Hi Everyone!
So this will officially by my last day of blogging for UT. I had a great experience being able to share my opinions this semester and I hope that there is someone else out there who would like to continue to write! I have been writing this blog as part of my internship with the admissions department at UT and I hope that my insight has brought something to prospective students!
With that said, I'd like to leave everyone with a few tips for finals week as we are swiftly approaching it! This time of year around campus seems to be a bit hostile since there is no way kids want to be inside studying when the weather is finally nice again and the pool is only a steps away. It is definitely hard to focus on such a beautiful campus, but it must be done (we are here for an education first, right?) Many students find themselves in the library for hours trying to prepare for their exams. Here are some suggestions I'd like to make from my personal experiences about finals week:
-Don't Freak Out!: Just remember that every other student at UT is basically in the same boat you are. Everyone has to study for finals and cram everything from the second half of the semester into a few days of review. I promise that you will be okay as long as you stay calm and realize that you have most likely learned alot more than you think you have this semester
-Stay Hydrated and Fed: I know this sounds silly, but some students go to the library and don't come out for 8 hours and forget to eat or drink anything. Your brain and body needs food to focus and water to stay alert. Taking breaks periodically to walk around and grab a bite to eat is a good idea and will also help you focus by breaking the study time up
-Don't stay up all night: People hear about students who stay up for days studying and then don't pass their finals. This is not because the student didn't study enough, it was because he or she was exhausted! Staying up all night and then going to take a test in the morning is basically like going to class with scrambled eggs for brains. Your body and mind need rest in order to function, so try and get as much sleep as possible!
-Start studying early!: Students should NOT wait til the night before a final to start studying. It doesn't matter if your final is on 2 chapters or the entire semester, studying should not start 24 hours beforehand. Your brain will not retain all the information it can unless you give it time to soak everything in. If you have a final on Tuesday, I suggest starting to study today!
Hopefully all students to amazing on their finals and finish off the year on an excellent note. For everyone who is an underclassmen, congratulations on a wonderful year and for seniors, welcome to the real world! CONGRATULATIONS!
Thank you to everyone for allowing me the opportunity to write this semester! It has been an amazing experience!
Happy Thursday :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Happy Earth Day!
Hello Everyone!!
HAPPY EARTH DAY! Today is a day to go green! Keeping the environment clean is a way to keep all citizens healthy and promote a happy community! University of Tampa is a university that regularly recycles. Recycling bins in all computer labs for extra papers and scrapes that can be reused. UT also has 2 single stream recycling bins around campus for cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. There are a total of 30 different places on campus where you can dispose of recyclable materials. It's great to see UT trying to Go Green with the help of all the students! The IT department has come up with some helpful tips for students on how to conserve paper! Here is the link: http://www.ut.edu/technology/labs/printing/
All around the Tampa Bay area, going green has become a big thing! Keeping the area nice and clean will hopefully attract more people to our beautiful city! Every Friday, there is a Farmer's Market in Downtown Tampa from 10am til 2pm. Local growers come with their fresh produce as well as other unique, organic items such as homemade treats and jewelry. Here is a link to check out all the cool vendors! http://www.tampadowntownmarket.com/index.html
Citizens of St. Petersburg are also into the environment! This weekend is the 24th annual Green Thumb Festival at Walter Fuller Park in St. Petersburg. With tons of exhibits and environmental programs, the festival is aimed to please people from ages 9 to 99. Here is the link to check it out! http://www.stpete.org/parks/greenthumb.asp
Other Earth Day events around the Tampa Bay area are highlighted here: http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/earth-day-events-around-tampa-bay/1088562
I hope that everyone enjoys their day and does something "green" today! :)
HAPPY EARTH DAY! Today is a day to go green! Keeping the environment clean is a way to keep all citizens healthy and promote a happy community! University of Tampa is a university that regularly recycles. Recycling bins in all computer labs for extra papers and scrapes that can be reused. UT also has 2 single stream recycling bins around campus for cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. There are a total of 30 different places on campus where you can dispose of recyclable materials. It's great to see UT trying to Go Green with the help of all the students! The IT department has come up with some helpful tips for students on how to conserve paper! Here is the link: http://www.ut.edu/technology/labs/printing/
All around the Tampa Bay area, going green has become a big thing! Keeping the area nice and clean will hopefully attract more people to our beautiful city! Every Friday, there is a Farmer's Market in Downtown Tampa from 10am til 2pm. Local growers come with their fresh produce as well as other unique, organic items such as homemade treats and jewelry. Here is a link to check out all the cool vendors! http://www.tampadowntownmarket.com/index.html
Citizens of St. Petersburg are also into the environment! This weekend is the 24th annual Green Thumb Festival at Walter Fuller Park in St. Petersburg. With tons of exhibits and environmental programs, the festival is aimed to please people from ages 9 to 99. Here is the link to check it out! http://www.stpete.org/parks/greenthumb.asp
Other Earth Day events around the Tampa Bay area are highlighted here: http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/earth-day-events-around-tampa-bay/1088562
I hope that everyone enjoys their day and does something "green" today! :)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tips for Packing Smart!
Hi everyone,
So I am SO excited that there is only 2 weeks of school left before graduation week! I seriously can't believe how fast the past 4 years have gone by! It seems like only yesterday my parents and I pulled up to UT in August to move me in to McKay for my first semester of college. Move in day is such an exciting time on campus because everything is new to you and there is so much going on around you. Although it was always fun to move into a new dorm each year so you could experience new people and atmospheres, moving in was not very fun in the blazing heat of Tampa summers. As my father would say, it is hotter than fire down here in August! UT does provide a Move-In Team at each dorm comprised of student volunteers who will help you and your family move into your dorm.
With that said, I have come up with a list of essentials that you should pack when coming to UT in the fall! You don't want to bring too much but you also don't want to forget the important things! Aside from all your clothes, here is a list of some things that are vital to living in a college dorm!
-Sheets for your bed: Make sure when you are buying sheets and a comforter for your dorm that you buy XL sheets because the mattresses at UT are longer than a normal twin sized bed.
-Laundry detergent & basket: Each dorm has a laundry facility but they do not provide detergent or fabric softener. Good idea to buy a big basket for your clothes as well because your laundry facility could be a little bit of a walk from your room.
-Utensils/plates/cups for your room: It's always nice to have some plates and cups around your room in case you order pizza with your friends or want to eat dinner in your room. Plastic everything is the way to go so you can just throw them away after your are done!
-Shower Stuff: Shampoo, conditioner, razors, soap, shaving cream, etc. are all things that you will definitely need. I suggest getting a shower cady to hold everything in so you can bring it in when you need it and then remove it so that there aren't 5 shampoo bottles and 5 razors cluttering the one shower you will typically share with 4 other people.
-Hangers for your closet: Hangers are something that a lot of people don't think about, but are essential in the dorms. You only have a limited amount of space in the set of drawers that is provided for you, so hanging clothing is a good option to save space instead of buying another dresser.
-Umbrella - I know this sounds dorky and you don't want to be walking around campus with an umbrella, but in Tampa there is a time period when it rains EVERYDAY in the afternoon. It will come in handy, I promise!
-Decorations for your room: Posters and pictures of friends from home will bring your room to life and make it your own. Many student make collages or bring memorablia from home and put them on their walls. You are allowed to stick things to the wall with tape and whatnot as long as it does not take the paint off the walls or leave any kind of mark when it is removed.
-Beach wear and suntan lotion: UT is in Florida! We are about 30 minutes from the beach but only footsteps away from the pool on campus where students go to hang out and get some sun.
-Small tool set: This will come in handy if something breaks in your dorm, say a closet rack, and will also be something that others will seek out when they have issues in their rooms.
-Small Refridgerator & Microwave: UT has a service that you can rent both of these for the year and then not have to deal with them at the end of the year, but it is nice to have your own mini fridge for sodas or gatorade as well as a microwave to heat up leftovers or make raman noodles.
