The University of West Florida Top Questions

I have learned a great deal about the utility line work that i did not know prior to starting the program.I am excited about my future for the first time in a long time, and I feel i will be very happy in the linemans career. I am a married father with four children living in the house and one income from my wifes job. The economy forced me to change my carreer and I am very happy about that but we could use some financial help. Thank you for your consideration.

Being part of the first generation of my family to go to college makes it valuable for me to attend, not only does it mean a lot to my family but also means I’m a step closer to my dream of becoming a physician. When I was little I was always told reach for the stars no matter what. That is what I intend to do. My family has helped me, and I’m going to study hard so that I can help people in my own way too. So far as a college freshman I’ve enjoyed learning even more new things that I can use every day and even share with my younger sibling. Through struggles I was blessed with an oppertunity to learn and I didnt and dont intend on wasting it. I want to be some one and prove to others like me they can do it too. I’m without a doubt grateful for the opportunity, It’s also helped me get more involved with my community,gives me modivation and I’ve made a lot of new friends !

I have personally gained an invaluable sense of autononmy that having an education allows. The college experience has allowed me to forge friendships, business connections, and to network internationally. The experience has also allowed me to better express myself in social circles concerning topics such as politics, world news, and philosophy. By pursuing a higher education, I have created a better life for myself and my family.

From my college experience I have gained immense pride in my work. I have learned that if I work hard and actually apply myself to whatever I do, good results will come of it. During my first year of college it was very hard to apply myself, and I thought I would be able to slide through college without going to class and studying. I am happy to say, though, that because of my difficult first year, I have learned that I enjoy applying myself to my school work, and to my student organization. It has been valuable to attend UWF because I have learned a life long lesson of "Hard work pays off." I can take this lesson with me and apply it to any part of my life. I am so happy I decided to go away to college.

So far in college, I have recieved my A.A. in General Studies. I have learned a good deal of things, whether it acedimically or socially. If I had not attended college I honestly couldnt tell you where I would have ended up. College has kept me focused and helped me create goals for my future. It has helped me realize that there are more people out there that I can talk to about goals, school, and even life other than my close knit circle of friends. In otherwords, college has gotten me to be more open minded about well...everything! At first I thought I wanted to be a 4th grade teacher, after seeing what it takes, I decided a different route. I picked Marine Biology, the math classes required for this class I wasnt too excited about either. So I went with General Studies to get a broad spectrum of classes to see what I truly was interested in. I found that I love history and everything about it. Now, I am transfering to UWF to fufill a degree in Archeology. College has helped me learn many a things, and I am excited for the more to come!

I am attending the University of West Florida for the BFA Musical Theatre Major which has given the ability to be a successful actor in the "real" world. Also my university has given me a new found appreciation for the environment and the habitats around the world. This college was the best dicission for me because it matched my personality and had everything i needed to succeed.

My college experience has really allowed me to find my true self. Being away from home has cause me to re-evaluate my life and focus on the things that I really like the most. My experience has also caused me to become more independent and learn to make decisions that no one else in the future will be there to make for me. I've grown to become responsible and to prioritize daily tasks to know what's more important for me to do at that moment in time. I've also gained a lot of knowledge from classroom teachings that have opened up my mind to explore other perspectives of different ideas that I feel strongly about. This experience has been valuable because it was life changing. My college experience has made me a better person. One that has a greater chance of being successful in life.

While I am certainly grateful for the education I am receiving, the most important thing I have received from my college experience is acceptance or a sense of belonging. While in high school and junior college, I did not take part in extra curricular activities. My gpa was high, but I never socialized enough to make friends. However, the university that I am attending has opened my eyes to so many new things. I am now the Treasurer of the UWF Table Tennis Club and the #2 seat on the team. In the classrooms, I am surrounded by individuals with similar goals and aspirations who have become my close friends. Many courses focus on group activity, allowing me to feel accepted in the group environment. Perhaps an equally important gift of college was the need to improve my fitness. Taking up table tennis has helped me to drop 50 lbs. The sport continues to help me to make goals to improve my strength, stamina, speed, and agility. Table tennis is also something that I can play for the rest of my life. I look forward to promoting the sport in both my university and the community in which I live.

