Most of the busy students, although challenged by more difficult courses with heavier workloads compared to their first two years, are pleased finally to be settled in their majors and on their career paths.

Jennifer Abbata decided to change her major to communication after pursuing first computer science, and then business. "Now I am trying to pick up the pieces so that I don't end up at school for too long." Minoring in both human resources and marketing is a way, Abbata says, to do everything she wants.

She says that this year she finally has an understanding of how UB works. "Now I find myself answering questions and giving advice to younger students."

Maggie Zak switched her major last semester from architecture to communication. "Switching majors was a little difficult, but I am now satisfied with the work I am doing and the path that I am on. I am much happier and more motivated."

Zak says she hasn't exactly mastered managing time, money and stress, but she has stopped wasting money on unnecessary things. "And I still swear that time speeds up when I need it to slow down."

Her involvement on campus as a resident advisor, a UB STAR tour guide in admissions and member of a national co-ed fraternity has enhanced her UB experience. "I tell my tour groups all the time that one of the most important things besides academics is to get involved."

Another resident advisor, Kaya Gerberich, says her major has changed just about every month so far. "Now I'm a psychology major and dance minor. I picked psychology because I'm looking to go into either teaching or college student services when I graduate... I've always loved to dance and we have such a spectacular program here that I just had to do it, too!"

She says so far junior year has been busy and hectic, particularly since she is registered for more than 20 credit hours. "I'm trying to take advantage of all that UB has to offer...at least all that I can handle!"

Gerberich, who worked as an orientation aide at UB over the summer, says her most recent activity is the Bullfighters, a new UB club dedicated to getting people involved on campus, especially, she says, to hype up the new Division I-A Bulls.

Some of the students in the Class of 2000 have moved off-campus to the University Heights area and are enjoying the freedom and privacy.

"The dorms are good for the first year or two to meet people and to get involved, but living off campus, I feel, is much better. I don't feel as confined and I feel healthier," says Susan Deacon, an architecture major. "This semester has kept me more busy than ever before," she adds.

Speech and hearing major Elana Steinhaus says she likes living off-campus because she enjoys living in a house with friends and because it is not as crowded as the residence halls.

Steinhaus is a UB STAR, member of Phi Sigma Sigma and a writer for the campus newspaper Ari. "I am learning that I am capable of doing anything that I put my heart and mind into and that I can survive living on my own.

"I go out less because my classes have gotten much harder and I have to spend more time in the library," says Steinhaus. "I enjoy my classes more, even though they are hard, because they are concentrated on things that I want to do in the future. Reality has definitely set in as I get closer to the working world."

A business management major, Jennifer Cotignola agrees that being a junior has made her realize it is time to prepare for the real world. "There is definitely more (school) work involved and I feel more mature."

Sean Webb says he likes living off campus because there are fewer people around, making it is easier to study. He has changed his major a few times, but finally has decided on history, with a minor in education.

However, the death of a close friend from home this semester has made it difficult for Webb to keep up with all of his school work.

"Junior year has most differed from my first two years in the amount of work and the hardships I have gone through," says Webb.

Unlike the majority of the students, Erin Cala finds she actually is more at ease this year. "I've found that I don't get as stressed out as I used to," although the English and environmental-studies major admits that is not necessarily a good thing. As far as managing time, stress and money, Cala says she doesn't think that is possible "after only 20 years."

Christopher Fedorczak admits this has been his most difficult semester so far. "All of my classes are harder and require more time out of class."

The media-study major has decided to concentrate in digital art and minor in marketing. Fedorczak, who has been involved in everything at UB from WRUB radio and UBTV to the Anti-Rape Task Force, spent six weeks this semester pledging Pi Sigma Epsilon, the national business fraternity. Fortunately, he says he figured out how to manage time, money and stress last year.

Over the summer, Jason Toto, who serves on the Residence Halls Association Executive Board, was a UB delegate to the North Atlantic Affiliate of Colleges and University Residents Halls National Conference.

Toto, who anticipates being accepted into the nuclear medical technology program next semester, says junior year has been hectic. "I have less time to myself, more things that need to be accomplished, more responsibilities and a lot more stress." However, he adds that what he has most enjoyed about junior year is having a steady girlfriend.

Yvelisse Ortiz, a nursing major from Rochester, says if she could change one thing about her UB experience so far, she would have studied harder her first two years.

But college has taught Ortiz some important life lessons. "I feel I am more open to things and I have more insight on things that I did not used to think about or know about. I feel like I have learned a lot of things here that I would not have learned if I did not experience college for myself."