University of Florida Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Whitney

One thing I have done: been a First Year Florida teacher. People react proudly when I tell them I got to UF. The biggest controversy on campus has been the tasering incident.

Brittany

UF is a great school. If you work hard and take challenging classes, you can recieve a grade A education here. There are some absolutely amazing professors, a TON of things to do for student involvement, and, if you look for it, students who truly want to make great changes in our society.

Alex

UF is a great school and campus, and Gainesville is a great location for the average college student. For people who enjoy sports, there is no greater school, because our varsity level athletics are among the best in the country in every sport, and the intramural and club sports have every type of activity one could want to participate in. UF also has a great social life, with things that anyone can enjoy, from movies and theater, to dancing and clubs. The level of school pride is outstanding, and the students are friendly.

Jerry

The best thing about UFL is the full on college experience. UFL is quite large as a campus and student body. If I could change anything it would probably be to have a smaller student body. People either think It's great that I left Miami to come to UFL but of course alot of people are UM fans back home and think I should have gone there instead. On campus I spend most of my time in my dorm, I prefer to study there than in the library. If I'm not in my dorm I'm either in class or at the information on campus that is run by Alpha Phi Omega, a fraternity that I am a part of. Gainesville is without a doubt a college town. Coming from a big city, I can't imagine living here if I were not going to UFL. Everything in the surrounding area of campus is geared toward college students. Students at UFL have pride 24/7. Even when it's not a game day you'll always find people walking around campus in gator gear.

Chelsea

The best thing about UF is the variety of people and events. Uf has all types of students and everyone will find a group that they like. there is so much variety in the events that take place on the UF campus. There is always free food, concerts, speakers, and parties.

Chris

UF is big. It's easy to feel lost when you're dropped in the middle of everything as a lonely freshman. But you'll quickly release that the size of the university can be a boon too - with so many people here, you're bound to find people and activities that you identify with. Most of the academic programs are very good too - and the sports program needs no introduction.

nikki

the campus is very pretty. parking is awful, i'd definately change that. maybe even live on campus if it was different. it's really big campus, like a small town or something. gainesvilles a pretty hick city. people are impressed when i say i'm going to uf i've heard it's really hard to get in.

Monique

well, the campus here is definately large and it's kinda difficult to get to know people unless you really extend some effort or join some kind of organization. the campus is very large it's like a small town. gainesville is basically a tiny rural town with a big college droped in the middle. i don't think there would be much of gainesville with out the college. the asthetiques are pretty nice. the old parts of campus are pretty charming and there's plenty of green space. living on campus would be really nice if it weren't for some of the stupid things that uf does. like the whole parking situation, general lack of service in various things on the weekends, etc. generally getting stuff done like paperwork in stuff is kinda annoying--you get a run around unless you can find the exact person you need to see which is rather difficult. alot of stuff is very expensive here too especially fines for stuff.

Alex

It's a huge campus! I come from a small town, so being on a campus with 50,000 other students is insane! I love the pride that everyone shares! Everyone is orange and blue. Going to a football game or basketball game is amazing, but it is not who we are. Many students are intelligent. There are so many majors to choose from. Everyone is really nice and friendly. I love it here.

Andy

UF is a large school, but it's a comfortable size. You're free to do your own thing and find people just like you. When I tell people I go to UF, they usually look impressed. The school pride is amazing, and I love the spirit that floats around during game season. I usually spend most of my time at the Reitz, Library West, or hanging around University Avenue checking out all the restaurants/stores. I will always remember the National Basketball Championship and the BCS National Championship game at the O-Dome with all my fellow gator fans. Complaints...I'd say that the fraternities and sororities can get a little out of hand. Other than those kids, UF would practically be perfect.

