University of Florida Top Questions

If I could take the knowledge I have gained through my years at the University of Florida and apply it to someone out there that is looking for guidance before they make that big leap , I'd tell them to have a clear goal and vision of where they want to go and hold on to it. I'd tell them that they don't have to fit in with everyone else because that's what they want for you. To not be afraid to go out there and grab the world and shake it up a bit. To learn through experience, to meet new people, to join new clubs, and do the things that they love to do. If you follow your heart and don't worry about being cool or what other people think, and truly do what you love doing because it makes you happy, then that's all you need. And always remember, take action. Nothing is ever done without action. Take the chance, make the opportunity, push the limits and raise the standards. This is what I'm learning through my college experience and what I have to share with future Gators.

"Don't stress". I would tell myself that doing your best is all that you can do. Worrying and stressing does not help. Don't stress about competing with your fellow classmates. Self yourself to the university and compete amongst yourself. Never give up and keep going even when you feel like you have given all you got. Four years will pass quickly, so make sure you give all your effort because those four years will affect the rest of your life. However, don't stress. Everything will work itself out as it's suppose to. You are considered "the best of the best" and you will always be considered above average. You have the work ethic and determination to succeed. You know that you will not allow yourself to give up and fail, therefore, don't stress and give your education the most of everything you have.

Although it has only been two years since I graduated from high school I feel like I have learned enough lessons for a lifetime. Moving away from home and out on my own forced me to grow up quick and learn fast. The advice I would give to my younger self would first and foremost be t enjoy the ride. While trying to get all of the things ready for my move I failed to enjoy the transtion. Going back I would have been less focused on looking ahead and more focused on enjoying the remaining time with my friends, family, and hometown. Once I arrived I would immediately become more involved in the student groups on campus. Also, I would advise myself to not treat my first semester of college as I did high school. College is the true foundation for your future. It is a time where you grow as a person and a proffessional. Going back in time, I would make sure I knew these things so I could have appreciated the time and experiences I had earlier in my college career as much as I do now.

If given the chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to do exactly what I did. I would go to a community college first and then transition into a four-year university. I have experienced that moving from high school to a four-year university is better achieved if you attend a community college first. Attending a community college allows you to shape yourself as a college student and transition into the four-year university with less chances of feeling overwhelmed. I would tell myself that being part of different extracurricular activities definitely helps with the whole process and transferring. I would also mention that being part of clubs and organizations gives you a sense of social accomplishment and it polishes your leadership skills. Overall, I would tell myself to do exactly everything that I have done all over again because I wouldn?t change anything.

If I could look back as a senior and knowing what I know now as a college student, I would have definetly took more duall enrollment courses so that I would have save my mom and I money on things such as tuition and books. I would have also work harder to fill out college scholarships whether they were essay style or online forms just because not having financial aid and only having your mother help support you while you're in college can be a struggle and sometimes overwhelming for yourslef and the one's helping you. Last but not least, I would have pick up on some better studying habbits so that once I got to college, I would know how to study as a successful college student and not as a high school student. The last advice I would give myself or anyone who may be thinking about college, make sure the college you choose best fits you personal, professionally, and academically. Know what you want to do and know what it takes to get there.

College is a time for self-discovery and learning what you are made of. It's going to take hard work, and dedication. You may think that a "gap year or semester" is a good idea at some time during your college career, but believe me - don't stop. Once you take a break it is so much more difficult to get back on track. Traveling is very rewarding and you can learn so much from other cultures, so if you are able to, do a semester abroad and enjoy your time in school.

There is a lot of adjustment in all areas of life from high school to college. You're suddenly expected to be focused in your studies but explore new ideas and social groups. I would recommend that I take the hard classes. I would recommend that I try everything twice. The first time is scarey and new, no matter whether we're talking about a date, the $3 lunch special or writing a piece of software. Also, it's really important to make sure that you're never the smartest person in the room. This will be easy to achieve. I learned a lot outside of lecture halls that put textbook knowledge into a usable, real-world context. If you don't know how to use your schooling, what's the point? You can meet fascinating people at bus stops. And bars. And intro psychology lectures.

I know you're scared about where you're going to go or what you want to do with your life. I also know it scares you all your close friends are going to every other school but the school you're most likely going to. But I promise you it will be okay. I simply suggest that you take baby steps and open up the girls in your dorm and the students in your lectures. I know that you've been taught to put school work as first priority ever since you could understand language. However, I'm here to tell you there is so much more to life than just grades and studying. You will be one of those people that will live life to the fullest. The hardest part is putting yourself out there in social events and changing your thinking. However, I promise you the experiences will come and they will be earth-shattering but amazing. Just remember to stay true to yourself and your family and friends and I promise you'll love college. =)

Ronika, contiue to work hard, pray harder, and dream big because you are about to be blessed far beyond your wildest imagination! Stay focused, but remember to take some time to enjoy the view; your future gives the word 'bright' a new meaning.

