December Graduation

Hello!

I'm procrastinating in the library....I should be studying for my 3rd and final exam @ 3:45 today.

Oh well! I'm ready for Winter Break!!

A great article caught my attention on UT.EDU and I wanted to share it.

It is about a friend of mine who is giving the "Challenge to the Graduates" aka the graduation speech at the December graduation. Its a great example of becoming involved on campus and the end of the article had neat stats about the December graduating class.

http://www.ut.edu/Commencement-Challenge-Find-Passion.aspx

I'm thinking about giving the speech for May's graduation, but I'm not sure yet! My friends think I'm crazy but I think it would be an amazing opportunity.

:)

Happy Holidays!!

Exams

Hello All!

This is a quick one! 

I'm preparing for 2 presentations tomorrow and then 3 exams next week! Yikes! Am I ready for winter break! 

Today in the computer lab, and all over the college of business, everyone was in there professional attire. You can always tell when the semester is ending...everyone starts giving presentations and wearing their finest business attire. Always funny seeing your t-shirt and jeans guy friends in a suit. 

Anyway, I need to get back to my presentations!

Best of luck to you all on your exams!!

Thanksgiving/Winter Breaks

Hello from the Tampa Airport!

I am flying to Maryland to see my mom and have never been so ready to see my mom and have a break! I know a lot of parents read my blog and I wanted to dedicate this post to the parents:

I know my mom thought when I was leaving for Tampa my freshman year that I would never want to come back home and I would be having so much fun I wouldn't miss her. She couldn't have been more wrong. The one thing I've learned and I know all of my friends have learned is that home is really where the heart is and no matter how much we love school, we'll always miss home and our parents. 

I don't have a lot of time anymore to go home so when I do get a chance to see one of my parents it is amazing! Just being on campus last week you could tell everyone was antsy to get home and antsy to be in their own bed with mom's food on the table. 

Being away from your parents and home definitely gives you that feeling of independence but no matter how much we love our new found freedom we still can't wait to see our parents every few months. 

I even remember my Freshman year when 'parents weekend' was coming around and I thought it would be really embarrassing to have my mom on campus, but it was great! Everyone else had their parents there and we could share all of our new experiences with them. Now that I'm in my Senior year, my parents don't come for parents weekend but I still get that pang of jealously seeing everyone else's parents on campus. 

I could go on and on...but in the end I just wanted to let all of the parents out there who are having anxiety about letting their kids go.... that we miss you and even if we don't want to admit it we do miss home. 

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! We come come back from Thanksgiving break, have 2 weeks of classes, have 1 week of exams and then we go home for A WHOLE MONTH! Gotta love our winter break!

Take Care! 

Winding Down the Semester

Hello!

Well its the most beautiful time of the year and I know we're all loving it down here! All of our windows are open and we sit outside whenever we can! Yesterday I ate lunch with a few guidance counselors from New Jersey and they were not excited to head back to the cold...I don't blame them! 

So I know a lot of you are applying or have already been accepted! This is such an exciting time of the year and I love meeting new students who have been accepted! I just want to remind you all that all of my posts from this summer still hold true for students coming in for the Spring and next Fall. 

ALSO...I just recruited three new babysitters, one of which is a reader of my blog! I am looking for more Freshman to take on board so if any of you are already at UT or will be coming in the future, let me know and we can get the process started! 

Now, my Limited Liability Corporation for Dummies book just came in the mail so I'm going to go read :) 

Oh and by the way...we decided on naming the business, Simply Sitters, LLC.  And I'm getting a website all set up so I'll post the link once its up and running!

Have a great day!!

More pictures from the CEO Conference and Halloween

This is me introducing Robert Tuchman at the conference. It was short and sweet but still fun! 

The whole gang at the conference. Dr. Koutroumanis is on the right, he is our club advisor ad One of my favorite professors! 

Halloween!! Me (a golfer) and a bunch of Spartans! Good times! 

OH MY GOODNESS!

I just registered for my last semester at UT! Holy Cow! I can't believe I am so close to graduation, it kind of makes me nauseous...

But today I gave a prospective student from California a tour, it was the first time I've given a tour in a while and it really made me excited about being at UT again. Sometimes we take advantage of living the college dream and get stuck in the same ol' routine...but looking at UT through someone else's eyes was really nice! I really enjoyed bringing her around campus and bragging about how much I love my school! Seeing the excitement in her eyes was great!! 

I know a lot of you have already applied, are thinking about applying, or are just starting to look at schools... and I just want to say I am so excited to see everyone on campus visiting! It really is great to see the eagerness and excitement in the eyes of prospective students!!

Apply early, visit campus, ask tons of questions...and have fun on your visit!! 

Have a great weekend!! 

And like always...don't forget to look at my post from previous month's and ask me any questions you might have!!!

<3

Good Morning and Happy Halloween!!


I'm working this AM and was clicking around our website and realized I hadn't looked at our Flickr page yet...I found great pictures of our campus from current students and from photographers within the Tampa community. Plant Hall is such an important building to the City of Tampa and because of this there are hundreds of great pictures of our campus on Flickr. Here are a few of the ones I found that I really liked:

Check out our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/utampa/

After you look at our page, type in the search bar University of Tampa and you'll find lots of other cool pictures people have taken throughout the years.

If you come visit and take pictures, post them on Flickr to share your experience!

We are so lucky to live and learn in such an amazing area!!

Have a fun and safe Halloween!!

CHICAGO!

Hello All!

I am back from Chicago and have officially decided Chicago is my favorite city! I can't even list all of the things I love about that city!

BUT the point wasn't just to go to Chicago..the point was to go to the Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization's national conference...

We all really enjoyed our the conference and felt we took a lot away from us. Our group was a really diverse one in many ways...culturally diverse and diverse in entrepreneurial ideas...it was truly an experience I know we all will never forget! 

I was lucky enough to listen to sessions on the following topics:

Business Plan Technique

Staying Motivated While Owning Your Own Business

Being a Young Entrepreneur

Online Marketing 

Being a collegiate entrepreneur is a stressful and nerve wrecking thing...but going to a conference with 1,600 other collegiate entrepreneurs is empowering and motivating. I left the conference thinking ..."I can do this"... I've always known I could do it, but seeing hundreds of other college students accomplishing their dreams is a whole different type of empowerment. 

