Gainesville, FL
University of Florida

Attending the University of Florida was the greatest decision I ever made. UF is nestled in the city of Gainesville which has become a college town and is known for their sports teams. Everyone is friendly and with such a large student body, people are bound to find others with their same interests. The curriculum at UF has gotten tougher over the years, but with a strong support system and a good study plan, its definitely doable. The best years of my life were spent at the UF!

My overall opinion of the school is that although there is much that can be improved, it is the college experience I need. I actually consider it as a second home now because I am around the people I know and am receiving a quality education. One thing I find quite annoying is how much harder they make their classes for no apparent reason compared to other universities. One thing they do right is ensure student involvement is existent on campus and make transitioning from high school to college easy in a social aspect.

It's a good school, there is a lot of crowd management in terms of the professors grading styles and interactions with students. You have to go out of your way to get help and you have to navigate yourself, but I guess that's the point of school. Can be unsurvivable if you're not a go-getter.

The University of Florida is truly an amazing school of academics. Our school is recognized by a large number of institutions for it's renowned work in the medical sciences and engineering. I truly feel like I am receiving a quality education and I am proud to get my degree from here. With that being said, the University of Florida has very low ranking for its racial equity. As a current student I can confirm that it appears that diversity and racial equity is not a top priority at this school with the low numbers of minority representation. Because our school has such a dense student population, there is truly a place for everyone to feel included in terms of student organizations. Overall, it is a great academic institution that has ways to go to improve diversity and inclusion.

The University of Florida was my dream school and I am so glad to be a student here. My mom went to UF and started bringing me to Saturday football when I was just eight years old. I loved the atmosphere created by 90,000 people in orange and blue. I knew I wanted to be a part of the Gator Nation. Over the next ten years, I went to many more football games. I learned to cheer for the basketball and baseball teams. I booed our rivals, sang the third quarter break song with pride, and wore Gator t-shirts everywhere. Now as a proud Gator myself, I've learned to love the campus in different ways than I did when I was little. Instead of just loving sports, I love the campus itself. The North Lawn in the late Fall has become special because that's where my friends and I throw the frisbee around. I feel at home walking in between the dorms where my friends and I lived in our first year. I also have come to appreciate just how high the quality of education is at UF. It was named a top ten public university two years ago, and the ranking is reflected in how much I've learned this year in the classroom. I found a niche in the University Honors Program, where I have studied topics I never thought could be cultivated into a sixteen week. Since starting school in Fall 2018, I have learned what makes UF so great beyond the sports field. But even though my perspective has changed from hopeful attendee to rising second year student, I still get that familiar adrenaline rush as I walk past that orange and blue clad stadium.

I really like how the classes are of good size and the professors are readily available. There are plenty of opportunities on campus with over a thousand student organizations to become involved. I am looking forward to exploring the different intramural sports the University of Florida has to offer,

The University of Florida is a great place to learn, a nice place to party, and an awesome sports school. The Black Culture here may be small in size, it it is not small in heart. We stick together and show the world that we are competitive and we are ready for any challenges. No challenge is too great to overcome.

My overall opinion is that the University of Florida has a great atmosphere for both learning and having fun. There are intellectual conversations both inside and outside of class but that doesn’t hinder social events, outings, and being able to make memories with others.

When I came in to the University of Florida as a first year, I was really nervous. I wasn't sure if I had made the right decision, but the moment I walked around on campus during orientation, I knew I was in the right place. Everyone was so welcoming and truly believed it was great to be a Florida Gator. My RA was amazing, I made it to the football games, and I learned more about myself and about the subjects I am interested in than I thought I ever would. One of my biggest concerns was the size of the school, and I was worried it would be difficult to meet people or get involved, but there are so many different clubs and fairs that help you find clubs that match your interests. The professors are always willing to help, and there are a lot of resources available for students struggling in classes outside of office hours. Overall, it has been a great experience for me to fully discover what it means to be a Florida Gator and I am really looking forward to the years to come. I would recommend UF to anyone, because after all- it's great to be a Florida Gator!

As I've recently completed my first year at UF and have had quality conversations with friends from other universities, I can genuinely say that I believe my positive first-year experience is due to the open environment at UF. As a large school with many students, there are plenty of opportunities to partake in extracurricular activities and join groups that you identify with or are simply interested in. I think that for a school that has as many students as UF does, it's amazing that professors take an interest in their students' success and there are so many various ways students can get involved in their field while exploring other interests. Within one school year, I've formed bonds with close friends that I feel will last a lifetime. I'm glad that I chose to attend UF and grateful for all of the great opportunities I've already had and those to come in the future.