The University of Tampa Top Questions

Learn to study and make time to do so!!

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I didnt go to high school ,I was very bad growing up.Didnt really have a mother or father in my life i aways made bad choices.If i could go back and give myself advice i would say stay in school it's the only way you are going to make it.

As a senior, it is very important to take high school serious, make the best grades possible and be active, it will help later when filling out applications for college and jobs. Find as much information on scholarships and grants as possible. Although community college allows one to get a cheaper education, it is not always the best way to experience the true "college experience." Finding the best college or universit y that will suit your major, education, and clubs and organizations that you want to be involved in is most important. Always put your education first and be determined to do your best. Be active and get involved. Make the best of your opportunity for success.

I would like to give myself some advice on which classes that I need to take in senior year. It would have been easier if I took general courses as AP credits, so that I could work on my double major degree easier.

I know that you are going through the worst times of your life right now. Your home-life is out of control, you are overwhelmed applications and homework, your nagging injuries and illnesses are causing you humiliating performances in your last track season, and you are so exhausted that you don?t think you can keep going. Amy, I know that this is going to be hard to believe, but the struggles you?re facing and will continue to face this year will actually help you thrive in college. Your transition into college will be smoother than you think. You won?t have a hard time managing your time and college workload because you have actually done the equivalent of that in your high school years. Also, you will meet people from all over the world who will help you realize that you were blessed even in your darkest moments. No matter how hard you think your life is, someone else in this world is going through hardship you cannot even begin to imagine. Hold your head up high, Amy. You will survive high school, and you will be just fine in college.

My high school career was plagued with personal anxiety over every little thing, and that was to the detriment of my social life. I got tunnel vision towards the end of senior year, especially since I was directing the school play, and I remember wandering blankly through the streets at odd hours of the night and shutting myself off from friends and family. There was one point where I was so messed up I collapsed under a table, choking back tears. I address this heap under a table. I would say, first off, you're doing fine for where you are in life. Second, keeping high expectations for yourself is good, but bottling yourself up to the point of crisis is too much for anyone to accept. In other words, it's good to be humane to others, but also to be humane to yourself. Third, be careful not to become too bitter or jaded by high school, because that's what old age is for. Stay innocent enough to cry, but not naive enough to do it alone under a table when you're strong enough to shout out into a crowd of people and be heard. Relax. Simplify.

Looking back I find much advice I could and should have known. To start with I would tell myself, don't assume the first people you meet will become your friends. They may become aquaintences but it will take time to find those you truely connect with. I would tell myself to not be afraid to go to the cafeteria alone. Plenty of students will do it everyday and there is nothing posted on your forehead stating you are a lonely freshman. Would you rather starve?! Seek out the resources available to you as soon as possible. Knowing computer lab and library hours will help you access what you need quicker if you find yourself in a last minute situation. In fact, don't leave things until last minute. You will run around foolishly, sprint to class, and show up sweating with your tongue hanging out. Your professor will appreciate your work but will not appreciate your appearance. Lastly, do not change but allow this experience to shape you. Keep your eyes and mind open. You will be introduced to new situations and outlooks, embrace them rather than turn your back to them. Try new experiences.

Be true to you.

I would suggest to get all the information you can and apply to as many schools as you can even if you don't think you will get into your dream school, still apply because you never know. I would suggest to ALWAYS visit the school and see what the surrounding area is like before you choose your school. I would also suggest to live on-campus, its a whole new experience and it makes being social and active easier plus you don't have to wake up as early to get to class!

Know what your looking for in a school and stick to it or else you'll end up at a school you don't like. Always stay involved or attend events.

The most important aspect was to pay attention to what you felt when you first saw the camus. Both my brother and myself chose the University that spoke to us with the feeling of "home" and community. We can all learn anywhere - it's where you feel welcome and inspired that will make you be successful! Take your time, visit and feel the place - if it speaks to you - listen!

I advise them to most importantly visit the campus to get a feel of walking around the campus as well as the environment. And while in college do your best in school to insure you are getting a healthly amount of education. And also just get involved with something that interest you in order to meet people who can potentially impact you or just in order to do something constructive. Do take advantage of all the help your college offers with your future career as well.

Visit the school and talk to the students, sit in on a class if you can. Make sure you really are happy with your choice and realize sacrifices will be made sometimes.

My advice for finding a college would be to follow your heart and do what feels right. Once you're there, take advantage of the many gifted professionals in your field and then completely emerse yourself in your studies in order to gain all that higher education has to offer.

Find a school that you can fall in love with, pick somewhere that will challenge you intellectually, inspire you emotionally, and incourage you to succeed. The right size, location, and social life all matter. Above all be open to different possibilities because they can make all the difference. No matter what make sure you are happy and excited about your final desision, if you are not transition will be much more of a struggle .

