When UMBC freshman step onto campus for the first time, a lot has to be going through their minds - who is going to be a friend, who is going to be a study buddy, who is going to get them in trouble, who is going to help them cope with their roommate - and the list goes on. Hopefully, all freshmen are thinking about how they are going to make their stay at UMBC a successful one, and a few leaders of the freshly-graduated class of 2009 have some tips.

The Retriever Weekly recently got to play twenty questions with Priya Mathews, valedictorian of the class of 2009, and Cornelia Carapcea, a co-salutatorian. Mathews, a native of Beltsville, Maryland. Matthews graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology and enhanced her UMBC experience through extensive research, tutoring her peers, and a lot of valuable community service. Carapcea also graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Financial Economics and Information Systems. Born in Romania, Carapcea played on the UMBC women's tennis team and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in 2008.

Read on for the responses from these two notable graduates, and how they turned their UMBC experiences into stories of success.

Twenty Questions with Priya Mathews, UMBC valedictorian 2009

The Retriever Weekly: What is the single most important factor to which you can attribute your success at UMBC?

Priya Mathews: Probably my calendar/planner... Without those things, I'm a complete mess!

TRW: What was your favorite book as a child?

PM: The Giver & all the Harry Potter books

TRW: What was your favorite class at UMBC?

PM: First Year Seminar - Science versus Religion

TRW: Can you recommend any professors? Or did any professor have a specific impact on your path as a Biological Sciences Major?

PM: My favorite class was taught by Dr. Freeland; that was an amazing class that really changed my perspective on both science and religion. Other Biology professors that impacted me were Dr. Blumberg and Bryan MacKay.

TRW: What do you plan to do in the future?

PM: Pursuing an M.D. at Johns Hopkins University.

TRW: How did you prepare yourself for applying to graduate school?

PM: Talking to upperclassmen and professors about what my interests were, and taking their advice on what classes and internships to pursue. Also, UMBC has advisors for any graduate school path that you may be interested in, and they are extremely helpful in providing their guidance.

TRW: What advice can you give to incoming freshman?

PM: Your number one priority is of course going to always be school, and deciding what profession you want to enter. But don't forget that college is a time for you to figure out who you are as well, and meet people from all kinds of backgrounds. And don't forget to balance your academic and social life - it will be the best thing you can do for your college career.

TRW: Would your advice be different for this year's rising seniors?

PM: Enjoy your senior year to the fullest! This year will be stressful with deciding what you are going to do after college, but don't forget to have fun. After this, the real world or graduate school starts, and life won't be the same!

TRW: How do you intend to keep in touch with your college friends?

PM: Phone, e-mail, Facebook... I'm going to make sure that I stay in touch with my close friends.

TRW: What is the most exciting thing for you when you think of your future?

PM: Being able to have an impact as a medical doctor on someone else is the most exciting thing. I think that someone trusting you with their health is a great honor, and I hope to really make a difference.

TRW: And the scariest?

PM: Not being able to do everything I want to do - I have certain goals for my career, social life, family, and more. I really hope that I can balance all the aspects of my life without sacrificing any one of them.

TRW: If you could describe yourself in three words, what would those words be?

PM: Happy, Easy-going, Clumsy.

TRW: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

PM: Cookies and Cream.

TRW: What was your favorite place to eat on UMBC's campus?

PM: The dining hall with my roomies.

TRW: Is there a single (extracurricular) experience that you had in college that inspired you to decide your future plans?

PM: Women Involved in Learning and Leadership led me to be interested in women's issues in the 21st century. I would like to integrate this interest in women's health with being a medical doctor.

TRW: If you hadn't majored in what you did, what would you have studied or done instead?

PM: I majored in Biology and Psychology, both of which I believe will help me for medical school. But if I did not want to be a medical doctor, then I would probably want to be a clinical psychologist.

TRW: If you won the lottery tomorrow, how would you spend your money?

PM: That's easy - shopping spree! And then I would give a lot of money to my family and friends. I would also definitely want to donate money to orphanages; I think that there are too many children growing up without the care that they deserve.

TRW: What is the one thing you'll miss most about UMBC?

PM: The friendly atmosphere. Everyone is really approachable here. I always felt extremely safe at UMBC, and that my peers and professors would be there if I needed anything. Also I loved meeting people every week at UMBC, the diversity is simply incredible.

TRW: What is the one thing you'll miss least?

PM: Exams, of course... But that's not really ending for me since I'm starting school soon! Besides that, I'll miss everything else at UMBC!

Twenty Questions with Cornelia Carapcea, UMBC Co-Salutatorian 2009

The Retriever Weekly: What is the single most important factor to which you can attribute your success at UMBC?