Although this is not a complete list, UT provides a packing list that has more suggestions for dorm packing!
One big suggestion I make is for those of you who are coming to Tampa from out of state, I urge you to wait until you get down here to buy everything. Bring what you have from home, but DO NOT buy all your dorm supplies at home because it will be a huge pain to transport everything. There are SO many places just a few miles away from UT that you can get dorm stuff (Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.) as well as two big malls in the area as well.
So I am SO excited that there is only 2 weeks of school left before graduation week! I seriously can't believe how fast the past 4 years have gone by! It seems like only yesterday my parents and I pulled up to UT in August to move me in to McKay for my first semester of college. Move in day is such an exciting time on campus because everything is new to you and there is so much going on around you. Although it was always fun to move into a new dorm each year so you could experience new people and atmospheres, moving in was not very fun in the blazing heat of Tampa summers. As my father would say, it is hotter than fire down here in August! UT does provide a Move-In Team at each dorm comprised of student volunteers who will help you and your family move into your dorm.
With that said, I have come up with a list of essentials that you should pack when coming to UT in the fall! You don't want to bring too much but you also don't want to forget the important things! Aside from all your clothes, here is a list of some things that are vital to living in a college dorm!
-Sheets for your bed: Make sure when you are buying sheets and a comforter for your dorm that you buy XL sheets because the mattresses at UT are longer than a normal twin sized bed.
-Laundry detergent & basket: Each dorm has a laundry facility but they do not provide detergent or fabric softener. Good idea to buy a big basket for your clothes as well because your laundry facility could be a little bit of a walk from your room.
-Utensils/plates/cups for your room: It's always nice to have some plates and cups around your room in case you order pizza with your friends or want to eat dinner in your room. Plastic everything is the way to go so you can just throw them away after your are done!
-Shower Stuff: Shampoo, conditioner, razors, soap, shaving cream, etc. are all things that you will definitely need. I suggest getting a shower cady to hold everything in so you can bring it in when you need it and then remove it so that there aren't 5 shampoo bottles and 5 razors cluttering the one shower you will typically share with 4 other people.
-Hangers for your closet: Hangers are something that a lot of people don't think about, but are essential in the dorms. You only have a limited amount of space in the set of drawers that is provided for you, so hanging clothing is a good option to save space instead of buying another dresser.
-Umbrella - I know this sounds dorky and you don't want to be walking around campus with an umbrella, but in Tampa there is a time period when it rains EVERYDAY in the afternoon. It will come in handy, I promise!
-Decorations for your room: Posters and pictures of friends from home will bring your room to life and make it your own. Many student make collages or bring memorablia from home and put them on their walls. You are allowed to stick things to the wall with tape and whatnot as long as it does not take the paint off the walls or leave any kind of mark when it is removed.
-Beach wear and suntan lotion: UT is in Florida! We are about 30 minutes from the beach but only footsteps away from the pool on campus where students go to hang out and get some sun.
-Small tool set: This will come in handy if something breaks in your dorm, say a closet rack, and will also be something that others will seek out when they have issues in their rooms.
-Small Refridgerator & Microwave: UT has a service that you can rent both of these for the year and then not have to deal with them at the end of the year, but it is nice to have your own mini fridge for sodas or gatorade as well as a microwave to heat up leftovers or make raman noodles.
Although this is not a complete list, UT provides a packing list that has more suggestions for dorm packing!
One big suggestion I make is for those of you who are coming to Tampa from out of state, I urge you to wait until you get down here to buy everything. Bring what you have from home, but DO NOT buy all your dorm supplies at home because it will be a huge pain to transport everything. There are SO many places just a few miles away from UT that you can get dorm stuff (Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.) as well as two big malls in the area as well.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
The Registrations Woes
It's that time of year again! All students who will be returning to UT in the fall have started to register for fall classes. Some students find this to be the most aggravating process and do not want to deal with scheduling. I, on the other hand, always found this time of year to be exciting! I used to love looking through the course catalog and finding out what classes I needed to take, who was teaching them that semester, and how I could figure out a way to not have Friday classes. This may sound completely ludicrous and you may think I'm a total nerd for enjoying this process, but I will tell you that my enjoyment for scheduling has helped out a number of my friends when it has come to picking classes.
Just a couple years ago, University of Tampa introduced an electronic process for registering for classes. Traditionally, everyone would have to stand in line and wait their turn to pick classes in one of the big venues, such as the Music Room in Plant Hall, and fill out mindless paperwork that you were sure would be lost the next day. An annoying day filled with lines and last minute choices of electives because the class you had planned on already filled out was what was in store for students at UT and most other campuses for years. Luckily, UT has become technologically savvy and upgraded the system so that students could register from any computer.
Picking classes can be exciting but also a little nerve racking. Trying to figure out what classes you need to take so that you will be on time to graduate is a little overwhelming, especially if you do not like scheduling things to begin with. UT has provided an awesome tool on SpartanWeb, our student access website, that allows for an easier selection process for classes each semester. The Degree Guide portion of SpartanWed has an in-depth look into what courses are required for specific majors and what electives have been taken or still need to be taken to fulfill the Baccalaureate Experiences portion of UT's liberal arts curriculum.
Although you can't see too clearly, this is what the Degree Guide looks like. You can see how it has my name and major listed with all the classes that I need to take. They are listed at "Complete" once you have taken the courses and been given credit towards graduation.
Even though this tool is great to help students figure out what they need to take, many students still do not want to deal with it. I, for example, helped tons of my friends figure out their schedules. I went through their degree guide, foudn the classes they still needed for graduation, and then asked them what days and times they would like to have their classes. I would take their requests and look through all the available class times and arranges schedules for them. It was kind of funny how I was so into making schedules that the word leaked throughout all of my friends and I ended up scheduling times for my friends to come and meet with me to figure it out. I felt like a counselor! I enjoyed it, however, and would help anyone who needed it!
Hopefully everyone gets to register for the classes they want and are happy with their schedules for the fall! I was disappointed when I realized I wouldn't be scheduling classes for myself this semester...but then realized I was graduating and wasn't too sad anymore!
Just a couple years ago, University of Tampa introduced an electronic process for registering for classes. Traditionally, everyone would have to stand in line and wait their turn to pick classes in one of the big venues, such as the Music Room in Plant Hall, and fill out mindless paperwork that you were sure would be lost the next day. An annoying day filled with lines and last minute choices of electives because the class you had planned on already filled out was what was in store for students at UT and most other campuses for years. Luckily, UT has become technologically savvy and upgraded the system so that students could register from any computer.
Picking classes can be exciting but also a little nerve racking. Trying to figure out what classes you need to take so that you will be on time to graduate is a little overwhelming, especially if you do not like scheduling things to begin with. UT has provided an awesome tool on SpartanWeb, our student access website, that allows for an easier selection process for classes each semester. The Degree Guide portion of SpartanWed has an in-depth look into what courses are required for specific majors and what electives have been taken or still need to be taken to fulfill the Baccalaureate Experiences portion of UT's liberal arts curriculum.
Although you can't see too clearly, this is what the Degree Guide looks like. You can see how it has my name and major listed with all the classes that I need to take. They are listed at "Complete" once you have taken the courses and been given credit towards graduation.
Even though this tool is great to help students figure out what they need to take, many students still do not want to deal with it. I, for example, helped tons of my friends figure out their schedules. I went through their degree guide, foudn the classes they still needed for graduation, and then asked them what days and times they would like to have their classes. I would take their requests and look through all the available class times and arranges schedules for them. It was kind of funny how I was so into making schedules that the word leaked throughout all of my friends and I ended up scheduling times for my friends to come and meet with me to figure it out. I felt like a counselor! I enjoyed it, however, and would help anyone who needed it!
