University of North Florida Top Questions

College is the time of your life. It is where you will meet life long friends, and where you will discover who you are. Dont look for a college based on where all your friends go, but where you feel like you will get the most out of it. Also, get involved. Being an involved student helps you understand the ins and outs of the campus. It also allows you to get to meet and experience things and poeple you would have never imagined. Finally, if I could give any advice to a new student, it would be have fun, but dont forget why you are at school. You are in college to learn, and yes, partying can be fun, but at the same time, it can be the reason why you aren't invided back to school. Enjoy the four years, becuase they are the most amazing years of your life.

Research what you and your child is most interested in...sports, greek life, housing, academic help on campus, and what most graduates do afterwards.

Finding the right college is difficult but the best way is to narrow it down is to put things into categories by identifying what you want in your college. For example, deciding the school size, location, and the diversity of the campus. To make the most out of your college experience is to get involved. I started off on the women's soccer team, but found it to difficult to manage soccer and grades, so I traded in my cleats for a job on campus. It's amazing how many people you can meet with a job on-campus, especially since you most likely will see them everyday.

Have Fun! youre only a college student once and its the best time of your life.

I would encourage all students and parents to look into what their prospective colleges have to offer. The ease of finding help: The school's administration should be helpful, friendly and willing to help the student progress through his or her academic goals. What they offer: College is a life-changing event for every incoming undergraduate student. Look into what kinds of majors and programs your college has to offer,even if the decision for a major is already made. Chances are that you'll find something else that you may want to try. It never hurts. Sucess in college? It is very possible! Keep your goals in mind: Many incoming undergraduates make the mistake of neglecting their work. While there is nothing wrong with having a healthy social life, keep in mind what you're paying for. Why are you in college? Balancing fun and academics is key to success, the most important one to maintain throughout your whole academic career. In order to make the most of your college experience, have some fun! Just remember to stay aware of your academic progress. Plan your successful future and create some great memories at the same time!

Do online research, go to the school, look around, spend a few days during mid semester, talk to several upbeat looking students, talk to a lot of the faculty and staff, visit the amenities and facilities. Visit several colleges of your choice.

Really try talking to someone who is either currently attending the college you are thinking about going to or is an Alumni of that particular college to get an insider's point of view.

One of the primary objectives in my college search involved finding the appropriate university for my degree focus. This is eccential to ensuring students graduate with as much understanding in their subject matter as possible. Research the stand of the school compared to other schools across the nation. Many schools across the nation have larger population and in turn, more school spirit but weigh whether this is important to you. I prefer smaller class sizes, more space, closer friends and that's what I found at UNF. If I attended UF instead, there would exist greater school spirit which would be nice but I couldn't live in a city that busy and not as focused on academics. I feel like Jacksonville is ideal for the University of North Florida because it's focused on academics, not so much on drinking and partying, yet on the weekend, friends often retreat to Jax Beaches.

I strongly advise students to visit all of the colleges they are applying to before selecting the one they will attend. When I selected my college, I fell in love with it when I visited. It just felt right...like I was at home. Also, don't base your decision off of other people. Choose the college that you feel is right for you, and the one that offers a good program in the major you are choosing. If you make the decision to go somewhere just because a friend of yours is going or your parent attended there, you are bound to be miserable. People change and everyone is different so you should make your own decision on where you are going to spend the next 4 years.

There are several bits of advice I would give to a student about finding the proper college to get the most from their experience. To begin with, I would encourage them to think very carefully about what they want to do. If they have a passion they should pursue that. If they are unsure, I would recommend taking time off before even applying anywhere to discover themselves more and get a better idea of what to do. After this has been sorted out, the student should look into the schools of interest and find one that fits them in terms of the class size they want, location, and affordability and anything else they may deem important. Finally, after the student knows what they want to do and where they would like to go, they should write out a plan for their college career and try to stick with that plan as much as possible.

The advice I would give students about finding the right college would depend on what the student wants at the time he/she will be entering college. When a student first begins college as a freshman, their view on life is totally different from what their view will be once he/she becomes a senior. Students should definitely choose a school that has a good ratio of graduates. Students should also look into the social life that goes on inside and outside of the school because that varies depending on if the school is located in a college town or not. It is beter for students to involved themselves in school activities, but some of us don't have that opportunity because of jobs that may have to be taken on to pay bills. If students have parents with well-paying jobs or if their parents planned for their child's education ahead of time (Fl Prepaid plan) the student shouldn't have to work and will be able to be involved more in the campus life.

