University of Florida Top Questions

When choosing the right college, the most important thing is to visit the campus itself when it is in session. It is important to feel the atmosphere of the university because that, more than anthing else, affects how your first year of college will go. When visiting the campus, the campus tours are nice, but a college is not in the way its buildings look or how nice the libraries and computer labs are, but in the attitude of the students who use the buildings and libraries and computer labs. When visiting, its important to find a good place in the middle of campus and simply sit and watch the students go by. Gauge the topics of their conversations and from that, more than anything, you can truly understand the atmosphere of each school. Because all the numbers and nicely built buildings that they throw at you during tours is nice, but it is really the attitude of the students that you will go to school with that will either make or break your first year college experience.

College is one of the most important and most fun experiences in life. It should not be taken lightly and it should not be rushed through because once you are done you will not have a chance to go back. When deciding on the right college you first need to decide what is important to you as a student. Are you fully academic focused? Do you want a wide variety of options for extr-curricular activities? Do you want a place where you can make lots of friends? Or do you want a place where the classes are small? You have to ask yourself all this question weight them by importance and see which college has all the things you are looking for. Once you actually pick your school and start attending everything that you deemed important to you start taking full advantage of them and search for what else the colleg might offert that you may have missed. You might be surprised at what you find. Don't ever be close-minded about anything. If you do that you will never gain the full college experience and you will definately regret it later one in life.

The easiest way for all students to maintain an appetite for success is by enrolling in extracurricular activities and community service. Personally, I hold a higher regard for students who wish to help others and their communities over themselves. Test scores and grades are important, but our nation has reached an era where making a difference in the community makes you stand out from the crowd. Also, challenge yourself. Apply to a few of those out-reach schools, because you do not know how they go about choosing students. I regret not choosing my dream school for the reason I didn't beleive in myself. Now I know I would most likely have gotten into that school. I had the grades and effort they were looking for. Well-Roundedness is the key to getting into any college, not matter its ranking nationally!

visit the campus and the place you're most likely going to live in. research the rankings of the programs you may go into.

My advice to any student and/or parents seeking the right place for higher education is to choose a college atmosphere or campus that suits the student, so long as it doesn?t exclude or inhibit a desired area of study. If you are like me you will change your major more than once, so it is often more important to feel comfortable with where and how you are learning rather than what you are learning. One can excel in any type of education and future career when they have received a quality education in an environment that stimulates sound learning, deep and creative thinking, and preparation for the future. For some that will be a small, private college and for others a larger university, but that is why it is equally, if not more important to match the college to the student rather than the major.

You (the student) needs to decide what is right for you. Let your career path influence you on where you want to go to college. Research the college and use that information to make the right decision. Pick somewhere where you will have fun as well get a great education!

In general, if you want the best for you out of live, you must have an open mind that is unconditionally willing to venture out to not only consider, but to also try new things. This is the best advice that anyone can give about life and making the most out of your college experience. From the time you begin to consider about possible college choices, you need to have an open mind that is willing to consider options that may not be the popular choice. It is important to quickly learn that the college that was catered to your parents or best friend may not be the choice for you. You have to be willing and brave enough to step out on your own; the risk is worth it! Once you?re in college, you?ll be surrounded by new people, new cultures, and new point of views. Have an open mind and be willing to listen, be willing to learn. That is what your college experience should be all about ? learning, not only in lecture halls but in everyday life.

none, just dont worry they'll be fine. College life is a learning experence and there is alot of learning that goes on at this college.

Don't get your heart set on a particular institution based upon its supposed laurels. Often times in the college selection process can involve heartbreaking rejection: take this rejection in stride and have faith that you will end up where you are meant to be, and, once you are there, you will get out of this experience what you put into it. Every campus has a niche where you will thrive, and every course has something unique to offer you. Soak up the experience, for you are only here for a short time, and these will be the best years of your life.

Look for scholarships. Once in college be involved but remember that grades are THE most important factor.

Be sure to check out the campus and make sure that they are accredited to award various degrees. Also, make sure that the school you choose has your major and has plenty of opportunties for internships and scholarships to help you succeed in college.

First of all, while searching for the best college, the student needs to consider his/her educational and career goals and seek a college that provides top-notch programs in the areas in which he/she houses especial interest. The student and parents also need to consider their financial standing and research the amount of financial aid a school is ready to provide. In addition, the student should evaluate the pros and cons of the school?s location. Finally, the student would want to ensure that the college offers ample opportunities to get involved in the community, while providing a variety of leadership, research, and extracurricular opportunities. From my experience, one should make the most of their time in college by making every effort to utilize all of the learning resources offered - attending classes, completing readings and assignments, and performing as best they can on exams. The student should also strive to participate in organizations/activities that will help them delve into their interests, to network, and to make them a more competitive applicant for a future job or graduate program. At the same time, they should take advantage of extracurricular activities so they can relax and have some fun.