Hopefully everyone gets to register for the classes they want and are happy with their schedules for the fall! I was disappointed when I realized I wouldn't be scheduling classes for myself this semester...but then realized I was graduating and wasn't too sad anymore!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Welcome Back, Baseball!
Happy Tuesday Everyone!
So it's already April, which means I have a little over a month before graduation! WOW! where has the time gone? I seriously feel like it was yesterday that I arrived in Tampa for the first time and moved into McKay Hall. I've been so busy recently trying to get all the work done in my classes, working as much as possible so I can save money for Europe, and trying to figure out where I'm going to live once May rolls around. I need a break!! I'm so relieved that the weather is starting to be consistently nice and enjoyable!
So today is not only a gorgeous day, it is also a very exciting day for baseball fans in Tampa Bay! It's the Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day! The Bay area is filled with Rays fans and they all flock to St. Petersburg for games at Tropicana Field. There have been talks recently about moving the Rays stadium into the Downtown Tampa area. Hopefully this happens so that everyone who lives Downtown, especially UT students, could walk to the games and attend more often! If the stadium were to move Downtown, I believe it would cause the city to blow up. All of the trendy bars and unique restaurants would get the recognition they deserve and locals would start venturing down there more often, creating a buzz. Bringing baseball fans to downtown will also help to promote the other events that take place down there, such as games and concerts that take place at the St. Pete Times Forum.
There is so much to do downtown that adding the Rays stadium would only help the area! I hope that future UT students will get to enjoy a baseball stadium as well as a hockey arena in the same area!
So it's already April, which means I have a little over a month before graduation! WOW! where has the time gone? I seriously feel like it was yesterday that I arrived in Tampa for the first time and moved into McKay Hall. I've been so busy recently trying to get all the work done in my classes, working as much as possible so I can save money for Europe, and trying to figure out where I'm going to live once May rolls around. I need a break!! I'm so relieved that the weather is starting to be consistently nice and enjoyable!
So today is not only a gorgeous day, it is also a very exciting day for baseball fans in Tampa Bay! It's the Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day! The Bay area is filled with Rays fans and they all flock to St. Petersburg for games at Tropicana Field. There have been talks recently about moving the Rays stadium into the Downtown Tampa area. Hopefully this happens so that everyone who lives Downtown, especially UT students, could walk to the games and attend more often! If the stadium were to move Downtown, I believe it would cause the city to blow up. All of the trendy bars and unique restaurants would get the recognition they deserve and locals would start venturing down there more often, creating a buzz. Bringing baseball fans to downtown will also help to promote the other events that take place down there, such as games and concerts that take place at the St. Pete Times Forum.
There is so much to do downtown that adding the Rays stadium would only help the area! I hope that future UT students will get to enjoy a baseball stadium as well as a hockey arena in the same area!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Food For Everyone!
Hello everyone! This week has gone by SOO fast! I can't believe it is already Thursday! Thursdays are my favorite day because it is my night off from work and I usually get to go out to dinner! Tonight I will be going to Mitchell's Fish Market on Westshore for some yummy scallops!!
For those of you who don't have a car or like most college kids, don't have too much money, there are a bunch of places off campus within walking distance you should try!
Frankie's - Barely off campus located on the corner of North Blvd and Kennedy is Frankie's. Amazing hot dogs are their specialty. Frankie's also offers college favorites such as hamburgers and wings. I love going there during football season because they have the NFL package and will always show my favorite PATRIOTS! Prices are very reasonable and they usually have different food specials on cetains days, like 50 cent wings on wednesdays! http://www.frankieshotdogs.com/index.htm
Algusto's Mexican Restaurant - With everything from fajitas to enchiladas and even chimmichangas, Algusto's has all of your favorite mexican cuisine just steps off campus. Located on Kennedy Blvd across the street from Frankie's, Algusto's serves authentic mexican food for a low price. Student walk across the street from campus all the time to enjoy everything Algusto's has to offer! http://www.algustomexicanrestaurant.com/
NOLA Cafe - Although a little further away from UT, NOLA cafe is worth the walk. Located next to Walgreens just 2 blocks south of campus on W Platt Street, NOLA cafe has amazing New Orleans food. Jambalaya and Seafood Gumbo are just 2 of their amazing dishes that taste like they came straight from New Orleans. NOLA also boasts the "World's Best Beignets". Take a little stroll off campus and check out the authentic NOLA cafe! http://www.nolacafe.com/index.html
There are SO many places to check out around campus, but those are just a few to get you started! I hope everyone steps outside of their comfort zone in the Caf or Spartan Club and enjoys a little something different!
For those of you who don't have a car or like most college kids, don't have too much money, there are a bunch of places off campus within walking distance you should try!
Frankie's - Barely off campus located on the corner of North Blvd and Kennedy is Frankie's. Amazing hot dogs are their specialty. Frankie's also offers college favorites such as hamburgers and wings. I love going there during football season because they have the NFL package and will always show my favorite PATRIOTS! Prices are very reasonable and they usually have different food specials on cetains days, like 50 cent wings on wednesdays! http://www.frankieshotdogs.com/index.htm
Algusto's Mexican Restaurant - With everything from fajitas to enchiladas and even chimmichangas, Algusto's has all of your favorite mexican cuisine just steps off campus. Located on Kennedy Blvd across the street from Frankie's, Algusto's serves authentic mexican food for a low price. Student walk across the street from campus all the time to enjoy everything Algusto's has to offer! http://www.algustomexicanrestaurant.com/
NOLA Cafe - Although a little further away from UT, NOLA cafe is worth the walk. Located next to Walgreens just 2 blocks south of campus on W Platt Street, NOLA cafe has amazing New Orleans food. Jambalaya and Seafood Gumbo are just 2 of their amazing dishes that taste like they came straight from New Orleans. NOLA also boasts the "World's Best Beignets". Take a little stroll off campus and check out the authentic NOLA cafe! http://www.nolacafe.com/index.html
There are SO many places to check out around campus, but those are just a few to get you started! I hope everyone steps outside of their comfort zone in the Caf or Spartan Club and enjoys a little something different!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
UT Library is the new hot spot!
Hello out there!
With only a few weeks left in the semester, most students are finding that they are having A LOT more work pushed on them than in previous weeks, me included! Soo many papers and projects come around this time and it is pretty overwhelming. Even though the weather is starting to get warmer and mor enjoyable, it seems as though more students can be found in the UT Library than at the pool. Some kids have even said that they should pay their housing deposits to the Library since they are there so often (not a bad thing, right parents?)
UT's Library, known as the Macdonald-Kelce Library, is an amazing resouce for students to take advantage of while on campus. With more than 275,000 books and 1,600 periodicals in the library, students can go to do research for papers or just check out a good read to bring to the pool. There are two designated computer labs in the library for students to utilize from research or simply printing materials for class (ps, printing is free! some schools charge students per sheet for printing, but not here!) Each computer lab has at least 1 lab assistant available to help you if you need anything!
Many students find it helpful to form study groups for classes to review for tests or do projects. UT's library has special rooms that students can reserve for up to 2 hours that are seculded from the rest of the library. Groups of students can meet there and no worry about being too loud for other students in the library trying to study. These rooms are great around midterms and finals when you have 2 or 3 students all gathering together.
Although the Library is not meant to be a social hot spot, you will see many different people all throughout the library. Meeting new people should be one of your goals when coming to college, and the library is one great place to do it!
With only a few weeks left in the semester, most students are finding that they are having A LOT more work pushed on them than in previous weeks, me included! Soo many papers and projects come around this time and it is pretty overwhelming. Even though the weather is starting to get warmer and mor enjoyable, it seems as though more students can be found in the UT Library than at the pool. Some kids have even said that they should pay their housing deposits to the Library since they are there so often (not a bad thing, right parents?)
