University of Central Florida Top Questions

My college experience has been invaluable on several levels! I have learned so much from both my teachers and my fellow students. The diversity I have found in my art classes have challenged my visual and mental perspective on different artistic levels. I have found that the more I learn about art hisory Ithe more I appreciate the values of art as an interface. I believe these experiences will be of great value when I graduate to become an Art Educator for high school students. My life in college will help me even more to direct High School students to better understand what is expected of them once they graduate and when they decide to enter college. There has been nothing more gratifying then being amongst other students and teachers that appreciate my passion for both Art History and Photography.

My experience in college thus far has been wonderful. I have applied myself in a rigorous academic setting, while also maintaining time for a part time job and extra-curriculars. This experience has been so valuable because I feel UCF has given me all the resources and room for growth for all of my future endeavors. I plan on attending law school in the future, and I know the foundation set for me by UCF is a strong one that lacks cracks and will not crumble in time. It hasn't always been easy, and the semesters are stressful, but that's all a part of the college experience and I'm truly grateful I chose UCF, and they chose me back. Without my experience here in Orlando, I doubt I would be having the best years of my life so far.

In high school I was never really a social kid. Since I've been at UCF and living on campus I have become a lot more social. My resident advisor in my housing building was a big help by doing a variety of activities for our building. Hanging out in the courtyard was an easy way to meet people because that's where everyone came to smoke. Making friends in my housing community made me want to meet more people on campus. I would goto class early just to try and talk to new people. Being at a school that has more than a 50,000 student attendance opens doors to many different worlds and groups. There are so many people to meet and each is as unique as the next. You can learn so many things by just talking to someone. I know the point of college is to get a higher education and that is certainly my main reason for being at college, but the social connections I am gaining is a close second.

My little time in college so far has taught me a lot about people and life in general. College has taught me that anyone can make it in life, but only if they apply themselvs. i have learned that nothing in life is free and that you must use all tools, including financial aid, wisely in order to achieve your goals because if you do not you will end up suffering from it. College has also made me more mature because ithe whole college experience took me away from my parents home, where i was constantly sheltered, and brought me to an unfamiliar environment full of unfamiliar faces. College can be a dog eat dog world, but only if you have a dog eat dog mentality. your college experience is not fixed, no one is going to plan out your schedule for you so you must mature quickly and be able to adapt to change because that is a crucial survival skill needed in this world.

Being in college has presented me with many wonderful opportunities and I have learned so much, in particular things that can not be taught in a class room setting. College has taught me the values in helping other who are in need, like taking the time to help a struggling student in a subject that I understood well. I spent two years helping students who would not understand certain subjects, like math, and tutor them to help them achieve what they may have thought was too hard to understand. College has also taught me the tremendous values in having friends and a strong support group. In college, I have had plenty of late night study sessions and it has always been helpful to know that I have people around me to back me up and help me get through what seems like a difficult situation. I think perhaps the most important thing the college experience has given me is the completion of a long term plan. I've learned that there are no short cuts in colleges and if I tried to take a short cut, it would only hurt me in the long run and in my future aspirations.

My time at UCF has taught me so much about the business world. I participated in class projects and service learning that has made me realize how important it is to give back to the community. My mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer when I was nine, and I have always made a point to volunteer at events and the like that support cancer survivors and cancer research. Last semester, as a part of the Cornerstone class here at UCF, I was able to work with BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation. I was our team lead, and was responsible for guiding the team in fundraising for and planning a Prom event for children ages 5-12 with cancer and other hematological illnesses. Over the course of the semester, we prepared reports, budgets, business plans, and at the end of the semester, put on an event that was able to distract the kids (even temporarily) from their everyday lives of hospitals and chemotherapy. Our project was so successful that our team was chosen to participate in the Cornerstone Competition, and made it to the semifinals. It was a true honor to be able to be a part of this.

I have gotten a lot of things out of college: school-spirit, lifelong friends, philosophical debate, gaining 15 pounds, but none of them can equate to the value of my education. Receiving my degree will give me the opportunity to achieve my goals. There are two of them; use my degree to work towards becoming a Certified Public Accountant, and to give back to my family that has sacrificed for my opportunity at success.