The best advice I can give to both parents and students is, "Go for it". This is not the time to hold back. It is a time to try something new, see an exciting place in the world, join a new club/sport, and best of all, its a great time to meet new people. College life is a time to grow for students and college is a time for parents to let go. They will call, don't worry. As my mother told me, part of being a good parent is knowing when to let go. I thank her for that. College is the foundation for the rest of your life, so in these four years, take the time to make it strong. These four years can lead to a LIFETIME of success if you play your cards right, but don't forget, its also your only time to enjoy saturday football games, too!

Looking back, graduating from high school was a proud moment for me, as it is for most. However, the thought of the next chapter in my life, the uncertainty of what would come next, doesn?t summon such pleasant memories. But having gone through the college selection process, I have gained precious incite on what to keep in the forefront of any college priority list: It is always great to make your parents proud, but when it comes to choosing a school, you are the one who will be attending. Choose a school that you want to go to. Your parent?s nostalgia is not as important as your fit into the campus. Choose a school that has your areas of interest. If you are undecided, as I was, be sure to attend a college with as many possibilities as possible. Don?t close doors before you have a chance to get started. Money is always a problem, but don?t let it be a deciding factor. There will always be scholarships, grants, loans, and work-studies out there for those who need them. The bottom line: Your happiness must be the priority. The next 4 years are worth it!

When determining the "right college", there are a few factors you need to consider. Firstly, the cost versus benefits should be evaluated. College can be an extremely expensive four years depending on the city, housing, and public/private institution you choose. Secondly, the distance away from your parents' home should also play a role. Finally, the size of the educational facilities should be tailored to the applicant. Different students thrive in different situations. A 200+ student lecture could be a negative aspect for a student that needs one-on-one attention. Coming from high school "senioritis", it is extremely important to emerge from your social hibernation and enjoy the vast amount that college has to offer. You should become involved in the campus and community from day one while taken advantage of the city's entertainment facilities. But one should be careful not to overload and neglect academics. Finally, college is not all about academics but rather about physical and mental maturation into the person you will become.

I believe that where a student attends college is not as important as what a student does with his or her degree after college. However, there are a few key factors to take into consideration before choosing a college. First, try to narrow down what field of study you would like to go into. It is ok if you do not know yet, but if you do know choose a school that has a strong department in the field of study you would like to enter. Get very involved in that department when you start college. Next, determine if you want to attend a large university or a small college. Keep in mind that larger universities usually have more team spirit when it comes to sporting events. This can play a large role in the overall college experience. Finally, analyze your financial situation. Choose a school that is affordable. If you want to attend a college or university that you can not afford then start applying to scholarships right now.

Research all the information you can about all the college choices, including tuition/housing/textbook/meal plan/other assortive fees; compare that price to scholarship awards and determine how much you'll need to pay out-of-pocket. Finances tend to play a large role in the selection process, especially if deciding between public/private or in-state/out-of-state. If possible, take a campus tour of the top choices; otherwise, scouring the university's website usually produces a wealth of information. Some colleges allow a prospective new-student to "shadow" someone already attending the university; doing this will help the high school student experience firsthand what a "day in the life of" is like on that particular campus. Other things to consider are the university's reputation (party school? high academic focus?), the number of students attending (big vs. small school), number of options (majors, minors, clubs, dorms), city area around campus (safe? are there things to do off-campus?), and the amount of diversity. Cater to the student's individual personality. As for making the most of the college experience, it is up to the student to get involved in various activities and balance those with coursework.

It helps to know what you want to do in life. Once you figure out at least what you want to study, look for the best school that teaches that subject. Decide if you want to stay home or move away for college. You also have to consider scholarship opportunities, as well as tuition cost. There's no point in going into debt so young if you don't have to. I imagine the education is much the same anywhere you go, so go to a cheap college. I got the {4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}100 tuition scholarship from the state of Florida called Bright Futures, so I took full advantage. I stayed home for college and I'm studying something I love.

First off, I think it should be up to the students; completly and totally. It needs to be where they feel comfortable or want to live and learn because they're the ones attending the school. By following this, parents should be the most at ease as their child will be happy and thus healthy. When touring a campus, ask anything and everything that comes to mind. Look over housing, meal plans, sports, you name it in addition to courses and majors offered; these are important parts of the experience. To make the most of the actual experience though, students needs to be open and flexible as so many things can happen; good or bad. Finally and most importantly, be yourself; even if those around you are not excepting, there are plenty others that will be and you have plenty of time to find them. Thank you, Mindi Friedman

I am a first generation college graduate of my family. I can say that education was the greatest focus when it came time to applying to college. My parents and I both had the understanding that the basic purpose for attending college was to receive a degree and then find work. Now having graduated with my bachelor?s degree, I have the benefit of hindsight. I can look back and see that yes, I did receive an excellent education from the college of my choice but I also gained so much more than that. College is about life experience. It is a time for a student to become independent and to really explore and find their passions in life. I would tell any parent or student who is seeking the right college to not only consider the academic standards of the school but also to consider the variety of student life offered on and off campus. Consider volunteer opportunities found in the community, study abroad, research, interest groups and clubs, recreation, etc. The "right" college offers well-rounded experiences and opportunities rather than simply a narrow focus. In the end, any experience is what you make of it. Take advantage!