<p>Sorry I took so long to answer, I've been out of town, (In Tampa actually!) </p>
<p>UFMom- Sorry I don't know anything about UF's meal plans, I always have lived off campus so meal plans were not sensible.</p>
<p>Alex-
How many kids are in each class? It REALLY depends, my Beginning Fiction Writing course has 15, and Gen. Chem has 300. But, as I said, even if its a lecture course (300+ students) you will have a one day a week class with a TA and 15-30 people.
Does a professor actually teach? or a grad student? Every teacher I've had has taught the course either all, or all but one day a week of the class. This doesnt include science classes with labs though,
Are the sororities fun? YES! If you are truely outgoing, JOIN ONE!</p>
<p>Does cheerleading give scholarships? I'm not sure, but I don't believe so. Also, I dont know if the gymnastics team gives scholarships, but I do know that they are AMAZING, and nationally accredited.</p>
<p>ag54- I have always used Bank of America. There are enough locations for it to be convienient, everything is free, even my cute Gator checks, and I have "forgiveness" where I dont get charged if I accidentially withdraw, as college kids are likely to do at least once.</p>
<p>Hi, Can you tell me a little about the fraternities. What happens during rush week? Also what is the cost to be in a fraternity? My S has already recieved one invitation to visit a fraternity during rush week. Do u feel like u have time to study and still keep up with sorority activities? Thanks</p>
<p>We couldn't believe it when we found out UF had that great program for NMS finalists. 222 was the cutoff last year in our state, so we think the 228 should make it. Congratulations to you and good luck!</p>
<p>ufmom - Unless your son eats A LOT I would recommend going with the 150 block meal plan, which provides 150 meals that carry over and can be used any time during the semester. So if you want to eat 20 meals on campus one week and the next you are really busy with clubs etc. and end up eating off campus a lot, it doesn't hurt you like it would if you had a weekly plan. Even the people I knew who had 10 meals a week, which is the next biggest plan, found that it was too much for them (especially because the dining hall closes at 9 or 10 every day and college sleep schedules often mean that you're hungry at 2 in the morning!). The 150 block is the cheapest of the plans and also provides the most "flex bucks" (money that can be used at the grocery stores and fast food/homestyle restaurants on campus, which are open more and often easier/better tasting and sometimes even healthier than the dining centers). Also, it is much easier to upgrade a meal plan in the middle of the year than it is to go to a smaller one.</p>
<p>ag54 - There aren't as many kids who rush during the spring but it is definitely not going to be a problem for your son. I'd actually recommend it because it gives him time to settle in and meet people outside of the frat, and also check out the different frats more before he decides which ones he'd be happiest with. Fraternity rush at UF is very informal to begin with and I'd say that if you would get a bid to a frat in the fall, you would get a bid to the same frat if you rushed in the spring.</p>
<p>--
I am an out-of-state NMF sophomore in the honors program and I lived at Hume my freshman year - so if anyone has any other questions I'd also be happy to help.</p>
<p>Kirst, thanks so much for the info on the meal plan. My S does not eat alot and he is a night owl, so that plan sounds good. I appreciate that u are willing to answers questions. This is our first child to attend college and I may have more questions! </p>
<p>ag53 thanks for the info on the fraternities rush.</p>
<p>I disagree. I dont at all see UF's campus as comparable to the ivies, or other classic college campus, brick wall etc... There are some older pretty buildings but by in large it is a huge school full of 60s, 70s, archetecture. Thats just a superficial thing but it matters to some people.</p>
<p>DPennFL, of course the fringe buildings are 60s/70s style but the heart of the campus is very classic and comparable to the Ivies. If you go to almost ANY college campus, you will notice a similar trend unless they haven't expanded at all in the last hundred years (and that's a rarity if it even exists!). In fact, I thought Yale looked a lot more mismatched than UF.</p>
<p>Laceycheer or Kirst, My S is also planning on a pre-med track. He is going to sign up for chem 1, the calculus for kids who got 4 or 5 on the ap test, an honors course (whichever one of the seven that he put on his lottery list), and ??? He only needs to take 4 classes due to coming in with lots of ap hours. What do you recommend? We are having a hard time understanding what gen ed requirements are needed. Also, the next semester, he will take chem 1, an honors course, and ? He is thinking of taking Bio 1 with it. It's either that or taking it with Organic Chem the next year. What do most people do ? Any advice would be really appreciated!!!!</p>