So far i have gain a lot of knowledge that will help me not only in life but with my future work. i have learned how to manage time, concentrate, get tasks done, multi task, and to relax. I've been given strict deadlines and have met them. Its been valuable to attend because I'm making myslef more knowledgable so I can teach the children of the future valuable morals and thigns about life and be well educated to help them strive and live up to their full potential.

College has taught me how to be dependent upon myself and it has gave me the strength to work and achieve my goals. My goal for the future is to continue my education and earn my Doctorate’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. Staying involved while in college will keep me focused in all areas. When I finish graduate school, I will work and help a lot of people who need treatment through Clinical Psychology. This scholarship will boost my education. When I set a goal, I strive to complete it while reaching higher levels in my life! I've met and networked with very important people and I have friends who will be there when I need them. It has been valuable to attend college because of the experiences of meeting many diverse people, getting involved with different activities, and simply receiving higher learning which helps stimulate one as a person. If I had a choice, everyone would be able to attend college once because it is a great oppurtunity. The University of Central Florida is amazing and the people are too. Academics at UCF are great and I love Psychology!

Attending college has given me confidence, courage and a sense of accomplishment. It has opened my mind to new perceptions and methods of understanding ideas, relationships and concepts. I am exposed to an environment that encourages and challenges me to delve deeper, explore and evaluate myself. College has increased my maturity and brought joy to my life. Knowing what I will accomplish, what I will learn, and the benefits I will receive make my attending pleasurable. As a mother of three girls and a wife for 14 years, being able to attend college is a dream come true. It has been valuable in enhancing my life’s experience and ability to obtain my personal, professional development and career goals. Going to college has shown me that I can benefit my children in ways I never knew before; the smiles on their faces when I announced I was attending Princes Georges Community College were of excitement and admiration. When my oldest daughter shared with me that I was her role model, I was speechless. The way she looks up to me is humbling and encouraging. College has been invaluable in helping me to change my life and my children lives.

So far I have gained knowledge that will serve me well in the future. I am an adult in my forties beginning college for the first time and I have learned that education is very important to be successful in life. I have raised my children to appreciate their education and to take advantage of every opportunity given to them and now it is my turn to gain the degree necessary for my success. I have finished my first semester of my freshman year with a 4.0 GPA which shows that I am determined to not only get my degree but to excel in my coursework and gain as much knowledge as possible. Not only do I have the determination but I also have the time to devote to my studies because my children are grown and almost out of the house. I look forward to my journey in education!

I have gained man things from new friends to a new look at the world. Living away from home has been very different, but I have seen a new side to life that only prepares me for a future full of responsibilities that come with life. College has been an eye opening experience that although people are extremely diverse at the same time we all have common dreams and are all working very hard to achieve them. New frienships ahve been created with people that share a common dream, granted this does not mean that old frienships shall be forgotten.

I have gained a lot of knowledge while attending school. Everything that I learned was helpful in some kind of way. The teachers where great and always there to help you as needed and the classrooms where a comfortable size. The school is valuable to attend because it allows me to remain focus on what I haave to do without being distracted by things that dont matter at the moment. Going to college is an great experience and I think that anybody who is somebody should want to attend.

I have gotten a lot out of Hudson Valley Community college, they have great proffessors and great courses. I want to major in Psychology, and they have helped direct me in the right direction with which courses to take and who I need to talk to do get where I need to go. they are conserned about their students and are always willing to help even if you are no longer in that teachers class. It is valuable to me because instead of being in a class with 300-400 student you are in classes of 25-30 students which helps wih comprehencion and the teachers availability to give a student one on one time. My school doesnt deal with Teacher Assistants that much so one knows that they will talk to their teacher when going for an appointment. I've had a great time at this school, I've met many people and look forward to moving on knowing that I will have the help I need if necessary from old peers.

I have worked without a college degree and been working with people who have a college degree, I am doing the same job as them and yet I get paid almost $20,000+ less than them. Attending college is helping me reach my goal of being a full-time teacher and get the pay raise I need to sustain my family.

