University of Florida Top Questions

Seriously take the advice from the professors on how to study on the first day of class. They have taught the course many times and know how to best assist the student so they will succeed, so head their advice!

Find a place you love to go to, not neccesarily the best financial package you would receive. And make the most of college, it won't last forever.

Is class size too big or too small? Well this should probably be one of the first questions students consider when searching for the right college. A student needs to feel comfortable in the classroom in order to stay focused and succeed in the class. Some students prefer a small class because they feel it's easier to discuss about the topics one on one with the professor. Other students prefer a big class size because they like being able to have many classmates to chose from to form study groups. It all comes down to the student's preference. The transitioning part from high school and living with parents to college and living away from parents can be very challenging. Getting involved freshman year with clubs, volunteering, intramural sports are some ways that help for the transition to be easier by interacting with other students. Another important aspect to consider is how far away the student and parent want to be from each other. Too far can make trips home difficult. Staying at a nearby college at home would be much less expensive than being far away and having to pay the extra expense of rent or dorms.

Try to visit as many colleges as possible, and make sure to do a lot of research about scholarships, programs, after school activities, sports and majors offered.

I would say, one, that you should try to attend a college that is at least two hours from home. Go farther if you want! But I think part of the college experience is to get away from what you are comfortable with or have grown up with. Moving away from home allows you to branch out, gain self confidence, establishes responsibility, etc. Secondly, I would recommend a college that is diverse. How many minorities attend? How many different religions are present in the student body? And then make friends with someone completely different from yourself. I think it is very important to understand others that are unlike yourself. I would also recommend a school that is on the larger size, population-wise. Small schools are fine! However, larger schools allow you to have more of a variation in the student body. Also, a very important point to keep in mind is whether or not the school offers the program in which you are interested in. Remember though, you might switch majors or change you mind. So, variety in the programs available is also important. Lastly, have fun! Study!

Finding the right college is not an exact science, and truly, until you go to school, you won't know the "right" choice from the "wrong" one. I would recommend you go in choosing a school with a major in mind. Find out which schools offer your desired major and go visit those that interest you. Create your own tour, not the one offered to everyone. Meet with someone in charge of that major, like a dean or an advisor, and then meet with someone in the major, like a current student. That's the best way to get a handle on if the school fits your needs and goals. Never choose the school that is "known" for your major without visiting. Just because it's top ranked doesn't mean it's right for you. This is how I ended up at UF as opposed to my other choices, and I couldn't be more pleased with the quality of education and how well the arts program here fits my style of learning. In the end, I would have to say trust your gut. As long as you have the drive, you can make any school work for you.

I think that visiting schools and attending their open houses is a very valuable way to see what the academic portion of the experience would be like. But the social scene can be seen by taking more time and seeing what kind of students are walking around campus, around town, and what sort of activities/jobs are available.

Visit the campus. Just seeing the campus and observing how people interact and what goes on is a great way to determine whether it is the right place for you. Brochures tend to focus on only the positive aspects, so a good thing to do it talk to people who go there and ask about their favorite and least favorite things about the campus. Also, try and get a copy of the book that tells what courses and majors are available. It might also be good to look at a syllabus to get an idea of the courseload. Good luck!

I would tell parents and students to make sure that they have planned out a budget and make sure their child sticks to it. I would also tell students to make sure that they have really explored some options as to what they want their major to be. UF makes it difficult to change your major because they are very strict about graduating on time, and I'm sure many Universities have similar policies. I would also teell students to make sure they balance social activities with academics. These things are what I think are the things that could make or break, so to speak, the college experience.

attend a school in a college town