As for the parents, I would say what's important is to allow your child to pick the school they are most passionate about and not worry about things like money, housing, area, etc. Also, there are a lot of ways to receive money for school, but the key is to start early - create a fund, push your child to apply for scholarships starting their junior year of high school, and research federal grants and loans. To students, I think the most important thing to do is to seize opportunities during high school that will positively affect you in college. Take AP courses, get good grades, do well on standardized tests, play sports, and join clubs - pretty much, do as much as you can. When you get to college then, you won't have to worry as much about finishing in a certain amount of time or those pesky core classes. In college the greatest thing to do is to get involved and meet people. Networking is the key to success. People you meet in college can help you to start your career, and joining clubs in college is an easy way to network. Lastly, do everything in moderation.

First, be sure to visit any college campus that you are interested in attending. Talk to professors and other students at the university to get a feel for the kind of atmosphere the college has. It is very important to gauge how helpful professors and university staff will be during your years there. But consider things that you did or did not like about your high school (like size) and then compare those to the colleges you're interested in. You also need to keep your future in mind, like what you want to study and what you may like to do upon your undergraduate completion because depending upon the university, one may be able to assist you better than others.

The advice that I would give parents and students about finding the right college would be don't go with the most popular go with the one that suits you the best. There are many aspects to choosing the college that is right for you. The size of the campus and the ratio of students to a professor is an important quality to look at. If you would be comfortable in a more close knit environment then a smaller college is for you rather than a larget one. Choose somewhere where the weather is what you like. Academics in any school is important, but being comfortable at that school is also something that is important to your well-being. Make sure you pick a school where you can be happy. Being unhappy will not help you thrive in any situation so pick the school that suits you and your personality.

I would suggest to go through the universities catalog and contact the admissions office and ask alot of questions. Do research on the standard of the academics and the dorm and social life. If you could get to visit or even contact friends that have or still attending that college , that would be a big plus. Remember choose a college that will represent who you are , what you will become , and how you will you turn out to be a good future citizen of the world. As a personal advice , look into the weather and the organization/clubs they offer. Moreover, the class size and the services such as career , financial , and last but not least the student body.

To the parents and / or students looking for the right college, i advise you first of all to make a decision only after knowing every little thing there is to know about the schools you are thinking of. Therefore, i strongly advise you to start the college search as early as possible and also to make a priority to visit the campus. Furthermore, so as to make the most of the college experience, i advise the students to be open minded for college is a lot different then what they are used to. Consequently, by being open to the new, there will be less confusion and distress when living the college life.

As a graduating senior who has seen 4 years fly by at the blink of an eye, I would say try your hardest academically, make true, life-long friends, enjoy any free time to its extent, help others who need it, and be thankful for today... for tomorrow may never come. College is the BEST 4 years of your life... or 5 if your major requires it. Get involved on your campus community, and don't take for granted what its worth. You as a student leader in an organization will most definitley act as a role model to a younger student, and you may not even be aware of it. Do well academically, from the beginning of the semester until the very end. Keep on top of your work, and you wont be running aorund at the end, worrying. Form relationships that truly mean something special, these will be the people who help you out when you need it. And don't be afraid to ask for help, not everyonecan do everything by themselves, and no one will look down on you for asking for help. Most importantly... enjoy your time, it only happens once!

The one piece of advice I would give to parents and/or students would be to just go with your gut instinct. When applying for school, there are so many choices and decisions floating around that one's personal preferences can become lost in the mix. Take time to just think about where you really want to be, regardless of everyone but yourself. Whether you sit in your room for hours lsitening to music or go for a walk, there will be that moment when you make the choice in your heart. It is your future and you want to start it out right. And, no matter what, you always have chances to change (transferring). College is a huge part of growing up and it is one of those things that you do not want to regret or look back on and wish you had done differently. If I were to do it all again, I would not change a thing. We all have plenty of time to grow up and college plays a giant role in that. By going with your gut, you are bound to start off on the right foot.

It has to feel right to you. If you aren't comfortable in the environment than it isn't for you. When i first went to my school i knew right away that I wanted to go there. In order to make the most out of your college experience you have to try and get all you can out of being there. It's only worth while if you enjoy it, and get something out of it. It will only be worthwhile if it means something to you. I know that my experience thus far has meant something to me because the memories that I have made here will be with me forever. The people that I have met and the experiences we have had together will never leave me.

Carefully select a college that fits your high school personalit y. I strongly suggest students to look for a school far away from their home town so that they can become a successful dependent mature individual.

