UCF Questions??

[LurkerLisa]

Hi!

My daughter is going to UCF in August and she is so excited, but a little worried. We live in Illinois and she does not know a single person in the state, much less at the school.

This is what she has done so far
1. Been accepted to the LEAD program
a. This program has housing in Hurcules.
b. there is also early reg. for classes since orientation is in June.
c. She is staying on campus for the orientation so she will hopefully have
a better chance to meet people
2. Applied for a parking permit.
3. Applied for a SUN Pass for tolls
4. Filled out the housing profile
5. Taken the math placement test.
6. Purchased a UCF hoodie - which she wears all the time.

A> We aren't sure what to do about the meal plan, so any suggestions would be great.

B> Also, I was thinking that an Annual Pass to either Disney or Universal would be a good thing, but would she qualify as a resident (I don't think so, but it never hurts to ask)? Do college students even go to the parks?

C> Which bank is on campus? She needs an account down there and our bank isn't in FL

D> She really likes football. Do student purchase season tickets?

Is there anything else that she should be doing?

Thank you in advance for your help

Lisa

 

[CPM]

Hi Lisa,

My daughter will also be attending UCF in August! Which orientation is she going to? She does know a few people that will be going next year. One is a girl she went to elementary school with from Boston and another is from Ft. Myers. Maybe they can meet up so your daughter will know someone at first.

Although she could have been in the Lead scholors program, she denied it. she's burnt out from being in IB.


There is a Sun Trust on campus and there may also be a Bank of America, along with a UCF credit union.

Most of my friends that have purchased the meal plans for their kids have said it is a waste of money. After a while the kids get sick of eating there and the newness wears off. We put in for an apartment style dorm (Lake Claire) that has a kitchen, so she can make her own food. I'll probably purchase her some meal tickets or put money on the school card if she wants to go to the cafe sometimes. She's also transferring from her job at Tony Romas to the Orlando one right near UCF, she'll probably eat there too.

Feel free to PM me if you want my DD's email addy for your DD.

 

[ReAnSt]

Hi!

My daughter is going to UCF in August and she is so excited, but a little worried. We live in Illinois and she does not know a single person in the state, much less at the school.

This is what she has done so far
1. Been accepted to the LEAD program
a. This program has housing in Hurcules.
b. there is also early reg. for classes since orientation is in June.
c. She is staying on campus for the orientation so she will hopefully have
a better chance to meet people
2. Applied for a parking permit.
3. Applied for a SUN Pass for tolls
4. Filled out the housing profile
5. Taken the math placement test.
6. Purchased a UCF hoodie - which she wears all the time.

A> We aren't sure what to do about the meal plan, so any suggestions would be great.

B> Also, I was thinking that an Annual Pass to either Disney or Universal would be a good thing, but would she qualify as a resident (I don't think so, but it never hurts to ask)? Do college students even go to the parks?

C> Which bank is on campus? She needs an account down there and our bank isn't in FL

D> She really likes football. Do student purchase season tickets?

Is there anything else that she should be doing?

Thank you in advance for your help

Lisa

Congratulations to your daughter for becoming a golden Knight. I am a UCF alumni, I graduated in July 2004. I was an out of state student from PA, who knew no one when I arrived at UCF. I met so many amazing people from all over the world and had an awesome experience at UCF. You daughter has made a great choice.

As for the meal plan if you do chose to get her one don't get the largest one. I had friends who had the largest one and they would always end up treating everybody because they didn't use it all. There are quite a few other options on campus for food, so she might not even need one. I never stayed on campus so I always had access to a kitchen.

As for bank accounts the official bank of UCF is Suntrust, you can get that hooked up to her student ID. There is also the UCF federal credit union which has a branch on campus. Also Bank of America has branches not only in that area but across the United States, if you want something that is more widespread.

As for Disney or Universal students do go to the parks, if they are not broke or they find friends who work at the parks to go. Your daughter would qualify as a Florida resident for an Annual pass even if she keeps an Illinois state ID, she would just need to show her UCF ID to qualify. Annual passes make great gifts for college students.

UCF students do not need to purchase football tickets as they pay an athletic fee which covers admission into all UCF home athletic events, including football. I imagine this might change in the future due to all the construction within the athletic department, new convocation center, new stadium , etc. But for now the activities fee covers it.