If I had the ability to talk to a younger, more na?ve me, I could give myself a plethora of advice ranging from academics to social situations. My first semester in college was definitely not one that I can say I am proud of. I made quite a few mistakes; I suppose that is the transition that most freshman experience. Nevertheless, my gpa suffered and I am still paying the repercussions of these former actions. I could tell myself that I need to read my textbooks prior to class, write essays weeks in advance, and start studying days before a test, rather than the night before. These time management tactics certainly would have assisted my studies. My first year of college was definitely a knowledgeable one. I learned about myself, my surroundings, and other college students. Overall, I have a list of suggestions that I could give to a high school me... But I don?t think I would. The result of my first year of college is the fact that I have become a diligent, hard-working student. I would not be where I am today if I had not made the mistakes that most college freshman make.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life, I would advise myself better than any high school guidance counselor could have ever done. Although I am very happy with my college choice there are so many other aspects about college that I would strongly consider other than prestige, extracurricular activities, climate and location. I would consider: class ratio, financial aid packages, dorm room information, cost of tuition, diversity of the professors, how to choose a major, and a host of other college insiders. This invaluable information would have definitely prepared me more for college life. Below is some of the information that I would have strongly considered when choosing a college: 1.Class ratio: What is the student to professor ratio? 2.Financial Aid Packages: Does the college renege on offered scholarships? 3.Dorm Room Information: How comfortable are the dorm rooms? 4.Cost of Tuition: How much more does it cost for a nonresident student? 5.Diversity of Professors: Am I likely to be taught by a professor who is a minority? 6.Choosing a major: What are my academic strengths and weaknesses?

Study harder and stay focus. Don'r procrastinate. Cherish every moment and make the best of the present because time is short.

I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff and to enjoy every moment for what it is.

I would definitely tell myself to turn in the financial application early! Participate in dual enrollment to get more college credit. Learn a new language besides Spanish.

I would tell myself to be prepared to change. College is a dynamic experience, and it's impossible to fully reach your own potential unless you are ready to venture outside your comfort zone. I would reassure myself that while preserving my own identity is important, it's also important that I look to the world around me, the campus as a representative microcosm of many ideas, and try to incoporate other habits and beliefs into my own personal tradition. I would advise myself to be unafraid of living with other people just because of the stereotypes I have of college girls. There is a place for everyone on a college campus; no one needs to be alone--there are always people who share your own convictions. Sharing an apartment with others can be one of the most opening experiences, dealing with others' habits first hand and on a daily basis.

The b est advice that I could give myself beforehand would be to take advantage of all the great resources and events that UF has to offer. There are numerous workshops and socials to help students fit in and get involved with the campus community. In doing this, you meet people from different backgrounds and learn things that you normally never would have. Also, UF provides a lot of resources whether it's labs for scientific research to our many libraries for purposes of study.

If there is one thing that I have learned throughout my collegiate career, it is the value of being independent. Intellect alone can carry one forward, but as it is college, one's education is in a constant state of flux and rarely do they possess enough intelligence to avoid hard work. The most important advice I could give to my high school senior self, and to any student in general, is to learn how to learn. This alone is the ticket to all academic success. Determination and resourcefulness are key. The ability to learn is a subtle and very much underappreciated talent, yet one that can prove invaluable to any scholastic endeavor and make even the most unattainable goals attainable.

Take an easy first semester. Make a lot of friends at first and close friends quickly. Do NOT get into long relationships first year. Make friends in advising and with the deans. find study groups ASAP. Do not be afraid to ask for help, people will help you. Go out more and don't be afraid to spend a little money.

Take the summer before College to get to know yourself and who your real friends are. Don't get too upset when you find the classes are much harder than High School ever was. You are going to great, just don't get distracted from school with your new freedome and stay focused. Here are work is the only way to succeed. Congratualtions and Go Gators!

Study hard and enjoy your time in college.

Get as involved as possible. Even if your burnt out from doing so much in high school, make it an effort to find a club or group and really indulge yourself in it. Also, make time to go out, don't take every part of school so serious. It's ok to not always make an A or a B even, the letter is not always worth the stress. Apply for as many internships as possible, and dont let rejection bring you down. Never give up on what your passionate about. Remember that everything happens for a reason and have faith in yourself.

