University of North Florida Top Questions

I would tell myself not to party so much my freshman and sophomore year so although my G.P.A. is good not as high as it should be. I would tell myself to become a little more active on campus.

I would tell myself to look for a school with a small class size and stduent to teacher ratio. This will give me the opportunity to have a better relationship with my teachers and they are more willing to help me if I have any problems. Also, I would look for a school with cheaper on campus housing. Also, I would look for a school with a better parking situation so that way I don't have to park so far away from my apartment and my classes. I would look for a school that does not revolve around the fraternities and sororities on campus as a way of having fun. Also, I would have said that I should find a school that offers more financial aid that will help me pay for school and my dorm. I would make sure to tell myself to be more open to people. I shouldn't be so shy or else I won't make friends that I will have when I'm out of college. I would look to be more involved in school activities because this would help me befriend more people on campus.

Assuming I had the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself the following advice: "Make sure you talk to people at the University; go online, see what others have to say! Find out about the professors before you take a class not during add/drop week. Find out which colleges are accredited and don?t take a professor in a prerequisite class just because you heard he/she was easy; you?re going to need that stuff later on!"

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would make sure to tell myself to really know how to time manage everything that I'm involved in. Knowing that I liked to get involved in high school and that I will want to in college, I know that I sometimes put social activities before schoolwork. With this being the case, I know that would definitely make sure to tell myself that I really need to time manage all my activities and really prioritize everything that I will want to be involved in. Also, I tend to have a quick hand when it comes to spending money, so I would make sure to tell myself to set a budget and make sure that I stick with it, even if it means missing out on some stuff. It's better to miss out on one event than to go bankrupt because of it.

Study consistantly. Start homework on the day it is given. Do not miss any class more than once, no one can afford it. The Academic Center of Excellence(ACE) is there to help you. In lecture halls, bring a recorder. but ask the professors for permission before hand.

I would say to myself to get involved in more activities outside of books, studying and acedimics. That it's not all "booksmarts" that lead you through life. It is imparative to have a well balanced mixture of friends and different outlets to plug into to help you gain success to the fullest! I would also say to stop being afriad to date and have fun with my friends. That studying and living up to my parents expectations does not have to be my whole life. It can be part of it and even the focus while still having fun and experiencing life. I would also tell myself that I've done a great job in school and the I have a lot to be proud of. To stop feeling like I'll never get to the top of the mountain and conquer highschool. Just relax and take it one day at a time and eveyrthing will work out. Ohh, and that cheese strips are not everything! Branch out and buy something different!!

I would tell myself to expect the college work load to get harder as the year progresses. It is important to know what your major is and the aspects of the field and what it means for you in the future. I would also tell myself to look for scholarships because times will be financially rough. I would say that it is important to surround yourself with people who want to educate themselves and live successfully. It is important that you stay focused on school and never give up when classes seem hard. Once school starts, there is no time to be lazy and you will always have deadlines for class assignments. It's imperative that you do your best and teachers will notice the commitment you are putting forth.

If I could go back in time and speak to myself about the transition into college, I would tell myself to live life to the fullest with my family and current friends. When in high school, one has the feeling that your current friends are going to be your friends forever. What I did not realize is that once you go to different colleges, it is easy to lose touch; especially once you make friends on campus. What I also did not realize is that once on campus, it is difficult to see your family. If not doing homework, the campus has club meetings, concerts, movies and plays. Then you also have friends that you want to hang out with, so some times it is a little hard to find the time to drive home. So my advice would be to live high school life to the fullest, because college will be a very different, fun, and busy experience.

The advice I would give myself as a highschool senior would be to make sure to learn how to study. High school came easy to me, and I did not have to study very hard. In college, the classes get harder, and it is always good to have a balanced study skills. I would make sure to tell myself to keep my eyes open, and be ready for change, because college is a very diverse culture and involves a lot of adjusting. Great friendships will be made, and some will be lost but it is very much worth it.

