Florida State University Top Questions

My first thought upon visiting Florida State University for the first time was that it looked like universities should look, like in the movies of course. Coming from South Florida, the lovely old brick buildings and shady oaks with Spanish moss trailing everywhere were very new to me. My research into things like academics and internship opportunities officially convinced me I wanted to come here, but before I knew any of that it was love at first sight. And three years later, as I walk down the campus, I am still pleasantly surprised sometimes by just how beautiful it is--especially as the seasons change. That is not to say that everything is perfect. Most students will tell you that parking is rather hectic and the cost is always rising. However, these are issues that I would face at almost any school I can think of. If I have to deal with them, I rather deal with them at the beautiful Florida State University.

I don't have many bad things to say about FSU. The campus is one of the prettiest in the nation. Tallahassee is an interesting city. It has it's beautiful parts, though as is with most college towns if you stray a block or two in the wrong direction you'll find yourself in a shady neighborhood. There is a good number of people in the school. Gyms and restaurants get crowded at times but it's nothing too bad. The people can be jerks, and the people can be nice. It depends on who you're surrounding yourself with and where you are. The teachers are great and helpful, and football reigns supreme. If I could change one thing it would be parking. Parking is miserable and I myself have racked a considerable amount in parking tickets.

There are a lot of great things about Florida State University. I love the pride that the students have in their school, especially during football games. One of the best experiences I had as a freshman here at FSU was my first football game. Everyone had the school colors on (garnet and gold). There were parties before and after the game. There were just tons and tons of students around the stadium getting ready to cheer their school on, and this is the way it is for every football game here at FSU. Once I entered the stadium, I saw that most of the seats were covered with FSU students, and when we did the war chant, I felt like all of Florida could hear us. The marching chief's are also a big part of our football games. The first time I heard them play, I was blown away by how loud they were. Florida State University is also a beautiful campus. I love walking to class in a November afternoon with a light breeze. Stepping on a brick path, looking up to see trees and hills; it's very pleasant. Another thing I love about this school is the people. You can walk around and ask anybody directions or whatnot, and will always get an honest answer. The administration is also very nice as well, even if you have an intention of transferring to another university, you will not be treated any differently. FSU is filled with all kinds of people, but there is a great sense of unity. I really do feel like I am a part of a huge family. One thing that I really want to emphasize is that this area is very rural. I come from Pembroke Pines, Florida so i can drive to South Beach or Miami very easily. I am used to palm trees, buildings and plenty of things to do. I decided to come to FSU for many reasons, among which was this rural feeling. There are plenty of hills (which is surprising for me because I have lived in south Florida all of my life and I did not expect to find hills here). I wanted to experience something different, and so I was very excited about moving up here to Tallahassee. After two years of being here, I can easily tell you that I HATE Tallahassee. Outside of the Florida State campus, there is almost literally nothing. There is no real city. There is no airport. There are a couple of clubs that get old very quickly...and a couple of parks. These things are great to experience with friends for a year, but after a while I began to realize how much I missed home (Miami). This place began to feel more and more grey and dead with each passing month. Most people just go to parties, or just walk around and hang out. On campus there is Club Down Under, were there are many different kinds of performances from a Chinese ensemble to a hypnotist. There is also a movie theater, bowling ally and several performance halls in which students from the School of music have performances. I can give more information to anyone who is interested in becoming a part of the Florida State University School of Music, which is pretty hard to get into. I am a Music Minor. In a nutshell, FSU is a great school with great education, great staff and awesome students, but is located in a very dead city.

I love Florida State University. I find there to be a good balance of people here, my classes are challenging and interesting at the same time, the campus is beautiful and it's close to home there's not much more I could ask for in my school.

FSU is located in a cool, historic city, so there's always new things to learn about and explore. It's a big school, but not gigantic. It has a pretty positive reputation for both academics and athletics, so people are usually impressed and interested to hear that you go there. I spend a lot of time at the gym, its probably my favorite place on campus. Its a great facility and its open until midnight most nights, and they offer great group fitness classes. Tallahassee is definitely a college town, but its still the state capital, so there is more going on. FSU has a great administration, in my opinion. They seem genuinely concerned for the students and our success here. The biggest recent controversy here was an off-campus shooting last year. There is a huge amount of school pride, most people here are proud to be Seminoles.

