University of Central Florida Top Questions

When choosing a college to attend, you should really take into account the location of the school. Of course, this is only in applicable should you have a decision between two colleges which are similar academically. Try to find a college located in an area which would provide a wide range of activities to do. Should you find yourself in a strictly rural or urban area, you might become bored with the same recreational activities over time. Try to find a college which is close enough to a downtown area that you can go there should you desire, but also has something peaceful and relaxing - like a beach - should the stress of school begin to become overwhelming. Once you get there, do not be afraid to meet as many people as possible. Everyone on campus is looking to make friends when they first arrive, and you owe it to yourself to meet as many of them as possible.

The best advice I can give is to explore prospective campuses. When you find one that feels like it could be home (or close to home), that is most probably the campus for you. Take everything for what it is - if people are rude, or if the campus doesn't look clean, it will probably stay that way all year-round. So trust your insticts! Once you find the school in which you're most comfortable, get involved with social events on-campus. Find a friend, or a group, that makes you feel welcome. And most importantly, have fun! Everyone is nervous their first year - it's a fact of life. But take that nervousness and make it excitement. Be proud of your school, study hard to get good grades, and just love life. It's all about attitude. College is there for you to do well, and it's up to you to make the most out of your few years there!

I would suggest taking as many placement tests as possible to see what area the student would best enjoy and succeed in. Changing majors does nothing but waste time and money. Also, explain to your kids the importance of keeping your school life straight while you enjoy the social life. That's what college has become about, the social life. It is easy to stray away from what you're doing in school especially when your friends talk you out of going to class (they WILL do it). I would take my kid to a college bar on a saturday night (durring senior year of highschool) a couple of times to show what goes on. You then have a year to explain what to do and what not to do and so on.

I would tell parents or students to try and talk to students at the school they are interested in, to learn what the school is really about. Maybe even try and spend a weekend at the school to try and get a real feel for the school. Also students going to college need to be really open-minded and be ready to experience new things and meet a lot of different people. Also don't be afraid to try new things because it could beneift you or not but its better that you try it out and see what works best for you.

college is all about networking and making contacts with those who will run the world in the future. meet as many people as you can and do what you need to do. learn how to make the world work for you. you can know everything and still flunk an exam or know nothing and pass with flying colors- its all about learning how to play the game. college isnt about continuing your education anymore, its about learning how to interact with the monster that is the industrial and technological world of people and information thats increasing exponentially every moment - aka "the real world". do your best and hope it works out, but remember, if college isnt for you- its not the end of the world.

I would have to tell everyone to just find yourself. There are so many things that you don't even know that you can do, and you get to college, and you really break out. The challenge is to incorporate those new skills into your old skin. You can do this by always trying to improve. Know who you are, because by knowing who you are, YOU know where you start and can predict where you might finish.

The easiest way to find out what college is right for you is to experience the comfort level you have with the campus. Visiting is essential, because if you don't like your campus then you'll never like your school. I visited the big name schools in Florida, and disliked everything about them. They tried too hard to git into the stereotype of a northern school. My campus was visually appealing, and totally unique. I immediately felt at home. In order to have a great college experience, you need to be involved in something. I'm in the marching band, so I had an early week to meet people and make great friends. Clubs and school activities are golden opportunities to make friends and have new experiences. Even if you don't join a club, involve yourself with fun people and good activities. The regularity will balance out your school work and any solitary time you have.

The advice I would give parents and students about finding the right college would be to find one that is a good school for what you would like to be. If you are undecided, you should choose a facility that specialized in a whide variety of things. Also parents and students should think about the surroundings of the campus and make sure they will feel safe there. When attending college, you should be openminded to meet new people , but also should not allow your social life to interfear with your focus on academics.

A college should have the extracurricular activities and programs that a student is looking for. It should contain fun activities, as well as academic focus. As far as making the most of a college experience, students should be able to balance fun and school at the same time. They should be involved in school activities and clubs and go to sports games to show school spirit. A student sholud work hard at their studies so that they can get the best education they can to go on to bigger and better things. In my opinion, students should get involved with research and internships. A student should be able to enjoy their experience because going to college is best when you're still young enough to have fun!

tour all the colleges you might be interested and ask a lot of questions, pick the one that feels most comfortable. To make the most of the college experience just make sure you do some work every day so theres time to enjoy the social scene or participate in extracurricular activities.