Apply wherever you would dream to go. Now is the time to reach high! You never want to look bad and wonder where you could have been or what school you could have gone to. However, money doesn't grow from the ground. Three words: scholarships, scholarships, scholarships. They are out there! They are waiting for your name on the application list! College is all about gaining independence, and being able to earn that money will make you feel a sense of pride. If you are involved, stay involved. Nothing can make a better college experience than getting to know your campus and the people in it. Find a place you belong in and build yourself there. College is the time where you find your niche and grow. It is not easy to go through the years seeing people who know exactly what they want to do while you have no idea for yourself, but you'll figure it out. I know I still haven't, but I'm working on it and that is all I could ever ask for. Do things you like, do things you don't like, do it all! That's what college is about.

Don't be afraid to set high goals for yourself and never settle for what doesn't satisfy you. Apply for schools out of state, there are scholarships available and you would be able to experience the excitement of a fresh, new start. Do what you want, and don't worry about what others think. Live in the dorms, as much as it sucks for the year, you'll make new friends and wont be stuck hanging out with the people you don't like from high school.

Join clubs you enjoy right from the beginning; it will make it much easier to make friends. Do not try to go to school for what will make you money, because if you aren't happy with your major, you probably won't put your best foot forward and your grades will suffer. Be yourself. If people don't like you for you, then they aren't worth it. Be prepared. Especially as a fine arts major, my life is hectic all the time. If you learn how to apply yourself and not procrastinate, you will save yourself a lot of sleepless nights in the long run. Take every opportunity you can. Your teachers and professors are there to help you, and the sooner you get involved, the more likely you are to succeed. Don't be afraid. People are not as scary as they seem, and you will be lonely if you shut yourself off from everyone. Always pay attention to deadlines, you don't want to miss an opportunity because you simply forgot about it and missed the deadline.

You cannot be afraid. Fear of the unknown, of the future and of success will only hinder your college experience. I remember walking into my dorm room during Hurricane Faye last year with a complete and utter sense of fear. I didn't know my roommates, what the following week would hold or when I would see my parents next. These fears prevented me from making lasting impressions and friends within the first few days. As frightening as it might be, you have to propel yourself forward into the unknown. This will be the best time of your life, and you simply have to trust in that which may frighten you more than anything. Your parents will not forget you, your classes will be fine (for the most part) and you'll make lifelong friends. And you'll probably cry a little along the way. Because, I'm not going to lie, it's hard. But it's amazing all the same. You change forever, you become a better person. It's OK to be afraid. But just for a little while. Don't let the inevitable fear stand in the way of the best time of your life.

to work as hard as i can and do more scholarships

Don't bother with AP courses. Take dual enrollment.

Keep your job until you need to leave for college. Save as much money as you can because you are going to need it. Apply for more scholarships. It never hurts to put your name in the hat. Become serious about reading the material provided in classes. This will help you develop some study skills, and at the very least makes you more responsible concerning schoolwork. Loosen up some. People are friendlier than they usually look.

?Get off your bum!? would probably be the first thing to escape my lips. I had so many opportunities in my senior year of high school that I did not take advantage of. I was accepted to St. Louis University in Madrid, and let the chance to study in Spain slip through my fingers because I did not believe I could obtain the monetary means to attend. Instead of frantically searching for grants and scholarships that would allow me to study my major (Spanish) in a perfect setting, I sat around and let the opportunity of a lifetime pass me by. I wish I could go back in time and work harder to make my dream a reality, but because that is not a feasible option, I am going to start my search now for a helping hand. Study abroad is still an option, and I can still live in Spain like I have always dreamed of. Now that I am in college, I know that hard work and dedication is a necessity for everything because the amount of competition increases. If I had known this in high school, I could have been sitting in Plaza Mayor at this moment.

Learn to study and push yourself, just because you can ace each test without opening the book doesn't mean you should. Learn to study and work hard or it'll bite you in the butt. Don't go to UF, no matter how your parents push you. Go somewhere where the school is known for your major, like UCF, or even out of state. When you win a National Merit Scholarship, DO NOT go to UF with it. It will be the biggest waste you ever make. Go somewhere where they actually give you a reasonable reward for the work you put into that scholarship. Learn to self-teach. The professors don't care if you pass or fail, you won't even meet most of them because they'll be off busy doing research and getting paid to send their TA to class. A lot of professors are infamous for their difficulty and bad teaching skills, so learn to use ratemyprofessor.com or risk getting stuck with the 80 year old foreigner who had bad communication skills BEFORE he learned to not properly express himself in english. Again, don't go to UF.

