University of South Florida-Main Campus Top Questions

I love USF Tampa! It is a great place to learn and have fun. I have met some amazing people here and have also found a lot of new opportunities by coming to such a large, inclusive school. I would recommend USF to anyone I know, as it has something for everyone if you just look around. Not only are the people amazing, but its located in the sunny Tampa Bay. Its close to the beach, Amalie Arena, and Channelside, as well as countless other interesting places.

This is my dream college. I've wanted to go here for as long as I can remember. I have visited the campus about four times and every single time it has felt like home to me. I love the vibe of the campus. I love the look. I love everything about this place. I am beyond excited to start my journey here as an Engineering student in the fall.

I love USF and Tampa! There are great teachers that are actually interested in the student's success. I've been to other larger schools and I feel like USF has provided me with a better education than any other school I've attended. I love that Tampa is a college community but not a college town. Tampa does not revolve around USF, there is so much to do in Tampa and the surrounding areas that you are able to meet new people and branch out from just knowing college students.

As a student of the University of South Florida at the St Petersburg campus, I am privileged to enjoy my college days on a smaller campus in a college town. The serenity of campus life on the water with views of sail boats and kayaks and rolling green grass makes you proud to be a USF Bull. Classes tend to be smaller by design and the close-knit weave of the buildings give the illusion that the St Petersburg campus is even smaller than it actually is. This feeling translates into the stronger communal bond that forms with your fellow campus-mates. You aren’t just “another one”, you are “one”. Though our school is still in its infancy and does not receive the recognition it so truly deserves, the students, alumni and faculty, alike, of the University of South Florida, regardless of the campus attended, have extreme Bull pride. We wear our colors proud and shout and cheer at every game and deck our cars, bodies, faces, toenails, fingernails and homes with green and gold because we are proud of who we are and what we stand for.

As a student of the University of South Florida at the St Petersburg campus, I am privileged to enjoy my college days on a smaller campus in a college town. The serenity of campus life on the water with views of sail boats and kayaks and rolling green grass makes you proud to be a USF Bull. Classes tend to be smaller by design and the close-knit weave of the buildings give the illusion that the St Petersburg campus is even smaller than it actually is. This feeling translates into the stronger communal bond that forms with your fellow campus-mates. You aren’t just “another one”, you are “one”. Though our school is still in its infancy and does not receive the recognition it so truly deserves, the students, alumni and faculty, alike, of the University of South Florida, regardless of the campus attended, have extreme Bull pride. We wear our colors proud and shout and cheer at every game and deck our cars, bodies, faces, toenails, fingernails and homes with green and gold because we are proud of who we are and what we stand for.

I personally think this school is great. I love the campus. I was really surprised when I first got here. The one thing I would change would be the price of on campus housing. I will be moving off campus into a much nice apartment and I will be paying a lot less and it is bad because you have to live on campus as a freshmen. I personally love the size of the school. I think it is "just right." A lot of my time on campus is spent with my friends. You make so many friends so quickly and they stick with you. Everyone is so friendly here. There is a ton of school pride here also. Everywhere you go you see people with school shirts on and flashing the bulls sign. Go Bulls !

I absolutely love USF. The large campus atmosphere is perfect for me. We, as Bulls, have a tremendous pride in our school and making it known worldwide. Tampa is an excellent place to go to school with so much to do and so many opportunities in business, medicine, engineering, the arts and much more. I'm going to school for cell and molecular biology, and we have a phenomenal program here, with a great amount of research (being one of three Research One schools in the state). I'll always remember USF for the great times I had with Dance Marathon, a philanthropy that raises money for All Children's Hospital, and my involvement in Greek Life with Alpha Delta Pi!

