19 Things I’ve Learned As A UF Freshman
Come on gators, get up and go! I am currently a Freshman at the University of Florida and am loving every minute of it! Don’t get me wrong, college isn’t easy…in fact there are so many things about UF that take some getting used to your freshman year but it is truly fantastic! We are the ninth best public university in the nation, we have a kick ass football team (well, maybe not this season), we know how to have good time, and overall it’s a beautiful school with a great community of diverse students with so much to offer! Still college can be challenging with adjusting to a new home and meeting a bunch of new people but have no fear-here are 19 things I’ve learned as a UF freshman.
1. There will be fuck boys everywhere you go…and they’re all smart.
Ah yes, the beauty of a public university that’s highly ranked! Many, many men. However, I have had interesting encounters with one too many of the same basic boys who saturate their hair with gel, wear the same ridiculous ankle socks with white vans, and because I am friends with some fuckboys I even get to listen to how they rate girls! Ladies, if you’re gonna hit it with one, you better quit it with one.
2. Go to Freshmen welcome events- you find friends without even expecting it.
One of my favorite stories from my college experience so far is the night of a Freshman welcome event called adventure nights. My best childhood friend, her roommate and I rode a mechanical bull, I won a game of twister, and we met the people who’d become our very close friends-aka our squad. Quick summary: we go to Adventure Nights and meet up with two guys that I knew, we go to a party, get back to the dorm from the party, my friend Ryan leaves for 30 minutes and comes back…who does he come back with? Three random dudes that ended up being our close guy friends! Now we hang out all the time and we’re basically like the cast of “Friends”. Needless to say, you make friends quickly and the good ones will be close forever!
3. Studying in your dorm is impossible-Marston and Library West are the best!
In High School I would always study in my room and wouldn’t come out for hours! In college I find that my dorm room is actually very distracting with all of the decorations and it is almost too quiet of an atmosphere for me to concentrate in. On University of Florida’s campus we have a total of eight libraries but my personal favorites are Library West (open 24 hours!) and Marston Science Library. There are people around, you can concentrate for hours, AND both libraries include a Starbucks to serve coffee needs!
4. Never underestimate the rigor of your school.
Whether you’re aerospace engineering or a philosophy major, University of Florida will not be easy. Upon entering UF, I knew I was lucky to have been accepted into a top university. However, as a double major in Acting and Journalism I completely underestimated the rigor of my classes and the competitive nature among the students here. I’m not taking physics, chem, or calc but I am still required to be a dedicated, full-time student. Know that you’re going to have to stay committed to your studies if you want to do well here!
5. It’s never too early to create your own opportunities
Network, network, network! I cannot stress enough the amount of connections and opportunities University of Florida has to offer! Talk to your professors, visit office hours, ask around about internship opportunities, and get started on creating projects that you’re passionate about! I write theatre reviews for our school newspaper “The Alligator” as one of my creative outlets since I was not cast in shows this semester and I love it. I can combine both of my majors and put my name out there!
6. Learn how you study best.
Seriously. Exam time is crazy time around here with overlapping schedules, game days, breaks, it gets chaotic and I’ve been overwhelmed to the point where I had to sit down, take a breath, and create a study schedule for myself. In college you realize that you’re going to study a completely different way than you did in High School but you’ll pass the class!
7. Football is love, football is life
It’s great to be a Florida Gator! You better believe every Saturday, tens of thousands of UF students dedicate an entire day to football! The day will start with a tailgate usually! And to all of the people who hate sports or aren’t sure if they’re into sports, take it from a theater geek who went to a performing arts high school-GO TO GAMES! You will make some of the best memories at college football games and you won’t regret it! I didn’t care about football at all in High School unless a team I liked was in the Superbowl but now I love it and I actually know what I’m talking about now when it comes to the game!
8. Take a variety of classes that interest you
The University of Florida offers such a wide variety of colleges and programs. Take a philosophy class! Take a sociology class! Hell, take a painting class! You never know what could peak your interest so keep an open mind! I’m taking a sociology class next semester that I’m beyond excited for!