On top of being able to bond with 5 other UT students we were able to bond with our advisor whom is also one of my professors. It was amazing learning about the businesses he owns, his goals and ways of doing business. He actually graduated from UT and we found out that he was a Sophomore at UT the year I was born...haha! I then found out that my economics professor was HIS professor when he was here...

So if you can picture this:

Professor Koutroumanis was a UT sophomore in 1987 and Professor Hoke was Professor Koutroumanis's professor and is now my professor too...

that is confusing but really crazy if you figure it out!  I LOVE OUR SCHOOL! 

Anyway here area few pictures...I have more to post from me speaking at the conference and a few other things but I don't have them on my computer yet :-/

Sebastien and I taking pictures in the "bean"...one of the coolest things I've ever seen! If you don't know what it is...google it and then make sure you go see it one day!

3 out of our group of 6 walking and shopping in downtown

Beautiful trees and sky reflected in the "bean"... it was finally sunny on our last day! 

I couldn't get over how many flowers and trees were in downtown... so impressive and pretty! 

Hopefully I'll get a few more pictures of us actually at the conference :)

Once again I encourage all of you to consider joining the UT Entrepreneurs Club if you decide to attend UT! We encourage all majors to join!!

Have a great week!! 

Next week I'll try to post a few fun Halloween pictures!! Have a fun and safe one!! 

Pumpkin Carving!!

HAPPY ALMOST HALLOWEEN!

My roommates and I (and our miscellaneous friends) carved pumpkins last night! They'll probably get gross before Halloween but we couldn't resist! 

My pumpkin is on the far right...it turned out a lot meaner than I intended...

We saved all of the seeds and baked them...

This looks dangerous with the huge knives but they were all we had...they got the job done and no one lost any fingers! 

Now that we are in the Halloween spirit I just need to think of a good costume??

Any suggestions would be great!

Have a spectacular week!!

Which residence hall would you want to live in?

Hello!!

I'm such a slow blogger...I KNOW...life is one crazy busy whirlwind and senior year is FLYING by~ I can't beleive its already October. BUT it is finally starting to cool off and feel like Fall, I woke up this morning and it was 65 with a high of 75 today...if your reading this from up north I bet you're jealous?? This is the reason 60% of our school is from out of state..typically from the north...you just can't beat the weather!

So I was thinking the other day while I was falling asleep what I could talk about for my next post?? And then it occured to me that everyone always asks about the different residence halls...SO I'll give it to you...

THE PROS AND CONS OF THE MAIN RESIDENCE HALL ON CAMPUS!

Mckay (A Freshman Favorite):

Pros: 2 floors of mainly freshman, in the park, river view, outdoor volleyball court, bbq pits, small building and a tight knit community, you are right next to plant hall which is where most freshman classes are (roll out of bed and walk two steps and you're in class!), close to the pool

Cons: older building, smaller rooms, the east side is the only community style bathrooms on campus

Smiley (A Fun Building):

Pros: very similar to Mckay's pros, two floors of mainly freshman, close to the cafeteria, close to Plant Hall and John Sykes College of Business, great people watching spot ;)

Cons: older building, smaller rooms, the only residence hall left with window air conditioning units

Austin (Where I lived my Freshman year):

Pros: a newer building, nice sized rooms, 7 floors of mainly freshman, the study lounges down stairs are great, the common rooms on each floor are huge, the game room down stairs is always a fun place to hangout, in the heart of campus: close to the cafeteria, close to the courtyard, close to the health center

Cons: a larger building doesn't have as tight of a community as the smaller buildings

Vaughn (Where I lived my Sophomore year):

Pros: a newer building, nice sized rooms, 5 floors of mainly freshman and sophomores, the common room on the 3rd floor has kitchen, pool table, couches..etc, you live in the building that houses the cafeteria and other dining venues, ATM and laundry card machine downstairs, the arcade, computer lab, bookstore, and club offices are downstairs, in the heart of campus: close to the courtyard, close to the health center

Cons: Crowded downstairs, always tempted to eat the food downstairs :-/, busy elevators

Stadium Center (The newbie building):

Pros: the newest residence hall, the room layout, the fun decorations in the halls, the views of the soccer field and the baseball field, you live in the building that houses other dining venues, close to the pool, close to the science wing and communications wing, close to John Skyes College of Business, close to the baseball and soccer fields, ATM downstairs

Cons: crowded downstairs, the stadium is sometimes loud, always tempted to eat Dairy Queen downstairs :-/

Straz (The Apartments):

Pros: A newer building, an apartment on campus, cooking in your room is very convenient, having your own room is amazing, the living/kitchen/dining room combo is large enough to have friends over and lounge around, 7 floors of mainly Juniors and Seniors, close to west parking garage, close to the baseball and soccer fields, close to Stadium Center's dining venues

Cons: a longer walk than most residence halls to classes, no balcony like the other apartments

ResCom (The Apartment "community")

Pros:  Very similar to Straz plus you have your own balcony, and a courtyard with picnic tables and bbq grills, 3 floors of mainly Juniors and Seniors close to Thomas parking garage, close to the cafeteria, and John Sykes College of Business

Cons: a longer walk than some residence halls to classes, an older building, only one elevator 

Urso (The "Off Campus" hall)

Pros: a newer building, the feeling of living on your own but still on campus, only one or two people per apartment instead of 4 people per apartment in the other apartments, a kitchenette, a nice outside area to hangout downstairs

Cons: A smaller room, not a full kitchen, a longer walk to some classrooms

For pictures and more details of the halls follow this link: http://www.ut.edu/detail.aspx?id=3884

On Thursday I will be flying to Chicago for the Collegiate Entrepreneur's Organization conference, I'll post while I'm on the flight back to let everyone know how it went! 

Wish me luck!! 

My other "hobby"

Hello!

I haven't been able to post in a while because I have been astronomically busy...but I finally have a few minutes to sit and think for a few minutes...