Overall, I really enjoy my school. The things I really enjoy about this school include the curriculum, the professors, the campus, and the heritage. The major I am in is pretty unique to this university and has given me an edge on the career search after college. The professors I have has are very engaging and interesting; they push their students to think farther and really excel. The campus is composed of picturesque brick buildings and large trees. The school was originally an all-women's college, and the traditions of that institution have adapted into the traditions we currently hold today; this creates a multi-faceted school identity which students can grab hold of and apply to their own lives. The one thing I would change would be some of the strict rules of the dormitories. The school is just the right size for me; I can see myself as a part of it while also meeting so many new people. Because I am an in-state student, when I tell people I attend FSU, their reactions are usually charged with the rivalry between the several Florida schools; if they support FSU, they congratulate me. I spend most of time at the Marching Chiefs field and my dorm room.

I absolutely LOVE Florida State University. I have learned so much, gained real world experience, and made a network of friends. One of the best things about FSU is the beautiful and state of the art campus. 24 hour access to the main library, on campus gymnasium, multiple computer labs, and lounges are all amenities that work to enhance a student’s overall experience. It is hard for me to think of something to change at FSU but if I had to name one I would improve the parking situation. There is a limited amount of parking garages. It often times it gets hectic and is a frequent student complaint. Administration, however, is working on alleviating some of the traffic by building new garages. When I tell people I go to Florida State University the response is usually positive, however, it is difficult to bring up the university without bringing up our football team. I live on campus and spend most of my time either at work, going to class, or participating in extracurricular activities. FSU is definitely a college town and I much prefer this atmosphere as compared to a big city where the university tends to get lost. The school’s administration is a strong one and is always pushing toward excellence. There an enormous amount of school pride and it is most apparent during fall when students and alumni come together and enjoy football games. One experience I will always remember about my time here at Florida State University would be moving into the dorms freshman year. Finally moving away from home and living on my own was the best decision I could have ever made. I would not be the person I am today if I had not attended FSU and for that I am forever grateful.

FSU was my first choice school, and as it usually goes, I had a harder time getting in. Overall though, I love my school, but it's certainly not some kind of college Utopia. When it comes to your financial aid or many of the administrative services, there's a pretty big bureaucracy and you can get the runaround. Just recently I was almost kicked out of my classes because halfway through the semester they realized that I forgot one piece of paperwork. The school itself is large but not ridiculously so. You can walk from one side of campus to the other in about 30 minutes, even with the hills. The hills are really my only complaint about the setup of the school: all my classes are way uphill, and I usually arrive red-faced and panting like I'd run a mile. Most of my time on campus is spent either in one of the Student Unions, in Oglesby Union or just on the Union or Landis Green. In the fall and spring, the normally oppressing weather really lightens up, and you'll see just about everybody outside enjoying before either the temperature drops into the 30s or it rises into the high 90s. Tallahassee is most definitely a college town, with more places that deliver than don't (though be careful, some of the fees they want to charge are nothing short of ridiculous). With many great diners and some pretty cheap drinks right across the street and along the strip, even staying on campus without a car means you won't have to be too far from where the action is. Our biggest controversy in recent history was about three years ago, when many of the football players were caught buying their grades from a TA for an online class. We ended up having many of our wins and some awards taken away because of it. There is most definitely a lot of school pride, and while I'm proud of my school, I think that gets confused with "football" pride. I'm not a big football fan, although I'm happy when we win, but even when you put that aside, FSU is a great school that has some of the top programs in the country for certain majors, including both of mine. Probably the most unusual thing about this school is how, even though Tallahassee is in a very conservative part of the country, there's not a lot of bad feelings if you're not a conservative Christian or a good ol' boy, and in fact the school is pretty liberal. I myself am not conservative or Christian and I've never been made to feel inferior or bad about my choices. Even the most conservative students are usually open-minded enough to talk and have some really good discussions about life in general. I've never seen people fight about it or have anyone make a big deal of it, which in this part of the country, makes FSU a nice university with a pretty chill atmosphere for it's students. The one experience I'll always remember is the first time I saw the Evangelical preachers who travel to universities come to campus. It was really disconcerting that, like I said before, everyone I met was pretty chill, and then suddenly there are loud, screaming preachers yelling at me that I'm a slut for wearing jeans. Nowadays I can look at them and shake my head in amusement, but at the time, I was really upset. If you're sensitive and can hear them in the Union, I would advise you walk pretty far around them. Definitely the biggest complaints in the school have to do with administration. While tuition costs go up, our financial aid goes down, and when there's a problem with money or registration, it becomes a huge issue since no one likes to email other departments to get conflicts resolved. Just three weeks ago I was sent from the first floor to the third floor 3 times in 20 minutes because the two departments were being stubborn and wouldn't just talk to each other. Try to get everything in early so if there is a problem, it can be resolved fast.

