UCF: Just Your Average College

Introduction
I chose this school for its proximity to my home. I didn't really consider going anywhere else, it just seemed to be the obvious choice. This school is very large and broad, it's just, you know, a university. There's room for everyone. Really. I would recommend this school to absolutely everyone looking for a good school in the South, especially in Florida. Well, actually, if you like smaller classes, this is a huge place and there's a lot of lecture halls with approximately 200+ students. All of your general education courses (basically your first 2 years) will most likely be that size but that is to be expected with any school. But there are programs such as the Honors college that have smaller class sizes. However you will have to be accepted into the program.

Campus Life and Social Life
There's always somewhere to go and always something to do and if someone tells you otherwise they are not paying attention. On campus we have an excess of 300 co-curricular clubs that you can join- something for everyone. Right around campus there's 3 large shopping plazas with literally any store you can possibly think of, and I'm not kidding. Absolutely anything you could ever want to buy is about five minutes from campus. Also, downtown Orlando is very close and has lots of clubs and bars where you can dance and drink. There's actually a bar ON campus. I HIGHLY recommend the Greek system if that's your thing because they are a major force on campus and a very easy way make this huge school a little smaller by finding a place in your own community. Either way, the absolute only way to go (for your first semester at least) is to live either on campus or very close in University-affiliated housing! Don't even think of living at home or far away, you'll most likely be miserable. Trust me, I know. I commuted for my first semester and I was very very unhappy. It's difficult to meet people and can get very stressful. We have very nice dorms here (they've been rated as some of the best in the country, believe it or not!), especially the Academic Village. As for sports, the football games are very well attended, even more so now since we no longer suck. Intermural sports are a big deal as well and be sure to go to a basketball game once in a while as they are very exciting. Advertisement
Academics
This is a good school for journalism, which is my major so I know that. Other than that, I've heard we have a good engineering program and teaching academy. Go somewhere else for pre-med. As for the workload, well...I'm only in general education classes so far, but honestly, this place is like laughably easy. I spend 99% of my time taking naps or socializing and I have a 3.5. Just pick your courses with care- don't take anything you don't have to and remember that if it's a gen ed unrelated to your major, you can just take the absolute easiest one. Make friends with your course catalog. The professors are professors, you have good ones and you have bad ones, just like anywhere else. You have professors teaching the lectures and then TAs in charge of the labs. I've never seen a TA teach a lecture class, you always have the professor.

Student Body
Almost everyone here is from Florida, it's a little unusual to see out of state students in my experience. The basic stereotype for UCF students is the girls are gorgeous and the guys are jerks. Of course that's very broad and generalizes a lot of people but I have to say, I've seen very little deviance from that norm.

In Closing...
This is a really nice school once you get past the beaurocracy. As with any large university, the administration seems to get pleasure out of making your life difficult whenever you want to do something "official" like register for classes. You don't have to deal with them that often though. Oh, and the campus is beautiful and the gym is amazing. Come see for yourself.