UT's Library, known as the Macdonald-Kelce Library, is an amazing resouce for students to take advantage of while on campus. With more than 275,000 books and 1,600 periodicals in the library, students can go to do research for papers or just check out a good read to bring to the pool. There are two designated computer labs in the library for students to utilize from research or simply printing materials for class (ps, printing is free! some schools charge students per sheet for printing, but not here!) Each computer lab has at least 1 lab assistant available to help you if you need anything!
Many students find it helpful to form study groups for classes to review for tests or do projects. UT's library has special rooms that students can reserve for up to 2 hours that are seculded from the rest of the library. Groups of students can meet there and no worry about being too loud for other students in the library trying to study. These rooms are great around midterms and finals when you have 2 or 3 students all gathering together.
Although the Library is not meant to be a social hot spot, you will see many different people all throughout the library. Meeting new people should be one of your goals when coming to college, and the library is one great place to do it!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Still on the Job Hunt
Hi Everyone!
I hope you are all as excited as I am to see the sun out and actually feel the heat a little bit now! Spring is approaching for sure! It's great to see everyone at UT out and about when it is nice outside too! I keep seeing lots of kids and their families taking tours of our campus, so hopefully that means we will have a great new group of students here in the fall!
As for me, I'm still looking for a Job after graduation and will not be going to a new school like the incoming freshmen. I have my own set of nervous feelings to deal with! I've been looking all over the internet and trying to network through people I meet at my waitressing job, but nothing solid has come up yet. It just came to me today to utilize the Career Services that the University provides as a research tool.
Career Services has an office on Campus in the Riverside Building designed specifically for students and alumni to recieve help finding internships while still taking classes as well as finding jobs after graduation. The staff in Career Services is trained to provide assistance and guidance towards your next steps in life. I have been looking at HIRE-UT, a tool provided through the university to find current job openings that have been offered to UT students and alumni as well as hold and build your resume for future use.
UT provides so many different opprotunities to better your interview skills and work on your resume before heading out into the job market as well. Short workshops and seminars that provide great insight on interview processes and job skills are also provided through Career Services. Students who take advantage of everything UT has to offer in regards to finding internships and jobs are very fortunate and have high success rates in the years following graduation.
If you are looking to get ahead, Career Services is the place to go! Internships are a great way to get a foot in the door with a company or organization while still taking classes. A counselor in Career Services can talk to you about all the different options that are available.
Happy Tuesday :)
I hope you are all as excited as I am to see the sun out and actually feel the heat a little bit now! Spring is approaching for sure! It's great to see everyone at UT out and about when it is nice outside too! I keep seeing lots of kids and their families taking tours of our campus, so hopefully that means we will have a great new group of students here in the fall!
As for me, I'm still looking for a Job after graduation and will not be going to a new school like the incoming freshmen. I have my own set of nervous feelings to deal with! I've been looking all over the internet and trying to network through people I meet at my waitressing job, but nothing solid has come up yet. It just came to me today to utilize the Career Services that the University provides as a research tool.
Career Services has an office on Campus in the Riverside Building designed specifically for students and alumni to recieve help finding internships while still taking classes as well as finding jobs after graduation. The staff in Career Services is trained to provide assistance and guidance towards your next steps in life. I have been looking at HIRE-UT, a tool provided through the university to find current job openings that have been offered to UT students and alumni as well as hold and build your resume for future use.
UT provides so many different opprotunities to better your interview skills and work on your resume before heading out into the job market as well. Short workshops and seminars that provide great insight on interview processes and job skills are also provided through Career Services. Students who take advantage of everything UT has to offer in regards to finding internships and jobs are very fortunate and have high success rates in the years following graduation.
If you are looking to get ahead, Career Services is the place to go! Internships are a great way to get a foot in the door with a company or organization while still taking classes. A counselor in Career Services can talk to you about all the different options that are available.
Happy Tuesday :)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
To live on campus or move off...Great Question!
Hi All!
I know I have been bad about blogging recently, but I have been SUPER busy with school and everything else going on! Even though is it Spring Break right now, there is still so much to do with only 57 days til graduation! I just got an e-mail today about ordering class rings...I didn't know people still did that! My dad has his class ring from college, but he graduated in 1978 (What an old guy, huh?) UT is also offering packages for students who would like to order memerobilia such as notecards, a diploma cover, as well as pre-ordered photos of students crossing the stage at graduation. All of these things are great to have for the furture.
Speaking of the future, I am starting to look into getting a new apartment once I graduate! I currently live with my best friend, Christie, in a 2 bedroom apartment about 2 miles from campus. I really like the location as it is close to Hyde Park and South Howard (local areas that have all the night spots!), but Christie is going to the Peacecorps after graduation, so I need to find a 1 bedroom apartment for myself (kind of scary, huh?). There are SOO many places around the Tampa Bay area that I would be interesting in living at, but I have narrowed it down to a few places that are close to UT. Even though I will graduate in May, I'd still like to be close to campus as it has become my home for the past 4 years. I am far enough away from my real home back in Massachuestts, so I don't think I'd do too well very far from my new home at Ut, right after graduation at least!
I have only lived off campus since this past summer. Even though having my own apartment is great, I lived on campus my other three years and loved every minute of it. Freshman year, I started out in McKay Hall, community side. Now before you start to cringe and think, "oh wow, she got the short end of the stick", let me tell you a little secret: McKay is the most fun dorm on campus for freshman. Students come for visits and are so dazzled by the beautifully renovated dorms, such as Austin Hall and Staduim Center, that when they reach McKay hall, everyone tends to turn up their noses and think of that dorm as their least favorite. Surprisingly enough, if you talk to any student who has lived in McKay, almost every student will agree that McKay was an amazing experience and they would not have traded the fun times they had or the friends they met in McKay for a nicer dorm like the Vaughn Center. McKay is one of the only dorms on campus, besides Smiley Hall, that has the capabilty of leaving your doors open. The other dorms have automatic shutting doors. Most students in McKay leave their doors open, much like I did freshman year, and all hang out in the hallways. The community bathrooms in McKay also tend to turn prospective students away, but I will be the first to tell you that I met a lot of my friends that I am still friends with now in the bathroom. It may sound wierd, but it's true! I would recommend McKay hall to any freshman coming to UT!
When it came to living arragement sophomore year, I was a little disappointed when I wasn't able to live in Brevard Hall. Most sophomores live in either Brevard or Stadium Center where the rooms are set up with 2 double bedrooms connected by a common livingroom and a shared bathroom. Other sophomores live in the Vaughn Center, like I did. Christie and I got a double room in Vaughn with each other and although we wanted to be with our friends in Brevard, Vaughn was a great time as well!
As a Junior, it is good to know you have more pull when it comes to selecting a dorm. Most Juniors and Seniors live in either Rescom or Straz Hall where the dorms are setup apartment-style: 4 single bedrooms with a common livingroom area, kitchen, and shared bathroom. I lived in Straz Hall my Junior year with Christie and our two other friends Nichole and Kristen. We would have dinner and movie nights when we'd all cook dinner and hang out at night! The apartment style living gives students a feel for what it is like to live in an actual apartment while still having the safety and amenities of a college campus.
Although it is not required to live on campus at UT, I HIGHLY recommend it! There is always something going on on campus that you wouldn't want to miss out on as well as the opprotunity to interact with your collegues. Being on campus is a great way to make friends and be a part of the Spartan Community!
Happy Thursday :)
I know I have been bad about blogging recently, but I have been SUPER busy with school and everything else going on! Even though is it Spring Break right now, there is still so much to do with only 57 days til graduation! I just got an e-mail today about ordering class rings...I didn't know people still did that! My dad has his class ring from college, but he graduated in 1978 (What an old guy, huh?) UT is also offering packages for students who would like to order memerobilia such as notecards, a diploma cover, as well as pre-ordered photos of students crossing the stage at graduation. All of these things are great to have for the furture.
