University of Central Florida Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Corenne

College is something totally different from what I expected it to be. I thought I would be out partying every night, getting bad grades and living "the college life." That was completely wrong. My college experience has taught me so much that I would have never learned otherwise. Since being at the University of Central Florida, I have made life long friends. I have learned that hard work does pay off and time management is key. I have been able to participate in a variety of organizations, plan events, take part in lots of community service activities and network. Everything that has happened to me in college and all of the people I have come into contact with will remain with me for the rest of my life. Moving away from Michigan and coming straight to Florida for college was a big step, but I was able to make a life for myself here and it has been amazing. I would never trade this experience for anything else in the world.

Courtney

I am a first year students attending the University of Cental Florida and am currently enrolled in 13 credit hours in my second semester. I also work as a waitress at least 30 hours a week and maintain a 4.0 GPA at the university. In entering the second half of my first year, I can already see how influential my college experience will be, limited as it may be. Thus far, I have joined many clubs to participate and assist in the university. I am able to not only help other students with tutoring, for example, but I also learn about myself. When I was still in high school, some students claimed that college was easy and they were not learning enough for the money they paid in tuition at the University of Central Florida. Once I graduated from high school, I enrolled in classes at the university and, as a challenge, I intended to get as much as I could out of my classes. What I learned from my challenge is that college is what you make it to be, and you get back as much knowledge from a class as the hard work you put into it.

Jennifer

I really love the amount of one-on-one time a community college gives you. I really believe that for someone that learns with a hands on approach this type of smaller class setting is beneficial. I enjoy all of my instructors and will never forget any of them. They all take the time to make the experience enjoyable, but also an extremely functional learning environment. I know this because I also have attended a University with very large classes and minimal instructor contact. I just couldn’t thrive there, but here in a small town community college I have learned more than I could ever have imagined.

Crystal

College has been a valuable experience because it made me realize just how much my family means to me. I only moved 300 miles away from home, and I applaud any student who moved out of state for their education. Moving away was the biggest transition I had to make, and leaving behind my friends and family did not make anything easier. Meeting new people and finding new friends was a completely new experience, and one that I had to overcome my pride to accomplish however, totally worth the mission. I come from a small, close-knit family and moving away and going to college was a first for any of us. The entire process was a learning experience for us all and it enabled us to share a closer relationship.

Ashley

So far my college experience has been a mixture of many happenings. The one thing my college experience has taught me is to never give up. Being a freshman in college can be a very scary but exhilarating experience. For some students, the financial aspect of college doesn’t affect them because fortunately for them, their parents can afford to assist in this area. Other students are in such financial need that they can receive outstanding grants and scholarships and no longer have any worries. And then there are students like myself who are in the middle. My parents are not in a financial situation to help me with my college fees nor are we poor enough to receive any grants or large scholarships. This past year I have had to endure many horrible situations in which I could do nothing but cry about things but through these hardships I have learned that I can never give up. Even when the financial aid office denies me grants I will keep trying. One of the greatest minds in history, Thomas Edison, never gave up and look what he accomplished which is why I vow to never give up!

Chelsey

I have been working full time and putting myself through school my entire college experience. However, I would not change this fact. Going to college full time on my own dime has made me more confident and independent. I take my education very seriously because you truly get what you put into it. I am on time and I do my work. College has allowed me to meet many different types of people which is valuable in everyday life. Knowing how to get along with anyone and everyone is essential. College has also taught me time management and planning. I

Kencia

I have learned through college. Mostly I have learned to be organized in everything. I organize my studying before I actually study. I organize all my school work, forms, papers, etc. It's the only way to 'keep it together' and make sure I always know where I am at. I also have learned that the only way to enjoy college and prepare yourself for the bigger world 'out there' is to get involved. Being at UCF for only one semester I juped right in the pool of clubs and just tried to stick my foot in whatever clubs I could get in. I now have a better network and friends from all over that just makes my college experience better every meetiing/activity. Volunteering has become a fun thing that I never want to miss because college students like the ones I know make it exciting nd worth while. I honestly cant wait to start working and really get my foot into this whole life thing.