Amy

The University of Florida has over 50,000 students attending and I feel that as long as there are enough classes to maintain a cohesive learning environment, then the more the merrier. I love the University of Florida and have wanted to be a student here since I was 7. My parents are both alumni and brought my brothers and I to the football games yearly. I have wanted to become a Pharmacist since high school and have overly pursued that goal. I am already a graduate student in the Doctorate of Pharmacy program after just 2 years of undergraduate study. I believe that being goal driven has made my college career more positive.

Jenn

It's a pretty big school, and it's easy to be just a number, completely unknown to your professors. Both of my majors were pretty big (Psychology and English). Even upper division classes were pretty big, with about 40 students per section. If you're not the type of person to seek out one-on-one interaction, conceivably none of your professors could know you.

alexis

It's great to be a florida gator! i adore living in a college town even if traffic is undearable sometimes. while on capus, i can usually be found at the aphio info booth in turlington or in class. i find UF's architecture to be aesthetically pleasing but hated the size of campus when i was a freshman. the dorms are tiny but i loved broward. public transportation is amazing here! (there is no public transportation where i'm from) most people resond favorably and even impressed when i tell them i go to UF. game day is my favorite. I look forward to saturdays in the fall all year. school pride on gamedays is inescapable! cries of 'go gators!' can be heard echoing throughout campus during football season. my best friend, who hated all sports when we started here, is now the biggest gator fan! he goes to athletic events all year ranging from football to gymnastics. its awesome. in general, i love everything about Uf from its student body to its sprawling campus, UF is the place to be.

stephen

One thing that I would change about UF would be the president of the university, Bernie Machen. Another would be the over-representation of students in greek societies. While I myself am in an organization that uses greek letters, we do not fall into the fold of the "greek culture" (meaning fraternities and sororities). Our student government is run by a shadow organization called Florida Blue Key and has been proved in court to be the puppet master. These people run this campus and run it in a self serving manner that legislatively ignores the will of the population (as proven through referendums passed and then not supported by the SG). Sadly, most students do not vote. Moving on, people react positively when I tell them that I attend UF. On campus, I spend most of my time near Turlington Plaza. Gainesville is not a college town in that there is a small non-college population here, but it definitely focuses on UF in the fall with football.

Charlie

When I tell people I go to UF most think

Monica

UFL is amazing. The best thing is the environment on campus. I would change the transportation situation by adding more parking on campus. People are usually impressed when I tell them I go to UF. UF is definitely a college town that offers everything one could need in a small area. The biggest recent controversy on campus are the large budget cuts effecting the students and faculty.

Kim

UF is Gainesville - I feel that if uf werent here no one would know about gainesville. there is tons of gator pride and we take our sports very seriously but we are also strict in the academics. when i tell people i go to uf they most of the times say - wow thats a hard school to get into congrats! i spend most of my time either in the booth - which is an information booth that my fraternity (alpha phi Omega) has, or at the library.

Dylan

UF is a big place, but I wouldn't change that for the world. There are so many great people with such varying backgrounds and interests that it makes life interesting. If you have a smaller major, you'll get to know the same faces anyway, so having a large campus behind it is definitely good for branching out. The best thing about UF is definitely the atmosphere. We have such pride as students. It's definitely unmatched to other campuses in Florida. The Gator Nation is truly everywhere and it's something that I know I will pride myself on when I leave school. Whenever I tell people that I go to UF, they automatically ask me if I love it. UF is definitely associated with a great college experience and I would tell anyone that it is absolutely true. Gainesville itself is built around UF. That's another reason why I think the atmosphere here is so great. There are things open late, there are tons of coffee shops, there are lots of Gator apparel stores, and there are two of everything. The campus itself is so large that you feel like you are within your own community when you are on it. The atmosphere that Gainesville provides is definitely far from what my homelife was, but for a college city, it's not too bad. UF's administration has it's ups and downs, like all colleges. I think there are some great strides being made on our campus. I'm a liberal arts and sciences major and currently that is one of the hot topics on our campus - CLAS budgets. I think that our administration is pushing the envelope with this issue because it is a large college and cutting our funding is, in my opinion, a bad call. It's frustrating to me because we have such an advanced and well know science department (Shands Hospital helps with that) - you should be pushing the other side of college academia as well. Overall, I have not have a particular bad encounter with any of the administration. Everyone I have had contact with is more than happy to help if you ask the right questions to the right people. I'm going to walk away from UF with a ton of great memories. There is so much going on in Gainesville and on campus that it is hard to not have the time of your life. If you get involved in the right things on campus, you will have a great time here. Some say that UF is too large for you to have a memorable experience, but I think that makes it better here. Perhaps it takes an outgoing person to have a good time here, but I would not trade schools for the world.