Speaking of the future, I am starting to look into getting a new apartment once I graduate! I currently live with my best friend, Christie, in a 2 bedroom apartment about 2 miles from campus. I really like the location as it is close to Hyde Park and South Howard (local areas that have all the night spots!), but Christie is going to the Peacecorps after graduation, so I need to find a 1 bedroom apartment for myself (kind of scary, huh?). There are SOO many places around the Tampa Bay area that I would be interesting in living at, but I have narrowed it down to a few places that are close to UT. Even though I will graduate in May, I'd still like to be close to campus as it has become my home for the past 4 years. I am far enough away from my real home back in Massachuestts, so I don't think I'd do too well very far from my new home at Ut, right after graduation at least!
I have only lived off campus since this past summer. Even though having my own apartment is great, I lived on campus my other three years and loved every minute of it. Freshman year, I started out in McKay Hall, community side. Now before you start to cringe and think, "oh wow, she got the short end of the stick", let me tell you a little secret: McKay is the most fun dorm on campus for freshman. Students come for visits and are so dazzled by the beautifully renovated dorms, such as Austin Hall and Staduim Center, that when they reach McKay hall, everyone tends to turn up their noses and think of that dorm as their least favorite. Surprisingly enough, if you talk to any student who has lived in McKay, almost every student will agree that McKay was an amazing experience and they would not have traded the fun times they had or the friends they met in McKay for a nicer dorm like the Vaughn Center. McKay is one of the only dorms on campus, besides Smiley Hall, that has the capabilty of leaving your doors open. The other dorms have automatic shutting doors. Most students in McKay leave their doors open, much like I did freshman year, and all hang out in the hallways. The community bathrooms in McKay also tend to turn prospective students away, but I will be the first to tell you that I met a lot of my friends that I am still friends with now in the bathroom. It may sound wierd, but it's true! I would recommend McKay hall to any freshman coming to UT!
When it came to living arragement sophomore year, I was a little disappointed when I wasn't able to live in Brevard Hall. Most sophomores live in either Brevard or Stadium Center where the rooms are set up with 2 double bedrooms connected by a common livingroom and a shared bathroom. Other sophomores live in the Vaughn Center, like I did. Christie and I got a double room in Vaughn with each other and although we wanted to be with our friends in Brevard, Vaughn was a great time as well!
As a Junior, it is good to know you have more pull when it comes to selecting a dorm. Most Juniors and Seniors live in either Rescom or Straz Hall where the dorms are setup apartment-style: 4 single bedrooms with a common livingroom area, kitchen, and shared bathroom. I lived in Straz Hall my Junior year with Christie and our two other friends Nichole and Kristen. We would have dinner and movie nights when we'd all cook dinner and hang out at night! The apartment style living gives students a feel for what it is like to live in an actual apartment while still having the safety and amenities of a college campus.
Although it is not required to live on campus at UT, I HIGHLY recommend it! There is always something going on on campus that you wouldn't want to miss out on as well as the opprotunity to interact with your collegues. Being on campus is a great way to make friends and be a part of the Spartan Community!
Happy Thursday :)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Exciting Time for Seniors!
Hi Everyone!
So i'm not sure if the weather gods read my blog or what, but I'm SOO happy about this warm weather finally! I've been down in the dumps since it's been so cold and I couldn't do anything outside, but now I'm so excited!! I can't wait to have a day off to celebrate by going to the pool or beach!
Speaking of celebrating, it is definitely a time for both high school and college seniors to think about celebrating the end of an era! May is not too far away and graduations are looming, which can be daunting but exciting at the same time. As a second semester senior at UT, I am feeling super anxious about graduating. It's time for me to start thinking about joining the "Real World" by getting what I refer to as a "Big Girl Job". I've been looking online at different sites that are geared toward helping college graduates find jobs. Since I am looking for a job in admissions at a college in the Tampa Bay area (hint, hint to anyone who works at UT), my friend pointed me towards a website called HigherEdJobs.com. I have found a plethora of information about jobs in the administartion field all around the country and a few in Tampa as well! Although I haven't applied anywhere for a job yet, the website had been a huge help in opening my eyes to my opprtunites come May.
High School seniors are also in an exciting time as well. My little sister, Kelly, for example, is a Senior at Canton High School back in Massachusetts and she is just hearing back from the colleges she applied to right now. She has gotten into Loyola University in Maryland, Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, as well as Clemson University in South Carolina. I am SO proud of her for getting into those colleges and I'm sure she will get into the other colleges she applied to as well! Kelly and my parents were actually on a cruise this past week when the acceptanec letter to Clemson came in the mail. My older sister, Christina, was very clever and sweet and made sure Kelly would know she got into Clemson the second she got home by taping the letter to the front door of my parent's house! Great idea, right?
Kelly is Tigertown Bound by getting into Clemson!
Picking a college is a huge step in a person's life. Deciding where you want to spend the next 4 years of your life is huge, especially if you are considering a college or university not very close to home. A few words of advice when choosing a college:
1. Choose for YOU - Always remember that the college you pick if for YOU, not your parents or anyone else. DO NOT let someone (ie your parents, counselor, etc) pressure you into going to a school you do not love. You will not achieve your full potential at a college you are unhappy at. Choose a school based on what enviornment will make you happy and able to feel comfortable.
2. Picture yourself there - Before you make a final decision about a school, take a minute and picture yourself there. Does the campus seem like a place you would feel comfortable living? Will you be able to enjoy yourself for 4 years as well as work well academically? Could you possibly see yourself in the area of your college after you graduate? All of these are questions you should ask youself because if you answer No, you probably will not enjoy yourself
3. The further the better - Speaking as a true homebody, I was extremely nervous when I decided to come to Florida for college when my family and everything I was used to was back in Massachuestts. I can't stress enough how happy I am that I came this far away for school. I have met people that I will be friends with for the rest of my life here and wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything. College is most likely the only time you will be able to go anywhere you want and explore while still having a pretty solid connection to your roots. I highly recommand going somewhere besides your hometown for school to experience something new!
No matter where you end up in college and thereafter, your success and happiness depends on your attitude toward the future. As long as seniors have positive outlooks on the next steps in their lives, whether it is college or a "Big Girl Job", success is on the horizon!
Enjoy your week :)
So i'm not sure if the weather gods read my blog or what, but I'm SOO happy about this warm weather finally! I've been down in the dumps since it's been so cold and I couldn't do anything outside, but now I'm so excited!! I can't wait to have a day off to celebrate by going to the pool or beach!
Speaking of celebrating, it is definitely a time for both high school and college seniors to think about celebrating the end of an era! May is not too far away and graduations are looming, which can be daunting but exciting at the same time. As a second semester senior at UT, I am feeling super anxious about graduating. It's time for me to start thinking about joining the "Real World" by getting what I refer to as a "Big Girl Job". I've been looking online at different sites that are geared toward helping college graduates find jobs. Since I am looking for a job in admissions at a college in the Tampa Bay area (hint, hint to anyone who works at UT), my friend pointed me towards a website called HigherEdJobs.com. I have found a plethora of information about jobs in the administartion field all around the country and a few in Tampa as well! Although I haven't applied anywhere for a job yet, the website had been a huge help in opening my eyes to my opprtunites come May.
High School seniors are also in an exciting time as well. My little sister, Kelly, for example, is a Senior at Canton High School back in Massachusetts and she is just hearing back from the colleges she applied to right now. She has gotten into Loyola University in Maryland, Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, as well as Clemson University in South Carolina. I am SO proud of her for getting into those colleges and I'm sure she will get into the other colleges she applied to as well! Kelly and my parents were actually on a cruise this past week when the acceptanec letter to Clemson came in the mail. My older sister, Christina, was very clever and sweet and made sure Kelly would know she got into Clemson the second she got home by taping the letter to the front door of my parent's house! Great idea, right?