The University of South Florida is a huge campus that in many areas resembles a serene Florida park rather than a college campus. Students are always outside on the benches studying or just enjoying the nice Florida weather. Despite the campus' large size, classes tend to be close by each other so walking to class is not too bad. The city of Tampa Bay is also huge, so we don't get the true "college town" feel, although all of the locals support the USF Bulls with great pride. When I tell people that I go to USF, they always know exactly what school I'm talking about because it is a well-known university. It's never "Oh, where is that?", which is nice. The best thing about USF is that it receives the most funding out of any other university in Florida, so there are constant renovations and improvements taking place all over campus. Beautiful new buildings appear almost every semester and little touches like new trees or fountains are also frequently added. USF is also extremely close to some of the best beaches in Florida, like Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. The major complaint that I share with most students is that there is not enough parking around campus. There have been a handful of times that I was actually late for my class merely because I was driving around looking for a spot.

USF is a great school for the price. Our state of the art Marshall Student Center is one of the most impressive things on-campus that many universities simply don't have. USF is conveniently located close to I-275 and I-75 to make it accessible to people who live on different sides of town. The campus is large, but not too big and made with plenty of paths between buildings and plenty of parking lots (though congestion still occurs at times). One thing I would change about USF is our commuter image. I think if our school supports having more fun things on-campus that more people will stick around and hangout during the nights and weekends. The university has made progress by opening our library 24-hours a day, 5-days a week and starting Weekends @ USF, which allows people to get the word out about events they are planning during the weekend. I think USF also needs to take part in cleaning up the neighborhood near it. It can be described as low-income and it can attract criminals on-campus and become a safety issue for USF students. The decaying University Square Mall nearby also does not help the situation. Most people aren't too surprised when I tell them I go to USF because a high number of Tampa residents who go to high school here end up at USF. I have a mixed opinion on our administration. The dean could do more to be closer to her students - but she does attempt to make things better for us - it is hard with such a large university. The biggest recent controversy on campus happened today. The Republican Presidential Debate was held at on our campus and many students were angry at how it disrupted their day - leading to a protest later in the evening that attracted over 300 people. School pride is mixed. Students tend to join on the bandwagon when our football team is up and then jump off when we make mistakes. Other sports teams have lackluster support at our school. When provided with free shirts, students will proudly wear their school colors though. One experience I will always remember is orientation during freshman year - it was a nice preview to what college life would be like. There was so many things going on - even a mini-club party that was plenty of fun. It was when I first realized how much of a social experience going to a huge university would be like. The most frequent student complaints are parking issues, unfair professor grading curves, and issues in the financial aid department. Many students also believe the school wastes their tuition money on unnecessary things, such as a grass bull built on campus that cost thousands of dollars in upkeep costs every year.

USF is amazing. The best thing on campus is the diversity that it represents. You get to interact with people from all over the world and learn their ways of life. This in itself broadens your horizons and makes you more tolerant and understanding to that which seems different. There are also over 500 student organizations that are supported by student government where students can enjoy activities that appeal to their interests, including sports, activism, advocacy, awareness, socials, cultural clubs; and even academic clubs for all majors. The neat thing about this is that if a student comes up with an idea for a club that doesn't already exist, he can submit a one page application to request the formation of such club (the requirements that need to be met is at least 5 other students who are interested in joining, and the willingness of the organization to comply with university policies). Our school is also in the top research universities in the state of Florida. Advisors are more than willing to help you getting matched with programs that match your interests. The school is relatively large, due to its myriad of colleges. However, we have a student center where students have rooms for club meetings, food courts, center for student involvement, etc. There is a lot of school pride. Homecoming week is filled with colors and overall school spirit. We also get free tickets to football games, and there's a shuttle that takes us to those games. Safety is very cherished, so our school takes all the necessary precautions to avoid incidents that endanger a student's life.

The school has a beautiful campus and is full of friendly people willing to go out of their way to help you whenever you need help. The school is large and can be intimidating at first, but its very easy to navigate and there are maps all over campus to help. When I tell others that I attend USF I normally get a congratulations or that's great. It s a great school to go to in Florida so I'm happy to be here. I spend most of my time on campus either in the Marshall Student Center or in the Library. Both are great places to hang out with friends, study, or both. The workers in the offices of administration have tough/busy jobs. The offices are always full and sometimes this can be intimidating. However, they are wonderful at their jobs and will solve just about any problem you could think of. There is so much Bull Pride here on our campus, and I'm proud to be a Bull!!