So one thing I haven't mentioned yet about myself is that I started my own babysitting service a year ago this September... 

It is my number one passion and my baby! I hope to make it a full fledged company after Christmas and then make it my main job once I graduate in May. Recently I have been doing a lot of background work (all of the stuff they don't tell you about when you dream of becoming an entrepreneur) and have been getting a lot of encouragement from the Tampa community as well as my UT community. 

One of my main creative outlets and support systems is the Entrepreneurship Club that I am a part of at UT. Our advisor, Dr K, is also one of my professors and couldn't be a better advisor! We are actually going to a convention hosted by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) in October. Its in Chicago...I've never been...I am beyond excited! 

I didn't have time to be a part of this club last year and missed the opportunity to go to the convention so I am absolutely ecstatic about attending this year! 

I hope to gain a lot of insight on how to start a business as a recent college grad, as well as networking with people from all over the country. 

My point to writing this post was not to point out just the Entrepreneurship Club but to highlight the fact that UT has so many clubs in all different fields. If you apply yourself to a club you can get such an enriching experience out of it and possibly even get a job, or connections for future opportunities. 

Take a look at this link http://www.ut.edu/studentengagement/ 

Click around to see what types of clubs and organizations UT offers! 

And if you don't see a club you might want to join....come start one! I have a friend who started a Car Club this semester ...he is organizing car shows for UT students and basically gathering all of the car fanatics on campus to share their hobby. 

Put your mind to it, and you can do it! 

I'll keep you posted how my new business is coming along and I'll post pictures after I go to the CEO conference! 

Adios! 

The Weekends

Hello!

As I am winding down my Sunday I figured I'd touch on the topic of what to do on the weekends in Tampa. I get a lot of questions about what there is to do on the weekends for students....and I always try to reassure people that there is plenty! A lot of campus get nicknamed "suitcase schools" because everyone leaves on the weekends to go home or somewhere else...thats definitely not the case at UT. 

We have so many options when it comes to entertainment and leisure...Off campus options within 30 minutes or less from campus...Lightening Games, Rays Games, Bucs Games, USF Bulls Games, Busch Gardens, Indoor Concerts, Outdoor Concerts, Indie Venues, Comedy Shows, Conventions, the State Fair Grounds, Beaches...Beaches...Beaches..., two malls, more restaurants than you can imagine, recreation areas, parks, Tampa Bay, numerous gym facilities... etc... On campus options... the pool, the park, the game room, UT sporting events, the McNiff Fitness Center, outdoor volleyball and basketball courts, the courtyard, free monthly movies and stand up comedians, at least 10 different dining venues, Student Productions events...etc...

For example last weekend we had a four day weekend, I went out to dinner, went to happy hour and my favorite restaurant/bar (its still strange to me that I'm 22 and am legal to go out), went to the beach (got really sunburned), babysat, watched a movie on campus, went to a friends pool party/house warming party, went to the gym on campus, went shopping at the International Plaza. 

This weekend  I went to our men's soccer game (the women's game got rained out), I went to a boxing class I take across the street at Punch for fitness, I went with about 10 friends to our one of our favorite places called Splitsville, its a bowling alley/bar (always a good time). My roommate is also at the Bucs game right now...I'm babysitting so I couldn't go, but I know a lot of students that went...

Next weekend I got 4 tickets to go to the Lightening game...we'll see what else I do next weekend!

I moved to Tampa from a small town on the east coast of Florida and knew I wanted to move to a small city where there was a lot more to offer in the way of entertainment and nightlife. I know I definitely found a city I love and plan on staying in Tampa after I graduate! 

Let me know if you have any questions about the Tampa area :)

Recycling, My Dorm, My 22nd Birthday etc...

Hello!!!

How is everyone on this wonderful Thursday, and the beginning of my 4 day weekend!!

This post is going to be a little on the random side :) 

First things first, HOW EXCITING IS IT THAT WE FINALLY GOT RECYCLING BINS ON CAMPUS!?! I noticed today the recycling bins made for cans and bottles outside quite a few buildings on campus. This is so exciting to me for a few reasons: for one a lot of my friends have been petitioning to get recycling to start on campus and now that it is finally happening it is nice to see their hard work paying off. Also, when I give tours a lot of people ask me about recycling and I feel so terrible telling prospective students we don't have recycling...BUT not anymore! 

UT...changing for the better one day at a time :)

So here are the pictures of my room this year...its finally all unpacked and looking good so I figured I would share them...this is an apartment on campus in ResCom:

This is our living room, this picture is being taken from the front door. We have a lot of people over throughout the week so its really nice to have a living room to use! 
This is our kitchen. I have 3 other roommates and we all cook most of the time. We all have meal plans but we love cooking on our own so its awesome to have a kitchen! 
This is our little dining room area. There is a sliding glass door right next to the table and it goes out to our porch which is also nice to use when its nice outside. 
This is my room! I always have the highest bed out of all of my roommates because I have the most stuff. There is more to the room but not much more, just a desk and a window. Its not very big but I have my own private room so thats all I care about! 

This is our vanity area. We have a lot of cabinet space and actually don't even end up using all of it which shows how much space we get when there are 4 girls sharing that area. The bathroom is just to the left of this vanity area and there is a toilet, shower and closet in there. 

 

And last but not least...my 22nd birthday was yesterday and it was great! I think its the most love I've ever received on a birthday...I'm not going to lie either...I enjoyed all the attention for the day! I think living in such a tight knight community helped too! My roommates had balloons in the living room for me, one of my best friends decorated our front door, I had happy birthday sung to me in 6 different languages at work, I got to go out to a fancy restaurant and then out for drinks with friends...it was a really great day! 

Well I think that is it for now! I am going to go to bed early, sleeping in laying by the pool and enjoying 4 days off of class!!

Happy Labor Day weekend! Be safe! 

First Week of Classes!

Hello!

I only have a few minutes to write a quick post, I'm in between classes right now. 