Kelly is Tigertown Bound by getting into Clemson!
Picking a college is a huge step in a person's life. Deciding where you want to spend the next 4 years of your life is huge, especially if you are considering a college or university not very close to home. A few words of advice when choosing a college:
1. Choose for YOU - Always remember that the college you pick if for YOU, not your parents or anyone else. DO NOT let someone (ie your parents, counselor, etc) pressure you into going to a school you do not love. You will not achieve your full potential at a college you are unhappy at. Choose a school based on what enviornment will make you happy and able to feel comfortable.
2. Picture yourself there - Before you make a final decision about a school, take a minute and picture yourself there. Does the campus seem like a place you would feel comfortable living? Will you be able to enjoy yourself for 4 years as well as work well academically? Could you possibly see yourself in the area of your college after you graduate? All of these are questions you should ask youself because if you answer No, you probably will not enjoy yourself
3. The further the better - Speaking as a true homebody, I was extremely nervous when I decided to come to Florida for college when my family and everything I was used to was back in Massachuestts. I can't stress enough how happy I am that I came this far away for school. I have met people that I will be friends with for the rest of my life here and wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything. College is most likely the only time you will be able to go anywhere you want and explore while still having a pretty solid connection to your roots. I highly recommand going somewhere besides your hometown for school to experience something new!
No matter where you end up in college and thereafter, your success and happiness depends on your attitude toward the future. As long as seniors have positive outlooks on the next steps in their lives, whether it is college or a "Big Girl Job", success is on the horizon!
Enjoy your week :)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
is is Spring Break yet?!
Hello There!
Well, it is still freezing here in Tampa. The weather is not helping my ridiculous cold either! It is not fun walking from the parking garage to Plant Hall in 53 degrees. Most people look at me strange when I complain about the cold because I'm from Massachusetts. They all say, "what are you talking about? aren't you used to the cold? you are from the north!" C'mon people, I moved to Florida for a reason: I HATE THE COLD! Although I will be going to North Carolina next weekend to go skiing, I'd still take a vacation at the beach over the snow anyday!
Speaking of vacations, Spring Break is just around the corner! (Thank God!) In just 2 weeks, we will all have a well-deserved break from classes and UT. March 7th through the 14th marks our week of freedom. Being from all the way up north, I don't go home for spring break like many kids do when they are from around the area. My freshman year I stayed on campus at UT with a few of my friends and had a blast. All the dorms stay open as well as a few of the eataries around campus, so you are more than welcome to stick around! Lots of students stay on campus and go to the pool during the day and hangout around Tampa at night. It's a refreshing feeling to be able to just enjoy your surroundings, especially if they are new to you like they were to me freshman year, without schoolwork to worry about.
If staying around UT isn't what you had it mind for a "break", there are TONS of other options! My junior year I took a cruise to the bahamas with 23 of my friends...yes, 23 friends. We had the largest group of all at the location we stayed at and we had a blast! We hung out on the beach, took banana boat rides, and got to be around hundreds of other college students just trying to have a good time like us. It was an amazing experience! Many student like to go other places in Florida for spring break, such as Panama City Beach, Daytona, and Miami. All of those places are just a few hours by car and definitely worth checking out.
No matter what you choose to do for Spring Break, you will have a great time! Talk to your friends and figure out some plans so that you all can enjoy your week off from school!
Well, it is still freezing here in Tampa. The weather is not helping my ridiculous cold either! It is not fun walking from the parking garage to Plant Hall in 53 degrees. Most people look at me strange when I complain about the cold because I'm from Massachusetts. They all say, "what are you talking about? aren't you used to the cold? you are from the north!" C'mon people, I moved to Florida for a reason: I HATE THE COLD! Although I will be going to North Carolina next weekend to go skiing, I'd still take a vacation at the beach over the snow anyday!
Speaking of vacations, Spring Break is just around the corner! (Thank God!) In just 2 weeks, we will all have a well-deserved break from classes and UT. March 7th through the 14th marks our week of freedom. Being from all the way up north, I don't go home for spring break like many kids do when they are from around the area. My freshman year I stayed on campus at UT with a few of my friends and had a blast. All the dorms stay open as well as a few of the eataries around campus, so you are more than welcome to stick around! Lots of students stay on campus and go to the pool during the day and hangout around Tampa at night. It's a refreshing feeling to be able to just enjoy your surroundings, especially if they are new to you like they were to me freshman year, without schoolwork to worry about.
If staying around UT isn't what you had it mind for a "break", there are TONS of other options! My junior year I took a cruise to the bahamas with 23 of my friends...yes, 23 friends. We had the largest group of all at the location we stayed at and we had a blast! We hung out on the beach, took banana boat rides, and got to be around hundreds of other college students just trying to have a good time like us. It was an amazing experience! Many student like to go other places in Florida for spring break, such as Panama City Beach, Daytona, and Miami. All of those places are just a few hours by car and definitely worth checking out.
No matter what you choose to do for Spring Break, you will have a great time! Talk to your friends and figure out some plans so that you all can enjoy your week off from school!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I thought I went to School in Florida?!
Hello Everyone!
I wanted to blog today about the weather. I know it's seems kind of irrelavent to UT admissions, but I had to vent! What is going on with this cold weather?? I've been here for 3 1/2 years and it has never been this cold for this long! I'm used to going to the pool and walking on Bayshore around this time of year, not digging through my closet for my Northface jacket! Although I am disappointed in the temperture, I have found plenty of things to do that do not constitute being outside.
Around the Tampa Bay Area, there are a multitude of activites and events to attend when the weather is not in your favor. Downtown Tampa has recently revamped their look and create a beautiful park and museum right across from campus. The Tampa Museum of Art opened on February 5th and has had an overwhelming amount of support and interest from the residents of the city. There is also a Children's Museum set to open soon in the same area.
Speaking of cool museums, there are a few others that you might want to check out! The Henry B. Plant Museum is right on the UT campus in Plant Hall. The Museum features replicas of how Plant Hall used to be set up when it was a hotel owned by Henry B. Plant. A bit further away over by USF there is MOSI, Museum of Science and Industry. If you are familiar with Boston, MOSI reminded me alot of the Museum of Science up in Boston. It is a lot of fun to explore and exhibits change regularly. One museum that is also a bit further away, but worth checking out, is the Dali Museum in St. Pete. There are many of Dali's beautiful works all around the museum.
Well, I hope that the weather gets warmer soon so I can go to the beach, but in the meantime I will be looking for more cool things to do indoors! I will keep you all posted if I find anything extraordinary!
Happy Tuesday :)
I wanted to blog today about the weather. I know it's seems kind of irrelavent to UT admissions, but I had to vent! What is going on with this cold weather?? I've been here for 3 1/2 years and it has never been this cold for this long! I'm used to going to the pool and walking on Bayshore around this time of year, not digging through my closet for my Northface jacket! Although I am disappointed in the temperture, I have found plenty of things to do that do not constitute being outside.
Around the Tampa Bay Area, there are a multitude of activites and events to attend when the weather is not in your favor. Downtown Tampa has recently revamped their look and create a beautiful park and museum right across from campus. The Tampa Museum of Art opened on February 5th and has had an overwhelming amount of support and interest from the residents of the city. There is also a Children's Museum set to open soon in the same area.
Speaking of cool museums, there are a few others that you might want to check out! The Henry B. Plant Museum is right on the UT campus in Plant Hall. The Museum features replicas of how Plant Hall used to be set up when it was a hotel owned by Henry B. Plant. A bit further away over by USF there is MOSI, Museum of Science and Industry. If you are familiar with Boston, MOSI reminded me alot of the Museum of Science up in Boston. It is a lot of fun to explore and exhibits change regularly. One museum that is also a bit further away, but worth checking out, is the Dali Museum in St. Pete. There are many of Dali's beautiful works all around the museum.