All the AP courses taken in high school will be worhtwhile. Classes in college get harder as you take upper level courses. Start learning how to manage your time because it will be very handy in college. Don't let the small things stress you out. Apply for many scholarships even if you think you don't need them. Be prepared to work ten times harder than you do in high school because although high school is getting you ready for college, college is getting you ready for life. Don't live at home for your college years. You need to learn to live on your own because mom and dad will not always be there for you. You also need to learn to clean up your mess on your own and learn to cope with the consequences of your actions. Don't go to a small college that gives you a lot of chances and treats you like a child. Big colleges are better because the large amount of students don't allow teachers to be behind you telling you to do your work or study. This is good because it creates independence and allows you to grow.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now I would teach myself what true learning really means. In highschool, I thought learning was getting an A on a test and a 4.0 GPA. I know now in college that true learning is understanding the material enough to be able to apply it to new situations. High grades do not come as easily as they did in highschool. I would advise myself not to worry when I made other grades than an A. I would encourage myself not to be discourage or worried about the number of my GPA but rather be motivated by the amount I am learning. I would advise myself to develop a thirst for knowledge and find enjoyment in the aquirement and application of knowledge. rather than in the red number at the top of my test. Most of all, I would tell myself that who I am and what I know cannot be determined by one number. One number can never describe the potential anyone has.

Live life by the moment, for every day goes a little fatser.

I would tell myself to learn better study skills while in high school. Senior year of high school is always the easiest because for the most part you already know where you want to go to school and your transcript is already written in stone (as far as colleges are concerned) by that point. I slacked off as a senior and wish I had better prepared mysself for the demanding classes that the University of Florida throws at you. In addition, I would tell myself to really study for those AP exams. Most seniors in high school take the AP classes to boost their GPA because simply taking the class and the AP exam gives you an extra point added into your weighted GPA. I did well on most of my AP exams but it would be nice to have a couple more general education requirements met through AP scores.

Amanda, you're facing a big change in your life, you're going to be out on your own for the first time but don't worry, everything will be okay. Spend as much time as you can with those who matter to you and know that guys will come and go, friends will come and go but you always have your family. Stay focused in school because that's the most important thing and will lead you to a great future. Don't let anything interfere with your schoolwork because whoever is trying to interfere probably won't be there down the road. Also, get involved with organizations, it may seem dorky but it'll allow you to make friends that have the same career goals as you, and also want to do something amazing in the future. Most importantly, don't procrastinate, time everything so you can get things done without sacrificing social time on the weekends. Staying in your room doing homework on a Saturday night is not fun and isn't a way to meet people. The people you meet in college have a great ability to change your life for the better.

When making a decision about the right college to attend, one must first decide what factors are most important to them (academics, sports, location, extra-curriculars etc). Once that decision is made, and the list of potential universities dwindles down to a select few, it is recommend that one should converse with students who attend each school. Rumors about different colleges can be easily cleared up by students who attend said university. One must be sure to keep an open mind as well as to find somewhere they feel comfortable and could easily spend the next four years of their life. Ultimately one must take this question into consideration?once the tests, papers, pop quizzes and homework are done, will you really be able to say that you learned new things and managed to make the most of your college years? If the forseen answer is yes, you have found the right college for you.

there isnt much to say about this question. everyone is different and noone looks at life through the same pair of glasses. The college has to fit your life and your academics. The night life has to be what you love and the academics have to be challenging but you have to put in the effort. the size of the classes has to be right and the people around have to be people who you could strike a conversation with and enjoy what they have to say. College is a place to find youself and discover new things. If the environment is wrong, the child will not develop and find everything out they should. It's about self descovery and the fun along the way so when choosing your college. make sure when you look at the campus, you can say, "YA, i can see myself here for the next for years." if thats not the response you give or its one you have to think about and consider, I would look around some more because the right college is there for everyone it just takes the effort to find the perfect one for you.

I would encourage them to think about where they see their children/themselves in 5-10 years. Each school offers something different to a student and thinking about what you want to come away with from the school can help ease the decision between different schools. For example, I want my education to to be the basis of a strong future career. I had to choose between two schools and chose the University of Florida because I believed its strong alumni would help me establish the career that I want. I think remaining focused your future also helps you make the most of your experience in college. Knowing what kind of person you want to be when you graduate can help you choose a major, extracurricular activities, and social opportunities. If you want to be involved with environmental work after graduation, you can prepare yourself and build connections by taking environmentally focused classes and becoming active with people and organizations working for your cause.