So I've been to 3 out of my 4 classes for this semester (I love being a senior and not having to take 6 classes!) and I LOVE all of my professors this year! It is so nice to be have the best professors on campus. I have 3 of the most popular professors on campus and they have all been at UT for a long time which is probably what I love them most. I usually dread starting a new semester and getting everything started but I'm pretty confident that this year I will be having an amazing Fall. 

All of my professors have worked, or still work in the fields they teach and you can tell they all LOVE teaching which will make the experience 100% worth it. Labor Economics, Survey of International Business, and Marketing Research aren't classes that are usually a walk in the park but I have a feeling they will all be worth my time!

I'll keep you posted on how the rest of my semester goes, and I hope you all had good luck like me and have great professors! 

Orientation and the Excitement about Moving In!

Hello!!

I am sitting in Plant Hall waiting for it to stop pouring rain so I can go to my car...I figured it would be a perfect time for me to write a new post since I haven't had the time in a while!

Orientation and move-in started today! It has been CRAZY in the office and all around campus but I am loving having the energy back on campus! This is bringing me back to my freshman year and moving in! I bet you all are realizing now how hot it is in Florida!! You can't say I didn't warn you :) 

I am getting all of my stuff ready for the start of my senior year...getting all of my books in order, making sure I pick up my parking permit, paying my last minute dues...etc...

A few things I came across this year while getting organized:

-RENT YOUR TEXTBOOKS! I hate to take business away from the bookstore but I rented one of my textbooks from Chegg.com and only paid $18 total to rent a $180 book for the whole semester...I couldn't believe it. They actually didn't have 3 of the other books I need but hey I saved over $100 on one book so I'm happy! I'll keep you all posted on how the whole process worked out once I receive my book in the mail next week!

-Read all of the information on our website and stay on top of your deadlines. Even going into my senior year I forgot to register my car for another year of parking. I can't believe I forgot but I almost ran out of time to get it done. We are all on our own now and need to keep on top of these things, being a responsible adult is what college is teaching us :) 

-Make sure you keep looking at your Course and Fee Statement and make sure you don't have any holds left on your account. This is esspecially going to be helpful when you want to sign up for housing next year...if you have holds on your account you won't be able to sign up for housing..AGAIN stay on top of everything!

Not to change subjects but I also wanted to comment on how amazing it was to see all of the work that goes into welcoming our new students! I feel like this year we had more help than ever and it was awesome to see so many UT students working with O-Team, the diplomats and other organizations to keep things running smoothly! This should be a great example to the incoming freshman for getting involved and helping out in their future years! Plus anytime you are involved on campus you will meet more people and get more contacts within the university. I know I personally enjoyed helping tons of freshman with their first days on campus! There is nothing better than seeing the excitement and energy an incoming freshman has! 

It still hasn't stopped raining but I guess I'll run to my car and head home...but just as an FYI...I've seen a few people slip on the Plant Hall Veranda so just remember if you are on campus and its raining...the Verandas are very slippery!  :) 

Have a good night and hopefully I will be seeing some of you around campus soon!! 

A loss to the UT Campus

Hello!


I wish I was starting this post off with better news and on a better note but sometimes you can't avoid the bad news.



Today our campus and the Tampa community was dealt a sad hand, one of our cross country team members, Ryan McCall, was killed during an off campus robbery. He was walking home from a night out with friends to his off campus apartment and was robbed and then killed. It is an extremely unfortunate and terrible event especially for those of us that knew him.


I wanted to post something regarding this tragedy not only because he was someone I had mutual friends with and had occasionally hung out with, but also because this is an event that has effected a large amount of students on our campus. This terrible incident was random and in my 3 years at UT is the first of its kind to happen to one of our students. Our campus and the City of Tampa have always been safe havens for me and I have never and will never feel uncomfortable or unsafe on campus or around our campus. The incident took place off campus and I am worried incoming students will get the wrong impression that our campus or the city in general, are unsafe. I love our campus and have loved being apart of such an amazing community for the past 3 years and want more incoming students for years to come to be able to enjoy what I have been able to enjoy. I also don't want students to get the impression that you can't go out anywhere in this area and feel safe. Unfortunately the world we live in isn't perfect and if you choose to go out in any town, you have to know your surroundings and be aware of what is going on around you. Take a look around the community where you live, make note of the areas you would want to go out in and the areas you might not want to go near. I will continue to go out at night to my favorite restaurants and bars but I know I will be more aware of my surroundings. I will spend the extra $3 to take the cab home, and I will always always make sure my friends do the same.



Please take a look at a few of these links, one is a memorial page with pictures the athletics department made for Ryan's family and friends and the other is a link to our security page:



http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Tampa-FL/University-of-Tampa-Athletics/96837484241?ref=mf

http://www.ut.edu/safety/






Always remember to be safe, be aware of your surroundings, and use common sense. Ryan will be very missed but will be a reminder to us all to make everyday your greatest!

Getting excited about sports

Good Morning! 

I keep getting the reminders from our Athletics Fan Site about the first game of the Men's Soccer season and I am getting pretty excited for school and all of our athletics to begin. Both our Men's and Women's Soccer teams and our Women's Volleyball team this year are supposed to be in the top of our division. Check out the articles that have been written about their ranking http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tampa-FL/University-of-Tampa-Athletics/96837484241

Anyway, I love going to all of the games and I wanted to encourage all of you to check out the dates for all of the teams' games...the dates and times are posted on the link I put up top and also on our Athletics link from the UT Website. Definitely check out everything on our athletics programs...the more you know the more you'll have fun at the games!! 

This is the Stadium packed for a soccer game! 

See you at the first games on the 27th! Remember to wear your red and black! 

Have a great weekend!! 

My last Fall Semester at UT :(

Good Morning and TGIF!!!!