I think that USF is the perfect school because it's the perfect size. It's not too small that it makes you feel like you're still in high school, but not too big that you feel like you're getting lost in the crowd. It has numerous options for majors, for research opportunities, and extracurricular activities. The only thing I would change about USF to relocate it from its current urban location, but this does not take away from the university at all because it is like an oasis in a busy city.

I think that USF is the perfect school because it's the perfect size. It's not too small as to make you feel like you're still in high school, but not too big that you feel like you're getting lost in the crowd. It has numerous options for majors, for research opportunities, and extracurricular activities. The only thing I would change about USF to relocate it from its current urban location, but this does not take away from the university at all because it is like an oasis in a busy city.

I think that USF is the perfect school because it's the perfect size. It's not small enough to make you feel like you're still in high school, but not too big that you feel like you're getting lost in the crowd. It has numerous options for majors, for research opportunities, and extracurricular activities. The only thing I would change about USF to relocate it from its current urban location, but this does not take away from the university at all because it is like an oasis in a busy city.

I think our school is still just getting on it's feet. We're pretty new in the land of universities. I think we have a pretty good amount of student involvement but overall pride could be taken up a notch. That being said I really like this school. I was a transfer student from a Florida community college and kind of wish I came when I was a freshman. My favorite thing about USF is the campus. It's pretty large but I love walking to class and being able to take in some nice scenery. One of my favorite things about USF and the area has got to be the food. As many people out there do, I LOVE food. You can find a lot of fast food joints open late at night and even some popular restaurants.

Although at first I hated it, but I like the fact that if you're a first year at USF, you are required to live on campus for at least a year. This allowed me to become more connected to school. I knew more of what's on campus than a senior who's been living at an off-campus housing. I also like that there's a meal plan. Definitely good for times when you don't want to cook, but the one down-side is that what kind of meal plan depends on what type of dorm you live in, which I don't like because some meal plans go wasted with unused meals.

I LOVE USF! It has so far been an amazing experience with great people, professors, opportunities, choices in classes, and a great overall experience. It is not a college town, but that is the great part about Tampa.. there are a lot of places and things to do and of course it's almost always sunny.

One common stereotype is that USF is a "commuter" school. USF also has a very high number of students (in the 40,000s). These two "facts" make people believe that USF's student life is nonexistent, or that there are so many students that it may be hard for a student to find his or her place at USF. Many people don't know this but USF has a lot to offer when it comes to resident life and extracurricular activities! I myself lived on campus for three years and became a Resident Assistant. There is a lot going on "on campus" that future USF students can look forward to!

Overall I am very happy with USF. Like anything in life there will be obstacles in your way but when I hear about other universities I feel that we have it pretty good. My favorite thing about this school is the diversity on campus and how nice everyone is to each other. I also like that it is not a college town. It is a school built in a city so there are plenty of non-college things to do as well as student activities. The schools administration is doing a pretty good job. There has been a very large increase in the amount of students attending USF and I think that they are fumbling a little about what to do but they are on the right track building new classes and dorms to contain all of our new members. My only complaint would be the counselors for pre-med students. They are always booked and if you go in during walk ins they always seem to be pushing you out the door.

Overall, I think there is something for everyone at USF. WIth an overwhelming number of clubs and activities, there is never a dull moment at USF. The class sizes tend to be quite large in lectures, but many lecture classes also have a smaller lab where students can get more individualized help. When I tell people that I go to USF, they usually comment on the football team and how it is becoming more well-known and respected. USF is known for being one of the nation's top research schools, and I have definitely taken advantage of that. I think that the school's administration really wants to know the opinions of the general student body so they can make informed decisions that have to do with students. For instance, I got e-mail polls about tuition costs. I spend most of my time on campus because I have lived on campus for three and a half years. I also work in the the student center and frequent the gym. One experience I will always remember is when the Marshall Center was filled with students ready to see the Common lecture this year. I would say that the most frequent complaint is that we do not have a football stadium on campus, so we use Raymond James arena.

