The Beauty and the Bureaucracy

Introduction
I chose UF because it was free. Since coming here I have learned that: there are some students who should not come to UF, some who shouldn't go anywhere else, and some that it just wouldn't matter where they went because they're just here for the 13th grade. I'll start with the students who shouldn't be here. Were you the teachers' pet? Did you know your teacher's birthday? Did your teachers know your last name for that matter? Did you need one on one encouragement (beatstick over your head) to motivate you (get your ass off the couch)? If you do, you will drown here. The teachers are overworked and with 2,000 per class: They can't help you, there is no extra credit for a bombed test, no favorites and no coddling. Many of these teachers are told to weed out students to prevent them from advancing in the over crowded colleges (i.e. business). The curve is stacked against you in many classes. No one cares if you come to class and no one is going to notice you. Your TAs are being paid minimum wage and UF often pays them two weeks late. That's if they can speak fluent English. If you are observant, during the first few months, you will notice your transition from student to number. Remember your UF ID number because thats all you will be here. UF is 46,000 strong and growing. All of us are little fish here. That being said... UF IS huge and thats part of the beauty of it. There are majors here you can't get anywere else, You can double major with a triple minor is five department and work the system so you only have to take 5 or 6 extra classes. This school feeds into graduate programs. The professors here are some of the most brilliant minds in the country. The research going on here in all fields is groundbreaking. If you have the initiative and motivation to make it on your own with NO individual attention, you can do amazing things on this campus that you can't do anywhere else. Speaking for myself, the Pre Med program will bust your ass but you will be ready for Medschool at the end of it. And with Shands right on campus, there no end to the student jobs. Did I mention the scholarships are amazing? And one final note...to the people who are only here because mom and dad will pay for it and they're not ready to take their rightful place behind the fryer, please don't go to class. It's only going to make the people who sit behind you start packing duct tape for your loud ignorant mouth. All in all this is a great place, but you're going to have to earn your seat here....all by yourself.

Campus Life and Social Life
This place is amazing socially, there is something for everyone, any club you can imagine from Halo fans to swingdancers to the NRA. Any religious organization is here, any political and any sports you can think of is played here. The greek life is amazing but a huge commitment financially and time wise, you can often go to many of their functions by just making a few friends in a sorority. I participated in one for 2 years but after that the constant squabbling and drama gets old, you realize most of the girls your age have quit and now its your turn to wipe the first year's puke off the front stoop. And all that jazz about finding your bridesmaids? Most of the girls will talk about you behind your back anyway. If you do still rush, play nice but remember: you are being judged on your appearance alone, no one has time to get to know you in the 5 minutes before you are passed to another sister. And the frat guys... I think they have more freedom than the sororities... but from what I've seen, they're still just as cliquey and most of them will hate each other by the third year too. NEVER LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE (if you plan on graduating in 4 yrs that is). The bar and club scene around here is awesome. Try not to get too caught up in it though, your friends and XS will still be there next Weds but you won't have another chance to make up your test next Thurs. Advertisement
Academics
See opening statment. Avoid Battiste the beast for Organic (Organic is the weeder class for PreMeds) and Demski for Financial Accounting. (take FinA at a community college if possible, it is the weeder class for the business college and 1/2 the class will flunk out). Take advantage of the tutoring businesses in town, it's big business, these guys are good and they've been doing it for years: tutoringzone.com for most business classes, tutoringtrain.com for most science classes and Einstein's notes takes notes for when you miss class.

Student Body
There is no typical student here. There's too darn many of them to generalize. Whoever you are, you will eventually find your niche, that I can promise you. But like I said, you have to make the effort, no one is going to care if you spend your days in your dorm room moping. Get out and join clubs and be proactive. Or be homesick, sit on your butt and gain 15 pounds. Your choice.

In Closing...
Live near or on campus, there is no parking in Gainesville. NONE. I do not exaggerate. Bike or Walk to class. Attempting to drive or take the bus will add hours onto your day no matter how short you think the drive is. Stay off Archer from during rush hour. Take advantage of all the free gyms and exercise classes. They are amazing, state of the art. (the hot sweaty UF athletes usually use SW Rec and the RClub is full of sorority girls). The student health care is amazing and the insurance is dirt cheap. So get off your parents plan if possible, it will save them 1000s I LOVE UF!