Skylar

UF is a very large school and has alot of resources available to the students. The school tries to help students in having resources to succeed, although the school doesn't really try to help in an administrative aspect. The school gets alot of visitors to see our excellent sports programs and it has a beautiful campus. There is always action going on at the campus and the school is very accommodating to everyone. Students at UF also stand up for what they believe in and will protest and advocate for those beliefs. The admin. as stated before, is a joke and we are currently having budget problems and will have to eliminate an entire college.

Allison

The Univeristy of Florida is a large school, but once involved in organizations there doesn't seem to be that many people. While it's crowded, it's not overly crowded. Football and sports of all kind are really important here and it's fun to go to events. Gator Football makes fall semester the best semester there is. There's so much pride here for being a part of the Gator Nation. Though being a part of the Gator Nation has some negative things too, mainly parking. Parking is the worst part about this campus. There are never enough spots. I live in Beaty Towers and the closest parking spot to my dorm where I can keep my car is 3/4 miles away. All in all the big picture of UF is pretty darn amazing.

Ashley

The best thing about UF is the school's pride. It is easy to see during football games the pride that our school has. Student gather together in waves of orange and blue and even alumni come from all over just to watch the games. People bring out their children and form them into Gator fans when they are young, putting them in Gator gear or cheerleading outfits. My first experience made me proud to be a part of this school. I feel like UF is a perfect sized campus. I love the brick buildings and old trees everywhere and feel safe and at home on this campus.

Jessica

The school is far too large. Students are treated like numbers and grading encourages cheating in order to stay ahead. Those of us who are first-generation college students should not attend such a large school; UF is simply incapable and unwilling to provide the type of advising necessary for our success. While I graduated with my bachelor's degree, the process was far harder than necessary, especially compared to my friends who are not first-generation college attendees.

Ryan

I love UF, I think it's an amazing university with a lot of wonderful things going on inside of it. When I first started seeing the "Go write the next American novel, Go Gators" commercial, I would get teary eyed. When I say I go here, I almost feel like I am being arrogant to say so. There are especially exceptional masters and PhD students here. While there are so many smart and wonderful students studying here, I also feel like there are people who never should have gotten in. During my senior year of high school, some of the people who I thought were MOST qualified were waitlisted, and others (hispanic students) who were very UNqualified, were accepted. I barely got in myself, and it really upset me that the accepting process wasn't better at selecting the brightest and most talented and hardest-working students.

Jonathan

The Univeristy of Florida is a great school to attend. The town itself is a college town and so everything is geared towards UF. Without Uf it would be extremely boring here. There is a lot to do from intramurals ro leisure activites to organizations such as fraternities and volunteer services. Classses are relatively large depending on the major you choose and whether or not it is an introductory course. OVerall UF is people friendly and there is so much to do here.

John

UFL is a challenging college. From my experience at UCF, the students here are much more motivated to strive in academics and have a higher overall intelligence. Due to the strict standards on getting in, the quality of a student is higher thus making the college better and in reverse creates the high standards.

