University of Florida Top Questions

The best college is where you can grow to become the person you're ment to be, a place to find your self and your furture path. That place needs diversity, not only in the knowlegde the shcool provides , but in the people working their and in the students. Furthermore, you need a place that is a great study enviroment, incourages healthy eating, and has facilities/ activities to expand who you are. College is suppose to be a turning point in your life where you're not your mothers little boy or girl anymore, but a person in your own right. Also, you need to make the most of your college life! Learn a new skill, from enginering to scubba diving. College is suppose to be hard, but with a dash of fun in it as well. Here is the chance to learn things you could never have amagined, be put through amazing challenges, and create a expnasion of the world you call 'self'. Its an exciting adventure, but you need to go out and find those adventures. College is all about the expeience, if you only study, you may end up understanding knowlege, but nothing about life.

Leaving home for the first time is a very difficult transition; it is only made harder by attending a major university that will be more challangeing then many students are used to. First I recommend to all my friends that attending a Community college first is a great idea. It saves a lot of money and stress. Attending a smaller community college first also makes the transition from high school to college smoother. Secondly, the parrents and students need to look at the economy of the community they student will be living in. Will is be possible to find a job, will they be able to find and afford housing for all 4 years of college? Third I would say to join clubs on campus to help meet new people, but avoid rushing for a fraternity or sority your freshman year. These Greek associates are very time consuming and many students learn too late that it hurts their GPAs. If you want to find that family bond and tradition rush your sophmore year instead. Finally most students think they will have nothing but fun their first time out of the house so they should prepare themselves for a roller coaster.

It's important to realize that college is a lifestyle not a class. One should experience the life of a prospective college before choosing that college. Had I been accepted to my first choice of academic institutions I would have missed a much richer and fullfilling extracurricular experience. The relevance of a school's academic standing is also variable to a student's career goals. As a student who plans to attend grad school, I have learned to place less emphasis on the academic standing of my undergraduate university because my undergraduate degree will be trumped by a masters degree or PhD. I also suggest that the social atmosphere is an important factor in choosing a college. Perhaps socializing in itself is not significant, but social networks lead to career networks and support groups. Hence, a positive social atmosphere may lead to better grades, learning experiences, and career situations in the future. Finally, I will point out what parents try to hide - college is not just about work. College provides the best chance of your life to experience new people and activities - don't neglect extracurricular experiences. Sports, parties, and campus life can be just as important as academics.

work hard, but dont forget to have fun too.

I would recommend visiting the college and staying with a fellow student. That way the prospective student can see what it is really like to attend that specific school. I would pay attention to the GPA and SAT average so that you can find a school that is academically focused. I thought that the University of Florida would be to big of a school for me, but it actually allowed me to find niche groups of people. You are not just a number at a large school. You do have to make an effort to get involved, but it pays off! I have also realized that weather is also an important factor. I love the warm weather and would have been miserable at a school with cold or rainy weather. I did not consider this when deciding because I thought that I could adapt, but I am not sure if I would have adapted very easily. Truly, what is most important in the college experience is getting involved with a variety of organizations and groups on campus. This will result in feeling at home and also expanding your horizons.

When you go to college don't worry too much about what you want to accomplish with your life, you'll figure that out as time moves on. Instead, focus on your studies, learn all that you can, and absorb everything around you. Success is simple if you follow a few simple rules: never skip class for any reason, go to every football game you can, and make friends from your favorite classes, you'll take each other far. Finally, enjoy this time, it's an amazing opportunity that can carry you as far as you allow it!

When it comes time to look for a college you should always have a dream school. However make sure you have other schools in mind. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure the school is right for you by taking a college visit and see how much you like the campus. Ask as many questions as you can before you decide. Keep your parents in the loop as well. If you want to go to school outside of your home state make sure they offer lots of financial aid. If not your parents may have to come out of pocket and they need to be willing to pay for the many expenses that come with being a college student. Being able to afford the school of your dreams is key. With all of the serious things aside make sure you enjoy college. Even though academics are important, that's not what college is all about. You come to college to grow, make lasting friendships and prepare yourself for life. You're only in college once so make it count.

Getting involved as much as possible is a great way to make a big campus seem a lot smaller. It's important to find smaller organizations and interest groups that you can become passionate about. This doesn't necessarily have to be something career-oriented; doing something just for fun is a great way to learn with a well-rounded approach. Time management is also absolutely critical. There is a way to have fun and work hard at the same time, but it takes a great deal of organization.

Listen to your kids

The most important thing is to go on c ampus tours. I made a list of the colleges that I was interested in based on their financial availability to me and their academic ranking. Once I finished the tour at the University of Florida I knew that it was my first choice and I applied for early decision that summer before my senior year. The fall semester of my Freshman year I decided to go through sorority recruitment and that's the best thing I could have done. With a campus this big it can be hard to find a niche. The panhellenic community helped me find a place where I felt comfortable and I found so many friends very quickly. Having this home base made it easier for me to reach out to other campus organizations and become involved more quickly than I would have if I didn't join a sorority.