First, pick a college that has a reasonable price. In the end, I think it matters more that you get a degree than it does from where you got that degree. Also, don't be in a rush to pick a major and know that it is okay if you change it 3 or 4 times. It happens. Get involved on campus and live on campus at least one year to get to know people and develop those great friendships.

The most important thing is the education you will receive. Not the sports team and not whether your family attended the school. One must be focused on personal goals and what will best suit personal needs. This may even mean attending a community college to become acclimated to college curriculum before transferring to a university.

The best thing I can tell any parents or students about choosing the right college is for parent and child to sit and make a list of what each wants to have in the students' college experience. The lists may not be the same but it gives a great starting point. Next is to visit the schools webpages that they are interested in; whether they are in a nearby area or not. I can easily say that what helped me most in making my final decision was actually visiting the different campus' that I was interested in. Its best at any school to schedule an actual tour, rather than wander about a campus. Its great to look inside classrooms, dorms, and even to see the surrounding area. Students can have the chance to ask about sports, clubs, or any other activities they're interested in; while, parents can have the comfort in asking about the school's security and safety. College is much more than a curriculum and books to read. College is one's chance to experience new exciting things and explore the multitudes of opportunities that await a yound adult.

Make sure you like the city and envoriment in which the college is located. It is frustrating to move to a city where you feel isolated from people with similar beliefs and views.

enroll at community college first, the classes are cheaper and transferable. It really sets the mood for the college experience before entering a 500 seat auditorium on the first day of your freshman year.

Make sure you go and visit the college you want to attend. Check out the program you are interested in and make sure it's what you're looking for. Be involved and never stop trying.

The advice that I could give is to pick a college that will feel most like home to you. I think it's important to enjoy the campus. I think the scenery around campus is really important like finding it nice looking, liking what the classrooms look like and what the library looks like. I think its important to find a College that best fits your degree and has the best classes to offer you for your degree as well. I also think the city the College is located in is important as well because not only will you be spending most of your time on campus but you'll also be spending alot of time off campus. So it's important to find things in the city you like whether it be close to a beach, or in the mountains, etc. I also think it's important to find something in the College that you can relate to personally. Like atheltics, Greek life, environmental, artistic, drama, etc.

Make sure that u research the area and curriculum of the school. Research more on financial aid and scholarships.

Look around at as many colleges as possible. I definitely suggest attending community college first.

Decide whether or not moving far away from home is the best for you. If you are too far away you may end up being miserable or returning home soon after.

Students need to find a college that fits their personality and goals, and to get the most college experience is to live on campus.

Apply to as many schools as you can afford. You never know where you might get in, don't underestimate yourself. Figure out what is most important to you and think about the long term. Visit schools you may be interested in and get a feel for different campuses. Always keep an open mind.

Attend a college where the environment and people around you fit your liking and you will be happy.

My advice would be for the students and the parents to go and take a tour of the college. If they are allowed, meet with one of the academic advisors there and talk about what majors the college has to offer and find out whether or not the student would like any of the majors offered there. Find out about any clubs or organizations that the student may be interested in. You want to make sure that the student will like the college that they attend.

I think to find the right college, there are many factors to consider. A big campus implies a lot of people, a lot of diversity, and a lot of partying. Too much freedom leads to unsuccessful semesters, or trimesters. I think a middle sized campus away from home and away from personal distractions related to friends and family is the best way to go. I also think if the weather is always warm, people are very friendly, and the campus is practically all outside is also the best way to go.

In order to find the best college that is right for your child, first, decide on what is important to them? Do they want to attend an Ivey League school, does the college specialize in their degree, and do they have a specific area or state that they would like to live, where are their friends going to school? These are great questions to ask and figure out before visiting the school. Research, research, research all the prospective schools and make a pro's/con's list to narrow down the search. Then, plan a trip to visit the school, take a tour, visit with a counselor and make sure this is a place you will enjoy for 4 years! Remember, if you are not happy in your environment and don't have any friends or family nearby, then this could set you up for failure. Remember this is your future, so take it very seriously! You have to look after yourself because no one else is going to do it for you! You can attend any school your heart's desires, so go after what you want and don't hold back!!! Get involved, study hard and have fun:-)

Put your whole heart into it. Stay on track with your acedemics, that is why you are in school. Dont go out all the time and dont get behind in you studies and you will do fine.

