If you’re at that magical point in your life when it’s time to decide which college to attend, then you’re probably hearing the same thing from a lot of people: “Choose carefully; this will be one of the Most Important Decisions of Your Life.”. They’re kind of right. The college you attend will be where you do a lot of your learning, growing, and more importantly, networking. You’re smart, so you know that already, but there’s probably still a lot you don’t know.
My decision to go to the UCF Orlando turned out to be the right choice for the wrong reasons. I chose UCF Orlando because I had a lot of friends going there and it was only three hours away from my hometown. UCF Orlando has over ten satellite campuses in cities around Florida, but I was enrolled exclusively at the Orlando Main Campus and in web based courses online not so fun. So, as you navigate through this decision of monumental importance no big deal, keep these things in mind (that the university may not be so quick to advertise).
1.) Bigger isn’t always better.
There was a reason I had a lot of friends heading up to UCF that year. According to the all knowing Wikipedia, as of Fall 2014 UCF is the largest university in the country by undergraduate enrollment at 52,532 (WOW) and the second largest by total enrollment at just under 61,000 (seriously?). The sheer size and magnitude of the university can be a blessing and a curse. Keep in mind there will be classes with 400 students enrolled, so interpersonal communication with professors will be “different” to say the least. If you don’t live on campus, there will be traffic, so leave plenty early. And parking? Forget it, although they have built a couple more garages in the past few years, they aren’t a a permanent solution.
2.) UCF has an unparalleled amount of resources for students.
UCF Orlando has done a phenomenal job of providing its students many resources to help them be more marketable in the workforce. They offer dozens of certifications and licenses that can be achieved in under 12 months, and in conjunction with your four year degree. A co-worker and close friend of mine went to UCF for Interdisciplinary Studies (what’s that?) but is also a licensed criminal profiler, real estate agent, and notary.
UCF also realizes that tuition is expensive (somebody’s got to pay to keep that campus running) and times are tough after college. With that in mind, UCF Orlando has setup search engines designed to help you find a job in the Central Florida area based on your skills/certifications. These examples are just the beginning, there’s also career-counseling, free legal assistance offices, and other branches in place to help students achieve their goals.
3.) Life on campus means taking the good with the bad.
I lived on the UCF Orlando campus for my entire first year of college. Unfortunately, in my youthful ignorance, I didn’t really appreciate my living quarters. I focused too much on the negatives of where I was living, resident assistants, rules, regulations, noise ordinance curfews, the crowds of people everywhere, etc. I should have focused more on the close proximity to classes, resources, good dining, access to peers, etc. For those who will consider living on campus, keep in mind that certain things will be easy (eating) and other things will be tough (laundry). I lived in the Towers, and we had a communal laundry room on each floor of the building, and the appliances took quarters. Not too bad a setup.
4.) The library isn’t always the best place to study.
The library is a great place to do a lot of things, but depending on your studying styles/habits and the time of day, the UCF library may not be the most ideal place to cram for an exam or write a paper. The library usually closes around midnight, but you have to stay on top of their hours online because they’re constantly changing.
The UCF Orlando library has five floors. When you enter on the main floor you’re on the second level, with one level below and three above. The main floor is like a quieter version of Grand Central Station buzzing with activity. If you want to study in a group, this is where you want to be. But if you’re the type that needs to pop on a playlist and get in the zone, free of distractions, then you may need to go up a few floors, find one of their private study rooms, which are both free and available for rent by the hour, or find a different building altogether. Don’t worry, there are plenty.
5.) UCF has some of the most active student organizations in the country.
This is likely a product of size, but it’s worth mentioning because extra curricular activities are a huge part of the college experience, and not just for fun. This is where your true networking happens. You meet people outside of classes with similar interests, they know people, the ball starts rolling. Several of UCF’s registered student organizations are the largest student chapters in the country of their respective organizations. This can help you when looking for work or meeting people after a big move. Take advantage of this opportunity.
Joshua Pellis is a 2013 UCF Orlando Graduate with a Political Science B.S. and a penchant for writing.