Well, I hope that the weather gets warmer soon so I can go to the beach, but in the meantime I will be looking for more cool things to do indoors! I will keep you all posted if I find anything extraordinary!
Happy Tuesday :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Studying can be done here, there, and everywhere!
Hello!
I haven't posted in a while because I've been really busy with school and work. Classes are starting to pick up so I've been doing a lot of reading and studying. I've also been working as much as possible so I can save money for my trip to Europe in May! This isn't just any trip, it is a trip that is part of a class I am taking this semester! I'll tell you more about that in a minute...
I wanted to talked about Study Abroad opprotunities at the University of Tampa. Now, I had always said from day one of my college career that I had no desire to go abroad. I felt I was far enough from home being in Florida, why did I need to go anywhere else? I had heard a lot about the different Study Abroad programs UT offers, but I wasn't that interested. My roommate, however, decided that she wanted to get more information about it. She went to a Study Abroad Fair on campus (Which are held a few times each semester for all students to check out) and got information about studying in Australia. My roommate is also from Massachusetts, so I asked her why she'd want to go half way around the world to try something new when she was already 1200 miles from home. She explained to me that she would never have this opprotunity again and wanted to see a different part of the world. I totally understood that and started to think about what I could do.
My roommate was right, there may not be another opprotunity in your life to go somewhere totally different and study for a few months other than in college. Study Abroad programs are available for students to go all over the world. Just a few places where UT has students studying right now include Florence, Barcelona, London, Sydney, and even a semester at sea. Studying abroad is an amazing opprotunity for students to explore the world while still being educated by an affilated university or college.
If you didn't want to spend an entire semester or year away, UT offers travel classes, which is the route I decided to go. As part of the curriculum of a class, students spend 7 or 14 weeks in a class at the UT campus and then, in either the winter or summer, travel to the countries that were studied in the class. For example, I am taking a Speech class at UT for the second 7 weeks of this semester. We will be studying the different types of speaking that are done in 4 different European cities: London, Munich, Barcelona, and Rome. After the semester ends in May, about 30 of my classmates and I will travel to those cities for a 2 week trip to witness first-hand what we have studied in class. 4 faculty members will be going on the trip with us, so we won't be left on our own in europe (my mom was a big fan of this aspect of the study abroad program I decided on)
UT offers so many amazing programs abroad that I can't give it justice. Here is the link to UT's Education Abroad website that you can check out if you are interested!
http://www.ut.edu/education-abroad/
I hope everyone has a great weeked! :)
I haven't posted in a while because I've been really busy with school and work. Classes are starting to pick up so I've been doing a lot of reading and studying. I've also been working as much as possible so I can save money for my trip to Europe in May! This isn't just any trip, it is a trip that is part of a class I am taking this semester! I'll tell you more about that in a minute...
I wanted to talked about Study Abroad opprotunities at the University of Tampa. Now, I had always said from day one of my college career that I had no desire to go abroad. I felt I was far enough from home being in Florida, why did I need to go anywhere else? I had heard a lot about the different Study Abroad programs UT offers, but I wasn't that interested. My roommate, however, decided that she wanted to get more information about it. She went to a Study Abroad Fair on campus (Which are held a few times each semester for all students to check out) and got information about studying in Australia. My roommate is also from Massachusetts, so I asked her why she'd want to go half way around the world to try something new when she was already 1200 miles from home. She explained to me that she would never have this opprotunity again and wanted to see a different part of the world. I totally understood that and started to think about what I could do.
My roommate was right, there may not be another opprotunity in your life to go somewhere totally different and study for a few months other than in college. Study Abroad programs are available for students to go all over the world. Just a few places where UT has students studying right now include Florence, Barcelona, London, Sydney, and even a semester at sea. Studying abroad is an amazing opprotunity for students to explore the world while still being educated by an affilated university or college.
If you didn't want to spend an entire semester or year away, UT offers travel classes, which is the route I decided to go. As part of the curriculum of a class, students spend 7 or 14 weeks in a class at the UT campus and then, in either the winter or summer, travel to the countries that were studied in the class. For example, I am taking a Speech class at UT for the second 7 weeks of this semester. We will be studying the different types of speaking that are done in 4 different European cities: London, Munich, Barcelona, and Rome. After the semester ends in May, about 30 of my classmates and I will travel to those cities for a 2 week trip to witness first-hand what we have studied in class. 4 faculty members will be going on the trip with us, so we won't be left on our own in europe (my mom was a big fan of this aspect of the study abroad program I decided on)
UT offers so many amazing programs abroad that I can't give it justice. Here is the link to UT's Education Abroad website that you can check out if you are interested!
http://www.ut.edu/education-abroad/
I hope everyone has a great weeked! :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Exciting Events All Around UT!
Hi!
Hope everyone is recovering nicely from Gasparilla! Although priates do invade Tampa Bay once a year, many other exciting events take place all year long at UT as well as around the area. In the past, UT has been the host to many different media events that have given our school a great amount of publicity! It's always fun to tell your friends that you had someone famous on your campus or has a cool national event in the city you go to school in! Here a just a few of the "once-in-a-lifetime" events that I have experienced in the last 4 years at UT
-The Today Show came and did a live broadcast from outside of Plant Hall in September of 2008. Hundreds of students woke up bright and early to go see Matt Lauer and Al Roker during their morning show.
Students with signs line up outside of Plant Hall to watch the Today Show (picture taken from http://pics.tampabay.com/?method=view.image¶m=63302¶m=188&category=845)
-The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the world series in 2008! It was an exciting time all around the city with fans rallying for their team and creating amazing spirit all over Tampa (Even though I am a Red Sox fan and was very bitter about the Rays beating the Sox in the playoffs, it was still a lot of fun to be in the area during this time and be part of the fun!)
(Picture from http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/matchup.jsp?series=lcs_a)
-The Superbowl was held in Tampa in 2009. The Steelers/Cardnials game was held at Raymond James Stadium which is just a few miles from the UT campus. Tampa was exciting the whole week before the Superbowl even happened with celebrities all over town and tons of parties!
-President Obama came to UT last Thursday to conduct a Town Meeting with citizens and students. This was an amazing event that had the whole campus buzzing. Some students waited in line for up to 6 hours waiting to get tickets for the event which turned out to be a great success!
(Picture from http://www.ut.edu/gallery/events/Obama/pages/obama17.html)
Those are only a few of the events that have taken place in the Tampa Bay area as well as at UT while I have been here. There is always something to look forward to in Tampa and always events being planned for later. If you decided to come to UT, you can be a part of all the fun as well!
Have a happy Tuesday! :)
Hope everyone is recovering nicely from Gasparilla! Although priates do invade Tampa Bay once a year, many other exciting events take place all year long at UT as well as around the area. In the past, UT has been the host to many different media events that have given our school a great amount of publicity! It's always fun to tell your friends that you had someone famous on your campus or has a cool national event in the city you go to school in! Here a just a few of the "once-in-a-lifetime" events that I have experienced in the last 4 years at UT
-The Today Show came and did a live broadcast from outside of Plant Hall in September of 2008. Hundreds of students woke up bright and early to go see Matt Lauer and Al Roker during their morning show.
Students with signs line up outside of Plant Hall to watch the Today Show (picture taken from http://pics.tampabay.com/?method=view.image¶m=63302¶m=188&category=845)
-The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the world series in 2008! It was an exciting time all around the city with fans rallying for their team and creating amazing spirit all over Tampa (Even though I am a Red Sox fan and was very bitter about the Rays beating the Sox in the playoffs, it was still a lot of fun to be in the area during this time and be part of the fun!)
(Picture from http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/matchup.jsp?series=lcs_a)
-The Superbowl was held in Tampa in 2009. The Steelers/Cardnials game was held at Raymond James Stadium which is just a few miles from the UT campus. Tampa was exciting the whole week before the Superbowl even happened with celebrities all over town and tons of parties!
