Franklin Douglass
Franklin started at UBalt as a first-time undergraduate and is studying Simulation and Game Design.
When Franklin Douglass chose to attend his father's alma mater for college, he knew very little about The University of Baltimore or the city.
After moving from his home in Potomac, Maryland, to an apartment just off campus, he felt at home away from home.
"I love being in the city," he said. "Being able to just go places is great."
The ability to make friends as a first-time undergraduate through UBalt's learning communities and the University's close proximity to many attractions—the Inner Harbor, restaurants and the arts district—enabled Franklin to explore and experience Baltimore in his free time.
"My friends and I, when we have time between class, we all go down to the Inner Harbor together, get some food, chill out together and come back for class. I like being able to do things like that," he said.
Franklin chose UBalt for its Simulation and Game Design program because he wants to create games, but appreciates that the lessons he's learning in his classes, from coding to digital design, can help him if he ever decides to pursue a job outside of gaming.
When he isn't in class, Franklin likes to hang out in the UBalt Student Center's game room. Gaming tournaments have introduced him to even more of his fellow students.
"I've been playing games forever," he said, "but what I like the most is how it can bring people together and the joy people have when they are competing."
From his first undergraduate classes to the advanced courses he's now taking in his program, Franklin has found his professors are always engaging.
"Especially a lot of my first classes were very discussion based, so you felt like you were part of the class. You weren't just getting talked at."
Smaller classrooms have helped him connect with faculty in ways he didn't expect.
"They can know you and they can help you if there's a specific thing you might struggle with or something like that. They can notice that and then can give you ways to overcome it instead of you being lost in the crowd."