Smaller universities offer closer contact with professors. USF Polytechnic does.

Although I wasn't impressed with the university when I first visited it as a junior in high school, I am really glad I decided to come here. I really like the campus, the fact that there are so many things to do outside the university. I also love the resources available to the students, such as: free prints, clinic visits, gym, movies on the lawn every other week, a ton of student organizations etc. Overall I feel that the faculty and staff are very approachable and they care about their students’ grades and are always willing to help.

Best of the best!!! USF is reaching for the top and is taking their students on the journey with them. I have never loved a school as much as I love USF and am honored to be on of their students. I know when I leave here I will be a better person, and I think that is one of the goals of USF to develop and create outstanding future leaders of the world. Don't expect to feel this way by just sitting in a residential hall all day, you have to go out and seek the opportunities that USF has available, they never run dry!!! If there is something you want to do, you will find it! If you wnat to change the world, this is a great place to start your journey :)

The best thing about the University of South Florida is that they actually care about their students :) Our student government is huge on campus which means that we control a lot that happens on campus. If we want something, we ask for it, and we usually get it! USF students practice BULL PRIDE, you can't help feeling it when you step on campus! When you first see USF trust me it's going to seem huge but after a week of two it feels like home. I tend to spend most of my time in our beautiful Marshall Student Center, this building is amazing and oh so convenient! Tampa is definitely not a college town there is so much more too it, you can never get bored. We have beaches, theme parks, ect... if your ever do get tired Orlando is about an hour away :)

Big campus with 45,000+ students. Situated on edge of metro area.

One thing I would change about USF is how they centralize the activities.

I am a transfer student, so I dont feel very connected to USF, it is a good size school but there are not many places to hangout on or near campus. This last fall really united the school when our football team reached the #2 spot, yet not having a sadium on campus didnt make it really feel like a school event.

I Love the fact that USF is very diverse and most teachers here seem to truly care about the futures of their students and extend themselves to be of assistance as much as possible. Coming from a school where it was a bit different it's a positive change. The school pride is good alot of student represent their colors to the fullest and most students seem to involved in something.

School Pride comes and goes like the football team, you do see a lot of stickers on cars and such. Most of my time is spent in the library the business building and the marshall center. Biggest controversy would have to be regarding presidential elections for the upcoming school year. I will always remember to wake up early to ensure I have a parking spot. Not enough parking spots after 11am usually.

Best thing: It's progressively becoming more well known and working towards becoming a more prestigious school. It has a beautiful campus and offers plenty to do outside of Academics. The student population is a little bit too small. People react positively when I say I go to USF. Spend most of my time near Cooper. USF's administration is like any other school -- good and bad qualities. There should definitely be more school pride.

I became much more active this semester. Last semester, I focused on getting a high GPA. My goal was a 4.0 GPA, but I earned a 3.54 GPA for the fall term. This disappointed me, but at the end I got over it. The only class that I did not do well in was Chemistry. I finished the class with a C+ however, after thinking it through, I decided it wasn’t the end of the world, and it didn’t affect my major at all. In the spring term, I continue to work hard to maintain my high GPA; while taking advantage of leadership opportunities around campus and participating in organizations. As of now, I am pledging in one of the greatest organizations that I have participated in; Alpha Kappa Psi. So far, I have furthered my skills in communication in fields such as job interviews, social events, professional events and I have never felt more confident in my life. I cannot wait to finish the process and be a true member of such a wonderful organization. Through this organization, I have met many great people thus far; I plan to exceed both academically and professionally. I have come closer to many individuals, and I have et many students that share some of the similarities that I have always had interest in.

The Campus is pretty. I would change the parking, especially for the residents, make more closer to the dorms. I think my school is just right, maybe a little too big, but I've seen bigger, so to me its perfect. People see me in a different light when they know I go to USF, its one reason why I wear my school sweater around. I spent it usually in my dorm when I dont have classes or when I dont eat. The administration is ok, Im a little mad at the school because they are giving us classes on Friday, and I know schools that dont even have Friday labelled as a class day. So if they changed that I think more people would like to come to our school, if not like it a bit better. There is a lot of school pride, but not really, mainly those who love football or a sport. Usually theres a lot of school pride when our football team wins. Parking and Friday classes are things students complain about the most.