The college experience has taught me the meaning of independence. Teachers no longer baby-sit me or other students. In college, it is up to me to get what I need to get done. I enjoy this the most about college because I am forced to take control of my life and take responsibility for my actions. Most importantly, my college experiences have helped me to understand myself even further as an individual; old habits are broken and new habits are adopted in order to be successful in college and later in life.

When I think of what I have learned from going to college I have to stop and think because my whole idea of life has changed. College has allowed me the chance to mature in life and to grow up to see what my future holds for me. I love college I have met some of the most amazing people in my life in college and I plan to continue to meet people and to learn more about my future. I have gotten more then just an education that will help me find a career but it has also given me the experience I needed to get my life going and to grow up. I have taken so much from what I have learned in college and already applied it in my everyday life. I have learned to be responsible for my own life and my own actions and choices. I have grown for the better.

Though I have only attented one semester so far, I have met so many great new friends taking classes in the same areas as myself. There is a great mixture of young and old in the classrooms, so you get point-of-view from all prospectives! It has been valuable for me to attend because I have opened my eyes and broadened my mind to so many different ideas. I know now that I can really do anything education wise.

College has been the most valuable experience I’ve had in life thus far. In high school, academically I was never fully challenged. Good grades in college are not earned without effort, so my work ethic sky rocketed. My desire to learn was not sacrificed. In school I was exposed to so many different subjects I never knew I would be interested in, like art and ancient cultures. My college experiences have also taught me that I cannot succeed at everything on my first try. Success comes to the students who figure out their own learning style and then push themselves to be the best using their own abilities. I learned I can conquer any issue, but I have to study it and then execute what I’ve learned in the process. I will excel in graduate school and life because I learned my work ethic as an undergraduate.

College has not only expanded my mental capacity, but it has also helped me figure out who I am as a person and has allowed me to develop my independence.

I have gained independence and self-confidence from attending UCF. I was able to join multiple clubs to get involved in my community. My education classes allow me to volunteer in the classrooms and help teachers. I am able to gain valuable experience in my field and feel confident in the major I have chosen. UCF has also been able to invite Nikki Blonsky to open up about her life and inspire us as students to reach our dreams. The professor care deeply about our success and many will find the time to meet with the students to make sure they understand the material. It is very hard to fail at this University with all of the resources available to you, such as the five story library. I have gained independence, knowledge and a great understanding for others by attending this University.

Although I am only a freshman this year, I am so looking forward to carrying on my college career. I love the subject matter in my classes and the independence of growing up. I work hard for success and I will not live my life without purpose. I know I am meant to be something huge. I believe I can make a change and maybe by me working hard and making it in life, my brother will follow suit. Growing up I never had a lot, and I don't regret my childhood; Going through difficult times makes me appreciate so much where I am right now. I have grown into a young woman and I am so ready to graduate and work on my profession. I have an extremely bright future ahead for me, and I will not stop until I make all my dreams come true. I have goals that I will never give up on. Once I start something I finish it the right way. Give me this opportunity to finish what I started correctly.

I am currently taking online classes and for me that is a change in my learning process. I am used to taking classes in a regular classroom with an instructor in front of the room to where I could ask questions the same day and get the answer right after I asked the question. Now I need to wait for the answer and that is where I had to learn patience. I also had to teach myself organization in my own home and what needs to be done on what day and at what time. I needed to prioritize my schedule and to be able to say no to people as to when I need to get things done and they want me to go do things with them. This has been a good experience for me. I have had to learn to trust my instincts with my answers and not second guess myself as to what I was learning online with all of my classes and that was a very good experience for me as an older person. I am 50 and this is a new experience and learning process for me.

The most valuable thing I have recieved from my college experience is my independance. Just going away to college changes you as a person. Having to study and do homework without anyone making you do it. But also small things like having to do my own laundry and go grocery shopping has really made me independant and ready to take on the world.

Through this college experience so far,I have learned to be independent.I have learned that if you do not put in the effort and hardwork,the goals you want to achieve will not be reached.College is a privilege and not many are given the opportunity to experience the college life.I want to ensure that I get the most out of my college classes because I have learned so much that I am anxious even more to see what else I become knowledgeable in.College is valuable because the work I put into it in the present day is what is going to determine my career in the future.

