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!