I have achieved so much in college, from making new friends to making new discoveries both about myself and about what I want to do with my life. Ive learned more about my goals and my dreams and I love school and learning so much. But I believe that my biggest most important achievement is the fact that seeing me going to school and how happy it makes me even as a single mother, has inspired my children to want to go to college. Even my 7 year old (youngest) is already making plans for her future wanting to be a Nurse and a Teacher.

I have learned how to become so independent. I live in Ct but attend a school in FL. Being so far from home and away from everyone I relied on really helped me to grow up and realize that I need to take my own actions. I have learned how start new conversation and meet new people without worrying what they will think of me. My last university was close to home so I didnt have to worry about getting my laundry done or being on my own, but being here I have learned how to become an adult and take responsiblity for all of my actions.

The most valuable thing about college is the training they give not only in the feild of my study but also in life, which allows me to be able to take care of my family (wife and son ) and give us a future. It has given me the confidence, tools and skills I need to suceed in the work place. It provided me with options in career fields that I would not have previously had. These being things that will, in the future, help make a better life for my son. The college experience also provides me with the social skills to make it through life. This helps me to get better jobs and to advance futher in those jobs. This is why I believe the college experience was so valuable to me.

I have learned a lot at the University of West Florida. I started there only to get a bachelor's degree just to have one. I really want to be a fashion designer, but there is no school near by that offers that program, so I settled. However, through my studies and experiences, I have become a huge fan of the elementary education program! I am truly excited to start my career as an elementary school teacher, thanks to the program at University of West Florida!

My college experience has revealed that college is expensive. Not only is college expensive when it comes to money, college is VERY expensive when it comes to time. Over the past few years (3.5 years for my AA, and so far 1 year for my BS), the thought of stopping my education has crossed my mind many times. I have a good friend who keeps reminding me that college is an investment, and there is nothing better to invest in that yourself.

Surprisingly one f the things that I have gained from my college experience is self-confidence. I say this because surpriingly its not as hard as I thougt it would be, its pretty much been would I put into it so far. I am actually making better grades in some of my college courses that I struggled with in high school and I have learned how to balance school work and my social life as a result of mre free time.

So far I have gotten out a better sence of responsiblity and organizational skills.

If given the opportunity, I would tell my high school senior self to save money more steadily and to apply for every scholarship that I qualify for. Money has been my biggest obstacle as a college student. If I had saved and developed healthy budgeting skills while in high school, I would have been better off now. Before coming to college, I didn't realize the high cost of books, housing, and the meal plan. In addition, peer pressure from other students has caused me to spend money frivolously, especially because I live in a dorm hall. I feel that if I was fully aware of the high living costs as a high school senior that I would have been able to form adequate financial habits that would have prevented my rocky transition from high school to college.

Wow! Hindsight is definitely 20/20. I would work much harder on finding financial aid and scholarships. My number one problem with college so far has been finances. I do not have the support of my family when it comes to money, so it has been very difficult finding funds. I wish that I had searched for more financial resources. I also wish that I had saved the money that I made while I was working in high school. It would have helped out immensely during college!

The advice I would give myself for the future college transition while currently being a high school senior would be to keep your eyes open and never look down. College is a place for growth and a chance to ground one's self in knowledge, friendships, and independence. Also, do not think that anything is impossible because even the most outrageous dreams are sometimes right at your fingertips. Always remember where you came from and keep your value system intact. This is respectable to yourself and even for others who you will meet. Other than that, make sure you choose your dorm roommate before you sign up for oncampus housing!

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was 18 I would encourage myself to go to college and not wait 6 years to finally find the motivation, confidance, and courage to leave home and follow my dream. I would remind myself that I 've always known that I have a passion for animals and nature and that is the path I need to follow. The 18 year old me would be shocked to see what a confidant and highly motivated woman I've become! Most importantly, I would emphasize how damaging the effects of surrounding myself with meaningless negative people could have on my future. Hopefully, I'd be able to convince myself to follow my dream sooner rather than later. Although, later is better than never.

Yes, the college workload will be a bit greater than what you have in high school, but the material you will be taught in college will be no more challenging to grasp than your high school material. Also, the people you will encounter in your classes will be shockingly more interested in their classes than the adolescents of your high school. So stop worrying!! Prepare to enjoy your learning evironment!! And realize that you are more than capable of thriving socially and academically in the college atmosphere!

