University of Central Florida Top Questions

Once you begin college , even at the first semester, it is important to be academically -dedicated. Being involved on campus and being in a leadership position can bring you a lot of success in life. Many graduate schools look for successful students outside of a classroom. Getting involved will allow you to get to know more students of various backgrounds. Don't hold back and learn to be a part of aspect of this campus through community service, club and organizations, night life, internships , and studying.

take school seriously. make sure you have a GPA greater than 3.5 because scholarships come in handy

If you want to find your way, you must first find a dream. Search for this dream because there is nothing more important. When you find it, grab hold, and never let it go. With your dream you will fight hard for success, you will be motivated, you will know what you want and do what it takes to get it. There is no fear of failure. If you were to fail, you would fail falling forward, with pride in yourself. Then, you would stand right up, reevaluate your life, and continue on with your head held high and full respect for yourself. You are now entering the next stage of your life. Be excited because you will do amazing things with your future!

If I could go back and give myself advice about entering college, I would advise three things. First, choosing the university that will be the best fit for you is very important. Do your research on schools that will be both realistic in terms of your grades and financial situation and one that will fit you in terms of your personality. Once you have your search narrowed down, VISIT! And don't just pick one school, you want have a backup plan that you feel good about. Once you have chosen a school and are attending the college, you want to keep your GPA high. One semester can slaughter your GPA and once its low, its much more difficult to bring it back up. Also, visit an advisor at least once a semester. He or she will be able to help you stay on track with classes and even help you network to get internships and co-ops. Finally, delve into SOMETHING right away. Get involved in any extracurricular you think might be fun. By joining extracurriculars, you are having fun, meeting new people, and as an added bonus, adding something to your resume other than just your GPA!

Looking back to my senior year of high school, I would see myself juggling all of my AP classes and doing all I can with my extracurricular activities. I would be able to recall of those nights of studying in preparation for my exams and such. In all verisimilitude, I would give myself the simple advise to take the dual enrollment at my local community college before beginning my college career. In doing so, I would have been able to prepare myself for the rigorous work in store for me at the University of Central Florida. Since school has always been something of utmost importance to myself, taking on a few more classes at my community college would have been truly beneficial to me in the sense that I would have been more appealing to my university, although there was no shadow of a doubt that I had already impressed the University of Central Florida with my educational endeavors.

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have done a whole lot of things different. I would have skipped the AP psych class (it's just as easy in college as it is in high school) and would have worked harder in AP economics and AP history classes where the high school teachers still hold your hand and speak English. Fortunately I kept my math notes, but I would advise my high school self to have kept my math homework too, it's better to see the examples and applications when trying to do college homework. Probably the most important thing I would stress is involvement, involvement, involvement! Although I love the school I got into and was aiming for it the whole time, it would have been nice to have gotten into even more prestigious schools and that could have been accomplished if I had been involved in things such as student government or the swim team. I also would stress that in high school, it's not good enough to rely on Florida pre-paid and Bright Futures... you need to apply for as many scholarships as possible!

Play the lottery and study hard.

I would definetly tell myself not to stress out as much. As a senior i was very concerned with my grades and scholarship. I also would advise that I take my time and look over everything, and double check my answers. When you go to college your life style changes and I would pep myself up before just starting not knowing anything. I wish I would have asked others from my college for advice on living arrangements and other helpful hints as to help me get around the campus.

I would tell myself to go straight to the University instead of Community College first. I feel like I am scrambling to get good credentials for graduate school, and I would have liked more time at the university. I also feel that I am unable to have a fun college experience at my university, which has more opportunities to partcipate with the university than the community college did, because I am so focused on trying to look good to graduate schools. I would also tell my high school senior self to try to apply to more scholarships, because school is more expensive than what I was expecting. Tuition is only half the cost when it comes to all of the other expenses such as housing, meals, and books. I would also advise myself to go to class, and good luck with my academics.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to strive to be the absolute best that I can be. I would advise myself to ask peers and mentors for help so that I won't be alone in my high school walk. I would also advise myself to start a club that gets fellow peers to come together and study or help each other along the way. I would advise myself not to give up and also not to procrastinate. My advice would also include how to save money for college and how not to spend on things that are unimportant in the future.

