The University of Florida

UF was a great experience, but it was VERY different than the lifestyle I was used to in both good ways (it is great to live in a city where it seems that 95% of the people are doing the same thing you are--studying for finals at the same time, letting off steam at the same time, etc)and bad ways (Not as diverse as I was used to growing up in Miami, living expenses surprised me, etc). My honest recommendation is to always go to the best college you can get into (loans!!!!) because it will definitely pay off, even if you don't go into the field you studied. Employers will respect that you chose to attend a university with a good reputation that isn't a cakewalk. And going away for school will give you a completely different perspective than going to a local university. Also, take advantage of all the opportunities that going to a large Univ offers, from study abroad to internships to help with your career choices. And make an effort to learn what those opportunities are, don't just expect the faculty/students to let you know all the great things that are going on. At UF, students are kind of left to their own devices, which is a great learning experience (who knew you were so motivated!) but can be overwhelming if you don't know the kind of person you are.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000