I used to worry away every day, constantly anxious about school, my future, and what others thought of me. My perfectionist tendencies kept me from relaxing and enjoying life. I heard from many that I was bright and that I would do great things, but my life was completely devoid of passion. I had no idea what to pursue. A student in my English class wrote a paper on Corrie ten Boom. She said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” This rang so true to my mundane and stressful life. I had no strength and much sorrow. I was instantly inspired to make a change by shifting my focus from an attitude of anxiety to one of gratitude. I had good reasons to: I am blessed with a loving family and loyal friends; I live in a country where I have the opportunity for an education that will help me reach my potential; and most importantly, I am healthy. I now have renewed energy and joy and I plan to pursue psychiatry to help others with anxiety find their potential. Without this new mindset, I would still be lost and anxious student.

So far I have learned how to accept the changes from high school to college. I learned how to become a succesful college student by using specific note-taking methods, how to write a college level research paper, and have even been introduced to more public speaking. This is important because I am able to work in a college classroom with no worries at all.

I've gotten a better sense of what I really want out of life, and the courage to pursue it. Knowing that, I'll never regret the decisions I make and where they take me.

I have gotten so much out of my college experience. I have made many friends, I have greatly improved my education, and learned a lot about life. Education is the key to success and being in college has only helped me further myself in life. It is very valuable to me to attend college because I want to be able to provide for myself and potenially a family later in life and to do that I must further my education. I also want to learn as much as I can, having a lot of experience in different areas is nothing but beneficial, whether you use it all or not. I would encourage all people to attend college. It is the best exoerience someone can have.

I have grown as an individual throughout my college experience. I have learned in an education aspect as well as on a personal level. I have learned about the importance of helping others and have truly seen that everything happens for a reason.

My education has left me with a desire to become the best that I can be. I grew up with blind parents and struggled as a child with my identity and my parents blindness. We did not have much money and received most of our income from the government. I have also struggled with social disorders and drug addiction in my late teens and early 20's. I left high school because of the social pressure of not fitting in. I had extreme anxiety about myself in a group setting. I finally quit the drugs and decided to go back to school. I am glad that I had a friend recommend that I take an English class my first semester. That class helped me to get over my fear of letting others know what I think. I had to write papers, including a personal reflection, and I was convinced that I could not write. But I made it through the class with a B and I figured out that I could write and eventually I overcame my fear of letting others know how I feel. My education has given me a new view on life and a brighter future. I

My college experience doesn't only consist of living on my own and going to classes everyday. I have realized more about myself as a person. I'm surrounded by so many students that actually have a drive and motive for their future. That has really motivated me to go beyond of what my first intentions of going to college were. I know that I was driven to make it too college, but I had no idea of what to do after college. I know I wanted to have a family and everything, but I've always had a tough time imagining the kind of career I want. I have realized that it is so important to go to college. It is important to surround yourself by people who will give you the motivation and drive to keep going with your eduation. Education is everything in the world. Without it, you have no chance of competing against the world. I know I want the best for me and to get the best, I have to do my best. College has been hard and I have had the toughest time in focusing, but I've learned to remember that I can.

I’m a non-traditional college student, who absolutely did not expect to be pursuing education at this time in my life, but am now humbly grateful for all that I have gained and all that I have yet to achieve in this surprising twist of academic opportunity. Returning to school to realize my first college degree has given me a new purpose in life that manifests itself in a) springing out of bed each morning with enthusiasm to complete projects or start fresh homework assignments, b) increased laughter throughout my day at the sheer joy of devouring new information and learning new skills, c) a renewed sense of self-worth and purpose that now shimmers happily over the horizon of my life. Being able to attend college has been a gift; a gift that did not look like such a blessing when it came wrapped up as unemployment in February of 2009. Now I feel lucky that an unfortunate event opened up an unforeseeable and inspiring new future.