Kristen

I think the most important things I got out of my college experience is more knowledge but more importantly life experience. Coming away to college a few hours away from home helped me to learn more independence. Even though my parents paid for my schooling, I had to work in order to earn money to buy food and spending money. This was a great way to learn to save my money and not spend too frivolously before it really mattered and I need to worry about bills and other expenses adults have to worry about. College also helped me to gain life experience by introducing me to all kinds of people and ways of life. Where I grew up most of the people around me were of similar income with similar lives and experience. When I came to UCF I was introduced to many different people who had come for all kinds of backgrounds and living situations. I believe these experiences will be invaluable when I am done with graduate school and out in the real world having to interact with people from all walks of life.

Kristen

The Univeristy of Central Florida has given me the opportunity to grow. I have been able to decide on a career through their guidance and experiences in the classroom. My degree has been highly regarded and helped me to obtain several job offers after graduation. I enjoyed my time there and have decided to return, to complete a Master's degree. UCF is only of the only universities in the country to offer the degree I am seeking. I have applied to UCF's Masters in Nonprofit Management program. This program will begin the Fall and I am excited to return to my school.

Kyle

I have learned that college is more than just a place to make lifelong friends and get a degree. It is a right of passage for every individual, and an experience that each person, no matter what their economic, racial, or cultural status should experience. A college is an institution of higher learning. It is their not for your degree, but for you to learn. A college nourishes the soul and it's thirst for knowledge. Not just knowledge in the sense of physical books and learning, but the diversity that there is in this world. And whether your a small town kid, or a big city kind've person, a college draws more diversity to it than any other one place year round. It's like the World Cup, drawing people from every nation and ethnicity into one place, all looking for similar things. If you expand to think about the lives and experiences of each person at UCF, then you will have a better understanding on the world as a whole. I have experienced much of what Central Florida has to offer me. I'm at a loss for words for what it has given me.

Adrienne

I always have been and always will be an artist. I didn't need a degree to make that true. What I did need from my college experience was an environment that fostered creativity and growth. I got that (on the rocks) with a twist of comraderie and confidence. My memories include painting alongside professors, in depth discussions over works of art and all nighters in the studio. Together, my classmates and I tackled the question of what it means to be a professional artist in this modern world. It feels so sweetly like "us against the world" that I'm afraid to let it go when I graduate in a few months. However, I'm confident that when I do leave, these years spent in our creative cocoon will serve as a rich reservoir to carry my career into the future.

Brooke

I came from a small High School, so going to UCF was very different. However, I could not have asked for a better school. I am making friends and maintaining relationships that I will have until the end of time. Academically, all my professors are incredibly qualified for the teaching posts. I cannot say enough about the professors here; I honestly do believe they would love nothing more than watching every student make something of themselves. I have even found a place on the Intermural leagues; playing basketball, volleyball, and softball - another place where I've made some fantastic friends. This experience has taught me, that no matter how different my environment is, I can adapt and succeed. I can manage my academics while balancing a healthy and proactive social life. I have joined several honor societies and even amongst the rigorous requirements to be filled I have still found one or two good friends from each one; who I still weekly have lunches with. I truly do bleed black and gold; I have never been more proud of attending the University of Central Florida.

Jennifer

I have received so much out of my college experience. Community college was actually a back-up plan in my case. I was to attend Jacksonville University, but due to financial diffculties, I ended up deciding to stay home, save money, and register at my local community college. I wasn't happy at first, but I can say I am truly thankful, and happy that I took the decision. It's been so valuable. One, because I changed my major from Political Science, to undecided, to Social Sciences. The classes I took gave me a little medicine of what my major would be like, and I didn't really like it. My Intro to Psych class opened up a passion up inside me and I knew it's something I would love doing. Another reason I find my college experience valuable is that I don't think I was ready to leave home yet and be out on my own. I found a little part-time job that worked around my school schedule, which has gradually helped me be more independent. College has given me so many other opportunities too, such as the Psychology Club. I really do love college.