Andy

i think that the best thing about UF is that somehow you will run into someone you know. The campus is large but for some reason, there are always people you know around. The only time that there wouldn't be anyone you know is if you are from out-of-state i guess. The niggest recent controversy was the "Tazing" incident that went international. We have a lot of school pride, but its centered around our football and basketball teams. They are good, but we have a lot of other sports that we do excellent in every year, like undefeated excellent, but no one watches them. Though recently people have been getting interested in gymnastics and girl's soccer.

Liz

I spend most of my time on campus at the Information Booth run by Alpha Phi Omega, a co ed fraternity that I am a part of. Not only do we give out info to students, but the booth is a really fun place to hang out and kill time in between classes. The booth is almost always full, and it's very easy to lose track of time in there.

Liz

The best thing about UF is the Gator nation. Although it is a huge school (a little too large, in my opinion) we are all united through something as minor as a football game day--everyone sporting their Orange and Blue and having a great time. On regular days, though, the thing that sucks most about UF is how huge it is. There are strangers everywhere, and people in Gainesville are not friendly--at home, you make eye-contact with the person passing you on the sidewalk, here you scowl and pretend you don't see them. Gainesville is definitely a college town, and going to school here you can exist for months within a 5 mile radius; students forget how large Gainesville is and that there are parts of the town that aren't impacted by what's going on on campus. The campus itself is one of the largest in the nation, and the most beautiful!

Alex

The University is nestled in a central Florida town known as Gainesville, but better known as Title Town. When I tell people I go to UF, the response is always a positive one. The best thing about UF is the campus. Our campus is beautiful, historic, and sunny. Sun bathers love the lawn. There are also a lot of activities held on the lawns as well. The one thing I would change is the parking situation. There just isn't enough of it! Most of my time is spent in the Turlington Plaza information booth with my comrades, Alpha Phi Omega. It's a good feeling to know that I have a place to go when I have time to waste. Gainesville is an amazing college town with an awesome night life. Midtown, also called the Gaines-Vegas strip, is home to classic bars like "XS", "Ballz" and further down, you can find the Swamp Restaurant. Downtown is also a blast! Gainesville provides the best setting for a college town.

Elizabeth

The best thing about UF is the school pride. We are the gator nation, and everywhere you look there is orange and blue. we are all very proud to be gators. One thing I would change though is the amount of students that go here just because the sidewalks can get very crowded between classes.

Courtney

UF is a really large school, but you can use that to your advantage. Its size allows for many opportunities. Gainesville is the perfect college town. It caters to the students and the university, although there are some scary places of Gainesville. There is a ton of school spirit at UF and it really is the gator nation! Wherever I travel around the world I always run into a fellow UF student.

Laura

Gainesville is THE college town. There's a vibrant music scene, a fair amount of hippies, great local shops, and a fun nightlife. Walking into a store or restaurant is like walking on campus, everyone there is your age. It's rare to see children or older people. Gainesville feels like a little world inside itself. People are impressed when I tell them I go to UF. They know that it is the most prestigious school in the state of Florida. The campus has a lot of charm which you don't normally find in Florida. The architecture is interesting and there are many quiet and relaxing spots to have lunch or study. The large oaks and magnolias provide shade and beauty.

Erica

The best thing by far is football season. There is nothing like spending an entire Saturday in the Swamp watching the gators kick ass. Game days are some of my most memorable experiences at the University of Florida.

Katie

UF was a great school to go to- it has a very good academic reputation as well as a great social/athletic reputation. In my opinion, it has earned both of those by performing well in the classroom and out. I loved the size- although some may believe 50,000 people on one campus is too much, it was just right for me. As far as the town of Gainesville, who wouldn't want a whole town that bleeds orange and blue? I couldn't have asked for a better environment to live in during my 4 years of college.

Kate

Big happy family. The school is just the right size. People react positively, for the most part, when I tell them I go to UFL. I spend a lot of time in the dining hall stuffing my face. Good college town right around campus. Except parking sucks outside of campus. wtf is with the abortion grave Loootsssssss of school pride, which I love. Because there's reason for it.