I would advise students and parents to be sure the college of interest fits the needs of the student. I didn't feel comfortable being in a large classroom with hundreds of students so the University of Tampa was perfect for me. The classes are very small and the professors know each student as an individual, which helps make each student feel they are important. The professors should be readily available to the students for any problems they might have, including personal issues that might influence the student's academic abilities. The academic and financial aid advisors should be available to help the students with any issues related to their areas of expertise. It is very important for students to have guidance in choosing their major/minor and what classes they need to fulfill their goals as well as having the assistance to be able to pay tuition. I also feel that adequate study areas are of great importance; a well stocked library, and enough computers for every student to be able to utilizewhen needed. There should be opportunities for employment as well as places to go and relax after a long week of studying.

The most important aspect in regards to chosing a college that is right for you is a visit to the campus. Every college looks great on the website, but you can't accurately judge it until you spend some time around the students and faculty. In order to make the most of the college experience, new students generally benefit from living in a university provided dorm. After being around so many people all the time you begin to make friends. I believe it is also beneficial to learn to live with another student. Students always get emails from different organizations on campus and their tendency is to just discard them without even reading them. If you go out there and get yourself involved in anything that interests you, chances are you will have a good experience simply by meeting people that are interested in the same things you are. My biggest piece of advice has to be to take advantage of what your college has to offer you, no matter what aspect of college it may be.

My advice to give to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to look at their hometowns. Is your hometown small or big, is it rural or in a big city, and are the people community oriented or independent individuals? These answers should be considered when picking the right college. I know students like to experience new things when going away to school but it helps to attend a college that reminds them of their hometown. It helps to cope with home sickness. I would also advise parents and students to check out the ratings of schools they have an interest in, especially safety and security ratings. A safe school allows for students and parents to relax which in return allows students to perform at their best. No parent wants to feel anxiety for how safe their child is and no student wants to feel unsafe when out on their own for the first time. When students attend the right school, their college experience becomes more than just classes and papers. It becomes their life for the next four years. Prospective students get involved and try new things, but never put extra-curricular activities before school.

When finding the right college it is important to think about how many people you want to meet and how big of a variety of people you want at the school. If you want to meet a ton of different types of people and have more options of who to be friends with than you should choose a bigger school. Also, you have to keep in mind if you want to live in a city or suburb. In a city you are going to have less house parties, and more chances of getting in trouble for underage drinking. In a suburban school there will be more parties to go to on campus, that you will not need a fake id to attend. You will also spend less money because drinking in the city at bars adds up. I would also consider the quality of the dorm life and if you can have a car as a freshman. If you need to work to make your own spenidng money and you can't have a car it can get difficult.

The most important thing about choosinf the right college is how comfortable the student feel on campus. The campus visits before he or she gets into the school are imperative in choosing the right university. When I went to The University of Tampa i fell in love with the campus and now I'm a very happy and proud student. Also, knowing that the field the student wants to pursue is available and competitive at the school is very important. As for myself music was the most important thin. Needless to say I loved the music faculty and proffesors here. I say these two things from personal experience and great results!

Let your kids decide!

Choosing a college is one of the biggest choices you will ever make in your life, so I would advise parents to take a step back and let their son or daughter make the decision on their own, regardless of who is paying for the education. I would advise students to think about the cost first and foremost, and avoid letting their loans exceed $10k for their undergraduate education. Depending on the school's financial aid estimates is rarely an accurate measure of the real cost of college. Keep your mind open to all of your options and research, compare, and explore each, thinking of the next four years- as long as you "do your homework", you'll know which school is going to be your best bet. Keep in mind that if you attend and find yourself regretting your decision, you can always transfer in your sophomore year. Additionally, the best way to get a feel for the student body, campus and surrounding area, and basic lifestyle is to spend a few days in the area exploring the campus and city.

if you have any doubts about liking where you are, TRANSFER. you can only do college once, so do it right

Find the school that offers the program that fits your future career goals, current financial situation and preferable location.

I would definitely suggest going on as many college tours as possible. Definitely check out all of your options. Try to stay over night if at all possible. You need to get a sense of how big or small the school really is. Talk to as many students as you can and try out a meal on campus during your visit.

Live on campus for at least your first year. And get involved at much as you can.

I think any student can love any college as long as they commit to makeing the most of it. If you go in with a positive attitude, and take advantage of what your school has to offer you really can't go wrong- no matter what school you choose!

Consider your future, the quality of the degree and the cost of the University. Plan carefully and consider the possible challenges but, overall, don't be afraid to follow your gut.