I was always the type of person who could learn from books. In retrospect, I don't think it would have mattered where I went to college as long as it had a library, but where UCF really gave me something was in its activities. My freshman year, I was locked in my apartment reading books, but by the time I was a senior, I had taken advantage of all the unique opportunities that my school had to offer. I played in the intramural flag football championship game, wrote a point/counterpoint opinion for the school newspaper, created a Wiki site (one of the first of it's kind) in my Shakespearean studies class, and was even fan of the game down on the field at the innaugural football contest in our brand new stadium. As I look back at the lonely 18 year old pouring over Hemingway and Dickens, I can truly see how my college experience changed my life. It wasn't the academics that did it for me, that stuff was right up my alley. I took more than a degree from UCF. I took a wife, four groomsmen, and a thousand memories of a lifetime.

In high school, I found myself feeling unmotivated after the death of my father during junior year, my grandma passing away from cancer only a few months later, and my mother being diagnosed with severe diabetes. I felt rather pessimistic about my future and what my position in life was until I began working at a barn during my freshman year of college. Working with animals and studying them in college has helped to reignite my passion for life and has helped me grow as a person. Rather than seeing school as work, I now view it as an opportunity to do something with my life and make my family proud. I believe that everyone is significant in their own way and it is our job to find that passion and then work hard for it. I am striving this year to keep a 4.0 college GPA and have dreams to attend a four year university next year, as well as vet school afterwards. College has made me feel alive and has given me some of the most valuable experiences I could ask for: education, goals, leadership, and confidence.

I have made life long friends and am on the verge of completing a professional degree. UCF has provided me with all the opportunities and allowed me to succedd beyond my origional dreams.

I feel as though I have been humbled by my college experience. I have had wisdom brought by the most brilliant professors and the most dedicated classmates. I think that the value of what I have learned so far in college has no words to describe it. I have become a better person and I feel as if I have so much more to offer people. Being able to attend college is not something I take lightly; I feel honored and blessed to have been able to recieve such knowledge.

College, for me, has been an experience like none other. This opportunity is not granted to all and I have taken full advantage of it. I am getting an advanced education in the field of Computer Science. I have also had the unique experience to be a part of the leadership program on campus. I have been able to associate myself with people who care about the future; in addition, I have made connections to professors and companies which are only available to college students. These opportunities are invaluable for one to be successful in life. I am able to find out who I really am as a person and what I want to do with my life. This is a time for one to grow into an adult and start to take charge of one's life. The challenges that college brings will only stretch one to his or her limits, resulting in the full potential of each person.

As a wife, mother, and sole provider for my family of 5, the ability to attend UCF and maintain a 3.6 GPA has been a blessing. I have no desire to remain poor and on foodstamps, but without this education, I would have remained a taker. I long to be a giver, a provider. This education at UCF has afforded me this opportunity. I will be forever grateful.

Looking back at my college options, the University of Central Florida was not my first choice. However I ended up choosing this university becuase if its location and people around it. I have only experienced a semester in college, so far it has been challenging in many ways. It is a real eye opener to the many varieties of people and their personalities. I have learned so much both academically and as a person. Since the classes are only a semester long, the pace is quicker but I learned a lot more than highschool. Meeting different people has been a true experience for me becuase I have been getting involved with more activities that include my race, asian. I can connect with them and they all have been real friendly. Overall the college experience has taught me a lot, and it has only been a couple of months. By the time I graduate in 2014, I am confident I will have become the person I want to be in life.

I have had the opportunity to experience college as a freshman fresh out of high school and as a returning student. They are two different worlds. As a returning student, I have a whole new respect for the learning system and look at it as a challenge that is well worth tackling head on. Now as a wife and new mom I look forward to gaining that same new respect for myself and bettering my future for myself and my growing family.

As a part time student at the Texas State Technical College of Harlingen, I have learned far more than I thought I would ever grasp at a 2-year vocational school. During my summer courses of Government and Economics, I learned how to be politically and globally informed of the current events happening all over the world and how these events influence my life and have an effect on my day-to-day activities. My Government course required that I attend a local government meeting, and I was fascinated at the way the community's decisions and obstacles were made and handled. In my fall Composition II class, the depth at which authors write their novels suddenly became tangible to me as my professor opened my eyes to the underlying ideas and messages an author unknowingly includes in their works. Although TSTC could be considered just a "community college," I see it as much more. The educational value I have come to know and love at this school has exposed me to the real world, a substantial real world. Choosing to attend TSTC while attending my high school has been one of the most rewarding choices I have ever made.

