<p>So I'm a prospective student for UFL. My family and I drove down from New Jersey to visit the area and we went on a UFL tour today. The campus is beautiful, the weather is great, and the students are very nice...but I have to say, the overall atmosphere is a little more "distant" than I expected? I mean it really seemed like the general feeling is that everyone minds their own business...not much community/team/close-knit spirit? And I know part of that is the fact that UFL is spread across 2,000 acres and there are over 30,000 students here but...</p>
<p>Idk...I guess I'm just wondering if any current students could talk about student interaction and involvement and how that's like? Is it easy to mingle with students and to socialize (if you're willing to of course)? Do friends hang out in Gainesville on the weekends? Etc.</p>
<p>I am sorry that’s the experience you had! Students walking by themselves, sure, I guess. School days can get kind of busy, depending on your schedule, and there isn’t always time for socializing in between classes. The campus is big and those 15 minutes between blocks can be precious if you’re trying to get from one end to the other. </p>
<p>If you toured the campus on a Tuesday or Thursday, this could also be affecting what you saw. There are more classes offered on the Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, so you’ll see more people on campus then. Campus is notably quieter during Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’re also reaching the point in the semester when students stop attending their lecture classes. Many people have given up on their overachiever dreams that kept them going at the beginning and we’re not quite at that point at the end of the semester when people start showing back up again to see what they’ve missed. </p>
<p>There are many clubs/organizations on campus to get involved with and almost all have a social component as well. In my dorm freshman year, everyone left their doors open and groups of us hung out each evening. It’s very easy to mingle if you’re willing and you and your friends will go out as often as you want. The fall of my senior year was a pretty easy semester for me (I hadn’t started the real push on my thesis yet), and my friends and I had places we’d go every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. </p>
<p>Also, if you went during the Fall, you’d see the crazy “team” atmosphere. This city really rallies around its football, and I can tell you there is absolutely nothing like a Friday in Gainesville the night before a home football game (I’m a recent graduate who took a year off to do Teach For America and will be returning for graduate school in the Fall–I couldn’t get enough). </p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is what you were looking for, but I hope it was helpful. If you have any other questions about the campus or the city, I’d be glad to answer them. :)</p>
<p>Actually, I believe that UF has crossed the 50,000 student mark; at least, that’s what I was told at Preview (orientation).</p>
<p>I think maybe while going to classes & sometimes while studying, people keep to themselves to maintain focus on their studies, especially during exams. Others prefer to do it in small groups. But UF overall has an EXTREMELY social environment. People hang out everywhere, all the time, and there are a lot of parties towards the end of the week, both on & off campus. Socializing & making friends isn’t really that hard. There’s 6000+ students alone in my freshman class; it’s easy to find people you connect with. As for the social environment in the dorms…it varies. I live in Springs, which I like, but it is far from social. However, other dorms are different. Beaty East for example, is extremely social; my friend who lives is always over at someone else’s dorm; he pretty much only uses his room to sleep. Also, in the more social dorms, people are very friendly.</p>
<p>What toydiamondring said was true.</p>
<p>I also think maybe your perpective of UF’s social atmosphere & school spirit would change if you went to a football game.</p>