I would tell myself to strive for the best and go after my goals with full speed and make sure I have everything in order before I do anything. I would tell myself to be courageous and confident in my abilities, and to take every opportunity that I'm given to build me as a well-rounded individual. I would also tell myself to enjoy life along with studying hard, and to keep my focus on God and my faith strong. I would tell myself to just be me!

Do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. University is not the same as high school you will have to learn to study a lot more. Do not take on more than you can handle or you will be struggeling a lot. And do not be afraid to call home and ask for help or to go to a counsel when you really need help.

Khristina, you really should be more social. You have to realize that everyone at college is just waiting for someone else to introduce themselves. Do what you feel, because that's what makes you who you are. Stay true to yourself, your morals, and your values. The people that matter most will respect you and accept you for that. Don't get caught up in the hype of drinking, smoking, or having sex... Stick with the people who you feel comfortable with. Speak up in class, and talk to your professors, they have so much knowledge that they can share. Find you passion early on, and run with it.

I would encourage myself to take more advanced and honor courses so that i couldbe ahead when i arrived in college and would have more time to experience other interests.

I would have definently tried harder on my SAT's and my gpa to get into a better school, and saved up a little more money. I just want to finish school and it's looking like it's not going to happen if the financial side isn't there. I would tell myself to go headstrong into my studies and don't procrastinate once you get into school.

If Icould go back in time I would have finished high school and strated college right away; however, I was bullied so much that going to school was torture for me. I dropped out and finished with my GED. Since returning to school I have had many trails and tribulations from being the untraditional student, having a lump removed from my breast, other health issues, and death of a loved one; however, I have been able to keep my GPA between a 3.62 - 2.89. I want to graduate with honors and I hope this semester I will bring my GPA up. This is so important to me because of my past and the goals I have set for myself. Eventhough I have had to deal with these life altering events, returning to school was the best decision; I am a stronger person because of it and very greatful for the oppertunity.

It will feel right when you visit the campus. You'll just love every aspect of the college. Not only this, but you will start to find things you don't like about the other campuses you visit. They will be little things that don't really matter in the big picture. Also, I would take 6 credits over the summer before your first fall semester. It will really help you get acclimated to the college life and teach you how to study. It'll simulate how busy finals are, but it won't be thrown at you all at once.

When choosing a college, it is important to visit more than one college and apply to as many as you can imagine. It is also important to keep your options open in terms of career interests. Even if you think you know for a fact what you want to major in, maybe consider taking career assessment tests and taking a few extra classes to explore any possible unknown interests. Parents need to understand that their child is now at college and needs to learn some lessons, like responsibility and independence. Students need to keep in mind that if they are going to ask for their own independence that it comes with many responsibilities. Living on campus should be a must for freshmen year. You meet many people and it helps with getting to class on time and its motivating to use the library and study groups. Don't overwhelm yourself with hard classes the first year, but also DO NOT take all the easy ones at once. Try to keep a good balance to avoid putting yourself in difficult situations. Lastly, college isn't just learning in class, its learning life lessons too.

When it comes matters pertaining to college, students rely too much on second hand information. There is far too much "I heard from so an so that our school is this." The most common effect is that a lot of people have a very small grasp of what is going on and are willing to blindly accept any piece of information handed to them. For instance in my school many students wanted to attend the UF. Many argued that they "have a good medical program." Only in retrospect do I realize that that assertion was never explained to me. However true, this points to a larger issue that is ubiquitous among students. When choosing a school, tour it, speak to professors and professionals who work in ANY field of interest. Read stories, testimonials and catalogs about majors and programs as well as financial information of interest. In the classroom when material isn't understood, seek out professors, tutors, or books in the library that can help. Outside, actively search for groups that pertain to your interest to provide entertainment and even insight to your field. Become an active seeker of knowledge and opportunity, that is what college is about.