The best thing about Florida State University is its friendly atmosphere. There's an air of southern hospitality in Tallahassee that you just don't get in SoFla. We have the smallest acreage-wise public university campus in the State of Florida, so we have a very pedestrian-friendly campus. There are a ton of people here, 40,000+, but I wouldn't let that daunt you. FSU offers over 500 clubs and organizations that you can join to find your niche and make campus a lot smaller. Plus, our stadium holds 80,000+ and boy, is it amazing to see that many garnet and gold arms doing the chop during the fight song on game day! The only thing I'd change about FSU is the parking situation. Parking pretty much sucks at every college campus and its no different at FSU, but we do have a pretty reliable campus bus system if you want to avoid the whole car situation.

Florida State University is a great school that has many flaws through no fault of their own. Most professors (or should I say teacher assistants) do care for the prosperity of their students but depending on your department there is no telling who will be standing at the front of the classroom when it’s time to begin. For me (editing, writing and media major) it’s rare to have a professor who is the one teaching the class. I mean there is a professor in a faraway land who dictates what we learn and when but as for the presentation of the material, the duty usually falls on the teachers assistants due to an overload of classes to administer. Now that might sound terrible, but its actually not that bad; the TA's are more recently undergrads themselves so they can relate to many obstacles students face and have more innovative methods of relaying the information. But let’s say you’re in a major that requires a lot of math or sciences, you’d be lucky to even get someone who can properly speak English for you to understand! All of this is a direct consequence of education budget cuts which obviously also directly affect Florida State students.

The best thing about FSU is the campus itself and the community surrounding the school. The support that Tallahassee residents show FSU and the way the welcome us to their town is amazing. Seminole Pride doesn't stop at edge of campus, it extends even further throughout Tallahassee as a whole. FSU is a large university, with over 50,000 students. The campus is so large and spread out, however, that you dont get the feel of it being crowded. I remember my first time getting lost on campus. I ended up following Legacy Walk, a trail which highlights historic architecture, statues, fountains, and historic buildings. I was late to class, but I got to see how beautiful my school really is. I spend most of my time in the Student Union. I have a job in the Student Activities Center, the central area on campus for all student groups and organizations. It's sort of the hub of the campus, a starting point for getting involved and becoming intermingled with a diverse student population with varied backgrounds, ethnicities and interests. There's something for everyone. There also two other colleges in Tallahassee: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Tallahassee Community College. The three colleges, plus local residents and workers add diversity and richness to the community. Complaints: I was going to murmur about parking, but they've really improved on that this year (we even have VALET parking). I'd still like to see the campus bus system improve though. There are way too many student, and too few buses that don't run as often as we'd like.

I could not love going to Florida State University any more than I already do. I've visited schools all across the country and this school was the best choice by far. Florida State is an extremely diverse school, with something to offer for any and all kinds of students, which in my opinion is the best part about being a student here. Aside from the massive athletics department, with one of the nations most talked about football teams, Florida State's international programs department is ranked in the top fifteen of the nation with twenty different locations around the world. The Greek Life involvement nears around 4,500 students and is a great way to make such a large school feel a little smaller. When I tell people I go to FSU, people are usually really impressed because of how well known the school is nationwide and generally not for negative reasons. It's located in the state's capital and is more of a "college town" than any other school in the state of Florida. An experience I will always remember is when I studied abroad at the Florence, Italy location that FSU has. It was the most eye-opening, culturally stimulating, life changing thing I have ever done. Periodically throughout the semesters the international programs department holds "study abroad fairs" in which people from the department set up in the center of campus to answer questions, hand out flyers, and encourage people to study abroad. Doing so was easily the best decision I have made thus far in my life.

Florida State University is an extremely diverse school, with something to offer for any and all kinds of students, which in my opinion is the best part about being a student here. Aside from the massive athletics department, with one of the nations most talked about football teams, Florida State's international programs department is ranked in the top fifteen of the nation with twenty different locations around the world. The Greek Life involvement nears around 4,500 students and is a great way to make such a large school feel a little smaller. When I tell people I go to FSU, people are usually really impressed because of how well known the school is nationwide and generally not for negative reasons. It's located in the state's capital and is more of a "college town" than any other school in the state of Florida. An experience I will always remember is when I studied abroad at the Florence, Italy location that FSU has. It was the most eye-opening, culturally stimulating, life changing thing I have ever done. Periodically throughout the semesters the international programs department holds "study abroad fairs" in which people from the department set up in the center of campus to answer questions, hand out flyers, and encourage people to study abroad. Doing so was easily the best decision I have made thus far in my life.

