University of North Florida Top Questions

Do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. University is not the same as high school you will have to learn to study a lot more. Do not take on more than you can handle or you will be struggeling a lot. And do not be afraid to call home and ask for help or to go to a counsel when you really need help.

Khristina, you really should be more social. You have to realize that everyone at college is just waiting for someone else to introduce themselves. Do what you feel, because that's what makes you who you are. Stay true to yourself, your morals, and your values. The people that matter most will respect you and accept you for that. Don't get caught up in the hype of drinking, smoking, or having sex... Stick with the people who you feel comfortable with. Speak up in class, and talk to your professors, they have so much knowledge that they can share. Find you passion early on, and run with it.

I would encourage myself to take more advanced and honor courses so that i couldbe ahead when i arrived in college and would have more time to experience other interests.

I would have definently tried harder on my SAT's and my gpa to get into a better school, and saved up a little more money. I just want to finish school and it's looking like it's not going to happen if the financial side isn't there. I would tell myself to go headstrong into my studies and don't procrastinate once you get into school.

If Icould go back in time I would have finished high school and strated college right away; however, I was bullied so much that going to school was torture for me. I dropped out and finished with my GED. Since returning to school I have had many trails and tribulations from being the untraditional student, having a lump removed from my breast, other health issues, and death of a loved one; however, I have been able to keep my GPA between a 3.62 - 2.89. I want to graduate with honors and I hope this semester I will bring my GPA up. This is so important to me because of my past and the goals I have set for myself. Eventhough I have had to deal with these life altering events, returning to school was the best decision; I am a stronger person because of it and very greatful for the oppertunity.

It will feel right when you visit the campus. You'll just love every aspect of the college. Not only this, but you will start to find things you don't like about the other campuses you visit. They will be little things that don't really matter in the big picture. Also, I would take 6 credits over the summer before your first fall semester. It will really help you get acclimated to the college life and teach you how to study. It'll simulate how busy finals are, but it won't be thrown at you all at once.

When choosing a college, it is important to visit more than one college and apply to as many as you can imagine. It is also important to keep your options open in terms of career interests. Even if you think you know for a fact what you want to major in, maybe consider taking career assessment tests and taking a few extra classes to explore any possible unknown interests. Parents need to understand that their child is now at college and needs to learn some lessons, like responsibility and independence. Students need to keep in mind that if they are going to ask for their own independence that it comes with many responsibilities. Living on campus should be a must for freshmen year. You meet many people and it helps with getting to class on time and its motivating to use the library and study groups. Don't overwhelm yourself with hard classes the first year, but also DO NOT take all the easy ones at once. Try to keep a good balance to avoid putting yourself in difficult situations. Lastly, college isn't just learning in class, its learning life lessons too.

When it comes matters pertaining to college, students rely too much on second hand information. There is far too much "I heard from so an so that our school is this." The most common effect is that a lot of people have a very small grasp of what is going on and are willing to blindly accept any piece of information handed to them. For instance in my school many students wanted to attend the UF. Many argued that they "have a good medical program." Only in retrospect do I realize that that assertion was never explained to me. However true, this points to a larger issue that is ubiquitous among students. When choosing a school, tour it, speak to professors and professionals who work in ANY field of interest. Read stories, testimonials and catalogs about majors and programs as well as financial information of interest. In the classroom when material isn't understood, seek out professors, tutors, or books in the library that can help. Outside, actively search for groups that pertain to your interest to provide entertainment and even insight to your field. Become an active seeker of knowledge and opportunity, that is what college is about.

In finding the right college, it is important that you look at your own interests. Once you have a fairly good idea of what you want to do with your life, it is best to apply to schools that cater to your goals. Just because a school may not have name recognition, that doesn't mean it isn't a good match for you. With rare exceptions, you should never pick a school based solely on location, prestige, or to follow friends. While these may serve as secondary reasons as a way to narrow your choices, the most important thing is finding the right match. Upon entering college, there are many ways to make the most out of your time there. Living on campus and joining clubs are great ways to meet new friends. Many schools offer study abroad classes which allow you to go to places you may have always wanted to visit. Though your years in college certainly represent a time of hard work, you should also take time and enjoy your experiences. Some of the greatest lessons you'll learn will come from outside the classroom.

Selecting a college or university is not always about campus life or experience. Its about quality of learning and the ability to transistion a person from student to employee. The quality of faculty and staff highly contribute to the rating of a school. From my experince, class size does not matter if the teacher is experinced enough to clearly engage each student. Make sure that the school of your choice also has many campus activities as this will make your college carrer more enjoyable.