Are there any activities your daughter is interested in joining that perhaps she could get to know some students through email in these organizations. Let me know if you or your daughter have any questions. I hope your daughter enjoys her experience as a golden knight as much as I did.

Becky

 

[SoonerKate]

I'm a grad student at UCF, and have never lived on campus, but I will say that having the SunTrust account linked to your ID is FANTASTIC -- and you can sign up for a SunTrust account online before she ever even gets to Florida. No added pressure when she gets her ID picture taken, but that picture will be visible to all of her professors and GAs who look at electronic class rosters -- and depending on the class, it might be visible to students, too.

Your daughter will meet a lot of people at Orientation, so by the time school starts she definitely won't feel alone. Is she considering Panhellenic Rush? Even if she doesn't join a house, she'll still have an opportunity to meet a lot of other freshman girls in the same sort of situation.

For meals, one of the block plans (X meals per semester, instead of X meals per week) will give her a lot more flexibility and she's more likely to use it because of that. If she's like most of the students I know, she'll be eating a LOT of Chick-fil-a and Einstein Brothers.

As far as football, students don't pay a thing, and the student section doesn't really fill up, so you don't have to get to games 3 or 4 hours early like I did at my undergraduate school. She will have to go to pick up a parking pass a few days before the game, if she's interested in driving, or there are also shuttle buses from campus to the Citrus Bowl.

 

[princessgirl2238]

Congrats for your daughter! now i didn't go to UCF (but i'm looking at grad school there) but i did go out of state for college and didn't know anyone. what i did was go through sorority recrutement. i know images of animal house start dancing through your head when you hear about greek life, but it is no longer like that (there are laws in every state preventing things like that). I joined a sorority and it was the best thing for me, it kept me at school, even though i had a full scholarship i still considered going home after a month and then again during the second semester (2nd semester is usually harder than the first semester) b/c of how far it was away from home and not knowing anyone. It gets you involved in campus affairs and gives you a tie to the university so you don't feel like just a number and the campus feels smaller and more like home.
I would ask her if she would want a AP pass to disney (if my mom offered i would so have taken it) and maybe a waterpark/ pleasure island add on. a lot of college kids LOVE the waterparks down there and a thursday,friday,saturday night down there usually involves club hopping at PI (it's fun and if you're under 21 they are really strict on the drinking- i was 20 when i was down there for cp last time and it was so much fun sober and impossible to drink down there- even at springbreak when i was down there as a regular student- and that is always a resurance for parents that their kid is having fun without drinking).
Also, let her know if she needs to get a parttime job while she is down there. My parents told me to not have a job the first semester so that way i could get the hang of things, but then 2nd semester get a parttime job. I only worked on evening a week (wednesday) and then sat and sun for a few hours. it wasn't much, but having extra spending money kept me from shopping so much b/c it was hard earned money and in return i did not spend much of my parents' money because i felt guilty about spending their money cause i knew that they also had to work for the money (which pleased them very much)- a good parttime job might be to get a weekend job at disney, the parks are always looking for college parttime students and are usually very willing to work around a student's schedule (say she could work for a few hours in the morning before class instead of in the evening or say a split shift schedule).
i hope that helped a little,

ashley

 

[Florida_Gator]

I am attending University of Florida, not UCF, but I think my recommendation would work well. College is one of the most important steps/decisions in one's life. Therefore, you have to make sure everything is OK and the transition goes smoothly.

First of all, colleges offer many ways to get involved in activities. I would recommend that your daughter joins students organizations because it is such a great way to meet new people. When I came to UF for my first semester, I was ready to see 48000+ students on campus. So, if you get around, meet people, and join organizations, she will be OK.

Student organizations include: cultural associations, intramural sports, professional societies (societies related to her major or field of study), greek life, etc.

It is also important to get a part time job. As the other person mentioned before, it gives you extra money to spend. Also, it is another way to improve the resume.

Now, this is very important: she should get to know her professors/teaching assistants and must not get behind her coursework. Also, it think many universities host a Career Fair every semester. Many important companies go there to recruit interns, co-ops and full-timers. It is a great way to enhance the academic experience because an internship/co-op helps a student apply his/her knowledge from the classroom to the real life.

That's what I did: I went to UF's Career Fair and I talked to Disney, got an interview, and now I am going to Orlando this Summer for an Engineering Professional Internship.