My overall opinion of my time being spent as a student at FSU would be satisfying. I love the atmosphere around campus and its beautiful architecture and landscapes. There is a great sense of school pride amongst everyone and the way everyone comes together for our sports teams here is amazing! Tailgating and rooting for the Florida State Seminole football team every weekend during fall semesters has to be one of my favorite memories. Coming here for school is a great choice especially if you want the whole "college town life" experience. Tallahassee shows so much support towards the school and the areas around the campus are so closely geared towards the interests of students. The administration here is on track when it comes to telling you the right information you need instead of directing you to different departments. The school is always expanding and changing meeting the demands of its students and faculty.

The best thing about my school is the social aspect. There is always something to do, whether you want to go to a bar and dance, watch a movie at the on campus movie theater or join a new club there is always something to do. FSU is a large school with over 40,000 students. But it does not feel that way. The school feels very small and I often see a lot of people I know just walking around campus or in my classes. I spend a lot of time at my sorority house on campus. It is warm and welcoming and I always have fun there. FSU has a ton of school pride. We are proud to call ourselves seminoles and the school has a very strong alumni association.

My overall opinion of Florida State is that it's a lap full of opportunity! There are so many programs at my school that help first year students get on the right path. Also, there are numerous scholarship, internship, and job opportunities right on campus! Everyone should be able to find their own niche. My school is just right. It may seem big when you first start but as you begin to get involved... you'll find that everyone is taking part in the Seminole family. When I'm on campus I spend most of my time in class or in meetings... always interacting with my classmates and peers on campus. One think I would change: I would add more buses to our transportation system. Though the system is efficient, sometimes the buses can be a little packed. There is definitely school pride here! It seems as if everyone is on the same page and really, there's not much to complain about.

Florida State University is great. The size is just right; if you are someone who likes to socialize there are a bunch of people to meet, but if you keep more to yourself you don't have to interact with people you aren't fond of. However, you should get out! There's a bunch of things to do on campus from football to watching a movie at the Student Life Cinema (which sometimes has events as well) to going to a Union Production to Paint-a-Pot to Flying High Circus (one of its kind) to Market Wednesday and more! You honestly can't get bored on campus (unless you lock yourself up!) There's also a good amount of free time to spend doing these things. You don't have to constantly keep your nose in a book since many teachers are reasonable with their assignments (at least in the English and Theater departments.) Many of the teachers here are super respectable as well. There are also many opportunities that the school provides academically to have its graduates stand out in the real world. The football craze on campus is definitely obvious. Tailgates and celebrations are prominent during game weekends. Our Seminoles are our biggest pride for sure! From time to time you'll hear a complaint about the cafeterias on campus and how they need healthier food/a bigger menu selection, but it still is manageable. Tallahassee in general is a college town as well as the capitol of Florida, and there's not much to do otherwise during the day. However, the city does have its own transportation system (free for students) and two malls in the area. The city is better explored if you have your own car and it is possible to just spend your time at the university. Honestly, one of the best things about this university is that there is literally something for everyone, no exaggeration there. There is an absolutely wonderful staff that is willing to help you both currently and for your future, academically and socially. Its obvious they care about the students. FSU maintains a friendly and comfortable atmosphere and I personally really love it here.

Florida State University is great. The size is just right; if you are someone who likes to socialize there are a bunch of people to meet, but if you keep more to yourself you don't have to interact with people you aren't fond of. However, you should get out! There's a bunch of things to do on campus from football to watching a movie at the Student Life Cinema (which sometimes has events as well) to going to a Union Production to Paint-a-Pot to Flying High Circus (one of its kind) to Market Wednesday and more! You honestly can't get bored on campus (unless you lock yourself up!) There's also a good amount of free time to spend doing these things. You don't have to constantly keep your nose in a book since many teachers are reasonable with their assignments (at least in the English and Theater departments.) Many of the teachers here are super respectable as well. There are also many opportunities that the school provides academically to have its graduates stand out in the real world. The football craze on campus is definitely obvious. Tailgates and celebrations are prominent during game weekends. Our Seminoles are our biggest pride for sure! From time to time you'll hear a complaint about the cafeterias on campus and how they need healthier food/a bigger menu selection, but it still is manageable. Tallahassee in general is a college town as well as the capitol of Florida, and there's not much to do otherwise during the day. However, the city does have its own transportation system (free for students) and two malls in the area. The city is better explored if you have your own car and it is possible to just spend your time at the university. Honestly, one of the best things about this university is that there is literally something for everyone, no exaggeration there. There is an absolutely wonderful staff that is willing to help you both currently and for your future, academically and socially. Its obvious they care about the students. FSU maintains a friendly and comfortable atmosphere and I personally really love it here.