Soo we're getting so close to the start of the Fall 09 Semester...MY LAST FALL SEMESTER AT UT EVER :( ...things around campus are starting to pick up and its kind of nice to have people back on campus. I'm not going to lie, it was a little lonely this summer without tons of students on campus! The soccer teams and the volleyball team are back on campus starting their workouts for the Fall season so there are quite a few more people around campus. Even though its only about 100 students or so that are back, its still really nice to be able to go in the cafe and see a few friends that I haven't seen in a few months!
I've been living off campus all summer, and if you've read my previous posts...I'm a huge supporter of living ON campus...I AM SO READY TO BE BACK ON CAMPUS! I don't know why I would be so excited to be living in a shoebox sized room with a bed no larger than a cot...but I've been so lonely living without my 3 other roommates and not being around all of our friends and the events that go on around campus! It really will be an eye opener when I actually graduate and can no longer live on campus in our "bubble" we call home for 9 months out of the year.
Its kind of funny how much I look forward to living on my own and having my own place, AND not having to move out of after every year, but then every year when I'm in my dorm room, living with my best friends and having the time of my life, I realize I could possibly live like a college student for a while. Graduation, the real world, and living on my own is a bitter sweet reality I'm going to face pretty soon....mannnn how did I get to senior year already??

Well...I guess I'm done babbling about nothing...time to go back to work! Have a great Friday!

Target, Wal-Mart, Bed Bath and Beyond...

Just a quick post!

I was running errands today and was laughing everywhere I went...every display is focused toward the college student and their "must haves" to move into dorms. I wanted to stop by every family I saw looking at the displays and say "you'll never use that stuff". Obviously I didn't...but it took me a lot of constraint. 

If you only remember one thing from all of my blog posts remember this:

If you didn't use it at home, you are not going to use it in college. Life doesn't dramatically change once you enter a dorm room. 

I hate seeing so many new students wasting their money on the hoaxy things these stores make look so cute! 

Buy the essentials, things that remind you of home, and things that will make you want to enjoy your dorm room. 

You don't need an extra plush polka dotted folding chair with a carrying case...you won't even have room to store it...

Take a look at my list of items you'll most likely need (I posted it a while ago so scroll to the bottom)...it is a lot of stuff but it is all practical things you'll use all 4 years. 

And again Happy Shopping but shop smart and shop practical (I still have a pink lap tray I thought I HAD to have to do my homework on while sitting in bed...I've never once used it) 

:)

FAQs in the Admissions Office

 Good Morning! I started a list of questions I had been receiving while I was in the Admissions Office- Here are a few of them:

 Are there jobs on campus? - Yes there are. There are numerous offices on campus that offer jobs to students. The opportunity to work on campus is one you shouldn't pass up, even if you only work for a semester or two. Having a job on campus increases your connections with faculty, staff, and other students (and remember its all about networking). Also if you are a student without a car on campus, working a job on campus is your best option. Some of the offices only accept Work Study and not Student Employment. If you have been approved for Work Study you will see it in your financial aid package. Check out our career services page to see which office have part-time job positions open.

Does it matter what type of computer I bring?- When it comes to computers on our campus it is all about personal preference. In my experience a laptop is a MUST, desktop computers would not help you at all if you want to bring your computer to class, the library, a group meeting..ect. Our computer labs are full of desktop computers. As far as brand goes, thats another personal preference. I came into UT freshman year with a Gateway, 2 1/2 years later I bought a MacBook. I am so happy with my Mac and our computer labs are equipped with both PCs and Macs. You may find it a little bit more difficult using a Mac when you want to present in class because of the way our projectors are set up in the classrooms, but you can rent laptops from the Library if you need one for a presentation. Also remember FREE printing on campus. A small printer in your room can be helpful if you have something last minute but it isn't a necessity. 

    Why is my schedule so random? Can I drop a class?- Coming in freshman year you have your schedule made for you before you get to campus. This to some students seems really frustrating. In my opinion is is extremely helpful. The school does give you quite a bit of random classes but in the end they are all going to fulfill some type of requirement and are not random at all. The scheduling process can be very confusing so the advising office makes your schedule for you Fall semester Freshman year to alleviate the confusion. They will typically give you 15-17 credits so you have enough wiggle room if you want to drop a class you absolutely hate. You can go down to 12 credits to still be considered a full-time student. Remember though, if you drop a class you either need to sign up for another one that semester or take an extra class in a following semester to make up for the lost credits. Your Gateways Advisor will be a very helpful resource for all of your scheduling questions, so don't freak now and worry about it during orientation. 

Where do most people study?- Where you do your studying is another personal preference. I personally study in the Library or in Plant Park. I can't concentrate in my room, I get ZERO accomplished. The Library's second floor is a studying haven for me. They have cubby-holed desks where you could literally not see anyone or talk to anyone for hours if you choose to. The park is also a great place when it is just wayyy to nice to be sitting inside to study but you really do have to study and not sit by the pool. A big towl or blanket, your iPod and your studying material make the park a perfect place to study and still be semi-happy you aren't completely wasting a beautiful Florida day. When you're in the park, if you sit closer to the school you can still get wireless internet but it is patchy; the library is your best bet if you need your computer to study. I think the top places for studying around campus are: Library, outside porches of John Skyes, the park, your room, the computer labs, the study lounges in the residence halls, Starbucks or Panera (Panera has free wireless, Starbucks doesn't)....

I hope this helps! If you have any questions just let me know! 

Have a great weekend and see you in 3 1/2 weeks! 

Meal Plans

Good Morning!
Yesterday on a tour I was giving I had a lot of questions about how our meal plans worked. It does get a little confusing but if you check out the website I posted below all of the different meal options are explained.

In my opinion and from my experience, for girls the 15 meals a week works the best if you don't have a kitchen. For guys the unlimited plan is pretty popular but you can't take out a to-go box from the Cafe with that option. If you end up living in an Apartment Style dorm with a kitchen you are required to sign up for a meal plan with at least 7 meals a week. I use that because I love to cook, but a lot of students keep their 12 to 15 meals a week.

Take a look at the meal plan descriptions:
http://dining.ut.edu/plans.html

Once you look at that link click around the links in our dining services area...you'll never go hungry on our campus!

A few more pictures!