I would advise myself on the life a college student has. I would tell myself to never let anyone tell you want you can and can not do, becuase you will do it and I am living proof. I would also tell myself that not marrying my high school bofriend was the right chose.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to not sweat the small stuff. Once time goes on you realize the things that seemed so important in high school really will not matter in the future. Whether you dated the football captain, had a large group of friends or had something to do on a friday night are not what is important in life. Those people will come and go, as I have witnessed personally. The people you think are your best friends may not always stay with you. In college you grow and change and become the person you truly are, and sometimes those people don't fit into that mold anymore. Also, I would tell myself not to choose a college based on how many people you know are going there. You will meet tons of new and interesting people once you get there and your high school friends will as well. Maybe you will all stay friends, but maybe you wont. So pick a school based on whether you feel at home there, not if your friends do.

Don't get distracted and study harder.

I would tell my self to take more AP classes becasue they are useful because you can obtain college credit, and also they give you valuable information needed in college. Also, I would tell myself to work harder at getting scholarships because college isn't cheap.

My transition was pretty smooth and easy. The thing that I have learned over the past 3 years is how fast the time goes by. I would try to spend less time in the library and more time experiencing college life.

The advice would probably be to make up my mind on a career, focus on that path and not keep switching. If that were done, I am sure I would not still be trying to earn a Bachelors at my age. As in anything, the earlier decisions are made, the more time there will be to have the tasks accomplished. As a matter of fact it will allow for greater accomplishments.

I took a year off between high-school and college, I would have told myself to take that time beacuse it was useful in my transition. I was able to learn how to take care of myself, manage my money and time. I also took a 3 year break between my AA and BS, if I could go back, I would tell myself NOT to take that time off. Because I will be 27 when I graduate, I feel behind. I will be almost 30 when I receive my MA. I do feel that taking time off of school is useful, dedication is also required when earning any post secondary degree.

Fully embrace the journey you are about to embark on. There will be many opportunities that will motivate and inspire you. This will be a journey where you will discover yourself. You will work hard and be rewarded immeasurably for your efforts. You will meet many new people who will enrich your life. Allow all of this to happen. Don't be anxious. You will be surrounded by many other students who are going through the same thing as well as students who have gone through it and are willing to help you. Remember, college is your reward for your efforts now and is your chance for the future that you were dreaming of. Keep up the great work, stay focused, and remember to have fun too. There is excitement and adventure ahead.

Knowing what I know today I would tell myself in high school that life is easy and school is too. All you have to do is 'get r dun.' For example if you know a book report is due read the book, complete the report and turn it in early. This will allow you the benefit of using the teacher's assistance to tweak your report and get a better grade. The rule is simple ?don?t leave for tomorrow what you can do today.? If we all followed those words of wisdom our lives would be easier and more complete.

If I could go back in time and talk to my self as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to rush into college simply because I felt pressure to do so from my family. Given my current level of intuition, I hope that I would be able to look at my past self and recognize that I was too burned out and an unstable to enter college, earn good grades and enjoy the experience. I would say to myself, "Derek, it's okay to take a step back and evaluate your life. You don't have to rush into college THIS semester if you are feeling overwhelmed or need to take some time off. It will still be there when you are ready and, believe me, you will enjoy the experience much more if you enter with a clear mind and keen focus on your future goals." Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and I did end up rushing into college, albeit for two hours, and dropped out. However, after twelve years, I re-enrolled at community college, cleaned up my transcript, and am now a happy college junior at UCF ? with a 4.0 to boot!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to get involved, to continue to strive for the best grades possible and to really research my university options. I think that it is extremely important to get involved when attending a university. Not only does it allow you to make new friends, but it helps you grow and discover the person you want to be. It opens the door for networking and allows for the opportunity to try new things. I also think its important to continue to achieve good grades. Most kids tend to slack off during their senior year of high school and don?t realize their setting the path into their academic future. Research is also key. I would tell myself to research every aspect of the universities I apply for. Compare tuition rates, decide if I want to live on or off campus. Take note on what each campus offers its students. Find out what students do for leisure and compare to your personal style. What you experience while at the university you choose will last forever so make sure its everything you desire.