<p>ag54, has your S gone to preview yet? They give the students a little workbook that guides them in charting out a "plan" and making sure they fulfill all of the general ed and the writing and math requirements. It makes things so much clearer! </p>
<p>I am not sure of the typical pre-med schedule but I think laceycheer is a pre-med student so she might be able to help you out with that, or if she's not around you might try the pre-med forum because it's probably similar at all schools. I've heard Organic Chem is really hard so it'd probably be better to take Bio 1 with Chem 1, but I'm no expert! I also heard that the Calc for AP students is ridiculously hard compared to Calc II, so maybe it would be better to take Calc II? I'm sure your S can talk to people at preview and figure out what would be best for him. </p>
<p>Oh I hope this doesn't come across as weird or anything but I saw your posts in another thread and I think your S and niece stayed on my floor when they came to visit UF! We didn't get very many prospective students on my particular floor so I remembered them - if they are who I am thinking of, they were both very nice kids. :)</p>
<p>Kirst, He is going to the preview that is on August 18 and 19. Hopefully he will get all the info he needs there. When we looked at the BIG course book, we both got majorly intimidated!! About calculus, thanks for the heads up about the class for AP students. Patsmom also said her S had some problems with it. I think maybe he should take Calculus over again just to make sure he doesn't screw up his GPA. I am just worried about him jumping into Calc II. He had a good calculus teacher at his hs, but you never know when it is compared to a college class.</p>
<p>That's great that you got a chance to meet them. My S had a blast with the guys that he stayed with. I think that he got a chance to see what a real night in a college dorm is like. They didn't sugar coat anything. My niece is much more shy and intense than my S. She had a good time and liked UF very much, but decided to go to Cornell where her sister is a junior.</p>
<p>I heard that Calc II is the rough course in the 3 course Calc sequence. The Calc AP course is almost certainly a bear as well. Unless your S is going to be a math major, what will repeating Calc I prevent him from taking?</p>
<p>You do get browny points for taking more difficult courses on your pre-med application. However, the applicant is worst off if he ends up with a B or C+ in an accelerated course than someone who got a B+ or A in the regular sequence.</p>
<p>He said that he is going to take that readiness test on line and see how he does. He is probably going to just take Calc 1 again, just to make sure he has it before going on to Calc 2.</p>
<p>Hi, My S went to preview July 12 & 13. I have to say I was disappointed in the dorms. Do you know anyone who lived in Graham Hall? My S has to start out in a temporary triple. Not much space for three young men! Do you know how long before more space opens up? Also did anyone have problems with their financial aid and schlorships not getting in on time to pay deferments. Thanks.</p>
<p>I do know someone who lived in Graham Hall - it is not the nicest dorm on campus in terms of appearance, but I went over there a lot because it was so much fun. It seems like the way the floor is set up encourages everyone to get out and meet each other and be social, and it's really nice to know people on your floor and really have it feel like a home. Usually space opens up within the first couple of weeks so that students can move out of temporary triples. There will be plenty of people who don't come to school or move in to the dorm for whatever reason, but the housing staff has to give them a window of time to move in before they can start making transfers out of the temporary triples.</p>
<p>I did have a problem during spring semester with the financial aid not coming on time, but I did not get charged (it was a mistake by the University and they worked everything out for me). Typically the financial aid comes in with plenty of time to pay your deferment and you can even set it up so that the money automatically goes to the correct offices when your aid comes in (and the leftover money, if there is any, comes to you in a check).</p>
<p>kirst,
Thanks so much for the info. My S is an outgoing person so I think he will probably do well there. It is nice to have someone answers questions for overprotective moms! I appreciate your time.</p>