9. Don’t fret if you don’t have a bae/never had a bae; it’s a public school
Again, I went to a performing arts High School…I did Theater…not many straight men to begin with. I never had a boyfriend or even my first kiss before college but all of that changed and it will for you too! There are 50,000 people just in the undergraduate school-you will find that you have a lot of options!
10. “What is the Good Life?” will be the easiest “A” you ever get
Let me just type some bullshit, finesse the essay with a little more bullshit, and sprinkle some more bullshit on top! It’s pseudo philosophy with busywork but it’s easy busywork that’ll get you an “A” and help your GPA! Best advice for a UF Freshman; take this class.
11. You will fail (possibly Chem 1 or Precalc) and that’s okay!
Speaking of GPA, don’t expect to get straight A’s or even just A’s and B’s. I have friends who are struggling just to get a “C” in Chem 1 and it’s not because they aren’t smart-it’s just that difficult here. I had a “C” in one class after a horrible midterm and completely freaked out! I promise it’s not the end of the world. Failing is a part of life and college prepares you for life. Just work hard and do the very best YOU can. Don’t take life too seriously as a UF Freshman.
12. Find a balance between working hard and playing hard.
I go to a school that is notorious for its academics but at UF we love to have our fun too! That’s why I quickly learned to stay on top of my classes and get ahead on assignment so I can have my fun Friday and Saturday nights out with my friends! If you are a UF Freshman, making friends is crucial.
13. Explore Gainesville!
College Towns are where it’s at and Gainesville is no exception! It’s basically the Asheville of florida-it’s cool, hipster, lots of local flavor, and so many great restaurants, coffee shops, and events happening all the time. I highly recommend Metro Diner for breakfast, The Top for dinner and brunch, and Boca Fiesta if you’re in the mood for Mexican! We also have a cool art and music scene, plus a TON of thrift shops and old record stores downtown. It’s old, beautiful, and historic. If you are a UF Freshman you have to explore Gainesville – it’s a rite of passage.
14. When it’s a game day, TAILGATE!
I only tailgated once at our last game against FSU and I wish I’d done it more often! Going to Frat tailgates is great because you get a ton of free food, beverages, and it’s honestly a great way to meet cute guys. Plus you get fired up before the big game! There’s nothing better than tailgate day as a UF Freshman.
15. A smarty can party
So here’s the sitch: we go hard on the weekends and I quickly learned where it’s best to go hard. Downtown-great nightclubs only if there are UF events going on, otherwise it gets sketchy. Midtown-more of a bar-y scene but “JJ’s”, “The Swamp”, “Grog”, and “Rowdy Reptile” are fun places to be social, get lit, and be surrounded by your fellow gators! If you’re looking for a good house party, ask around because people are always sending out addy’s! As a UF Freshman you learn that we can party.
16. SNAP is the most unreliable form of transportation; always use Uber
SNAP is basically a form of transportation at UF that runs from 6 p.m.-3 a.m. While it’s convenient for on-campus transportation it takes a while to get to your location. Either ask some friends to walk home with you at night or Uber. You don’t want to be waiting somewhere by yourself. Being a UF Freshman is the best and we all know SNAP is unreliable.
17. There is blue and orange everywhere you turn.
“BLUE! ORANGE!” Is the chant you always hear at our home games. We wear our colors and we wear them proud! There’s honestly so much blue and orange merch I have in my closet it’s ridiculous!
18. It’s near impossible to get Freshman 15-you will walk everywhere
The great thing about UF is that we really do advocate health and fitness! You will walk or bike everywhere because our campus is laid out so everything is accessible but its Gainesville so it’s hilly. I personally am looking forward to seeing how my calves develop by the end of Freshman year! Plus is you love running, you have a beautiful campus full of nature at your disposal.
19. Take advantage of Broward dining hall meal swipes!
You’ll need them when you’re pulling all nighters or if you’re running low on cash…and you will. I have the kind of meal plan where I have unlimited swipes at Broward Dining Hall and it has saved me on countless occasions when I’m running low on energy, caffeine, or am just starving. If you’re a UF Freshman you know.