 I'm relaxing for the rest of the night and have a few ideas for new posts...we'll see how ambitious I am tonight and how much I post... here are a few pictures of random UT 

This is one of our great clubs on campus! It is actually run by a few of my really great friends. It is a group mainly for management, sports management, and marketing majors but anyone can join. They offer a TON of volunteer opportunities and if you are looking to get a job or internship this is a GREAT group to join. Josh and Miles (the founders of this club) are the two of the most ambitious kids at our school and get anything they put to their mind done! Definitely look into it once on campus!  This is a picture from one of their annual Home Run Derbies. 

This is a picture of SEMS (the club from above) skating on the hockey rink that the Lightening play on at the St Pete Times Forum. SEMS sells tickets to a Lightening game and then after the game they rent out the rink to skate on for the UT students who went to the game. I went two years ago and it is a blast! Last year they had a bigger turn out. This is a picture from a pool party the UT radio station WUTT held. They offer food and games with prizes. It is always fun watching your friend humiliate themselves while playing stupid games at the pool. The pool is always fun, whether there is a pool party hosted or not. 

This is my best friend and my mom with me at a baseball game. It was an event hosted by our Spartan Fan Club. They gave out foam helmets and swords. We were cracking up at how dumb we looked but it was a good laugh. I think we were the only ones actually wearing our helmets. 
I'll post more pictures soon :) 

Top Ten Reasons I Love UT!

Here are the top ten reasons I love UT...they aren't in any particular order!

1) Our dorms are so amazing, I lived on campus all 4 years and never had to commute to school! I could roll out of bed and go to class everyday!
2) The amazing people I have met. I have met people from all over the US and the world! I never thought I would know people from Dubai, Aruba, Venezuela, Brazil, Costa Rica, Sweden, Germany...etc...
3) We have the most beautiful campus in Florida (in my opinion). Living, working, and attending school around so much history adds so much to your all around college experience.
4) Our small classroom sizes. I know all of my professors by name, and they know me. I know I've done so well all four years because I was able to get one-on-one help from my professors.
5) The location. I am from Florida so the beach is nothing all too new for me, but I am from a TINY town. Coming to a city that is so large made me nervous because I thought it was going to be really overwhelming but it wasn't. Tampa is known to be the biggest small town. It has all of the features a city offers, yet it still feels homey and welcoming.
6) Our study abroad program. I didn't actually get to study abroad because I have been able to travel a lot on my own, but almost half of my friends have gone abroad. Their pictures all look amazing and they have come back with great experiences. I think having the resources our school offers for study abroad is a huge asset to our school.
This is one of my best friends in Spain for her Semester Abroad, she now has a minor in Spanish -------->
7) The on campus resources. We have our Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), the Saunder's Writing Center, and the Career Services Office. All of these offices add a lot to the college experience. The ACE is a place to receive free tutoring. The Suander's Writing Center is where you can get your paper's edited and reviewed for free. And our Career Services Office provides resume writing and reviewing, internship and job fairs, as well as a great hiring website (HIREUT). All of these offices are on campus and should most definitely be taken advantage of.
8) The campus feels like a community. I can walk around campus and feel at home. You will see friends in the cafe, the courtyard, the library, the pool, at sporting events...etc. 60% of our undergrads live on campus, we are one big community!
9) The opportunities to work on campus. Working in the admissions office has been one of the best things I've ever done. Plus, I don't have to drive to get to work. There are numerous jobs all over campus, at some point you should definitely try to work on campus!
10) The connections you can get just because you go to UT. I've said it before and I'll say it again, its not all about what you know but who you know. UT is connected with so many people and businesses in the Tampa area, it would be a huge mistake if you didn't take advantage of the networking offered. There are events going on all the time for students to network with local business people. This city has jobs and internships everywhere, if you meet the right people and work hard you could land the job of your dreams!

That's it for now :)

Keep the requests for info coming!!

Fun Website

While I was clicking around to find the links for my last post, I found a nice website that shows a little bit of everything about Tampa. Click around and check out the neighborhoods, restaurants, entertainment ect...

http://www.hilifetampa.com/Content.aspx?pid=5

Transportation Around Tampa

Happy Monday!
I'm back from Vacation :( and back to work...
I received an email from an incoming Freshman who wanted information on the types of transportation in Tampa. Here are a few options we have in the area:

• HART line City Buses: Fare is $1.75 All-Day pass: $3.75 The buses now run every 15 minutes during the week, and every 30 minutes during the weekend.The number 30 bus comes right in front of the university and will take you to numerous different places such as the mall, or the airport. It's a lot cheaper than taking a cab.
• HOPTampa: If you want to go to anywhere in the main Tampa city area such as Channelside, Ybor, or Hyde Park area you can call a service called HOPTampa. It is a "shuttle" type service which is run by a few electric carts. They are the limo of golf carts and are surprisingly fast. The service is free all you have to do is tip the driver how ever much you would like.
• Cabs in Tampa: Cabs in Tampa are another convenient option. There are numberous different cab companies that work in the Tampa area. Your best bet is to saves a few cab company numbers in your phone that way you have them where ever you might find yourself needing a cab. At night on weekends cabs also line up in front of Vaughn Center. There is a boundry in the Tampa area where there is a flat rate. If there are two or more people in a cab at anytime traveling in those boundaries the cab ride will always be $3 a person. This may seem a little confusing but you will get used to it. There is also a flat fee of $22 to the airport.

Here are the links to each one of these types of trasportation for more info:

HART bus line: http://www.gohart.org/
http://www.gohart.org/ride_guide/fares/student-fare-cards.html

HOPTampa: http://www.hoptampa.net/

Map of the In-Town Short Ride Zone for taxis: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/publictransportation/resources/appforms/taxilabel2.pdf


Thanks for the great request for info! I hope it helped! And please keep the requests coming!

What to Expect

Coming to UT is probably the only thing on your mind right now...right? You probably have most of your living arrangements worked out, you've gone over your schedule a million times in your head, and you're already picturing what your professors look like. Now you just need to get there. For this post I wanted to just briefly touch on a few random things you can expect out of life at UT and the things I've learned throughout the years:

• Freshman year is a blast, but always remember why you are in Tampa. School first, then fun. I think Freshman year was one of my favorite years, but I also know a few people that didn't make it past Freshman year because they had too much fun. 
• Always take a taxi when you go out. The taxis line up on the weekends in front of Vaughn. $3 a person if you have two or more people. 
• Learn your way around Tampa whether you have a car or not. Knowing where you need to go for your basics is important. It gets annoying when someone asks for the 5th time how to get to Publix. Tampa is SO easy to get around, if you learn early it will be even easier. 
• Take advantage of your surroundings. You are about to live in an amazing part of Florida. Go to the beach, go to the professional sporting events, buy concert tickets, lay out in the park, bike ride on Bayshore....do it all and make the most out of your four years.