I would tell myself to get involved, travel abroad, and go to every football game I could to show school spirit.

I would definitely tell myself to use my time wisely. Time management is everything in college. A college student has many activities to fill his day with, but the most important and the main reason why he is in college is to learn--his academics. Schoolwork is a priority.

I would tell myself to join various clubs and be more actively involved in school. College life has a big emphasis on joining clubs and/or organizations to keep students occupied in a healthy, positive manner. It also helps a student build a good resume for potential employers. Another piece of advice that I would give myself would be to apply for scholarships earlier because college is expensive.

Looking back now I can still feel the joy and excitement I felt rushing through me the last few weeks of senior year. There were no limits holding me back and I thought I was more than ready to enter the anticipated collegiate life my friends and I had spent the last year ranting about. If I had the chance to slow down that enthusiastic girl with no fear of what was to come I would sit her (myself) down on the last night before the big departure and tell her a few things that I wish I would have heard that night. I would say ?Blair, things are going to get tough and then they will get tougher but in order to make it through never allow yourself to give up. High school was a walk on easy street and now you will learn what life is really about so stay strong, keep your head up, and don?t sweat the small stuff.? I?ve heard these clich?s time and time again but I think if I could have heard them one last time that night it would have been the best time of all.

I feel I would go back and tell myself to go to a community college first. So many friends of mine went straight to a university and got caught up in the party atmosphere they neglected their classes. Some of them had failed and needed to retake courses and some of them barely passed because their priorities were mixed up. Most students at a community college are there because they want to be there, not because they had to and can sometimes have an older student atmosphere. It is an easier transition from high school because you don?t have students living on campus, fraternities, sororities, et cetera that pressure you to be involved. It is simply students getting their education. The professors are strict like university professors, so when you do get to the university you understand the way most professors work and what you need to do to get the best grade you can. You will also learn how to manage time properly, so it won?t be a hard transition into a university. You will then be able to participate in school activities and manage your studies more efficiently.

As a high school Senior back in 1986 I was already enrolled in a junior college on full scholarship. I graduated from this college with an AA in Mass Communications and had been accepted to University of Florida and Rollins College. I chose to attend UF the following Spring. I was awarded a Pell Grant and a Florida Students Assistants Grant and had a full ride to finish my Junior & Senior years, but I was engaged and never finished. In hide sight, I wish I had gone off to school and had the experience of living on campus and possibly joining a Sorority. I wish I had finished what I began...I did not. I went on to a career in Retail Management and after over 20 years I was laid off. That time has given me the drive to go back to school and change my degree to Psychology/Criminal Justice and I am looking forward to going back and studying in a field that is intriguing and will ultimately be very rewarding and challenging. I believe in finishing what you start. I am excited to have this opportunity after all this time.

Don't go to any house warming parties with alcohol and don't stop going to the gym.

If I could go back in time to speak to my high school senior self, I would have a few tips and words of advice. First, I would definitely tell my senior high self to apply for as many scholarships as possible. The expense of college is staggering. Not only do you have to pay for tuition, housing and books, you also have to pay for groceries, laundry, going out to eat and other miscellaneous expenses. The bill can realy add up. Second, I would tell my senior self to really enjoy the last semester of high school. Next year, you won't be able to see your friends every day. So try to enjoy the time you do have with your high school friends. Third, and most important, I would tell my senior self that yes, college will be different and challenging, but it will also be exciting. Yes, you will miss your family, but your new friends and roommates will be there for you. Yes, you might change, but you will also grow and become a mature adult, ready to face anything.

To apply to better universities and to pursue a makor i know that will excel in.

