University of Florida Top Questions

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would tell myself not to worry. The transition to college life and living on your own is not as terrifying as you think. College classes are enormous and intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of things you'll realize they aren't that much different than high school. In fact, you'll enjoy them more because classes are only two or three days a week and don’t give busywork. You'll adore the freedom to pick your own classes, when you take them, and your teacher. Contrary to what you anticipate, living away from home is not going to be lonely. Your roommates will be there whenever you want to socialize and you won’t miss mom asking where you’re going and when you’ll be home. Remember that if you ever get homesick, your family is just a call away or you can always drive home on the weekend. It won’t be long before you understand how much better college is than high school. People aren’t lying when they say college is the best four years of your life.

Pack half of what you think you need. Don't room with a friend you already know. Be open to new people. Don't forget shower shoes. Make sure you get enough sleep. Keep a calendar of events, even if you're not entirely sure that you are going. Go to club meetings just to see what they're all about. Don't stay in the dorm all day. Develop a way to introduce yourself in 30 seconds or less, and make yourself memorable. Walk around campus and see what events are going on. Don't think that you know everything and know exactly what you want to do with your life, because you don't. Apply for clubs or jobs even if you don't think you'll get in. All things in moderation: don't focus too much on one activity and therefore shut the doors closed on anything else. Know about your student government. Find that one teacher who can become your mentor. Don't be afraid to ask questions at any time. Find out about local hangout spots. And most importantly, always keep an open mind about anything that you are doing.

Listen to your parents. They may seem like they're not supporting but thats because they don't want you to experience what they have. Take those collge level classes, It may be tough but in the end its worth it. Dont spend your money on useless paraphernalia. Apply for scholarships early dont be concerned about if you have enough to pay just apply apply apply. You get to pocket the extra money and you dont have to burden your parents with paying for college.

During high school I attained my Associate of Arts Degree. As a result of already having attained an AA, I had already acquired credit for the majority of my general education classes which provides a lot of flexibility in my class scheduling. During my senior year of high school, I was unaware of the wide array of minors and majors to select from. Having been exposed to the many different educational paths that others have chosen, I would recommend to myself to research multiple minors of interest to me. I am currently working on two minors in addition to my degree but I would have preferred to begin doing so during my freshman year so that I could acquire one or two additional minors. Also, I am planning on attending law school so I would have chosen a degree or minors that were more complementary to a pre-law educational path.

After experiencing my first semester of college in fall of 2010 I have one major piece of advice to give myself as a high school senior. That piece of information that I would give my young self would be to apply to more four year universities. Now that I have already gone through one semester at a community college I have realized that all I want to do is go to school out of town. I want to be able to experience some freedom by going away from school. This would be the greatest piece of advice that I would give my self.

Don't let up, and don't relax. The game is not over yet and there is still work to be done. Keep working hard and giving it your best effort and good things will come. Hard work is optional, but success is mandatory.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to make sure that I save up every penny possible to help pay for college. I would tell myself to get more involved in my school and community. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be to talk to more people and go out of my comfort zone. Chances are, that at college you arent going to know most of the people. If you talk to people you don't know now in high school, it is going to be a lot easier to talk to everyone in college later. The biggest piece of advice that I would give myself as a high school senior though, is to not wish my high school life away and to enjoy high school while it lasts.

The difference between the grading system in high school and college is so great that it is important to be prepared as soon as possible. In high school, grades were comprised of homework, quizzes, class participation, and tests. Now, in college, grades are equivalent to exams. Without hesitation, I can say I had not opened a textbook to study in high school. This lack of study skills has made it difficult to transition into college, where one bump in the road could ruin everything. I experienced this very obstacle my first semester at the University of Florida. I had taken Calculus 3 my senior year of high school and needed to retake it for my major. I assumed I knew everything already, so I took advantage of not having mandatory attendance. I skipped a third of the classes before my first test and received only two thirds of the points on the exam. It was tough to understand how I could possibly get through such an experience, but I changed my habits and studied like it was the beginning again. If I could, I would begin to learn how to study my senior year instead of having regrets in college.

I can honestly say I couldn't have had a better college experience thus far had I attended any other school. UF has enhanced all aspects of my life. First, I came here for an education and attending the number one school for Health Science in the nation I couldnt have recieved a better education else where. Also since we are connected to Shands Medical Center there are plenty of oppurtunities for me to get hands on experience in the field. Second, my faith is a huge part of my life. The multiple campus ministry organizations have helped me grow in my faith more than I would have expected from a public university. I am a member of a christian sorority and involved in the largest student run organization on campus, Campus Crusade for Christ. Third, I was really worried about how moving away from home would affect my health. UF has a state of the art gym free to students and plenty of options for healthy eating. It is very easy for me to stay healthy with the help of the many programs UF offers. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my time at UF.

Growing up I never thought I would be smart enough to attend the University of Florida. Going into my senior year, I was set on a university in another town that I knew I would get into without a doubt, but I knew I needed to challenge myself and apply to my dream university without worrying about if I would get in or not. Dreams come true since im attending my dream university. My expericence here has molded and shaped me into the person I hoped I would be. I am actively involved on campus being the President of the College of Journalism and Communications, I am involved in a sorority and have made many lasting network connections with wonderful individuals. My experince here is coming to an end, but Im thoroughly conviced that my time spent at this amazing university has only help me with my future career goals. I know upon graduation that my time was well spent at UF. I made lifetime friends, had a wonderful experince, got an excellent education without breaking the bank and I learned about who I am and what I want ot achieve in my life. Im truly blessed to attend UF.