
      • Insights Association (formerly Marketing Research Association)
    • Supply Chain
      • CSCMP – Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
      • APICS – Association for Supply Chain Management (and certifications)
      • ISM – Institute for Supply Management


Be Well and Reflect

  • Keep moving and connected to other active Terps with RecWell
  • Meditate with the Health Center
  • Create a GitHub of projects and writing samples that can be shared with future potential employers
  • Review the CDC Advice on managing anxiety and stress during COVID19
  • Apply positive psychology by reviewing 87 Self-Reflection Questions for Introspection

Source URL: https://networth.rhsmith.umd.edu/smith/activity-ideas