Crystal, The next four, well in your case six, years will be a little tricky and you'll never feel like you got it just right, but don't worry cause that's not the point. UCF offers you countless opportunities to be what ever it is that you wanna be. Try out all kinds of classes. Make friends with strangers, even the ones that don't look like your crowd. Share your blanket when you're having lunch by the pond. Sit in the front of class and answer that question. You know, the one you think sounds stupid until someone else says it and gets the credit. Go to the football games, even when they lose. Learn the feeling of self fullfillment. Friends and boys will come and go, I promise. Make yourself happy, because no one else can to it better. Stop hiding in your shell. "Nothing good comes easily" was an excellent choice for your senior year quote, because in 2009 you're still living by it. PS You're gonna wake up one December day and feel the urge to jump on a NYC bound plane to see a Kings of Leon concert. Do it.

Most high school seniors believe college is the "promised land", which entails freedom, at last. Most cannot wait to get here to party and finally embrace the freedom that has been long waited for, I am not part of that majority. Coming from a hispanic background, and a hard working family, college is about higher education and getting our money's worth, since there was barely any to begin with. I believed I would milk every opportunity out of this school, work hard and achieve academic excellence as I did in high school. To this day that has held true. As a Peer Mentor for a college class, I deal with incoming freshman during the Summer semesters and then with probation students in the Spring semesters. In my experience most incoming freshman and probation students contain the same ideals as most high school seniors. College is a party. What I would have told myself, again, and what I would tell other incoming freshman, is to never settle academically. Set your standards where success is guaranteed and achievable. Work hard and don't let anything get in the way of achieving academic excellence. Everyone is capable of doing so.

The largest piece of advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to take time to realize what you want to do with your life and choose the institution that will set you up to succeed. Once you have made that decision about how to succeed, never forget the sense of pride and ambition within yourself as you enter into college. It is easy to become run down and upset over the amount of work, but if you continue to push yourself through your college life, you will reach the goals you set for yourself. Try not to let distractions pull you away from your ultimate goal. Within the transition to college life, a large amount of responsibility is placed on your shoulders, and you should be happy about that. Take the responsibility you ahve been given and channel it, so that you may become the best version of yourself.

The advice that I would give myself is probably to take more courses my freshman year. Coming into college, I was told not to take more than twelve credit hours, but now I am wishing I had taken more so that I could finish earlier. I would also tell myself to have more fun in college and not take it too seriously. College should be a time where you study but also meet new people and explore being a college student in a new town. Looking back though, I realize that I am very happy with my experience in college so far and excited to see what the future will bring.

College life isn't easy. You must study real hard and be very focused. There are no second chances in life and never take the free ride in your own life. Take time to relax and make new friends. All work and no play makes you dull. If you ever need help don't be afraid to ask

im acquired listening skills and i have ability to work hard,im very keen on learning things and im a hard worker. i have a vision to dream and direrction to go to and also skills to contribute . obtaining the scholarship will help to improve my skill and to be proud of my self , the word succsess is not the position im standing on but its the direction im loking to. i believe that where education is with all the choices i make and chances itake is where my destiny is. im a young dyanamic lady im looking forward to have more skills on my succsess.

I would say alot to my past self. First, I would say, live in the dorm on campus not in some apartment off campus with people you don't know. Don't be intiminated by the classes, students or professors, you are more than prepared. Don't make any decisions about your B.S. in the two years you are doing your general education classes, but make one in your third year and find a good advisor to help you. Lastly, have fun because once you get into graduate school you won't.

If I had the opportunity to transport back in time and speak to myself, I would tell myself to get prepared because you learn who you are and what you want to be in college. I would advise to take more Advanced Placement or dual enrollment classes (I thought 7 would be enough) to be one step ahead of the game. I would tell myself to relax. People are nice, teachers care, and Mom and Dad are simply a phone call away. However, your professors will not be on your back, although they want you to succeed you are now an adult and your passing is a direct reflection upon the effort you put into your work. If I could do it all over again I would apply for more scholarships because college is very expensive once you take into account classes, books, room, food, gas, etc. especially coming from a single parent household. In addition, I would recommend doing more research on the college I wanted to attend as well as knowing how important the first semester would be in starting my college career. Lastly, I would tell myself to get ready for a great life changing experience.

