The University of West Florida Top Questions

Do not take easy classes your last year. Take as many dual enrollment classes as you can. Don't overload your first semester.

I would have worked harder to get a 3.9 or higher

I wouldn't of waited so long to go to college and get a degree. I would of put my education first, and persued my dreams. You learn from the mistakes you make.

The one regret I have regarding my college experience is not taking the best financial offer presented to me. After being accepted to several colleges and receiving many academic scholarship offers, I chose to accept a scholarship covering partial tuition at a private four year college. My decision was affected by factors that I now realize were not what mattered. I based my decision on the prestige of the school, the beauty of the campus, and the desire to attend a college outside of my tiny hometown. I now realize my concern should've been what the institution could offer me in reaching my long term goals. In hindsight I would have investigated the facets of the education department, the financial contribution I would be required to make, and whether credits earned from this college would transfer. By the time I earned my bachelor's degree I had attended four colleges, lost thirty credits and paid my own tuition. In hindsight I should have attended the local junior college that offered me a Presidential Scholarship. I likely would've still transferred to the University of West Florida, for its proximity to my home, impressive education department and reasonable tuition.

When you first get to school do not be shy, everyone is there for the same reason and is very willing to help. Meet as many people as possible, gaining new aquaintances and friends is a wonderful way to increase your social life and open a plentiful amount of new opportunities for you. One of the worst things you could do is to procrastinate on your work, the way college is set up is most of the time things are fairly easy going. The majority of your classes seem to go by the schools schedule so the majority of your tests will be around the same time, so it becomes very difficult for you when the time comes around. Most importantly enjoy it, embrace everything possible, and gain as much knowledge availible!

If granted the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have plenty of advice to offer regarding the financial aspect of higher education. I'd tell myself to do my research, to make sure I had my financial aid situation all figured out. I'd tell myself to cut back on the intensive studying, just a little, to apply to one or two essay contests and a few outside scholarships. I'd encourage communication with both my financial aid officer and local banker. And above all, I'd advise myself to rethink my decision to reject a full scholarship at an accredited university for an ivy league education. The reason for this last piece of advice being that I currently find myself working full-time during a voluntary leave of absence as opposed to pursuing my passion for learning and furthering my academic studies at Columbia University.

Education is not about the grades or the final piece of paper handed to you at the end! Education is a transforming journey that will encompass your classes, your professors, your friends, your outside activities and some serious self work! Be open to more than just proving yourself by achieving an A. That's completely missing the point of education and you can really benefit (and have a whole lot more fun) if you are looking at the college experience as a wholesome activity, not just a means to an end. Yes, work hard on your classes and do well, but also breath deeply, form a community, and make sure to be open to the college experience changing you in a lot more ways than only intellectually.

Go to a Junior college as long as possible and pay attention!

As a high school senior I was always looking for fun on the weekend. It was hard to go from hanging out and watching movies with friends to working all day and staying up at night to do homework. If I could give myself any advice I would remind myself to spend more time applying for scholarships as a senior and not going out. It seems even now that even after I graduated with my Bachelors that I still am used to the act of staying home. As teacher now, I understand that some students don?t have the ambition to ever go to college and I realize that it is my job to spend my time to encourage them to do their best. Even in elementary school, students would rather play video games instead of doing homework. I give them the same advice as I would give myself that if you don?t try now, education will be harder later in life.

As a college student, I cannot say that this journey has been easy. However, I have made the most of it. Which has made me even more statisfied with my choice to stay in the university. So my advice is to not really look at the university you are attended or will be attending, but you look at yourself. No matter what, make yourself the success and make the best out of any situation.