My suggestions for personal lives would be to set ground rules with your roommates off the bat- don't worry about early confrontations, they'll be forgotten in time. You should definitely save your money instead of going out all the time and spending it; textbooks aren't cheap. For classes, you should know teachers actually take attendance in some classes, and you really need to have prior knowledge in writting essays.

My advice would be to score higher on my ACT in order to get the full Florida Bright Future scholarship, and also to apply to more scholarships than I did in order to ease the finacial burden on my parents. I would of told myself to go ahead and start looking for jobs long before I made the move, in order to have a steady job to come into. Another thing, is that I should of used the resources that the school offered in order to meet people in the school before I moved here. Even though I have made friends and I fit in, I still think it would of been to my benefit to use the website provided by my school to meet more people.

Knowing what I know about college life, and if I could go back in time and say one thing to myself, it would be to prepare better. If I could go back I would have volunteered more, developed better relationships with my teachers and employers, and I would have became more involved in extra-cirricular experiences such as internships. I also wish I would have learned earlier about financial aid options, internships advantages, academic options, and volunteer opportunities while in college. There are so many things while I was in high school, that I simply did worry about because I thought I had so much more time to do them. I learned that the most vital aspect to becoming more prepared, is not procrastinating so much. Instead of procrastinating all the time, I learned that I need to form a plan for the future. In high school many students procrastinate, because they feel like they have all the time in the world, and I would love to tell them that every day counts and being better prepared for the furture is so much less stressful on an already stressed out college student.

I would tell myself that, as important as school is, it is far more important to create a balance in my life between school, work, and my social life. As the saying goes, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." That saying applies so much to the way my life is going right now. I have gotten so accustomed to working all the time- whether it is school, my part-time-job, or completing my homework- that my social life has fallen to the wayside. I am not saying that I would tell myself to completely disregard school and party away my college years, but to instead create a balance of going to school, working part-time, and still finding time to have fun with friends. I would tell myself to make sure I occasionally take time to enjoy my college years- provided my classwork load will allow it- and to create that balance in my life between work, school and fun.

Continue working hard even harder than you are now in high school. You know how you like to procrastinate so much on your projects and you somehow get an A when you start and finish your project the day before it's due, that's not going to work in college. Once you get there you're going to make many friends and you're going to want to hang out with them all the time fully knowing that you have a project due tomorrow, finish it. Start early on your work because it gets worse everyday you wait. Also open up more but not too much, hold in your most precious secrets for as long as possible. You never know when one of your "friends" will use the information you give them to hurt you later on. Another thing to do will be to join any clubs that you think sound interesting and stick with them, you'll get to volunteer and meet new people. Lastly, pay attention to the money you get. You never know when one day there's going to be an emergency and you need the money and it's not there anymore.

I would tell myself that it will be more of an adjustment than you think it will be. It is not the 13th grade. It is a whole different level of learning. It is not just moving away from home. It is more about believing and having confidence in your learning techniques that will be sucessful for you but your effort will have to increase several fold to achieve the same results that you had in high school. The important thing is not to give up but have confidence in your techniques and methods and you will achieve your goals that you desire. I would tell myself that you will meet all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds and to be patient and tolerant of the diverse opinions and beliefs of the new people you meet.

First of all, I would inform myself about all of the expenses that come with living on your own. I would also encourage myself to volunteer more and apply for every scholarship that I could. To futher my point, I would explain how much money I will have to pay back to the federal government and how much money I spend on gas and food every week. I would also tell myself to prepare for a large work load and very little free time. I would explain that working and going to school makes it very hard to keep a high GPA. I would still give myself encourangement, though. I would tell about all the things I have accomplished and overcome. Futhermore, I would tell myself to just keep trying, do your best, and work hard for the things you want in life.

The advice I would give to my past self would be to be more prepared... for everything! I would have prepared myself more financially by applying for more scholarships, studied harder for a better GPA standing, and better study habits, and I would have started thinking about my future career more than what school I wanted to attend. All around, I would have told myself to focus more on my future and to worry about setting myself up for success.