USF has a great atmosphere about it. Unless you go to Cooper Hall lawn during the day. Then you are assualted with so much smoke and other nastiness you can't even breathe. If you go into Education, stay far away from Mr. Lamons. He has screwed up everyone's schedule so far. The football games are tons of fun. Go out and enjoy yourselves, but please support the team! We need fans, not people to just jump on the bandwagon. The only controversy I see are evangelists telling us we are all going to hell. Just don't listen to them, and they will leave you alone. Class sizes are surprisingly not too big. I only have a couple classes with over 100. The teachers are very understanding of this and will help you whenever you need it. You are not just a statistic at USF. Make sure to support the school. You pay the money to go HERE, not FSU or UF. We don't care if you are a fan of them, just don't show it.

The best thing about USF is the staff, when you have a question for administration its easy to get an answer. I think the size of the school is just right- We do need more parking though. I spend most of my time on campus at the starbucks or the computer lab. There is a lot of school pride at USF especially during football season. The current controversy is weather or not we are going to have summer classes. I will always remember beating WVU in '07

I like the town, I like the campus. USF offers a lot of really neat extracurricular opportunities (i.e. the rope courses, kayaking and canoeing on the Hillsborouh, etc.). Student government is a bit pretentious, but other than that the experience was good.

The staff in the Communications department. I have never met a more friendly and educated group of people. Most people assume I go to USF when they ask if I'm in college or not. While on Campus I spend most of my time in the library. There is definitely a lot of school pride and I will always remember being ranked 2nd for football!!

The best thing about USF, is the unity upon the student body. One thing i would change is the library hours and parking. USF is just right for a Division 1 school.When I tell people I am from USF they say Go Bulls!!! I spend most of my time on campus at the Business building. Tampa is a college town. USF's adminstration is okay, but there is room for improvement. The biggest controversy is the State wided budget cut. There is a lot of school pride especially during football season. One experience I will always remember is seeing the diversity on campus. The major student complaint is library hours and parking.

USF is okay. I'm not happy about the rising costs to stay on campus, and the tuition increases (but hey, all Florida schools are going through that). The administration here are a little too closed off, and seem like they have their own agenda instead of doing more for the students, and not just for the school's namesake. School pride has waned a little, but there might be a jump-start by the summer or next year. Frankly, I think a lot of students don't too much care or worry about what's really going on. I'm ready to keep to my pace and get out of school.

The best thing about USF is the teachers. The staff is so fantastic. You can tell they take an interest in their students and you're not just a number. The school is large, but it is definitely not too large. Because of the size, there is a chance for everyone to find a niche. There are a lot of programs on campus to get students connected, and there are also a lot of opportunities to help students find career paths. It is really hard to fall between the cracks at this school. I don't think the Tampa Bay area qualifies as a college town because it's so large, but there are definitely some areas of the city that are geared toward the college crowd. There are a lot of great places to live around campus, and it's a very accessible city. The USF administration is quick to aid in any problems the students have. Issues are resolved quickly. There is a space on the website for commonly requested forms if you need fast access to your transcipts. The administration really tries to provide for the students and the grounds of the school are upkept very well. Our football team was ranked #2 this year, which was a really exciting time for us. We have a newer team, so it was exciting to be nationally recognized. A lot of students attend the basketball games, and you cannot walk across campus without seeing someone in USF gear. The student goverment elections are taking place for President and Vice President right now, which is getting a lot of attention from our student newspaper, The Oracle. This is probably the biggest issue occurring on campus right now. My best memories of USF are the football games. Our games usually take place at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stadium (which is in downtown Tampa). The stadium is brand new, and everyone makes a day out of going to tailgate. So much fun!! The most frequent student complaints are about parking. Parking is a problem on a lot of campuses, but USF is building two brand new parking garages. They also opened up a grass lot right in the heart of the campus so that it is easier to get to classes.