Vanessa

It is valuable to attend college not only for the need for a degree but to experience things that a person might have not otherwised undergone without the need for it. Through my college experience I have not only been able to expand my knowledge of the arts but I have also learned to contribute to the community through school activities. I have been able to experience many elements from different kinds of people because of it. In addition, I have also learned to communicate better with people about my feelings and how to take any criticism they might have for me to better myself for the future. During the time spent at college I have been able to take what I have learned in school and apply them to real life situations. I now know the importance of somebody's impact and how it can effect others through a means of simple actions and conversation. College has been the nursing ground for all these ideas and now gives me the ability to demonstrate what I can do with myself and others.

Anthony

I have gained many things sinces entering college. I have met and got to know many people of many backgrounds in my years of class. The ideas and values I have learn from both my professors and classmates have been invaluable to my continuing process to grow and learn more about the world around me and the people in it. I not only get the knowledge and thoughts of the fields I'm studying in but the tricks and ideas that gave birth to such questions and answers that I been taught or realized. I have not only gained know ledge while at college but I have also gained many friendships and mentors that I hold dear. It is these people that I have not only gotten help from but they have made a path for me to follow as I continue in my academic career. Without these individuals I might have not gotten to the point that I'm at today. They have given me help in not just class but in life that I will hold and treasure forever.

Danielle

In college I have learned to be an idividual and stand by myself when it is required. Previously, I went with the flow in high school and was too scared to be different for fear that I would be ostrasized for being different. But at UCF, having different opinions is celebrated and I have learned to focus on myself and do activities that interest me. Even if I walk alone on my way there, I often meet interesting people and am growing into someone that knows who she is, this I am proud of.

Catherine

Aside from the excellent educational opportunity that college is for so many people young and old, that isn't the only benefit that came with obtaining a higher education. I learned a lot about myself when I went to college. I know that sounds cliche but it's the truth. I learned that I wasn't as hopeless or as unintelligent as I thought I was as judged by my high school career. Learning that was, perhaps, the most beneficial to me because I really needed to know that I wasn't just some hopeless girl being thrust out into the world with no hopes of doing anything productive for myself or society. I'm not saying that learning this has made it any easier to survive in a world where so many are trying to survive and make things work but it helps to know that, no matter what life throws at you, you ARE able to handle the good and the bad as gracefully as possible. Learning that I wasn't hopeless wasn't the only thing I got out of college but it's probably the one I'll take with me forever.

Keith

Through my experience at the University of Central Florida, I have gained real-world experience through my classes and the professors I dealt with on a daily basis. It was the collective experience through classwork, office conversations with professors, and group study sessions. These indivisuals not only make this university an interesting and exciting place, but also relaxing. We collectively do a great job of balancing our education and social life by going to sporting events and fitness programs. This will play huge dividends in my futute career because I will be prepared for my Civil Engineering position and allow me to continue to develop my social life and life-long friends.

Aderonke

I am only in the second semester of my first year of college and already I have taken so much out of my experience. I have learned that it is okay to want to try new things; in college it is actually embraced. It is not frowned upon to have various different interests,and still be searching for ways to merge them all into my future career. College has been so valuable in this short amount of time because it has formed the roots from which my life will sprout. I am so excited to complete the next four years of my higher education at the University of Central Florida because I know it will prepare me for any challenges life may throw my way.

Jesse

The most valuable lesson I've gleaned from my college experience is this: never stop learning. Every day that I attend class my mind expands. Every day that I attend to life academically, as though a student, my mind expands. This is the crucial lesson of any school experience; each moment is a learning experience. The remarkable trick of the human brain is its capacity for infinite expansion. How could one ignore this phenomenon, snub an oppurtunity for new knowledge, when one has been granted the ability to learn any amount with any velocity? School is not just a phase of life; it is a state of mind through which new knowledge and information flows throughout and forever.

sydnie

I've learned a lot about the real world, money, and budgeting along with learning to be on my own. College has been a good thing because i'm learning a lot more about not only school subjects but also about being independent. I don't have the safety of high school anymore and i've become an adult and i've learned to do things that i've never been able to do before.

