Hello,
I wanted to ask you a question. Can you tell me a little about UF preview day. Is it really $120 per family member that wants to attend? As a transfer student will they get to sit in on classes etc? How does that all work now? I will call admissions to find that all out but wanted to see if you had any additional information.
Thanks
Hi,
First, you can download the “UF GATERWAY” phone app. It includes guides and the agenda (and presentations) for Preview. For parents, preview is optional, so review the agenda and see if it’s something you want to attend.
Freshman preview is 2 days, but transfer students preview is only 1 day. I wouldn’t recommend family paying for “transfer” preview, just drop the student off, and go hang out on campus or around Gainesville. A lot of parents also pass on the 2 day preview, it really is optional for family.
As you go through the agenda, you’ll notice that preview is a series of presentations and (for the student) advisement sessions. The student, by the end, will have selected their classes for the next semester. The parents do not get to join the student during these advisement sessions or when they pick classes. Of course, we talked with our kids, before, and after these sessions.
I wanted to chime in as we attended the first Preview this week for our incoming freshman daughter. Both my wife and I attended. I would say that it is unnecessary to have both parents attend and am not sure if it is worth the cost of even a single parent attending–it would depend on the student. While I found it beneficial in some ways, in other ways it was repetitive from even prior events (open house, etc.). By noon on the second day (incoming freshman only), we were all looking to see if we could get a copy of our registered classes and Gator ID card early. Note: They hold off giving the registration record out until the very end of day two! Two full days was much too long on both the parent and student (at least our student).
Day 1 of Preview is you learn about things. It was helpful to sit in on the college session with my son to hear about the specific requirements of one of the majors he is considering.Day 2 is you get “things done”. There are tables set up behind the Bookstore so you can set up the Gator Central 1 Card - you can link accounts so they can do vending machines, laundry services, Book Store, and Wells Fargo (optional)- they all have to be linked separately. You learn how to set up e-payments to pay any bills and you can get it set up. You get financial aid questions answered through Day 1 sessions and then via the financial aid manned table in the Book Store. Had my son download the transportation apps and get them set up. I realized there is Bright Futures stuff I need to check on. It was productive. The 2nd day could be cut in half but if you “get things done” it is worth it. I did not pay for lunch on the 2nd day.