The key to finding the right college is to first take a tour of the campus. You have to go somewhere you feel comftorable. Check out the majors they have, the kind of housing available, what kind of sports and clubs they have. All of this should be taken into consideration while deciding where to attend. It's important to attend a campus you feel best fits your needs and expectations. Which one gives you a warm feeling inside? Which makes you most excited to actually be at school? Another helpful way to get a feel of what it's like is to ask those who already go to the school what the campus is like, what it has to offer, and any advice they have to offer. Picking a school isn't easy but it isn't impossible either. You just have to "try a few on" and see which fits best.

I would advise parents and students who are trying to find the right college to visit potential schools before making a decision. Online research and school reputation are nothing compared to visiting the school in person. By doing this, one can take tours, see actual dorm rooms, and even talk to current students about their college experience. This was one of the best decisions I have made. I was very impressed when a University of Florida student who noticed I was visiting took time out of her day to talk to me about the school. The genuine welcome I felt greatly influenced my decision, and I will be starting my second year at UF this fall. I believe that by visiting your top choices, you can find a place where you feel you belong. In order to make the most of the college experience, it is essential to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available. College is one of the few times in life where there are so many options waiting to be explored. Office hours with professors, research opportunities, career centers, clubs, and extracurriculars are just a few, and all you need to do is get involved.

Makesure you take a campus visit when school is in session so you get a feel of day to day life, and if at all possible have a student show you around the dorms and different areas of campus. Don't be affraid to ask questions, or look around. Sit in on a class to get a feel for the different teaching styles offered at the university. Be yourselfe, and finally get involved it will help you make friends that will last a life time.

Look for a place that feels right. If they're helpful at the college that's always a good sign that they'll be helpful later on. Physically visit the colleges you're considering and take a student led tour.

I say go for what you really want if you are a student. What your parents want is a totally different thing, if you pick the school of your choice you are most likely to feel at home and like you belong. For parents, let your kids grow up to the responsible, independent women/men they want and deserve to be. Dont be scared to see them go, they will always bounce back. lol

Finding the right college is an extremely important and stressful decision that teenagers and their parents have to make, because this decision revolves around the student?s level of education and therefore their career in the future. As the search for a college begins the primary focus should be on deciding on the major the teen wants to pursue his/her studies on and start searching for colleges based on the major, because you would want to attend a college that offers the best education on the desired major. After getting a list of colleges that satisfy the major criteria start developing another list of criteria like: how far from home would the student be willing to go, the financial packages offered, overall cost, diversity of the student body, housing options, size of the school, and other criteria that might be important to the student or the family. A lot of research and visits to different colleges should be done to make sure the right decision is being made. As the students start their college career they should be proficient at balancing their academic work and social interactions in order to make the most out of their college experience.

Look at the environment and evaluate it to see if it's condusive to your lifestyle. If you are staunchly opposed to drinking and prefer to spend your weekends doing quiet activities like reading or watching a movie by yourself or a friend, then you probably won't want to attend a school that's well-known for binge drinking and 24 hour partying. Also, evaluate what what you want to do when you're out of school. For example, I am pre-pharmacy and one of the main reasons I chose to go to UF is because they have a very good pharmacy school.

Ask students who go there.

?College will be the best four years of your life!? No one should ever be expected to cite this phrase it?s so common. College is a time of liberally sheltered self-discovery; absolute freedom tempered by personal responsibility as well as the laws of the land. College is where we figure out who we are and who we wish to become. It?s where we learn moderation: How many credits are too many? How many work hours are too many? How much partying is too much? Am I spending too many hours with my boyfriend? How much time do I have to dedicate to my extra-curricular activities? Am I getting enough sleep? Am I leading a healthy lifestyle? Am I spending too much money? Will doing this make me late for church? Am I letting my faith fall by the wayside? College students have so much to learn about life and themselves, more than half of which does not take place in a classroom. For your child to get the most out of their college experience, you as a parent must trust that you have done the best job of raising a healthy, focused, independent, responsible, engaged citizen.

Find the right college and make the most of your college experience, you all said it best. Study hard, have fun, graduate. The end.

It is a great idea for both parents and students to explore college options together. Be unbiased to alma maters and allow for your child to base his/her decision on what seems to be the best option. It is of great importance that visits are arranged to these institutions and make use of the resources they offer to further explore the college.

Go visit the campus and see if the enviornment fits you and if you can see if you can see yourself studying there for the next 4years or how ever long it takes to complete your degree. As well know all the programs they offer to better help you into college. Talk to students that go that college already and ask them what they like and dislike about the school so you can get an inside look. And enjoy your college experience because it goes by quickly. Learn to manage your time waisely with school work and extra-curricular activities.