Catherine

I believe college has turned me into an adult. I am more independent and I have a greater responsibility now with what my future will become. Joining clubs with other students has been incredibly important to me because it gave me a type of home-away-from-home, during a time that I was homesick and missed the comfort of my family and friends back at home. I believe this school is valuable to attend because it gives you options. There are several majors and minors to choose from, several professors as well as times when the classes are available enroll in. UCF is gold mine, you just have to dig in.

Kayon

Attending the University of Central Florida has exposed me to a different group of people. Almost everyone that I have met at this University have been plesant and seem to have a positive outlook on life. Believe it or not, being surrounded by positivity rubs off and ends up make you a better, happier person. I feel like I have grown more and learned so much about living on my own, taking care of my responsiblities. This college experience has prepared me for the real world in a gentle, yet practical way.

Patricia

The best thing that I have gotten out of college is the opportunity to get a feel for what it is like to live as an adult. Being away from my parents has definitely prepared me for independent living. The decisions I've had to make by myself while in college ranges from the ordinary (what to eat for dinner, what to do for the weekend) to the more significant (what courses to take, how to manage my finances). I believe that in the four years I spent in college, I have enough "practice" to prepare me for the bigger decisions that I will have to make later in life. Needless to say, all that I have learned from my college courses will be helpful to my future career; however, going through the process of going to class and completing all my assignments on time -- no matter how boring it sounds -- has also improved my work ethic. Thanks to my college experience, I am confident that I will be ready to start a life of my own after graduation.

Janey

My college experience thus far has been priceless. I have learned more than I could ever have fathomed.

Brittany

College is where many students grow and become adults in the world. From my own college experience I have learned many ways of learning from different professors and classes. I have gained a self independence to push myself to do my best in my academics so my career will benefit in the long run and I think that going to college has opened my eyes to excell because the more knowledge I can attain and succeed will help me. Going to college has been valuable to me because I have learned and seen all the variety of fields that are out there for a future occupation. It has opened my eyes to many fields that may interest me if one is not my desired plan and I think that is amazing that I can get an education and hopefully find a job where i would not have to work a day in my life because I would want to be there. My college experience has just began and I am very excited to see what the next few years of attending college will bring for me and my future.

Victoria

I've only been in college for one semester now, but in that semester I can honestly say I've changed more than my four years of high school. While my time here has been much shorter, the experience of living on my own and fending for myself has truly caused me to grow and become an adult. The value I've gotten out of my experience has been more than learning how to do my own laundry. I've learned the importance of saving money for when it is really needed; How to interact with people I don't know well, and are different from myself; The importance of exercising regularly and not just living off of junk food; That the people that really matter in life will stick by you through thick and thin no matter the miles there are between you; What is is to truly want something with all your heart, and how important it is to do everything you can to work towards that goal, and so much more. I am happier now than I have ever been, and my experience at UCF has caused that. To me that is what makes life valuable.

Ciara

I have gotten a great job and the ability for me to move on to getting my bachelors degree. Also doing that its allowing me to accomplish my dream of owning a hospital.

Nathan

I have learned how to study for tests and met new people because of my college experience. Since I have attended college, I have learned about each subject in great detail and also learned how to manage my time so I can study for each class a little every day.

Emma

Even though I am only in the spring semester of my freshman year, I have learned so much. Not just from textbooks and teachers, but from everyone I meet and every experience I have. I have matured a lot in the short time I have been here and have aleady made great discoveries about my major, as well as myself. I believe these will be the best years of my life because it is now that I will encounter my greatest challenges and my greatest victories. And those experiences that I will have in my four years in college will stay with me for the rest of my life, and will help me make good decisions once I enter into the real world where there are no more grades or tests. I will always have my college experience to help guide me successfully through the rest of my life.

