University of Florida Top Questions

Contrary to popular belief, college is not about making the A grade or learning how to handle your liquor. It is a time set aside for the discovery and embrace of oneself. It is learning how to never forget where you came from while staying true to your childhood aspirations. College is never compromising your heart or settling for the easy way out. It is the decisions that you will make in college that will shape who you become in the future. It is truly an exhilarating experience to discover how one handles themselves without the crutches of ?legal guardians.? You must take advantage of this opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and hold back all fears. College is the age in which one must learn how to operate successfully; discover how to manage time wisely, finding the equilibrium between social life and school work. Most importantly you must learn how to coop with failure, by no means allow them to derail you but let them motivate you to push harder. Overall, chanting at the football games, maturing in the classroom and studying your brains out to achieve what seemed like an impossible dream is what defines college.

I think it is really important to choose a college that best fits your financial sitaution. Since most careers today want to see that you went to graduate school, i woluldnt necessarily pay out of state tuition for undergraduate education. It is also important to go to a place where you like the city the school is located in. Choosing a school is not just about the campus because a lot of the time the student spends over the course of 4 years will be out doing things in the city. Finally, find people who you relate well to and surround yourself with them. I personally wasted a lot of time in college being convinced that everyone around me wanted different things than I did. There are always people who you will have a good time with and make sure you find them.

In my experience, college life is what you make of it. If you choose not to have a good time, to not go out and meet new people and keep yourself from the community then at a school this size you can most definitely do that, and ultimately have a pretty bad time. However, college is a time to meet new people - and for me, I knew noone at the University of Florida when I first got here. There were about 40,000 new potential friends, and I quickly found about 10 that I have been friends with since my first couple weeks here. I came from a small private high school in a big city; almost the complete opposite from the University of Florida. Some thought I was crazy for coming here, I can now confirm that it would have been crazy NOT to come here!! The collegiate sports teams could not have possibly been better (every sport has multiple All-Americans, which makes it more exciting to watch). There is SO much to do here, but you have to embrace the small, college town feel. I am hoping to continue here for graduate school.

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Without a doubt, the college of choice for any individual must reflect who they want to be. Regardless of how big or small the school is, what the popular trends are on campus, and what the balance is between academics and extracurriculars is, you should try to look beyond these elements and instead try to envision how they will affect you. Perhaps it's logical to say that no one will find a college that is the "perfect fit." There will always be something that doesn't meet an individual's full satisfaction about his or her ideal college. There will always be those idiosyncratic "pet peeves." Frustration regarding some of these things comes upon everyone in one form or another. But that's the way of life. Inconsistencies in one individual's perfect world could be the jewels in another individual's perfect world. Be welcoming to the new stage of life that is about to befall you, and that stage of life will welcome you with open arms. Be flexible, and not gullible. Be enthusiastic, but not obsessed. Savor the moment of a successful transition to college--a sure sign of a triumphant entry into today's world.

Do lots and lots of research on every school that you have in mind. Think about the price of living on or off campus and which one would be more enjoyable and rewarding. Think about if you want to share a room or if you want to live in a single room. Think about the smallest, simplest things because that could make a big difference between having THE BEST college experience and hating your college experience

Visit and talk to other students, not the ones giving the tour guides. If you can sit in on a class do so. Just see if you feel comfortable.

For the longest time I felt like I had to attend an out of state college, but when I visited them, nothing felt right. My best advice would be to visit all of your choices and pick the one where you feel like you're a part of the campus already. Usually your gut feeling will not betray you. It is imporant to pick a school where you feel as though you already belong because once you get to college you want to be involved. Most colleges offer several options for involvement, each one being unique to those who participate. Getting involved will help you make friends with the same interests, friends who will encourage you to do your best in life and in school. Do not pick a school simply because of their promised educational value--your education is what you make it. The key to the right college experience is being truly happy, and if you achieve that than you can concentrate more on what you want in life and use your collegiate resources to achieve it.

Definitely work hard, it's not as easy as high school. But definitely have fun and try and experience everything.

You should visit the campus and ask students about the school. It is a lot different being a student on campus than reading about it or knowing the facts. Academics are important, but don't forget about other aspects of college life. Look at the dorms, dining halls, libraries, computer labs, student union, places to eat, etc. Check out the city that the college is in. Most students don't stay on campus all the day. Go around the town and see what is available for students to do in that town. Studying should come first when your in college, but when you close your books how are you going to spend your time.