I will be attending UF this fall and I couldn’t be more excited! However, before leaving for UF in a couple of months, I was wondering if there was some must-know information that previous and current Gators could give me about campus life and just UF as a whole.
Things I’d like to know:
What is something you wish you knew as a freshman?
Best place to hang out both on campus and the Gainesville area?
Best place to study on campus?
Best food spots around campus?
These are just some questions I have in mind but feel free to add any useful information! Both parents and students are welcome to contribute…or even locals in Gainesville. Thanks in advance!
Okay so I have been at uf for a week and i love it so far.
Tips:
-meet people on your floor and be nice to everyone. everyone i have met so far has been through mutual friends.
-I have noticed that a lot people are relying on their high school friends for a social experience so dont do that. I knew no one except like two people i bare;y even knew but through these two i have met so many more.
I have unlimited meal plan for summer and it has been great because anytime someone wants food i can go chill with them at the dining hall and not worry about paying or anything.
I havent ridden buses yet but have used SNAP A TON when going out so make sure you learn how to use it. I cant thnk of more off the top of my head but i cant wait to see you in fall!
-A group of friends and I went to Ginnie Springs this past weekend and I highly recommend going. It was about a 40-minute drive and cost $21 for tube and admission but we are definitely going to go back.
-Everyone warned me about ‘rainesville,’ especially over summer, but I have used my umbrella and rain jacket twice so i wouldn’t stress about buying expensive rain boots and what not.
-The Good Life SUCKS so just be prepared for that and take the hybrid version if you can!
Ok so my last week of summer B is here so i can answer a few questions…
Best study spots: I prefer marston but a lot of people like West too, marston is just a lot more comfortable and loser to me.
Food: On-campus the union is great. I never had pollo tropical before UF but now i eat it all the time. Off-campus tho, if you like sushi then i highly reccomend sushi chao. However, nothing, and i mean nothing can compare to that 2 am relish burger
I really don’t recommend the unlimited meal plan. I know a guy who eats a ton of food in one sitting, multiple times a day, and he regrets getting the unlimited plan. It’s convenient, but it’s also expensive. I have declining balance and I’d rather just pay the $9 whenever I want to eat in the dining hall, which is rare.
We have a common area in our dorm (and there’s one in two neighboring dorms that we have access to) and it’s how a lot of my friends met. This summer has been really fun. After you establish a friend group, you need to
take a trip to Lake Wauburg
order midnight cookies
go to Relish for a late dinner (bonus points if it’s after a night out)
order Sushi2Go
Satchel’s Pizza and Felipe’s Mexican Resturant are really good sit-down off campus restaurants.
Carry an umbrella with you at ALL times. It rained about every day this summer at the same time. It rains unexpectedly. Sometimes it will pour down for five minutes and people will just hide out in buildings, sometimes you can’t afford to wait it out and you have to put on your raincoat and get to your destination.
Learn how to use the buses early, even if you have a car on campus.
Yeah I believe i am getting declining balance in fall and definitely not unlimited. Also, @lexladybug if you like midnight cookies than i highly recommend cookiegasm. its about the same price but i believe better.