Justin

So far my college experience has been absolutely magnificent. In six short months I have learned things that i was not mature enough to grasp in my four years of high school. In college I have effectively learned how to manage and use my time proficiently. If I have a test on monday morning, i know i must use my entire weekend, not just a couple hours on sunday night, to study and be prepared for the exam. My collegiate experience has also given me the ability to fluently and effectively talk to proffesinals. Often I find myself puzzled upon a lecture topic, or baffled on a grade i received for an assignment. So when this happens I have to contact my professors via email or in person. I can not talk to my proffesors the same way I speak to my peers. So I have learned how to politely and clearly express to professors the problem that needs to be addressed. THe college experience is so valuable because all aspects of it prepare you for what obstacles you will face once you are in the real working world.

Anne

I believe that my experience in college has been beneficial because I have earned not only an education, but I have also gotten experience in speaking with professionals, learning what my career will entail, how to research, and other great assets. Without college, I would not have any chance of reaching my goals in life. I've also made connections with professors that will help me in my professional career, as well as making friends with students.

Andrew

I've gotten so much out of my college experience. The first is often the most obvious: a great academic education with helpful professors who really do care about my education and fellow students who are willing to talk about class. The assignments are challenging, but not impossible, and the teachers help you through problems, giving a real learning experience, not always giving you the answers directly, but helping you find them yourself. Beyond that, I have been a teaching assistant, which has introduced me to friendly TA's and students whom I have seen really try hard, not just giving up when the problems get tough. The professor I worked under is almost a role model to me, having many characteristics I want, friendly, funny, a good friend, a good student himself, and a good teacher. I feel that I have gained so much from my time at UCF: an education, good friends, good professors, and a learning experience that would be hard to rival anywhere, especially in my field at Computer Science. I have seen a diverse group of people coexist and work together. Now, this essay comes to an end....but my college experience will continue.

Erin

So far, my college experience has taught me a lot about responsibility. Obviously, attending college and performing each task involved with it is not an easy thing to do, but I have learned a great deal about time management. It becomes difficult to balance out your time between work, study and homework time, a social life, and whatever else may come up in life. I found that my time works best when I give myself a schedule, and set aside specific times for my studies. There is no chance of getting things done at the last minute and being able to pull it off well, and I learned that the hard way. Personally, I believe that this is one valuable experience that is preparing me to become a more responsible and mature adult. I find that if I stick to my plan I will usually make it out okay. I believe it is safe for me to say that a student gains more than a textbook education from attending college. It's an experience everyone should have to learn more about themselves and the world in which we live.

Joylinn

The thing that I have gotten out of my college experience is a lot of learning. I am not the first in my family to go to college but I am first that is going to recieve my bachelors and possible my masters. I know it's very important for me to go so I can show my parents that I can actually finish something. I already have my associates from the community college I attended so that is a big accomplishment for me. Even though we don't have a lot money for me to live on campus and having to take out loans, something elese I have gotten out of this experience is that I am starting a savings account for my future kids so that they won't have to worry about loans when they get out. I hope the will have the ideal college experience. Something valuable that I have gotten out of attending is great teachers that are willing to help you all the way.

Isabel

My college was the first step to return to the student life. I am the example of a new student, because I am 51 years old, Venezuelan, with Spanish as a first language. I return to college after thirteen years out of campus! So, starting in Valencia Community College helped me to immerse myself in the community, as a student. I did it slowly and I have to admit that was hard. I learned how to use the library, the computer laboratory, to get help in the writing center, which was a new resource for me, and how the interpersonal relationships work today in college. For me, because I knew almost nothing about college or school in U.S., everything was new, although very hard to learn. When a teacher used expressions like “you remember this from high school”, then I felt that I did not belong there. I use to think that I was too old, that I have not the language to communicate myself fluently so I looked stupid, and that some teachers ignored me, no matter how much effort I put into my classes. Thanks God that many teachers helped me and thought me how to survive.