Pay attention to the posted information on campus, especially in the student union. You'd be surprised at how much there is to do on campus.

Students-When looking for a college, make sure it is the college that will be right for you not only socially but academically. Don't just pick and choose a college because of the city it is in or beacause your friends attend that school,choose for yourself and your needs. Parents- You cannot make the choice for your child of which college is best for him/her academically they have to make the choice themselves.You can not choose their college because it's somewhere you always wanted to go or it was the college you attended

When considering which college to attend, keep in mind that a college may look perfect on paper but may be very different in reality. I highly encourage any aspiring college student to actually visit the campuses they are applying to and talk to faculty and students in their intended major. Visiting a campus gives you a much better idea of what you're really getting yourself into and if that dynamic fits your idea of an ideal higher learning institution. As for making the most of the college experience, balance is key. Parents, trust your kids a little. Let them grow up and learn from their own experiences. Students, don't unnecessarily lose this trust. While partying and socializing is important for a healthy college experience, remember that first and foremost, you are enrolled in a school and that should be your first job.

Students: Don't worry so much about what will make your parents happy. It's your life and you need to make sure *you're* happy with it. Choose your own college and major and stick with it. If your parents complain, just explain it's what you want to do with your life. If they still don't understand, stick by your choice anyway. When you get to college, make the most of your decisions. Going to class is only the first step. Parents: Know that your children need to figure out what they want to do on their own. Don't force them into a profession or major or certain college just because you think you know best. College is the beginning your your child's life on their own and they can't do that if you're clinging to them. Do what you can to help, but be ready to step out of the picture when it's time to let go. You did your best, now it's time for us to do our best.

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when deciding on an appropriate college. I would say the most important is the quality of your education. After all, the whole point of going to college is to further one's education. Therefore, I would definitely suggest shying away from schools known for their party life, but not their academics. A close second is location. For example, I grew up in a small town and longed for the big city life. However, I have always been very close to my parents and did not want to be too far away from them. Therfore, Orlando was perfect for me. It offers me the culture I have been looking for and is only a few hours-long drive from home. Finally, I think it would be a very good idea to look into a team or club. This instantly puts you in a group of like-minded people and makes finding new friends much easier.

I reccommend finding a college with a plethora of on-campus activities. There is no better way to avoid the party life at a university than to join a campus organization or to attend campus events. These activities are also great ways to make lasting friendships, and they help build school spirit and a fervor for education.

Don't choose your school based on prestige or sports. College is a time to socialize, meet great people, and prepare you for success in your career, so don't make it about status or football. Choose your school based on where you want to live for four years and based on your intended career path and the availability and strength of that program. Look for colleges that help you find a job after graduation or that at least help you find internships. Look into their clubs and other organizations that may interest you, this is where you'll find your best friends and study buddies. To make the most of your college experience always keep in mind why you're there (to learn and later get a job), especially at the beginning, that way you can have a social life the whole four years and you wont be partying for two years straight, they trying to make up for it for two years straight. Pace yourself, there's plenty of time to party later. Also, make close friends within your major with the same career goals, you'll be happy you did.

I believe that location and curriculum are the most important criteria for choosing a school. I had chosen UCF because it was very close to my home and family in Orlando and because it offered a great variety of degrees and programs.

You only get out, what you put in. If you want to go to the college that's best for you, you'll have to put in some work. Firstly, look at location. I chose a school only 3 hours away from home. I got to 'go away' to school without being too far away. Secondly, look into the academic record of the school. Do your reading up on these schools, ask friends and family. Thirdly, visit your top choice schools because you'll never know what a school is really like without being there yourself. Once you arrive at your dream school, go to the freshman activities, it will help you meet people. Go to all the sporting events you can, oftentimes for students it's free so you might as well. And most importantly join a group! Most of my memories from this year are from the organizations I joined. Remember, other freshman might be just as scared as you, so don't be nervous trying to make new friends!

I highly recommend visiting the campuses to which you wish to apply. A school may seem fine in print, but you cannot effectively judge the atmoshpere of the campus from words and pictures alone. Go on a tour, talk to some counselors, and walk around the campus. When I visited the University of Tennessee, I didn't like the campus very much, so I decided not to apply there. On the other hand, I knew I wanted to attend UCF the moment I stepped into the Student Union at the heart of the campus, and I enjoyed every moment of the remainder of the campus tour.