I would tell parents to allow their student to pick where they would enjoy the atmosphere. If their son or daughter is shy you wouldnt want them to go to a large school. However, if their child is very outgoing and popular then they may want to go to a larger school. Also see where school can help with interships cause thats the biggest thing employers want to see is experience, well other than good grades

Do your research and most importantly ask a lot of questions ahead of time. Look into the kinds of programs, or the degrees that are available to you. Also look at the class sizes, do you like big classes or small ones, make sure that you especially pay attention to the upper-level courses, see if they are hard to get into or not offered very often; I found out the hard way that this is a very important question to ask and have answered proir to making your college choice. Also look into the campus life and the activites going on around campus; attend a club fair and see all the different clubs on campus, look at the dining facilities and see what kind of food options you have. You can also see what kind of job opportunities are available on or near the campus. And probably most important right now, look at the cost of the school you want to go to because you don't want to be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt right out of college. Apply for as many scholarships as possible, and see if your school offers departmental scholarships for certain majors.

Go in and ignore all of the financial aid hassles and the money and the stress. enjoy yourself and take your time. Decide for you what you want to do and dont rush into something. College should be cherished not dreaded.

I would advise students to allow themself plenty of time to visit as many colleges as they so desire. The more colleges they visit, the better the chance they will have on deciding which one is best for them. Parents: do not force your child to attend a particular college due to family alumni and/or your desires for them-it will only make the child miserable and parents will end up spending more money and wasting their college student's time. Instead, let your child decide. Also, students should not be afraid to get involved their first year of college, especially if they intend on living off-campus. Do not become a loner- studying all day will only drive a person insane. Getting involved on campus will produce more friendships, more socialization, more study groups, and potentially better grades. When grades get you down, seek help. You pay for your professor's time, so take advantage and do not wait until the last minute. Do not fret and do not give up; college life is hard but it is entirely worth it in the end. So, stick with it and you will feel a great sense of achievement.

Visiting the college is a big help. Reading college articles or doing research online to get to know about the majors that the college offers, what sports and activities they have, the types of students who attend, and the credentials that they have are important. Students should try to pick a college that offers good programs related to their desired majors. Different colleges specialize in different areas. Checking out the on-campus life, or access to off-campus housing is another important aspect. Lastly, pick a college in a city which you will enjoy living in. If you like big cities, go to a college in a big city, if you like the country side, pick a college in the country side, if you like small communities, attend a college with only a few thousand students.

Shop around. Picture yourself being a part of that community, and see whether or not you fit in. Stay overnight, and experience what its really like to live there- not just the packaged tour the admissions office gives you. When you get there, participate in the activities- that is where you will meet your friends. Make the most of it- stay up late, party hearty, and enjoy- because it goes by so fast. You will learn to balance fun and work, to make the most out of your experience.

I would tell parents and students to choose the college that they really like because they are going to be there for four or five years and it is really important that you like where your going to be spending so much of your life.

I would tell the students to become involved with activities so they are not lonely. Check and see if the school they are looking at has the major or type of classes the student is interested in. I would say to not declare a major right away, as most students tend to change majors halfway through their college experience. Freshman year is most important for getting yourself situated and not letting the freedom get the best of you. Parties are a part of campus life and if the students don't want associate themselves around that kind of atmosphere, then try to join an extra curricular activity or inter-mural sports team. It is important that the students establish their own identity and to not get caught up in the partying lifestyle, because that can severely impair their judgement, both academically and personally. College is a lot different than high school, especially if you are traveling far away from home, so it is important to keep a social network of people that you can fall back on, in case you are lonely or get depressed and don't know who to turn to. Your parents are always there for you.

Look at what the graduate program has to offer. Visit the school and observe the behavior of the students. Sit in lectures.

Make sure you know exactly what you would like and what you would not like to find in a school. Some of the most important factors for me were location, intimacy with professors, academics that supported my interests for my major, and finances. Visit your top 5 schools to see how you would fit in with students at the school. Also, if you are looking into athletics, make sure that you like the coach! Ask lots of questions to see where you will stand on the team and whether or not you agree to those terms. College athletics is a big commitment--make sure that is what you want.

Make sure to take everything in consideration. Ask yourself: Do they have study programs? Do they have a diverse student population? Do I like the surrounding neighborhood? Do the students there enjoy the school? Is it worth the money? What can I gain? Does the school have a good name? Make sure that if you are a social person, that the school can offer a lot of programs or student organizations.

One mistake that a lot of people make is basing a college choice on how much it costs. College is a once in a lifetime experience. I could have went to a school in my state and not be in debt afterward, but I probably wouldn't have matured and become as independent as I have. Always research the schools you are interested in (definitely visit the campus) and make sure that you don't minimize your choices based on the cost. Loans can always be paid off, but college can never be relived. As far making the most of your college experience, don't be afraid to join clubs and organizations. I didn't do that as much as I should have and I regret it. Also, DEFINITELY do an internship and gain work experience. Your degree is not enough these days. You absolutely need to build your resume while you are in school. Utilize your career services office as much as possible. That is what they are there for. And finally, don't let stress get the best of you. Get your assignments done but have fun whenever possible.