         This is me riding my bike on Bayshore ---------->                                                                       

• Don't use a tray in the cafe. I used a tray freshman year, you'll want to use a tray freshman year...but you'll learn quick they take up A LOT of room at the table. I hate to say it will be a dead giveaway that you are a freshman, but it will. Kind of trivial but just a tip.
• Get to know your professors. Use their office hours. Take advantage of going to a small school. The more professors you know, the more likely you'll get the help you need down the road.
• Networking is key. Honest to god its not what you know its who you know. Meet everyone you can and make sure they remember you. You may not think that criminology professor is important now, but 3 years from now they might be the person who could get you that job you always wanted. 

    This is me at the Super Bowl in Tampa. These are other UT   students I'm with. We used networking to get a job with the NFL while they were in town. It was an AMAZING experience..and I got paid!  --->

• Go to as many UT sporting events as you can. Not only is it great to have school spirit but you will meet a lot of interesting people. Plus, since our school is so small there is a good chance you will know at least one person on every team.  
• And I guess my last tip is to get your best grades Freshman and Sophomore years because the higher your GPA is in the beginning the better. Junior and Senior years are killers when it comes to classes, so when you are taking your easier classes in the first 2 years, get great grades to start that solid foundation with your GPA.

If I think of any more that seem important I'll let you know!

Have a great weekend!

Volleyball Games

One of the most popular sports to go to on campus is Women's Volleyball. The games are always fast paced and its a blast watching the girls win. The UT team is really good! 

This is the women's basketball team getting ready to head to the Breast Cancer Awareness volleyball game against our rival school Florida Southern. 
Me and my roommates at the game. 
The women's basketball team supporting their fellow athletes at the game.The swim team has the most school spirit. They wear all of their swim gear to the games, every time we score they take of a piece of clothing. Once we win the match they are down to their bathing suits. In this picture they are doing pushups on the court. 

The crowd in pink supporting the volleyball team. 

So I've been trying to find a few good pictures of campus and things that go on around campus...I think I've found a good assortment of pictures that represent a normal week at UT...I'm new to this whole blog thing so stick with me while I try and post pictures...I will probably post 3 or 4 at a time until I run out...once I get back on campus maybe I'll take a few more pictures...If you let me know what you want to see, I can possibly take pictures by request.. 

This is a view of the baseball field from behind home plate. It is really nice to sit out at the field during a game in the spring when the weather is gorgeous! 



Here is a view of downtown from my room in Austin. I lived in Austin my freshman year. 




This is my favorite picture. I took this picture from the West Parking Garage, it is of our soccer stadium. The view from the stadium into downtown is the best view on the whole campus. 

When I have more time to download more pictures I will! I hope everyone is getting excited about getting to Tampa!! 

ps I don't know why its putting the text to a link...I'm computer handicapped what can I say?! 

Changed my look

Hello!

We changed the look of the page to make it look a little more like UT! Its the same blog just a new look :) 

As I stated before I'm on vacation so I haven't been in the office to hear all of the questions...so if you have any topics you'd like me to write about I would be happy to!

Have a great night! 

On Campus vs Off Campus?

Good Sunday Morning! 

I'm on vacation but can't sleep so I guess I'll start writing...

One topic I know has always been a debate around campus is whether you should live on or off campus? What are the reasons to consider both options? Why have I chosen to live on campus all 4 years? Why have some of my friends decided to move off campus? 

At UT it is the norm to live on campus whereas at most schools is is the opposite. UT doesn't even require on campus housing freshman year and we have about 70% of our freshman class living on campus and then 60% of our undergrads living on campus after freshman year. Those numbers are huge compared to many other schools. So why do so many people decide to live on our tiny little campus? I think one reason is because it is a tiny little campus and it is such a community to live in. Why would you want to move away from all of your friends and all of the activities that are going on? I have noticed that when my friends move off campus they tend to not be as up to date on everything going on around campus and they miss out on a lot of events. The majority of us came to this school because it is a small university with that homey one-on-one feeling, and you won't get lost in the crowd. I think that living on campus helps a lot with not getting lost in the crowd: you can walk around at any time and know at least one person, you can get out of bed and go meet with your professors in their offices, you can walk to get food that is already paid for and is less than 5 minutes away from your room.....I could go on and on! One of the main reasons I stayed on campus and is probably the same for a lot of other students: I can roll out of bed and in 5 minutes I'm in class. I have never been late to a class, and I know for a fact that is because I live on campus. I have overslept numerous times and still been to class on time. I also work on campus, our office opens at 8:30 and if I had to get up any earlier than I already do to drive to campus, I would be one cranky person to work with! And the last reason I think people end up living on campus has to do with the great options we are given for housing: Most of our dorms were built within the last ten years, and we have an option to "move up" as we gain more credits. I would have most likely moved off campus my junior year if I wasn't given the option to live in an "Apartment Style" dorm. Having the option to go from Suite style, to having a common room, to living on your own in an apartment is great and a huge asset to our campus. 

So then why do about 40% of our students live off campus? There are a few reasons: It is cheaper to live off campus, you get more privacy, there aren't as many rules, and you are finally living completely on your own. - Living off campus can definitely be cheaper there is no doubt about it, but you have to factor in the convenience you will be losing. - You will most definitely be getting more privacy and have more time on your own. In a dorm room people are always popping in and out of your room and you always have roommates around you. - The fact that you will be living away from campus will get you away from all of the rules designated by campus. If you want to live with a pet, you will have that option off campus, and if you don't agree with a lot of the rules the RAs enforce you wouldn't have to. - And last, living off campus finally gives you the independence you have been wanting. Being off campus, you can buy and make your own food, decorate how you want, and sleep in a normal sized bed. 