Stop procrastinating earlier on. Time management is key. Parties and clubs won't give you a diploma. It's true that C's get degrees, but A's and B's make money. Never follow the crowd. Study, study, study!!! If reading and writing isn't you're thing, get over it. Teachers baby you, professors won't.

The truth is that I never made it to the senior year of high school. I officially dropped out before obtaining enough credits to qualify as a Sophomore, but in my heart and mind it was even well before this. With that said, however, I would offer this advice to anyone who is currently a senior in high school: temptations that naturally come with the attaining of a new level of freedom with the transition into college promise satisfaction in ways that they cannot deliver. If you are coming to college with the hopeful expectation of bearing even less responsibility than you currently have it is probably best not to come at all.

I think that I prepared myself enough when I was an actual high school senior because I took rigorous classes in order to be prepared for college. I came into UCF as a sophmore because all of my transfer credits. I think the only advice I would give myself is to be more open because it is very hard to be in a new environment when you do not know anybody. People are very friendly in college and you can gain a lot of friends but you have to be able to be an open person and embrace the experience.

Create your own rules and strictly follow them, learn as much as possible about the college you are going to attend, make careful desicion when choosing a college

I would tell myself to try a lot harder in school now because it will be better for myself in the long run. I did put a lot of time in school when I was in high school, but nearly not enough when it's compared to the college life of schoolwork. I feel if I would of actually read through assigned readings and textbooks more efficiently, it wouldn't of taken me so long now in college to get used to it. I didn't think college schoolwork would of been this bad, thus my attitude in high school about homework was very lazy and careless. Going back and fixing this error would of truly helped my college career so far.

If I had the opportunity to give myself advice 2 years ago, I would tell myself that moving away from home and being 1 in 52,000 students is the hardest part. I was not expecting the difficulties I faced when moving away from home, and when those difficulties arose, it was very hard to get past them. Leaving the warmth and security that my parents provided was a step that took time getting used to. College is much different than high school because you really have to study in order to do well in your classes and stand out. Laziness and procrastiantion are unacceptable; studying and planning ahead, however, are imperative. I want more than anything to get into the nursing program at UCF. In order to do so, I have to prove that I am one of the bests students on that campus and the stress that follows with that is unexplainable. If I knew that 2 years ago, I would have mentally prepared myself for the hardship and the transition wouldn't have been so draining.

You have made the right decision about the college you selected. Life will be amazing throughout this time, so just enjoy it and stay focused on your school work.

To visit as many Universities as possible and really research what each one has to offer.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say to enjoy life. I would tell myself to find a career that makes me happy and strive to do the best I can. I would have wanted to know that living on my own, away from my family and friends, is harder than I ever could have imagined. I would also tell myself not to worry so much, that everything has a way of working out. Lastly, I would tell myself to enjoy being in college. It is a great experince and I should enjoy it while it lasts.

I did the best I could senior year to tie up loose credits and give myself one final challenging class without risk of ruining my GPA. I can honestly say I wish I fooled around more my senior year, because it feels most of my time and energy is completely devoted to school now. The advice I would have given myself would have been to make more connections to people while I had the opportunity, especially teachers that had been so helpful to me in realizing what it was I wanted to do with my life.

The main difference between college and high school, is self responsibility. If I had to give myself any advice in the past, I would definitely have to say that the amount of time one needs to spend studying is definitely greater when you get to college. Thus, in result of that I would advise any high school senior to get in the habit of creating study groups, and finding out the best studying strategy for themselves. Another word of advice is not to get yourself stuck in a certain clique, it's definitely better to broaden your spectrum of friends and colleagues, instead of being prejudice and avoiding socializing with people from other groups that you wouldn't normally associate yourself with. Some of your best friends come from people that you wouldn't normally talk to.

I would take myself to work hard to be well prepared for college.