University of Florida Top Questions

My college experience at the University of Florida has proven invaluable to me in many aspects. I am immursed in a culture that caters to all types of interests, beliefs, and values. I have grown as a person as a result of the many responsibilites one must take on at a big university, such as prioritizing, not folding under pressure, or getting distracted. The intense competition among students is tough, but it keeps you on your A-game at all times and never lets you settle for less than your best. I have developed life-long friendships that have helped me through many trials and tribulations. I receive one of the top rated educations in the country for a fair price. I have countless opportunities to get involved on and off campus including clubs, intramural sports, volunteering, and much more. By attending this university, I feel I will be better prepared to take on the world. My academic and networking success will put me ahead of my competition in the job market. I am truly happy with my choice to be apart of the Gator Nation.

College expands your mind by allowing you to look into subjects and ways of thought that you have never encountered before. I was fortunate enough to make friends from all over the world when I lived in an international dorm my first years of college and it encouraged me to study abroad independently and made me fluent, both culturally and linguistically in French. I think I learned more in and outside of the classroom than I ever had before. I was able to connect new ideas, people, experiences and academic scholarship to explore how I fit in the world and what I want to do to reach out to others and contribute. At the end of my bachelor's degree I realized I still hadn't fit all the pieces together and there are still many pieces missing from the puzzle of what I plan to do with my life, but my independence, courage and curiousity were all strengthened by my education and experience. With strength I can connect the dots wherever I go and I know that my ongoing personal battles are stepping stones in an ongoing quest for knowledge, growth and attachment to the world, the mountain ahead.

I have gotten a lot out of my college experience. First of all, I have learned to become independent. I have learned to figure out things for myself including paying rent and other expenses, how to find out information, and how to make good choices. Second, I have learned how to manage my time effectively. I now can take 18 credits and work part-time while having a boyfriend. Lastly, I have learned how to pull very effective all-nighters in order to catch up on my school work or to study for exams. This university has been very valuable to attend. Not only have I learned a lot from my classes, but I have also learned a lot for my life and my future. Thanks to this school, I have become a well-rounded, independent, and productive woman and I can now do many things at once. I think the fact that I will be graduating from here will benefit me greatly in the long run. The University of Florida has been very valuable and beneficial to attend.

My college experience so far has been wonderful. My classes are challenging and competitive. My learning experiences have been top notch. There is an opportunity to participate in research studies in many fields. I am in the marching band and have had a chance to bond as a member of the group and travel to other universities. I have gotten into the school spirit by participating in the band. I live in the dorms so I have had a chance to meet and socialize with other residents and participate in many activities with them. I feel like I have matured and grown from the experience of being on my own and learned quite a bit.

The most important lesson that I have gotten from my college experience is that individual progress and character development occur best when you are outside of our comfort zone. It is always a bit demanding and can be uncomfortable, but being outside your comfort zone forces you to think on your feet and adapt to your surroundings. It is best to try things you never have, and put yourself in situations that you must learn to make your own decisions. It's best to talk with people that your normally wouldnt talk with, and take part in various cultural experiences that are foriegn to you. Eventually you not only learn more about others but more importantly you begin to find a sense of self. College is a time for exploration and character development. It takes work and effort, but the rewards are much greater.

Staring at my closet deciding what shirt to wear I could go with the button up pin-stripped vest-professional, the off the shoulder tank-carefree, or the slogan tee-activist. This is what college is, an opportunity to see all of the styles available from life and try each one of them on to see what fits. Without college how would I be able to play the roles of "world-conquering club president," "calculating engineer," or "nature-loving hippie"? College has allowed me to find my niche in a world of so many options. College allows you to get a glimpse of all of these options. I have seen what life choices other people have made and am able to decipher which ones work for me. The college campus is a closet full of everything from goodwill to Gucci with the right shirt waiting there for you to try on.

My college experience afforded me the opportinity to learn from some of the best educators throughtout the world. As I have learned during my terms at the University of Florida, our teachers took pride in teaching and sharing helpful information that prepared us for the real world. They held us accountable for what we were there to learn and did not give you credit if you did not earn it. I came to college knowing few people and left with a host of friends from the Gator Nation. Going to college gave me a leading opportunity to compete for jobs I would not have been able to apply for without my degree. This college experience for me was so important as I was the first of eight siblings to obtain a college degree. This motivate my younger siblings to follow suit and too pursue higher education. Without a doubt, my college experience afforded me the opportunity to become the professional that I am today.

My experiences at the University of Florida have made me who I am today. As an Industrial and Systems Engineering major, I have learned to be persistent and accurate in all that I do. Unlike high school, college is not highly structured or systematic. Therefore, I have had to adapt through forging self-discipline and character through my work efforts. In the midst of this challenge, I have received a quality education which will last a life-time.

I'm only a first semester freshman at the present, but my college experience has already begun to teach me many lessons. For one, figuring out how to budget my time between sleep, studying and having fun; as well as how to budget my money between textbooks, groceries, and laundry. Probably the most valuable lesson, however, is the need to take charge of my own life; there are so many opprotunities for me to get involved, but only if I actively seek them out. In college, people don't just tell you what you should do. You have to decide on your own what clubs to join, what sports to try out for. You have to make the decision to get up in the morning and go to your 7:30 AM chemistry lecture, not because your mom is yelling at you to wake up and go to class, but because you need to if you're going to pass. I quickly learned that there's a lot of responsibility to be taken on when you get to college, but that's not really a bad thing. I believe I'm already becoming a more mature, independent individual.

I have learned a lot about myself throughout my time at the University of Florida. I have realized that I can do things I think are impossible. I've realized that I can be one of thousands, but still be true to who I am. UF has brought me new friends and amazing experiences, both in and outside of the classroom. I would not trade my experiences at UF for the world. If not for my time at Florida, I would not be the person I am today,.