To each his own BUT in my opinion, we have many more years after we graduate to buy our own groceries, keep our houses clean, and fix our own sinks. Enjoy the years of letting those who get paid for it make your meals, clean your rooms, and unclog your toilets. We will be commuting to and from work for the rest of our lives, so take these four years to roll out of bed in your pjs, go to class, AND get away with it. 

Enjoy your Sunday Funday! I'm off to the beach! 

Orientation and Gateways

Good Morning! 

Summer is winding down for all of us and the reality of going back to school is getting closer and closer. I remember the anticipation and the anxiety I felt before heading to Tampa, a whole new world is waiting for you and is a month away. To be honest once I got here it was a complete blur...but I do remember one thing...feeling extremely confused before I got to school, but once I arrived at UT the orientation process went smoothly. This post is going to be concentrating on Orientation and Gateways. 

Arriving for move in and check in:

The most exciting part of the whole orientation week in my opinion is the move in part...you get to see your room, meet your roommates and their families, and then decorate your room however you want! For most of you that first day will be the 25th, you get to move your belongings in between 2pm and 5pm but you don't get to stay in the dorm for the night. I love this option because you get to get the hard part out of the way, the actual labor of carrying everything to your room is over and done with. Now you know what your room looks like, you have time to buy anything you think you might need, AND you don't have to sleep on a bed without sheets b/c trust me you won't be able to find the box where the sheets are. Then on the 26th you get to check-in for good and become the proud parent of a key and a spartan card! The picture on your Spartan card will probably look terrible, just embrace it! Between 10am and 4pm (check this link to find out your designated time http://www.ut.edu/detail.aspx?id=11454 for check in) the check in is going to be in Plant Hall (the old hotel). If you are going to be later than 4:00 you will be checking in at the Vaughn lobby desk (this is where all late check ins will go). You basically have the whole day of the 26th to move in and get settled. This is probably the the day you will have your parents with your for the whole day, so use them as much as you can before they go. Take it from me (I've moved into a dorm 3 times now), USE THE HELP YOUR PARENTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU because once they tell you they think you can do it on your own, honestly it sucks. Moms are the best to help organize, clean, hang clothes, make beds, and Dads always come through to put up your bed, move your furniture, hang curtains, fix things..etc...I WILL SAY IT AGAIN...IT IS NOT FUN DOING ALL OF THIS BY YOURSELF....TAKE YOUR PARENTS HELP! You may think you want to be on your own now that your in college and its not cool to have your parents around...being on your own is a blast but when you need to get something done that your mom used to do for your...you realize how much you miss them...and then when they come to visit you on parents weekend...you feel lucky your parents actually came to visit you. 

After you have your room all set its time for Orientation and Gateways:

The 27th is when Orientation for you and your family begins. They are separate so say bye to the fam. Student orientation is a GREAT place for you to meet your first friends. I met my best friend (I ended up moving into her dorm room two weeks later) in my gateways class. I came into UT not knowing a soul, and within 2 days I met a girl I know I will be best friends with for the rest of my life. This is the time when you need to just let all of you inabitions go and be friendly, talkative and outgoing. Meet as many people as possible and have a blast! A few of the programs throughout orientation can be a little dry but there is important info to pay attention to. Your Gateways advisor is one person you will want to get familiar with and take advantage of their resources. You can get A LOT out of Gateways if you take the time. I'm going to back up a second and explain Gateways:

It is a freshman class that lasts the whole year (Fall and Spring). This class is only for freshman and you will stay with the same class throughout both semesters. Your professor for this class is called your Gateways Advisor. They are there to guide you through your freshman year, don't complain about this class, be thankful UT offers it b/c most schools throw you to the wolves and expect you to figure all of this stuff out on your own. Your Gateways Advisor is going to help you one by one with your schedule, your major, your minor(if you want one)...etc. They are basically there to answer any questions you have during freshman year. To top that, there is also a Gateways Mentor in each class. That mentor is a student that already attends UT. They are great to ask questions to, and find out the scoop on campus. While you are sitting in Gateways you might complain and think its a waste, but when you look back on it you'll be thankful you had someone there to help you when you were clueless. 

Back to Orientation: 

So basically you are going to be in Orientation type activities the whole day of the 27th. After Orientation is finished there are going to be Student Productions (SP) events going on. I would recommend going to these, usually they are pretty entertaining. I'm not sure what they have planned but it is usually a comedian, a band in the courtyard...something along those lines. 

Then on the 28th you are going to notice the rest of the school moving in...ENJOY YOUR TIME ON CAMPUS BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE MOVES IT! Starting the 28th, all other returning students will be moving into their rooms, it will be pure chaos, just stay out of the way and go to the events that are going on. I think there are a few sporting events, they give out pretty good prizes at our "Spartan Spirit" events so I would suggest seeing what they are doing. 

Once the weekend arrives you are basically free to do what you please or what you have planned. Some of you might be going on the Busch Gardens trip on Sunday. There is also a movie on Sunday night, they are always good movies. 

I would definitely get used to where your classes are, if you have all of your supplies for the first day, how to get around campus, knowing your schedule, checking your alarm clock...etc...use your free time wisely b/c once classes start its going to be a whirlwind. 

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT ONCE YOU SET FOOT ON CAMPUS, YOUR DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, AND YEARS ARE GOING TO FLY BY. EVERYONE TELLS YOU THIS AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE THEM, BUT I AM GOING INTO MY SENIOR YEAR AND I STILL REMEMBER UNPACKING MY BOXES FRESHMAN YEAR LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY!! UT IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO GO TO SCHOOL, USE THE RESOURCES THEY OFFER, MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR FOUR YEARS, AND LEAVE MAKING A MARK. DON'T JUST FLOAT BY UN-NOTICED, DO IT BIG AND DO IT WELL. MY FAVORITE QUOTE FROM A GREAT PROFESSOR:

"YOU DON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME"

Let me know if you have any questions about anything!!

TGIF- Jess