In finding the right college, it is important that you look at your own interests. Once you have a fairly good idea of what you want to do with your life, it is best to apply to schools that cater to your goals. Just because a school may not have name recognition, that doesn't mean it isn't a good match for you. With rare exceptions, you should never pick a school based solely on location, prestige, or to follow friends. While these may serve as secondary reasons as a way to narrow your choices, the most important thing is finding the right match. Upon entering college, there are many ways to make the most out of your time there. Living on campus and joining clubs are great ways to meet new friends. Many schools offer study abroad classes which allow you to go to places you may have always wanted to visit. Though your years in college certainly represent a time of hard work, you should also take time and enjoy your experiences. Some of the greatest lessons you'll learn will come from outside the classroom.

Selecting a college or university is not always about campus life or experience. Its about quality of learning and the ability to transistion a person from student to employee. The quality of faculty and staff highly contribute to the rating of a school. From my experince, class size does not matter if the teacher is experinced enough to clearly engage each student. Make sure that the school of your choice also has many campus activities as this will make your college carrer more enjoyable.

The best advise I can give is to someone trying to find the right school is to know exactly what it is you want in a school. Only when you know what you want should you start searching for the right school. The student should make the decisions about the school, considering advise from parents and others. But, the student should make the choice because forcing someone to pick the wrong school only damages them. When the right school is selected the best way to make the most out of the college experience is to get involved. While partying is fun, it is not really connected to the college experience. But, getting involved in a student organization, sports club, or career club helps you feels connected to the school. It enhances the college experience by making you part of the school like going to classes never can. Getting involved connects you to students, professors and potential employees making it easier for you to start your career, which is the main reason people attend college.

I would advise students to visit different campuses to take in the different atmospheres. If it is the right school for you, you'll be able to feel it. Don't just go with a school because your parents or peers want you to!

Look for a campus that is spread out with alot of greenery. Large areas of grass and landscaping makes the campus more environmentally friendly and relaxed. Take note of the area outside and around campus. This will be your social realm. Remember to keep an open mind and be honest with yourself. Don't pretend to be someone else to get friends. And when you get there, keep your eye on your books. You're in college, and gaining a social life should not be a priority.

The most important of all, visit the college campus. Do not go to a school without visiting it's campus. Trust me, you will thank me for this later. I am all about my environment(i.e especially if you will be experiencing weather changes). And, everyone should get a feel for the college they will be attending. I would tell them that life is all about experiences and one must weigh the pros and cons of every situation. Everyone makes mistakes and of course you will make some, but learn from them. I would also advise that people put their self out there so that they can get to know others and get involved in extracurricular activities. Furthermore, be the best you can be. The sky is truly the limit. Do not take all the easy classes first. Mix them up! Apply for as many scholarships as you can because when it comes to attending college, the expenses never end. Oh yea, and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!!!!!!!

I firmly believe that the decisions you make early in life have compounding effects on the rest of your life. With that said, finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is extremely crucial to the success a prospective student will eventually attain. The key components that link future success with the college experience are knowledge, experience, confidence, focus, team building, and the ability to effectively apply these things. Students and parents should focus on these attributes when deciding on which college to attend. Once a student decides on an initial program interest they should then write out a five year plan on what they want to accomplish. This "goal" focused plan along with the before mentioned components of success should be compared with what a prospective college has to offer. If a college you find has a faculty that brings real world expertise and experience to the classroom, has programs and clubs that correlate to your goals, and has courses that are challenging with a team building and application focus, then you have found the right college. I highly encourage students to join networking clubs and maintain contact with the college career services throughout school.

College is supposed to be the best time in your life. It's about the experiences, the ability to meet new people and learn things about yourself that you never even knew. When I was in the process of applying for colleges, it has to be right for you. I visited all of the Universities before I applied for them to see what they were like. I decided to choose a school where I could commute to but still had the ability to go to a great school due to the fact that money is short while your in college as they say. To make the most out of your college experience, I would definitly get involved with everything that you can and get to know the faculty and staff, they can change your life in many ways. To parents, just as I always told my mom and dad, whats meant to be, will always find it's way.

