TRIO Student Testimonials

“I’m very happy with my TRIO home. Everyone makes I feel like I belong, it's like a big family. Staff and Dr. Kapikian responded promptly, so reliable, knowledgeable, and always offering important resources. Dr. K gives excellent advice and he’s good at writing letters of recommendation. I learned tennis and skateboarding. We need to encourage that more and get better turnout for tennis, to release steam. Exercise is very important, everyone needs to exercise. The study space is my refuge because it's very safe, located at the most convenient building, generally quiet. When not it’s because people are working. It’s a focused environment, where actual work gets done. TRIO is a family. Even though I moved, I come back once a week because I belong here. It still feels like a family. I get help whenever I am in crisis. It’s a wonderful study and work place, very accommodating.”

“Only one answer: very effective. It’s like a home inside a school. Thumbs up. All the computers have a graphing calculator and all the apps for engineering. Students don’t have money to pay for a calculator. Last semester, I got a graphing calculator. I love the TRIO pens I received!  Whenever I need something, I say to myself ‘let me go to TRIO to get a pen or other supplies.’ It feels like my home, which makes TRIO a home. If someone talks about TRIO, I know where to go to get a binder, folder, or any other supplies I need for school. That’s the most important thing about TRIO, it’s a home where I belong. Being a biochemical and pre-med student, I need a go-to place to get studying done and access all the resources. Outside of my home, TRIO is my productive home.”

“I met a wonderful mentor who I trusted because she always responded within a couple of hours, no matter what time I sent her an email. I relied on her for everything. She followed up to see if I did what she advised me to do, which put pressure on me to follow through.  Even when I transitioned to UMD, I still contacted her for advice, and to my surprise, she always responded.”

“The mentoring program was highly effective in providing academic, professional, and social guidance throughout my studies. My mentor's insights and experience played a key role in shaping my approach to both my education and current career. The staff kept in touch with me even after I graduated and connected me with job opportunities.”

“Professor K and Ms. Huong are my mentors because they were the most responsive people during the pandemic when everyone disappeared. Every time I have challenges or crises, I know they have always been there. They helped me apply for FAFSA and followed up to make sure I submitted the required documents.  Ms. Huong mailed me the academic planner during COVID. Every time I use the academic planner, I think of them. Now I have a job and my boss wants to know my goals. Professor K was the first and only professor who genuinely cared about my studies and my career.”

“The major academic support I received from the SSS program was the proofreading of essays for different courses. I just needed help for grammar checking. They are super helpful, with quick responses. Professor K, an English tutor, tutored in all subjects because he is so knowledgeable.”

“As a mother of three children, working full-time and going to school part-time, when I need help, I need someone who can help me with short notice, someone who can help me immediately. I found Dr. McCleskey, a volunteer who was always available to help me understand Anatomy and Physiology I&II. He even helped me with chemistry.  When I applied to nursing school, they submitted my letter of recommendation within 24 hours.”

“I got accepted to Drexel University.  I would have been so confused if I hadn’t taken the financial literacy workshop. To avoid student loans, I found a paid internship.”

“Financial literacy was extremely helpful when it came to FAFSA. I could not have got through that alone. I joined the military after I graduated but I still remember January 1st is the time to renew the FAFSA and the consequences of taking out and not paying student loans.”

“I’d say my overall experience with TRIO support services can best be described as adventurous and very community-oriented. This would be due to the many fun events like tennis, and the workshops that were culture-related, where we shared food, holiday gatherings, and more.  I loved Professor Kapikian’s games such as Jeopardy and his lecture on the history of whatever holiday we were celebrating, like the Thanksgiving dinner, before we ate.”

“The most useful workshop was how to transfer.  I received useful, practical information and advice from the facilitator.”

“TRIO is unique, while the campus has cultural events, something that cannot be learned from textbooks, YouTube, and social media, TRIO’s cultural events expose me to the culture and let I experience the culture instead of a PowerPoint, or a walkthrough of an event. I learned a lot from the trip to the Harriet Tubman Museum and learned about my peers during the ride there.”

“The cultural events have enriched my college experience, offering valuable exposure to diverse perspectives. The college visit to Universities at Shady Grove allowed me to see the campus and meet with recruiters.”

“I enjoyed the cultural events because the staff asked us what interests us or what fun activities we wanted to do.  It’s very effective learning about other cultures, bonding, and making friends. I am from Ethiopia, and learning about different cultures and trying different foods provided a valuable learning opportunity for me.

“During the pandemic, virtual services were really helpful because they gave me the flexibility to keep learning even with restrictions. In-person services provided a personal touch and the hands-on help that online options couldn’t always match. I think the best approach going forward is a mix of both, like a hybrid: using the convenience of virtual services alongside the personal interaction of in-person support to meet everyone’s needs.”

“I’ve been at TRIO for four years, twice as many years as I was supposed to be at a community college. I came to the TRIO lab almost every day. The staff and students became my family. Staff, peers, and tutors who became my friends supported me with my homework and all my other issues. When I transferred to the university, I failed the first semester because I couldn’t find support. I was lonely and surprised that everyone kept to themselves. I returned to the community college and spent another year at TRIO. I reapplied to UMD for the third time and got accepted. But I still come to TRIO to study and get help with homework.”

“I’ve transferred to UMBC and met my academic goal. However, I don’t get a sense of belonging. At least once a week, I return to TRIO to study even though I don’t use the academic support.”

“I received grocery gift cards. This was so helpful as most of my family members were not working. I remember I contacted TRIO for any resources and they immediately assisted me with Target gift cards.”

“The laptop really impacted my educational journey because it helped me stay on track with virtual learning and stay engaged with the professors and my classmates. It helped me become successful throughout the rest of my college experience.”

“The free laptop and the graphing calculator were a game-changer make it game-changers, allowing me to stay on top of my coursework. Without the laptop, I wouldn’t have received the remote tutoring during the pandemic which helped me pass a challenging course that I would have struggled with otherwise. The emergency grant posted on my account alleviated the financial burden, and the Giant gift card helped with food.”

“I got the TEAS test preparation materials which helped me pass the TEAS exam for nursing school, then I received a $75 fee waived, and my transfer application fee was also waived. 

I am now at the University of Maryland School of Nursing because I received the help. I am sure current TRIO students need this support.”

“The admissions application waiver was an immense help in the cost of my application process. I was able to apply to eight different universities and secure a chance to transfer.”