Gainesville, FL
University of Florida

I love it so much and have wanted to be a Gator since I was about 10. Now that I'm here, I'm so appreciative of this opportunity. I've been here for about a year now, and it's helped me grow in ways I couldn't have if I had stayed at home for my first year of college. I love the University as a whole, and the feel of it is so inviting. The students here are really education-oriented, so it really helps learning with them and sharing study tips. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't chosen to be a Gator.

Personally, I love the University of Florida. It has been the best experience of my life thus far. I would not trade schools. The memories and friendships I have made here will last me a life time, I am confident in that. I will be going into my third year here.

I like Florida, very comfortable. I will be a freshman this coming August and have only seen the campus once so not all my answers may be the same come next year but attending orientation made me look forward to my next four years. The cafeteria was full when I went and there was hardly anywhere to sit so that was a boo, however, the school has restaurants littered everywhere so they make up for the bland things UF serves in the cafeteria. UF is very student based so there are a lot of opportunities I plan to utilize. Such as the study abroad programs and the library; I'm looking forward to going to the library. The school has different sections based on noise level and it's pretty big so I'm hoping they have a good selection. The variety of clubs UF has is pretty epic, I only saw a few but I'm sure there is something for everything. There was an environmental club (my major is ecology so yes please!), a Quidditch club, basically a Walking Dead Club; I'm no Walking Dead fan myself but an opportunity to shoot people with nerf guns? Yes, please! There is a democratic club (but I'm no fan of politics), and a debate club that actually competes and etc. A super cool organization the school has that people will probably hate me for being interested in is an enforcement type community. Aside from being able to become an officer trainee, there is a system the school uses that kids can be apart of to get hours. The way the system was described to me I see it as a jury type assembly. Students can listen to the cases of other students that have broken rules (such as underage drinking and underage clubbing) and can be apart of their judgment team (as I call it because I can't recall the actual name) depending on certain actions the student took and events that took place. I noticed that UF is fair and is intent on treating as adults. If a student is involved with something they should not be involved in there are consequences, however, if a student reports the problem themselves there is a chance for them to get leeway on consequences. Unsimilarly, if a student is trying to have sex or etc and they get tested for aids and come out positive, the school will not report to the student's parents what happened. UF believes students are adults and do not feel the need to tell parents anything. The students are also very energetic. My orientation was over 12 hours long and I woke up around 7 to be on time, I'm sure the staffers (student aids) who were volunteering had to be up even earlier and the entire time they were pumping us freshman up and never lost their pep. It was absolutely insane to see, especially for me whose spirit animal is most likely a cat. The students had over 12 hours of cheer in store for us. All in all, UF seems pretty cool, I'm looking forward to the next adventure.

The University of Florida is a huge school full of diversity. Local and international students alike have the opportunity to come together and learn from one another. Because the campus is so big, it can be a bit tricky navigating the ins and outs of everyday life and expectations. However, once you figure it out, there are endless opportunities at your fingertips should you choose to seek them out. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else and I'm proud to be a Florida Gator!

It's a great university with great opportunities for academics, sports, research, and internships. I'm going into my third year and can't wait to see what else I can join and gain from Florida's top university. Overall, the school is one of the best in the South, with a very diverse population.

Overall, I am happy at the University of Florida. The campus is very safe and there are resources to help students feel secure. There are a lot of extracurricular activities to get involved in and sports to cheer for. The teachers care about the students and the students enjoy learning. Everyone on campus is really friendly and welcoming.

The first year. It's when experiences are made and then it all seems to go in fast forward. Well it's my first year and I'm from the big city of Miami so the changes are very extreme. Where I was always on my guard and friendships didn't come easy, here people are very nice and it's terrifying when it first happens. It's a place that requires getting used to but it's a friendly place with lot's of resources to help you through it. I live off campus and transportation is easy to come by, the bus system is efficient and I can say I feel safe with all the emergency buttons everywhere. In all I love this place and I can feel gator pride even if I've only been a part of it for a small while.

The University of Florida is a very large, very diverse campus. Not only are the academics pretty good, but the social scene is also booming and inviting. Be careful of some of the dining plans/housing in the beginning because what is offered by the University isn't aways the best in the long room. Partying does happen at this campus, but it is also not very hard to avoid if you need to. I love this campus and the people, and I would totally recommend it to all of my friends looking for a good, affordable school to attend!

The school is a great school for academics. It is a huge school though so it is really easy to get lost within the amount of people and opportunity. It is very important to find a niche within your first semester and join clubs. There is a lot of room for growth and great networking opportunities. The gator nation is everywhere! The football and sports are really fun opportunities to come together as a school. Everyone is very supportive of each other. I've had a great experience and I know it was the best choice I could have made for myself.

Though I thrived academically, I found it difficult to connect with people and find a community that I fit with. It's a great school with intelligent professors, rigorous study, and a beautiful campus that many might be able to call home, though I personally am not the fond of the school, and I am looking into the possibility of transferring.