About Orlando: it is a great city... I graduated from high school there and I am glad I will work for Disney because I really like the city. Your daughter can go to the malls, parks, etc... Also, Downtown Orlando always offers cultural/art exhibitions (if she likes that, she can go there)... Plus, it is a cultural diverse city, so she will have the opportunity to meet people from every corner of the world.

Hope this helps...

 

[princessgirl2238]

Now, this is very important: she should get to know her professors/teaching assistants and must not get behind her coursework. Also, it think many universities host a Career Fair every semester. Many important companies go there to recruit interns, co-ops and full-timers. It is a great way to enhance the academic experience because an internship/co-op helps a student apply his/her knowledge from the classroom to the real life.

That's what I did: I went to UF's Career Fair and I talked to Disney, got an interview, and now I am going to Orlando this Summer for an Engineering Professional Internship

i def agree with getting to know the professors/teaching assistants (TAs), this way if she has problems with the class (course work, missing a class, getting a great RECOMENDATION BY A PROFESSORS- needed for grad school and a lot of professional internships/jobs) they will be willing to help (also i had a freshman professor that gave me a grade bump just because i got into the habbits of going to his office once a week and talked about what was discussed in class and when i asked him why he did it he said that most students do not use office hours so the professors sit around doing nothing and many of them look for those who go the extra mile to earn a grade- i went from a C+ 79.8 to an A-).
internships work wonders for the college student, i've had one with a company and because it is on my resume along with the Disney College program, i almost always get hired on the spot before the interview!
hope all the info helps!

ashley

 

[LurkerLisa]

I just wanted to check in and thank everyone who took the time to respond to my questions. I know that my daughter is finding all of the information that was given very helpful!

If anyone thinks of anything else that would be helpful - post away!

Thank you all again

Lisa

 

[cjsmith]

My daughter is also going to be attending UCF in August!

She was offered to apply for the LEAD program as well but decided not to do it though my husband and I wanted to. Courtney will be attending that same orientation in June since I booked it just in case she changed her mind. She does know kids going to the school since we already live in florida but doesn't know anyone going to her orientation so far. Wonder if they'll meet?! Are you going as well? We're staying on site at Disney so our boys have something to do but will be heading over to UCF ourselves.

How did you apply for the parking pass already? We were told after July 15th.

Suntrust is right on campus and is a great bank.

As far as the dining plans, the block plan that the one poster talked about isn't open to Freshman staying the dorms so you'll have to look at one of the other plans. We applied for an apartment in Lake Claire and are hoping she gets in there. Her dorm application is stamped 1/28 so hopefully it's an early enough date. I guess when we find out what dorm style she's in is when we pick a dining plan.

 

[CPM]

As far as the dining plans, the block plan that the one poster talked about isn't open to Freshman staying the dorms so you'll have to look at one of the other plans. We applied for an apartment in Lake Claire and are hoping she gets in there. Her dorm application is stamped 1/28 so hopefully it's an early enough date. I guess when we find out what dorm style she's in is when we pick a dining plan.

My daughter aslo put in for Lake Claire and is going to the June 7th orientation. We were also told we couldn't get a parking pass yet, but I haven't decided to let her bring her car yet anyway.
I'm not taking her to orientation because of a previous commintment.
Maybe they can exchange email addesses. You guys live pretty close to us.

 

[LurkerLisa]

My daughter is also going to be attending UCF in August!


How did you apply for the parking pass already? We were told after July 15th.

.

Funny you should ask - spoke to DD again, and she informed me that you are correct, but since she "had it under control" there was no need to tell me it was not "actually" done

Lisa

PS Again, thank you all so much for the information!

 

[Silverraindrop84]

Hello I just wanted to tell you that your daughter is going to love UCF. I am a current student there, it is pretty over whelming at first but it is pretty easy to get use to. It is also easy to make friends because there is such a diverse group of people on campus. Everyone else did a pretty good job describing everything else, but I would actually recommend an annual pass to PI cause we all like to go clubbing and Disney has pretty good clubs. Also it's free for students to get into any sporting events, and i know i don't like football but everyone gets together to go and have fun. Also good job on getting a sun pass, it works the same for the East/West expressway and Osceola parkway which is really helpful getting around town!

 

[Uuaww]

UCF has an up and coming football team