I came into College as a girl and I came out as a strong, career minded woman. College has given me more than just textbook knowledge, it has helped me discover myself and what I wanted to do in life career wise. My college experience has made me more mature and has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities out there. I gained leadership skills from being involved in organizations on campus and joining different event committees. I even had the privilege of putting on my own event at the school. I was also a member of a dance team on campus which has given me the opportunity to compete in competitions and perform at large events. I have also gained friendships that will last a lifetime. My college experience has changed me into the person I am today and there is no monetary value that could measure what that experience has been to me.

College has taught me not to let school get in the way of my education. Although I learned invaluable information in class, it was the exchange between peers and professors that contributed to my academic regard. The resources only made available at large universities allowed me to do things beyond the regular course load. For example, I completed an undergraduate thesis, which I defended and published. I also won various awards for my writing not only in English, but Spanish too. As a writing consultant and tutor, I received recognition from the Student Government Association and was awarded a monetary prize. These are just a few of the things that I gained from my college experience. I completed my bachelor’s degree in just three short years, which is why I now look onward to an even more advanced education both in classroom and out. Without this formal training and exposure to professionals in higher education, I am not confident that I would be flourishing in today’s society as a confident college graduate.

I have gotten a wonderful experience from UCF. I have seized every opportunity at University of Central Florida! I have joined Volunteer UCF, LEAD, and EXCEL. From Volunteer UCF I have had the chance to work with children, which is something I love to do. I have had the time to give back what has been given to me! It really has allowed me to jump into a ton of volunteer opportunities at hospitals, Mending Hearts, the Homeless Coalition, and much more. In addition, LEAD is how I have made friends and had chances to lead the school. It is valuable to me that I have been able to volunteer beside fellow students, cheer on my football team, and lead in every way possible around campus.

I have received the information necessary to be successful in the engineering field.

College is a maturation period in the life of a person. One possesses a greater deal of freedom in selecting courses to take and social groups. Colleges tend to have a more eclectic mix of individuals than the average high school, meaning that a student has more opportunities to connect with interesting individuals. Besides these two major attributes, the education at college is more comprehensive and challenging than that of a high school. It is because of these three college traits that I have developed into the person I plan to be in the future. I have discovered new interests and talents that I plan to pursue and possibly make a career of.

My college experience so far has been extremely rewarding. It has helped me not only to be a better student, but a better person as a whole. Before I came to this university I was held back by my own shyness and reluctance to interact with other people. Because of this I missed many opportunities that were available to me in my high school years such as becoming the officer of one of the clubs to which I belonged. Attending this university has allowed me to tear down some of these social barriers. It has helped me to communicate more effectively and with more people. The programs and organizations on campus have also allowed and encouraged me to get involved in the community. I have been immersed into an extremely culturally and ethnically diverse community where everybody feels like they are an important individual with the common goal of higher education. The university I am attending has done an amazing job making me feel like an important member of the community and I’m very proud to be a student here at the University of Central Florida.

I have gotten many things out of my college experience. I have learned to be on my own being about 600 miles away from my parents. Although I have grandparents and other family members near, I still know that I must take responsibility for my own actions. I have met so many new and interesting people here at the University of Central Florida. I enjoy spending time with my friends and participating in campus activities. I have attended every home football game and most of the basketball games so far. I have formed new friendships with people who have the same interests as I do. Being at UCF has helped me realize that I enjoy being here at school and being responsibile for my own learning. I know it is up to me to schedule time to complete homework and other assignments. I have matured in the sense that I know I must do things for myself; my parents will not always be there to do everything for me.

I would say that the biggest thing I've learned from my college experience would be growing up. Moving away from my parents and into a new city was a big change, and while I have been here there has been much learning about living on my own that I have had to do. But being at college makes livng on your own so much more easier. It made the transition easier becuase when I arrived here, I wasn't the only one who was living on my own for the first time. I was surrounded by people just like me who were also trying to figure out what to do. My college experience has taught me to be more responsible and on top of things because no one here is reminding you to do things. It has taught me to do things on my own, and to be more conscious of how I spend my money. All-in-all college has been more of a life lesson than anything else, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I think everyone should experience the freedom of college to help them adjust to the real world.