Allison

My experience has given me the tools I need to further my schooling and eventually my professional life. A well rounded and thorough course catalogue ensures that I will get the education that will prepare me for the future. I have made invaluable friends and connections sure to enable me to get where I want to go. I have had the opportunity to get involved with the community and gain life changing experiences. I have gained research opportunities that will enhance my resume. I know have the tools I need to be successful in life!

Jennifer

I have had many amazing experiences since I started college. I went to a private school my whole life so it was really different going to a public college, but I have always enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends. College has been a very valuable life experience for me and I have met a lot of interesting people. Being in college has also changed the way I think about things. I am now more aware of the feelings and opinions of others. I have also become more conscious of how my actions can, and will, affect the world around me. College is not just where you go to become somebody, it's where you figure out who you want to be. It signals the true beginning of your life. I only hope that my college experience is just the first of many incredible experiences that I will have in my life.

Ivan

My university education has vastly extended my understanding of the world. I have learned how to learn, and how to question. Learning how to ask smart, concise questions has dramatically elevated my ability to gain access to the information I want and need, and opened doors of opportunity I could not have previously imagined. I have also learned the immense value of networking, and fostering relationships with mentors. Allying with future advocates prepares me with an arsenal of good will and support to bolster my future resume. These relations have not only fostered my own development and betterment, but will directly contribute to my future plans. The credentials I earn with my effort are very valuable, this is true, but developing networking skills, learning to learn, and how to question, are the most rewarding and essential elements of my education.

Evan

I have gotten so much out of my college experience it’s hard to fit in only 200 words. At UCF I have gotten a sense of accomplishment and what it means to be a knight. I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride just stepping foot on campus. UCF is the second biggest university in the United States and one of the finest institutions in America. I believe that UCF has been valuable to attend because it is going to provide me with the job I need to live in society. Here at UCF they go by five words; Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence, which I believe says more about the school, I can say in two hundred words. These five words are what students live by and we are all proud to call ourselves knights!

Shaun

"You get out of it what you put into it." "Dorm life isnt for everybody." "Its going to be expensive." These among many other statements are what I heard after I made the transition from high school senior to college freshman. I am the first in my immediate family to go to college. And the amount of pride that my family holds for me is enough to make me eventually work towards getting my Ph.D. College is a miracle. College is a place that takes your 3.8 high school GPA and stomps it into the soil. College is a place that challeges you academically, emotionally, intellectually and of course financially. But I know its worth the sleepless night's studying, roommate drama, and empty wallets. Even if there is no one-hundred thousand dollar annual salary that comes with the reception of my degree, where else can you have the freedom to explore aspects of yourself that never made themselves known or carry the dreams and honor of your entire family on your back solely by cracking open a textbook and studying like never before? There is nowhere else. I love college. Every aspect holds value to me.

Karelys

I first began my college education at the University of Florida in 2003, and due to illness in the family was forced to place my studies on hold. However, that strong sense of pride from being a college student kept alive a yearning to complete my education. I returned to finish my studies, but not only as a student, but as a mother, a wife and youth minister. Through my college experience I have endured loss (of my father and daughter) and have learned that life goes on. Years can pass you by, but there's no time like the present to complete your education. It has been a valuable experience because of the friendships that have been made, the experiences that I've lived and the knowledge that I've gained. This will lead me to be the best educator that I can be. This is also valuable because I have the responsibility to educate our future citizens. Through my college experience, I have learned that our town is a small place and that we are a part of a global community. Each being person an asset to my education and life.