The advice I would give to any entering freshman or parents of freshman is to really look into the school, talk to the students who attend the school and see what their opinions of the professors are, and to check the statistics of the graduates getting into their career or graduate school choices. It is important to make sure that you know all about the school, such as: how are the labs, how are the teachers credentials, how are the food choices, and how good are the academic advisors. Also, when it comes to talking to the students, make sure that you find out what their GPA is, how often they study, what types of clubs and orgnaizations do they belong to, and what major are they studying. This allows for a more personal representation of how the entering student will feel. Finally, it is detrimental that you find out what the percentages of students getting into their career goals or graduate school choices. If you are trying to go to Harvard Law School, make sure it is possible to do that attending the undergraduate school that you want. This allows you to get the most out of the school.

My best advice would be to start early. With the economy situation the way it is, more and more colleges are cutting back on admitting students and the amount of classes offered. I have found that if students start early their chances of getting admitted and into the correct classes greatly increases. I know at the college I attend, the University of North Florida, the amount of classes that are being offered each term and the amount of new freshmen have greatly decreased. Another key piece of advice I would offer would be to make a schedule. When I started attending college, I made a schedule of which classes I would take each semester. I am receiving the GI Bill from the US Army and I knew that I only had a certain amount of time to obtain my degree. I learned real early that if I made a schedule and stuck with it, that I would save both time and money. So far it has worked. I currently work part-time for CSX and attend college full-time. I plan to graduate in the summer, which means that I have earned a 4-year degree in only 3 years!

when looking for the right college i would suggest looking at the advising and tutoring offices. make sure to look though a course catalog to see the variety of classes offered. always ask any questions you may have. find out what kind of extra-curricular activites are offered as well as clubs. if interested ask professors about any research or volunteer/intern work available. the more experience you have, the better for your career. if your worried about tutition, go talk to the finacial aid office. there is always money available, sometimes you just have to ask for it personally. it is best to sign up for classes as early as possible. even if the right classes are still open they may not work well with your schedule if you wait until the last minute. i would strongly suggest going to the school's orientation week held before your first semester. most of the questions you may have will certainly be answered there. during any part of you college experience, never hesitate to ask any questions you may have. you will never know if you do not ask.

Ask as many questions as possible while researching the schools that you are interested in. Make sure you are prepared. Be outgoing and willing to get involved. Live on campus atleast for your freshmen year. It allows you to get to know people, make friends, and be more involved. Stay on top of your school work; your education is the reason why you are at college.

Make sure that you turoughly research your school or schools of choice before you apply and/or accept to go there.

VISIT all optional colleges

Make sure that the school is one that is well rounded. The college should have things that not only interest your child but challenge them academically. Be sure that your child is ready for the college experience and that they can handle the workload and have fun while in the college with the different extra curicular activities.

I would strongly reccommend that parents and their children tour a wide variety of colleges before settling on one. I know that there are some students who have had dream schools their entire lives, and undeniably there are parents who push their children to make choices that aren't entirely their own (e.g., the parent's alma mater). The choice ultimately needs to be up to the student entering college. I would advise that you take into consideration such things as financial aid and scholarships, academic programs offered, the size of the student body and classes, and the availability and quality of housing both on and off campus. You won't be able to make the most out of your college experience unless you are happy with the college that you have chosen to attend. I have come to realize that college is what you make of it. I have had to learn to balance my academics with my social life, and while it is difficult to do sometimes, it's important not to lose focus of why you are in college- to learn and to become the best version of yourself as possible. Enjoy it while you can!

Not to pick a school based on social enviorments.

students: Go where you feel comfortable. Not where your parents would prefer you to go. This is your life.