Devin

The best thing about UFL is that there is such a variety of students here in Gainesville, it gives us all an opportunity to grow and learn from each other. We all come from different backgrounds and families, but we all have the desire to learn in common. In sharing this, the college experience is that much better.

Shannon

UFL is in one word amazing. Pretty much where ever you go, people have heard of UF and you can get a "Go Gators!" There is so much school pride that it is crazy. People are always wearing school colors, especially during football season. Everyone on campus and everyone who is or was a gator at one point is always really friendly and nice. It seems like there is just this understood respect that everyone in the Gator Nation has for one another. I do not really know how else to explain it. It is just really great to go to UF and to be a Florida Gator!

Rory

The best thing about UF is that you can make it as large or as small as you want to. By joining groups, you can make this university seem small. This is definitely a college town. Most of what goes on centers around the university.

Ali

Our school is too large sometimes in that resources can be tight. I have difficulty getting in to see an advisor a lot of the time because there are just so many students. Traffic can be a nightmare. Classes are pretty full. But having a large student body has its perks, too. It is a lot of fun at football games to see the Swamp filled with orange and blue. The Gator nation is pretty big, and I love it! There's a lot more spirit here than you might find at other colleges. When I tell people I go to UF, some of them say "wow--you must be smart!" Others say "oh...a state school..." It pretty much depends on who is responding. In Florida, UF is considered an excellent school. It's just not an Ivy. I spend a lot of time on campus in the library, which is stellar. There's a starbucks there and a lot of nice, quiet places to sit and study. I also spend a lot of time in the Plaza of the Americas, which is just a lot of grass and trees and people relaxing and eating lunch and whatnot. It's nice, especially since Florida weather rocks. COLLEGE TOWN all the way. I think it depends what part of the UF administration being discussed. I think my study abroad advisor is horrible and a total you know what. I think my academic advisors are really dumb and unhelpful. But I thought my honors advisors were pretty cool, and I think the administration for my particular major does a decent job. Big recent controversies... oh, there are plenty. There was that tasering business back in the fall. Andrew Meyer is ridiculous. More recently though, there have been a lot of budget and transparency issues I think. As a rather huge state school with a legally capped tuition, UF has a lot of financial difficulties. People get upset when they see money going towards what appears to be a frivilous thing because meanwhile, majors and faculty are getting cut. Also, student government has some issues. It isn't exactly the most diverse group of people running the show, and the Greeks pretty much infiltrate the system. That has caused some problems with things like an opposition party's attempt to have UF do online voting for student government elections in an effort to mobilize the vote (rather than just having sororities and fraternities make up the entire voting population because they tell their members it's mandatory). TONS of school pride. Size, maybe. And I think Tim Tebow is a bit unusual...unusually freaking awesome. Winning those back-to-back national championships. The streets were wild with crazy happy college kids. It was so much fun! The parking is unbelievably awful here. I don't know a single driver who hasn't been ticketed or towed (or more likely both multiple times) in Gainesville. Like seriously? Make more parking spots, people!

Vick

In such a large school it's essential to make yourself a part of something--therefore you can feel connected. If you're connected, even to just one event--whether it be a sports game or gator nights, than you fit in, because you're connecting with other students. The University of Florida really does create a Gator Nation. I was in NYC this Spring and saw fellow students on the plane wearing UF gear, and felt no reproach for saying "Go Gators!". It's amazing to be a part of such a great community.

Anna

The best thing about UF is the diverse amount of people you come in contact with day to day. Also, the courses are interesting and challenging. One thing that I'd change though, would be the class size. They're are so big that you sometimes just feel like a number and it can be hard to meet people when theres some many in one class.