During my time at Florida State I have developed a sense of pride for my school and learned to fully appreciate all that it has to offer. I would say the best thing about Florida State is the people. I find that the people, both students and staff, are very welcoming and genuinely care about your college experience. Were I forced to change one thing about Florida State I would move the new Intramural fields and the Engineering building closer to campus. Currently they are about one or two miles south of campus. I think Florida State is the perfect size for a state university. The student body is small enough to provide a comfortable, almost "at home" feeling while also large enough to allow students to broaden their horizons. When I tell people I am a student at Florida State they generally have one of three reactions. Either they are University of Florida fans and jokingly disapprove, are Florida State fans and genuinely approve, or are Florida State alumni and immediately we understand we have a connection that runs deep. Florida State has one of the best Alumni organizations I have ever seen and there is a true bond between those who have attended Florida State, a bond that will last for a lifetime. While on campus at Florida State I spend most of my time either in class, at Cuong Nhu lessons, or working out by jogging around the campus. Commonly, I can also be found on the Intramural fields playing an assortment of sports. Tallahassee is a nice mix between college town and small city. The areas around campus are basically designed for students, there are a multitude of places to eat within a mile of the campus' borders. And not just fast food places, but cozy little mom and pop type establishments like Pitaria or Mr. Roboto. All the shops one needs are also located near campus: multiple barbershops, a bike repair store, a computer repair store, a Publix and a Wallgreens and CVS. Further away from campus Tallahassee begins to feel more like a small city, with more expensive dining options, such as Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden, as well as a very nice Downtown area. My experience with administration at Florida State has been nothing but efficient and pleasurable. I have talked to administration when applying to the Honors College, investigating a possible major change, deciding on future classes and looking for ways to get involved around campus. All of the employees that I have worked with were not only eager, but knowledgeable and extremely able to help me with whatever I needed. I am not aware of the last big controversy on campus and cannot remember one occurring since I have attended here, however this is probably due to me being a Freshman this year. The school pride at Florida State is both ever present and unwavering. The student body is proud to call themselves Noles and will miss no opportunity to show it. I did not know the meaning of school pride until I came to Florida State. There is something unusual about Florida State: the atmosphere. The campus seems to exude an atmosphere of acceptance. It is hard to explain, but it is a feeling that cannot be ignored. Before becoming a Nole I had no interest in school pride, or anything of the sort. Upon becoming a Nole I realized that there was more to school pride than just boasting about your school's sports teams and wearing their colors. School pride is developed by the school itself. Since I have lived here I have come to know this campus as almost a second home. There is an air about the campus that makes one feel as if they belong here. I know I feel that way. One experience I will never forget from Florida State was being thrown into the Westcott fountain by my friends on my birthday. Every Nole knows that this is a Florida State tradition and partaking in it truly helped me to become a proud Seminole. The most frequent thing I hear students complaining about (aside from the usual "10am is way to early to have class!") is the weather. Most of the students at Florida State have lived in Florida their entire lives. Tallahassee is a bit more northern than they are accustomed to and the winters are a bit colder.

Florida State University has provided me with the opportunity to learn about myself in the context of other people and places. I have been able to meet people and do things that I never anticipated; Florida State is a program that gives you plenty of guidance while still granting you self-direction and self-determinism. The students here have increible spirit; going down to see the game and cheering on our team is a matter of pride in our alma mater. That sense of identity and collective spirit is really important to mose students. The best part of Florida State is probably the town of Tallahassee - it's just small enough to explore and eventually become a second hope to many of its student residents. The outlying areas are beautiful and provide a nice contrast to the bustle of a campus with so many students. Although the total population of FSU is in the hundreds of thousands, the individual programs offer intimate classroom discussions, lively debates, and a more private feel. The campus itself is gorgeous, with rolling hills, beautiful brick buildings throughout, well-maintained greens, fountains, and many more secret places to explore than you would expect. It has a fully furnished student cinema, a great gym, and extensive libraries. Art installations on the campus are always intersting as well.