After completeing 2 years of college at the Univerity of Norht Florida, I am happy that I picked this school to experience college life. Now for my advice to parents or students that are currently looking for the right college, I believe it is a process that takes some time to find the right college. My advice is to start looking for colleges now and make a list of about 5 that you would mostly likely want to go. Remember, its not about picking the biggest party school but a school that will give you the greatest opportunity to learn and meet new people. In addition to that, start applying for scholarships to help pay for the college of your choice. I believe by doing these thing early, you will get a considerable head start for picking the right college for you. Again, I stress picking a college that's not the biggest or most expensive, but a college that gives you the best chance to learn and become involved on campus.

I would advise parents and students to chose a college that fits their own personal goals and needs. Choose a college that has a strong focus in whatever field you are interested in. Ask former and current students about the quality of the education received at the school. Students should figure out if they prefer smaller or larger University settings because if they are comfortable feel their needs are being met, they are going to be better eqipped to succeed. Above all, students and parents should not choose a collge based on only one criteria, it is a combination of factirs that leads to a successful college transition. Be aware of these things, and choose wisely with them in mind.

A good college should be a great educational experience, but it should also be fun. When choosing a college it's helpful to look at the academics, teachers, environment on campus as well as at the extra cirriculum activities that are offered. Finances and advising should also be considered. When a right college has been chosed, it's good to remember that studying hard and focusing on the grades is very important, but going out and having some fun is important as well.. A golden middle is often chosen by students that tend to succeed the most. Overall, it's safe to say that a college experience should be self-fulfiling, one might want to try as many new things as possible to get the most out of this short and gratifying periods in a person's life.

Try Europe.

I would tell the parent to let the child go to the university where ever he or she feels most at home or likes the best. Even if the chid wants to go away because it is probably time to let go. However, if the parent feels the student is not ready to be away from home because the student is going to be immature, then the student should probably remain home. For the student, I would tell him ot her to look into the colleges he or she is interested in his or her own time. A student can not depend on a guidance counselor to make the decision and find all the information. It all starts with the student. Then the counselor can be there to back the student up in his or her decision. I would also tell the student to get involved in a club or organization if he or she wants to make close friends that they will remember for the rest of their lives. It is such a meaningful expereince to be with a group of people who are on the same page and are interested in the same things.

Choosing a college/university is a tough decision for most students. I would suggest basing your decision mostly on tution expenses and the help that each school offers for the students (i.e. scholarships, paid tuition, financial aid, and job benefits). Then I would read reviews (ratemyprofessor.com) about professors of your major before attending. Once you apply and get accepted, I would find as many activities and available involvement for the school. It much easier to transition into the college life when you are involved. Friends and professors really help the experience. The student governments are always needing volunteers when running their campaigns and it allows you to understand your schools goals and needs as well. Another tip for choosing a school would be its resources for studying and job availabililty. The area around the school is very important if you plan to work outside of school. Overall, most students have main characteristics that they would like already in mind when they begin searching for school. I am easy to please, but these are the only suggestions I can share. Thank you for your time.

encourage them to get into greek life, the social life on this campus is hard to form, with out getting involved incampus activity. Live on campus your first year, it is an experience that i will never ever forget

Do a lot of research before you go to the school of your choice. When you are applying to schools don't have your heart set on just one, go in with an open mind. Take a tour of the school, talk to students and professrs and the deans of the school to see how you will adjust and if this place is the best fit for you.

tour all of the colleges that are an option

Tour the college and talk to people that are around the college. Don't always ask questions from the advisors or the tour guides but also ask the students. Always go into the library and look at the different floors and see if the staff will let you see the sizes of classes that are being offered for your degree program.

Start searching early, so that you can take your time. It may not always be feasible to visit all potential campuses, so visit the schools at the top of your list and see if the others have packets (brochures, flyers, etc.) that you can have mailed to you. Some schools even have Virtual Tours online. You get the most out of any school by staying on campus. You are more likely to run into friendships of a lifetime! Also, being right there on campus is more convenient and saves you a lot of time and money. If you are going to stay on campus, pick a school with an active Student Government, a Student Union, and other student-friendly initiatives (such as, a variety of on-campus places to eat). After one semester in college, you'll definately grow to value any and everything that is time and money saving!

Make sure to visit the campus and the surrounding areas. Make sure the weather climate is acceptable. Try talking to some of the students on campus to ask the real questions you want answered about campus.