By Ellie Jornlin

As students at the University of Maryland prepare for exam season, many are finding ways to de-stress through shopping on Cyber Monday. 

The annual online shopping event, which follows Black Friday, offers huge discounts on everything from clothing to electronics. The event gives students a chance to buy gifts for loved ones or something for themselves before the holiday season approaches. 

For junior data science major Diana Mendoza, Cyber Monday is about the convenience of shopping from her computer. 

“I bought a necklace for 20% off for my mom’s Christmas gift this year. I never have time to go shopping for gifts around this time because of finals so Cyber Monday came at a really good time,” Mendoza said. 

Other people, such as Phoebe Reardon, a senior philosophy major, agreed with Mendoza that the event offered great timing for gift shopping. 

“I usually use Cyber Monday to buy stuff for myself and Christmas gifts for relatives, usually stuff from Bath & Body Works or Yankee Candle,” Reardon said. 

A study from the National Retail Federation calculated the number of online versus in-person shoppers during the 2024 Thanksgiving weekend by day and found that the majority prefer online shopping. 

On Black Friday, 87.3 million people shopped online versus the 81.7 million who shopped in person. On Cyber Monday, 64.4 million shoppers chose to shop online versus 23.3 million in person. 

People like Jason Tran, a junior computer science major, also prefer shopping online compared to in-person as it is more convenient during the busy holiday season. 

“There’s always so many crowds this time of year,” Tran said. “Plus, after Thanksgiving, I’m usually in a food coma, so shopping from my couch is way easier.” 

While many students appreciate the convenience and savings of Cyber Monday, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate shipping delays and the uncertainty of online shopping.

“I usually like to see and try on what I’m thinking of buying before I actually do,” Reardon said. “Also sometimes with online shopping, orders can be backed up or it can be difficult to return something that doesn’t fit.” 

With Cyber Monday over, students are turning their attention back to finals. For a brief moment, the online deals offered a thrill and a much-needed distraction for a chance to tackle holiday shopping with ease.

“Now that I got all of my holiday shopping done, I don’t have too much else to worry about other than finals,” Tran said. “I can focus on studying without having to stress about last-minute gift ideas.” 

If you’re looking for some holiday gift inspiration, the Terp Holiday Gift Guide 2024 highlights unique options from local College Park entrepreneurs. The guide features everything from food and books to skincare and beauty. 

Whether shopping for a fellow Terp or another loved one, there is something for everyone. Check out the full guide from Maryland Today.

Featured by image by Ellie Jornlin.