I think about this question very often wishing that i could go back a change many things. There would be a lot of advice that I would give myself such as that instead of waiting till the last minute to plan college stuff I should of been more focused on doing that and deciding what I wanted to do in college. I would of played football and hopefully played in college somewhere, because I knew I had the leg to be a great kicker somewhere if I would of just dedicated myself to playing. I thought that i made decent grades, but im sure that i could of gotten better ones and that if I could go back knowing what I know now I would try harder and make even better ones. I would have played football and not wasted my time doing whatever I was doing.

During high school, I was an exceptional student. As I got older, I was drawn into a social life and neglected my academic one. I would tell myself that being popular or having fun is not nearly as important in the long run as having good grades and a sound education. I would stress that good grades have everything to do with success in college- financial aid, future career, and internships. Rather than having fun (instant gratification), I should focus on my academics; that will provide long-term gratification.

I would say to study a lot more because it only gets harder. To also plan your classes right and keep some electives for when you have junior and senior level classes, so you have a easy laid back class with the hard ones. Also to do study groups more because they are a great help. I would also addt that you should research the career you want more because the economy has a lot to do with how sucessful your career will become.

It is imperative to attend classes in college. It is not like high school in the least. The instructors are willing to help you but they will not hold your hand and coddle you. Work hard and be diligent and you will have a somewhat stress free college experience.

If I could go back in time to talk to my myself when i was a senior in high school, I would tell my self not to leave things to the last minute. I would say "Lucy, make sure that you fill out all the applications on time because if you want to get into your first choice school you can not wait until the end of the year to do it. I would continue to say that if i were not to do this i would not be attend Florida State. If i knew then what i know now, i believe that i would be at my first chocie school and not at my second. I would also tell my self that i need to put in more effort in to voulenteer hours because it will help with future scholorships. I would also tell my self that college is not as scary was people make it seem. I would also say to apply for as much scholarships as possibel. The final thing i was would say to myself would be to always strive to do my best even when the going gets tough. Good luck to my self. Goodbye

Well Bryce, you are going to have a child with your ex girlfriend in the beginning of your sophmore semesters. Don't worry, you will freak out and have to drop out and go back home to a community college. Trust me though it was the right thing to do. Roommates don't understand untill they have to go through it themselves. It becomes to be the best spiritual opportunity ever given. You are still able to attend school and It's great. When it comes to advice, I have none. You will feel abandoned, lost, and constant depression. Do not fear this, it is a trial that will be conquered, and trust me you can't see yourself 3 years later still with the roomies. thank God. Peace Self.

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself, I would say to take your SATs , and apply for colleges NOW. Don't wait until the last minute. Go to the college you want to go to. Learn good study and organization habits now, and become best friends with your alarm clock (you will hate it later). Work alot during the summer and save that money don't spend it, you will need it for books and school supplies later, oh and to survive! When you get to college don't sit in your dorm room and watch tv, go out and make new friends. So when you can't go home for the weekend you have someone to be with other than your computer and television. Other than all this learn to have fun, college is work, but it will be the best time of your life, and you will miss it when it is gone (so I am told).

If I could go back, I would surely tell myself not to give up and finish my education. It is the most important thing someone can do for themselves. There are very few employment opportunities today that do not look for a college education. It is the only real way to better oneself and to get ahead in life. I did not finish my degree the first time I attended college and now regret it. I have now enrolled again and think that it is the best thing I have done for myself and family. By pursuing my education, I will be able to provide a solid future for my children and give them the life they deserve. My best advice to myself and others is to seek support and advice if things get hectic. Do not give up, keep pushing yourself forward.

Going back in time I would sit myself down and have a long talk. The first matter I would address is scholarships. As a high school student I knew they were important, I just didn?t realize HOW important. A lot of students end up working their way through college, but as a science major I just can?t find the time. Senior year I should have devoted AT LEAST an hour a week looking and applying for scholarships. That way I would have more time relaxing and doing things I want to be doing without having to worry about how much money a roll of toilet paper cost. As far as the transition goes, I would tell myself not to worry. My dorm is like a family. I share a room with my ?sister? which of course has its ups and downs. Siblings down the hall that pick on you and siblings up the hall that protect you. There are over dramatic sisters and troublemaking brothers. And, of course, older members of the family who give you advice on how to survive college. Keeping these things in mind I would tell myself not to freak out. You?ll survive.