Cornelia Carapcea: If I were to name only ONE factor, I would be unfair. I succeeded because of the people who supported me while at UMBC, and because of the opportunities the university has to offer.

TRW: What was your favorite book as a child?

CC: If I really had to pick, I would say Trip to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.

TRW: What was your favorite class at UMBC?

CC: Hmm... Tough one. I learned a lot from all the classes I took, but the most entertaining has to be Moral Philosophy with Dr. Dwyer.

TRW: Can you recommend any professors?

CC: Dr. Anita Komlodi, Dr. George Karabatis, Prof. Jeff Martens, Dr. Victoria Yoon, Dr. Vandana Janeja, Dr. Michael Bradley, Dr. Scott Farrow, Dr. Douglas Lamdin, Dr. David Mitch, Prof. Dan Hood, Prof. Saad Raouf.

TRW: Or did any professor have a specific impact on your major path?

CC: I was a Financial Economics and Information Systems major. The professor who influenced me the most was Dr. Anita Komlodi; I was an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Komlodi for almost 2 years and a half, and this experience helped me tremendously.

TRW: What do you plan to do in the future?

CC: I will be working for Microsoft as a Program Manager.

TRW: How did you prepare yourself for your other future plans?

CC: I worked on campus as an undergraduate research assistant and as a tutor. I also took internship opportunities with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Microsoft. In the end, all the experience I accumulated helped me get ready for my career.

TRW: What advice can you give to incoming freshman?

CC: Freshmen should take every opportunity that comes their way. There are plenty of great classes and research opportunities at UMBC. If you are involved and you ask a lot of questions, it is impossible to miss out on all the good things UMBC has to offer. Last but not least, have some fun by joining one of the many groups/organizations on campus, or by playing intramural sports.

TRW: Would your advice be different for this year's rising seniors?

CC: Seniors have less flexibility to explore than freshmen: they need to finish their course load and apply for jobs or grad school. However, UMBC does offer a lot of support for seniors: check out the Shriver Center or the Career Center for information on how to apply for jobs. If you are interested in grad school, ask the academic advisors in your department for support, and you will get it. Also, try to enjoy your last year as an undergraduate student; it goes by really quickly!

TRW: How do you intend to keep in touch with your college friends?

CC: Thank God for e-mail and Facebook!

TRW: What is the most exciting thing for you when you think of your future?

CC: I have a job with one of the most well known companies in the world (Microsoft), and I am really excited to start working for them. I had an internship with Microsoft during the summer of 2008, so I know approximately what to expect.

TRW: And the scariest?

CC: I would not call it "scary," but it will be a bit challenging to move to Seattle and leave the awesome friends I made at UMBC. However, I am used to this type of changes, and I will be able to keep in touch with my friends no matter where I am.

TRW: If you could describe yourself in three words, what would those words be?

CC: Romanian, ambitious, outspoken.

TRW:What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

CC: Nothing beats Founder's Favorite from Coldstone.

TRW: What was your favorite place to eat on UMBC's campus?

CC: The pizza-place in the Commons. Their pizza definitely improved a lot during my senior year.

TRW: Is there a single (extracurricular) experience that you had in college that inspired you to decide your future plans?

CC: The experiences and knowledge I gained while working for Dr. Anita Komlodi definitely impacted my plans. I got to travel and meet important people in the IT industry, and I got to work on an exciting project. In the end, this all led to my internship with Microsoft, which led to my full time job with the same company. I would say that my experience as an undergraduate research assistant sparked my interest in the IT industry.

TRW: Or was there an important experience that you value particularly highly from college?

CC: Other than the research experience I had, I also value the fact that I was part of the UMBC Women's Tennis Team for 4 years. I got to travel quite a lot, and I got to experience the intense competition of conference matches. Nothing compares to being part of a close-knit team and having amazing coaches who support you.

TRW: If you hadn't majored in what you did, what would you have studied or done instead?

CC: Ever since I started applying for colleges, I knew my majors would revolve around IT and Economics. While at UMBC I majored in Financial Economics and Information Systems, and I had a minor in Computer Science. I do not see myself doing something radically different from these three majors.

TRW: If you won the lottery tomorrow, how would you spend your money?

CC: Well, due to the recession, most of it would go on taxes anyway.

TRW: What is the one thing you'll miss most about UMBC?

CC: My friends.

TRW: What is the one thing you'll miss least?

CC: The macaroni and cheese they serve in the dining hall.

For more information on these two, and other proud UMBC alumni, visit: http://www.umbc.edu/classof2009/bios.html.