Have fun!

There is only one advice that I would like to give to parents and/or students about finding the right college for them. From my experience that advice is to be humble, focus, and patient because nothing is easy in reality after high school. Therefore, when combining those three things as part of your attitude about expending your education, it will be a great help to you as an individual when dealing with everything else that will face when looking for a college that is right for you. Although, in my opinion there is not something called ?the right college? if you are not willing as an individual to adjust to it and make it a right place for you.

I would encourage students in high school to look for as many scholarships as possible . Meet with guidance councelors and try to find out ways to get assistance. I neglected this resource and I am currently paying the price. By having to work hard and study hard. Having some extra help would really allow me to focus more on my schooling.

Make sure you physically visit the schools before making a decision. It is sometimes little things like parking that can change your opinion of how good a school is. Also, make sure to pay attention to the area surrounding the campus. Check the cost of living index for the area. If you are a scholarship or financial aid student, you may not be able to afford to do anything off campus if it's a high cost of living. There needs to be a good balance of fun and work. If you put too much stress on work and grades, you will ultimately suffer. Make sure there are lots of options for after school activities, both for fun and for work opportunities. The more choices, the better chance of A.) getting a job, and B.) having a good time while not in class. As a student loan kid myself, I can attest to the cost of going to school full time and the stress of having to pay bills while doing so. I valued my time away from class doing fun things with my friends to help reduce the stress of school. GOOD LUCK!!!!

The advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to start looking for college chooses earier either in your sopomore or junior year. Once you looked at the colleges your interested in get background on the college and what the process is to applying, the financial aid process, housing, and in general about the college. To make the most of the college experience I suggest living on campus and doing somes school activites to get to know people.

Make sure the college you choose to attend has the major you want to and has all the classes you need available. Talk to current students and past students who will give you honast opinions about the school. Professors and faculty should be helpful yet be able to challenge you. Also see what is around the college as far as stores, restautants and the traffic situation.

Great school. Great value. Choose UNF.

I would tell them to look for a school that talks to them. Visit campuses and make the most of your visit. Don't choose a school because you have family ties there or your friends are going there. College is a time to find yourself and what better way than to find a school that moves/motivates you? Go out and meet people. College is also a time of reinvention, so people can be who they want to be and learn what they want without fear of disappointing someone. Take the time to explore your campus and what the school has to offer. Make the decision for yourself. For parents: be supportive of your children while they make this transition. Afterall, the goal here is an education right?! Education isn't just about academics... we need to look at the big picture and grow as people too.

When searching for the right college, explore all of your options first! Find out if you want to go to a larger school or a smaller school, and make sure that the college or university that you are strongly looking into can provide you with your academic and social needs. Also, campus life is very important, so if you plan to live on campus, explore your options and activities that will be available to you during your on campus stay.

When people say that college is the best time of your life, they really do mean it. To experience this I would suggest that potential students have to know themselves very well. They also have to understand that four years from now they are going to expect different things out of life. What I am trying to say is that students need to find a school that will be interesting enough the first year and professional enough the last few years. It is important for student not to get home sick and that is why a university should offer a lot of activities. These activities should provide satisfaction to different verity of student. The university should also provide student with ways to interact with the potential future employers. A good example of that are career management and specific clubs that bring companies to the campus. Students need to be able to talk about their college experience till their mind starts playing tricks on them. That is why it is important to pick a university with their name written all over it. People remember things that satisfy them and their future!

Get involved on campus and meet people. Whether it be greek life or clubs. visit and see what is available in the area that interests the student.

I found the place that felt best. Jacksonville felt like home and I was just comfortable everywhere. Research anything that offers your major and pick whatever is best for you. You'll know where you are supposed to go to school when you get there. And a college experience is about growing up, moving on, paying bills, making friends and studying. Frats, sororites, sports, bands or whatever your perseption might be doesn't make a college experience. Everyone has this experience differently. Real life and the teen college movies are completely different.