I would tell myself to end the relationship I had. I would say to do any extra credit that a teacher gives no matter your grade in the class. That playing soccer and school is going to be very demanding and make sure that I manage my time better and that i will find great friends also to have a budget of how much you want to spend a month so have enough money to last the school year. To be open to the diversity at UWF because there are so many things that you will learn that is so interesting and that not everyone one is born from a military family and have good morals, and to be understanding of how others are raised. The last thing i would say is to enjoy and just remember who I am and who raised me , and that no matter what my lord and savior will always be here for me, and to never feel alone.

The advice I would give myself as a highschooler would be to stay focused and organized in college. Although college is fun and there are many social events, I would tell myself to not focus on just having fun. Although I am a good student, there are times when I chose other things over studying or doing homework. So I would tell myself to work first, and play later. I know my college experience will be great no matter what, but it will be even greater if I reach my full potential as a student.

I would tell myself not to worry. Everyone is very friendly and inviting and is willing to help with any problems or questions that you may have. Work hard but do not stress out too much about everything that is going on at once. Do not procrastinate! It will only make things worse. Buy a planner and be organized from the start. If you are having problems speak to the professor. It is never as bad as you think. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and do your best. You are going to make some great friends!

I would give myself the advice to do take the ACT or SAT as many times as one can take because you do not want to take up time in taking classes that are credited to your degree.

Spend more time thinking about what I want to major in so I don't get behind in classes. Maybe even start out at a community college while deciding then transfer to a University.

I would go an visit my school and its' surroundings more to become familair with the environment.

I would tell myself to make best friends with the library, to study Socrates, and to lose myself in the labyrinth of history. I'd make sure that I worked well honestly. I'd let myself know that the right questions were often enough more important than the right answers. I'd try to make sure that I learned that no one would be there to make sure my work was finished, or to remind me when there was more to be done. I'd tell myself that a professor can be approached when things get confusing, that they are there to assist in the pursuit of knowledge. I'd recommend that I get well aquainted with coffee and, last, but certainly not least, I'd recommend that I pay more attention to my mom when she's doing laundry.

The most important piece of information I could give my high school-self about college would be to prepare financially. I took for granted that my parents would send me to college, so I did not pursue scholarships. My father was diagnosed with cancer my senior year and, despite being retired military and having a supplementary insurance, my family went bankrupt. I would tell my high school-self to prepare for the worst case scenario and to go after any scholarships that I might qualify for. I was not able to get federal grants until I was 24 years old, so I spent 5 years working a cash register, driving a beat up 1984 Chevrolet Caviler, and watching my friends get their degrees before I could ever get started. Not only was I delayed in pursuing my professional dreams, my father passed away without seeing me go to college. Having his PhD, I know it troubled him greatly that I was not getting to live up to my full potential. I would reveal to my high school-self that with perseverance I was able to get a bachelor's in English and a master's in administration.

The first thing I would inform myself of, if I could go back, is to always be on time and prepared for class. For example, if something needs to be printed for an early class, print it the night before and always save the work to a flash drive. I would also tell myself to branch out and not just surround myself with the same kind of people, get to know others, respect and accept their values and different belief. Also, I would tell myself to always get to know the professor on a one to one basis, for all classes, that way if help was ever needed I would not feel uncomfortable approaching the teacher for additional help in or out side of the class room. The last thing I would tell myself is to have fun, make alot of friends, and not stress so much over things that can be fixed.

Please continue to fight for what you know is right for you do not allow others to change who you are inside. Remember to watch the warning signs you do not deserve to be in the abusive home no matter what you grew up with there is real happiness out there for you and for others. Remember to help all you can and keep your head up, don't weat your heart on your sleeve and please let something be about you and don't waste so many years on everyone else who only hurt you in the end.

Make sure you make decisions that you think are best for yourself and not for someone else. Your future is in your hands and you have to do what you want to do. Don't let anyone convince you to do anything other than what you want.

Think more of what you want in life. Don't worry about frivolous things and focus on education. Getting past the simple things and seeing the important ones is essential to getting through the college experience. It'll be worth it. Just stay focused.

I would be bette prepared. I though college would be somewhat like high school but it was totally differant. In high school you have people to hold your hand or help you get through various classes, but in college half of the professor don't know your name they ony know you by numbers. I woud have been more mature and tried to be more independent rather than wait on the teacher for everything.