CJ

The campus here is absolutely beautiful. Some people say it's too big here, but I think it's perfect. I spend most of my time on campus at the Alpha Phi Omega booth and in classrooms (obviously). Gainesville is hands down one of the best college towns! It's so amazing to see almost every restaurant, car, and home have some kind of Gator memorabilia on/in it. UF's administration isn't too bad, I think they are really doing a great job for the most part. Of course there are always things that can be improved upon, but for the most part it's pretty good. I'm sure we've all heard about the Andrew Meyer scandal with the Police Department. School pride is one of the main reason's I love it here -- the Gator Nation really is everywhere!! Nothing is unusual about UF, we have some unique things offered here, but definitely not unusual in a negative connotation. An experience I will always remember is the national football championship last year. I went to the O'Dome to watch it with I think some 8,000 other students. We had SO much fun and all rushed out onto University Avenue when we finally won. It was such a great time!!

Rachel

Our school is very large, but their is a niche for everyone. There are so many clubs and student groups that everyone can find an organization and a group of friends where they belong. UF students are smart, friendly, and supportive of eachother.

Jamie

One of the best things about UF is the diversity. There are so many different kinds of students here that anybody can have a group of friends. The size is a little too big. There are so many people here, that, yes, you can find people that are like you, but it is very difficult to find them when you first get here. It is hard to get out of that high school setting, because a lot of people who come here, come with friends from high school. I was able to join a co-ed service fraternity and that is where I spend most of my time. I love that I was able to find a group of people that are very similar to me. The administration seems to be on top of things, although I have never had to deal with them for any administrative reasons. One of the experiences that I will always remember about UF is waking up in my dorm room on campus last year, looking out the window, and seeing a sea of orange and blue. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever to see that much school spirit flooding the University and the community.

Rob

One thing to love about UF is the variety of activities available to participate in, in part because of the number of students that attend. The large number of students is also a diverse group; which was different for me, and definitely better. Administration has their hands full with budget cuts and constant student complaints, but overall they're not bad. I agree with other groups on campus that would like to see UF invest its money ethically i.e. not in companies profiting from war, unsustainable practices, tobacco/alcohol companies etc. Anyone who goes to a football game at UF remembers it. Its incredible to be in a full stadium when everyone is shouting, doing the wave, informing the referees they made a bad call, or telling the opposing team to go home by jingling keys. This is just one aspect of the Gator Nation that most students come to love and look forward to, but there is so much more here too.

Alex

If i could change one thing at the school to make it more inviting, i would work on the racial barriers that are still present today. Many students do not go out of their comfort zone unless something tragic has happened.

Alex

I think the atmosphere is the best thing about UF. The school is large, but even in the college of business I have been able to find extremely small and intimate classes. People react very favorably when I tell them I go to UF. I spend most of my time in my classrooms, and occasionally in the Union and Library West. I also go to the SW Rec Center frequently. I feel the administration works in the best interest of the students, and they aim to avoid troublesome situations while still providing students the liberties to speak and act freely.

Carly

UF is the oldest, biggest and arguably the most prestigious public university in Florida, and it is many high schoolers top choice in the state, and it has a very "university" feel. I am proud to say that I attend UF. I love Gainesville, which is considered a college town. UF is large enough that students can get involved with almost anything they desire; from greek life to Students for a Democratic Society, and from putting on performances at our theater to leading study groups. Students always have avenues with which to stand out, even at such a populated school. It is not uncommon to find students across campus simply laying down on the grass with a book. However, some problems have arisen lately. For one, many departments in the school are in debt, and on top of that, many schools are receiving budget cuts. This severely affects class size and quality, and if students can even sign up for different classes. There has also been issues with the administration investing in "socially irresponsible" investing, and also not making many of their spending habits transparent to the public. There are also virtually no parking spaces for students, which is especially a problem for many of the libraries on campus which stay open until after the buses stop running.

Katie

UF is a very large school but that means that everyone can find their niche.

Ash

I love the diversity. I have met students from Africa, Italy, Norway, etc.... There are also so many people from Asia. I think it is amazing. I have learned so much about the world.