Theresa

Most people think either social or academic gain is what people get out of college. However, I've learned how to become more "street smart" since I've attended college. As my fourth year is drawing to an end, I look back and realize that I've learned what it's like to live on my own. The idea mostly arises from monetary means, yet, it flows into my social and academic career as well. Every semester, I take out loans in order to pay for my tuition, books, housing, food, gas, you-name-it. Yet, I didn't want to demean myself by begging my parents and have learned to live off of spam, ramen, pasta (no sauce) and water before my loans were disbursed. I attempted a job, yet the rigorous demands of a pre-med and psychology double major has prevented me from successfully keeping one. Now I learned to ration my food, spend hours coupon-clipping, and savoring every cent that comes by my way. It sounds depressing, but college has helped me learn what the value of a dollar is, and, I'm extremely grateful for that.

Scott

The biggest lesson you walk off the stage with that you don't learn from a professor's lectures is the patterns of human behavior that underly the overwhelming diversity of our peers and educators. Through casual interactions, celebrations, and study groups, any perceptive student will begin to see the true face of humanity. Experiences both good and bad paint a clearer image. From the honest, compassionate, loyal friends that you make in your time at college to the self-serving, narcissistic jerks who try to bring everyone down to their level, each encounter conditions us to recognize these personality types and in turn enables us to better respond to their presence. As a result, we walk away with a greater capacity to interact socially and work together to further all of humanity's various causes. Being immersed in a sea of ambition and self-actualization brings these patterns out of the people we encounter. That is one lesson that college has offered me that cannot be found in most workplaces, where everyone is there to put in their 8 hours to pay the bills. Armed with this knowledge, we all have increased our chance to succeed in this world.

Jazmyne

Short and Simple, College is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I learned more then just time managment, and that its way different from high school. I learned to grow up, I went from a young teenager still calling mom everyday, to a young woman working part-time and school full-time. Its not easy working and going to school but I am determined to be somebody. Graduating with a degree is not only my goal, but I plan to showcase my newfound knowledge. I crave learning, knowledge is power. The degree will get me a job, but spreading the power will get me and my future students farther in life.

Andres

In my case i haven't gotten the full college experience. I'm an architecture student attending the newly opened program at my school, however the facilities are located in a campus outside of the main one. This in a way limits that full college experience a lot of students are able to attain. For instance i have to drive everyday to school, i still live at home and the campus is very small. However i believe that attending any facility that provides you with a good education is something you can treasure for the rest of your life. It is important to always attend school because this is where you create the foundations that will guide you and help you become who you want to be in the future.

Michelle

I have gotten a change to excel academically as well as get invovled in many aspects such as Greek life, Student Government Association, and Office of Student Invovlement. College has been important because it has allowed me to find myself and create goals and future career plans. It is important because it helps make me a competitive person within the tough market.

Edward

I've gotten a great experience.

Deanna

I have always been taught that the value of a college education is priceless, and this has been demonstrated to me by my time at UCF. I have gained so much more than just an education; I have also acquired a drive and passion that I didn't know I had until I got here. The variety of extra-curricular activities both academically driven and socially driven are immensely helpful for students just entering college to feel as though they fit in. Of course, the academic portion of it all has been the most valuable to me, and the options that the school offers to all students, during and after college, are simply amazing. The decision to attend UCF has been one of the best decisions I've made, and joining the Burnett Honors College has made it even better for me, as the Honors College offers me a way to develop a tight-knit family with others in the same boat as me while growing myself as a person within this huge university of over 50,000 students.

Zachary

My college experience enabled me to foster a cosmopolitan world view that I had already developed having living in Orlando. By attending UCF I was exposed to new ideas, points of views and customs from around the world which as a history major allowed me to see how others view not only American history but the history of the world as well. It is true that I "learned" a lot from my college experience, and the knowledge I gained within the classrooms will serve me well in my future career, but I think above all else it are these connections that I made with various students and faculty that had the biggest impact on my college experience. To me the value of attending college is priceless. From what I learned regarding historical themes and trends to the great friends I made to the people who I've had the pleasure of sharing my classes with over the past 4 years, my undergraduate career will stand as a milestone in my life. I know many years from now I shall look back on the whole college experience and know that it was the best time of my life.