To really Research the School.....

GET INVOLVED! Don't be overbearing. Listen to the cues your kids are giving you, verbal and nonvebal. Start way early with test scores, scholarships, college tours, lenders for loans, FAFSA, career tests, dorm applications, parking passes, and applications to schools. All that can be very stressfull if left to the end and could make for more stress when you find out that there are no dorm spots left, no good parking passes and deadlines have been missed.

I would make sure each parent took their student to the colleges his/or her student are interested in. Walking through a campus tour and finding out additional information about the college community is very important in making a decision. I would also suggest that students live on campus their first year, in order to make friends and become familar with the campus community.

My advice for students and parents would be to take time to evaluate which college is right for there needs so that they can set themselves up for success. When I choose UNF as my college of choice I based it on a simple question. What are the three thing I wanted to accomplish in the next two years. My first was find time to spend with my family, second I wanted to join a freshman honors program , and last I wanted to show off my indepence. Based on these goals I found that UNF was 20 minutes from my home town and entire family, they had one of the top honors programs in the nation and best of all a flexible housing program so that I could move out and be on my own. I set my self up for success by deciding what was most important in my life and then putting myself in a place where my goals could be easily accomplished. And dont stop there. I check my goals often and change my path accordingly so that I am always on the path to success.

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If you don't want to just go to the old family alma mater, then keep your options open. Don't just go to the party school, or the "prestigious" school, or the school that just won some form of National Chapionship. Instead, have a list of 5 - 10 schools that you are interested in, then go visit each one if you can. It's that simple! Don't limit your choice to the Name of the School, but find the one that has a perfect melding.

Make your choice based on academics first. The rest of the details are also important but academics is the main purpose of the school. Athletics may play a part as well. Check into the housing and social opportunities. Being a part of the community of the school is vital to the students success. All in all make the decision that lines up with your own personal needs and that will help you to succeed in your goals.

Advice I would give to parents is let your children choose where they would like to go to school and want they want to major in. Let your children make their own decisions; don?t make their decisions for them. Advice I would give to students about finding the right college is choose where you want to go to school, don?t let your friends or parents choose for your. I would also choose the college that has the best program of study, depending on what you want to major in. My advice in regards to making the most out of your college experience for students is just to cherish your college years, it is one of the best times of your life and it passes by pretty fast. I would recommend living in a dorm your first year of school and definitely participate in extra curricular activities. Get your school work done quickly and efficiently, so you have plenty of time for the variety of activities colleges have to offer. I also recommend joining Greek life. You meet so many people and it?s just an amazing experience you will never forget.

My advice is simple, make sure it feels right.

It begins junior year of high school, the pressure of your future begins to weigh heavy upon your shoulders. Nagged by your parents, pushed by your teachers, and influenced by friends as to which college you shall attend in near time. Then the letters begin to roll in; some disappointing, some heart-stopping, and some used simply as bragging rights to those around you. Choosing which college to attend isn't about where your friends are going, it's not about where your parents went and it has absolutely nothing to do with distance. One needs to choos a college that will better oneself, a college that is "affordable", one that you will feel comfortable at for anywhere from four to six years, possibly longer. College should be chosen around three things. One, what do YOU want to do in the future, nobody else. Two, do you feel comfortable with the size of your school, the classes, the surrounding cities, etc? Three, remember, you only get out what you put in, so don't expect an immediate six digit salary out of college, simply because you attended an ivy-league school. Work hard, play harder!

prepare yourself and stay focused.

College is not just a place, it is a mindset and an opportunity. It may have a physical location, but colleges garner their improtance from what is learned there, both academically and socially. Thats why it is ultimately important to choose a school that will expose you to the widest variety of experiences, because without such exposure, college is really just a waste of time.