-President Obama came to UT last Thursday to conduct a Town Meeting with citizens and students. This was an amazing event that had the whole campus buzzing. Some students waited in line for up to 6 hours waiting to get tickets for the event which turned out to be a great success!
(Picture from http://www.ut.edu/gallery/events/Obama/pages/obama17.html)
Those are only a few of the events that have taken place in the Tampa Bay area as well as at UT while I have been here. There is always something to look forward to in Tampa and always events being planned for later. If you decided to come to UT, you can be a part of all the fun as well!
Have a happy Tuesday! :)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
ARRRR you ready for Gasparilla Weekend?!
Hi all!
So as you may know, this upcoming weekend in a big one for the Tampa Bay area. It's Gasparilla Weekend!! For those of you know who what this is, I'm sure a smile has just stretched across your face in the anticipation of partying like a pirate all day and all night on Saturday. For anyone who doesn't have the slightest idea of what I'm talking about, let me give you a little background information about this infamous weekend celebration.
Gasparilla is a city-wide celebration that is meant to commemorate Jose Gaspar, a pirate from Spain who supposedly did business out of Tampa. Dating all the way back to 1904, Gasparilla has become a tradition for the city of Tampa and continues to grow each year. On average, there are about 350,000 people who come from all over to go to the Gasparilla parade. A huge parade of floats is brought down Bayshore Boulevard, a short walk from the UT campus and participants walk down the street waving and throwing beaded necklaces to spectators as they pass. With everyone at the parade decked out in pirate gear, Gasparilla is a fun day for participants and spectators alike.
Although Gasparilla sounds like a great time (which it is!), there are always some risks and precautions that should be taken when it comes to partying that day. Gasparilla is known to UT students as the Mardi Gras of Tampa. Students tend to wake up extra early to start the days festivities. Partying with friends on or around campus before venturing the 4 or 5 blocks down to Bayshore to watch the parade is a common game plan for most students. I can recall my sophomore year Gasparilla. I woke up at 8am to a phone call from my friend John playing the Pirates of the Carribean theme song as loud as his speakers would go. I quickly got out of bed, threw on some pirate gear, and headed to Brevard Hall where John and a bunch of my other friends lived. We all had a good time hanging out and getting ready for the day by playing music and having fun.
Me and my friend Antonio before Gasparilla in 2008
Here are a few tips on how to make your Gasparilla one to remember:
1. Stay with a group - with Tampa being bombarded with an influx of eager "pirates" this weekend, it is easy for students to get lost in the crowd. Staying with at least one friend is a vital part of having a good Gasparilla.
2. Don't drink too much - students always like to have fun and have some drinks before heading down to the parade. Not drinking to excess and staying in control is extremely important for this particular event. Police are out in the masses during the parade and are ready to take legal action against anyone who seems to be out of line. BE SMART!
3. Stay Hydrated - Gasparilla weekend tends to be on the hot side. Drinking a lot of water is a very good idea so that no one gets overheated or passes out from heat exhaustion
4. Have Fun! - Gasparilla is a great tradition in the area and everyone should go out and enjoy it (responsibly of course!)
I hope everyone goes out this weekend and has a fabulous time at the parade! Just make sure you are smart and safe!
So as you may know, this upcoming weekend in a big one for the Tampa Bay area. It's Gasparilla Weekend!! For those of you know who what this is, I'm sure a smile has just stretched across your face in the anticipation of partying like a pirate all day and all night on Saturday. For anyone who doesn't have the slightest idea of what I'm talking about, let me give you a little background information about this infamous weekend celebration.
Gasparilla is a city-wide celebration that is meant to commemorate Jose Gaspar, a pirate from Spain who supposedly did business out of Tampa. Dating all the way back to 1904, Gasparilla has become a tradition for the city of Tampa and continues to grow each year. On average, there are about 350,000 people who come from all over to go to the Gasparilla parade. A huge parade of floats is brought down Bayshore Boulevard, a short walk from the UT campus and participants walk down the street waving and throwing beaded necklaces to spectators as they pass. With everyone at the parade decked out in pirate gear, Gasparilla is a fun day for participants and spectators alike.
Although Gasparilla sounds like a great time (which it is!), there are always some risks and precautions that should be taken when it comes to partying that day. Gasparilla is known to UT students as the Mardi Gras of Tampa. Students tend to wake up extra early to start the days festivities. Partying with friends on or around campus before venturing the 4 or 5 blocks down to Bayshore to watch the parade is a common game plan for most students. I can recall my sophomore year Gasparilla. I woke up at 8am to a phone call from my friend John playing the Pirates of the Carribean theme song as loud as his speakers would go. I quickly got out of bed, threw on some pirate gear, and headed to Brevard Hall where John and a bunch of my other friends lived. We all had a good time hanging out and getting ready for the day by playing music and having fun.
Me and my friend Antonio before Gasparilla in 2008
Here are a few tips on how to make your Gasparilla one to remember:
1. Stay with a group - with Tampa being bombarded with an influx of eager "pirates" this weekend, it is easy for students to get lost in the crowd. Staying with at least one friend is a vital part of having a good Gasparilla.
2. Don't drink too much - students always like to have fun and have some drinks before heading down to the parade. Not drinking to excess and staying in control is extremely important for this particular event. Police are out in the masses during the parade and are ready to take legal action against anyone who seems to be out of line. BE SMART!
3. Stay Hydrated - Gasparilla weekend tends to be on the hot side. Drinking a lot of water is a very good idea so that no one gets overheated or passes out from heat exhaustion
4. Have Fun! - Gasparilla is a great tradition in the area and everyone should go out and enjoy it (responsibly of course!)
I hope everyone goes out this weekend and has a fabulous time at the parade! Just make sure you are smart and safe!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
First Blog Ever!
Hi Everyone!
After reading the amazing blogs that Jess had posted over the last 6 months, it looks like I have big shoes to fill! Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Kim Duggan and I am a senior at the University of Tampa majoring in Sociology. I am originally from Canton, Massachusetts where my mom, dad, and 2 sisters still live. Once I receive my diploma in May, I plan to stay in Florida while exploring my career options. I am currently interning with the admissions department at the University of Tampa and getting a "behind the scenes" look at how high school seniors become college freshmen.
When I first decided that I wanted to come to UT, I had a few issues to take care. First and foremost, I had to figure out a way to tell my parents that I wanted to move 1,200 miles away to go to college. Although some of you may not see this as a problem, others can probably understand where I'm coming from. As a disclaimer, I'd like to say how much I love my parents and that I think they did an amazing job raising me and my sisters. My mom and dad, however, are helicopter parents. For those of you who have never heard that term before, "helicopter parents" refers to parents who hover over their children's every move. Even though helicopter parents typically have their son or daughter's best interest in mind, they tend to hinder the individual growth of their child by not allowing him or her to deal with life issues on their own.
In my case, my parents had always been around to help me through any sort of tough spot I was put in, but they also made me check in with them multiple times a day. My mom would be concerned about where I was, who I was hanging out with, if I had gotten all my schoolwork done, and other annoying things most parents want to know about. I understood why my parents wanted me to call or text them every so often during the day, but I also felt like I was 11 when I was really 18. I decided that when I picked a college, regardless of the school's proximity to my home, I was going to become more independent and shoo my helicopter parents away. When I explained to my mom and dad that I had chosen UT for my undergraduate degree, the first thing my mom said was, "Tampa is so far away!". I later explained how close Tampa International Airport is to campus if I ever needed to come home as well as how safe the UT community is. With her mind at ease a bit, my dad mentioned that he was concerned about me partying too much instead of studying since he and my mom wouldn't be around. I told them about UT's Academic Center for Excellence, which provides free student tutors in many different subjects, as well as the other educational facilities students have access to on campus, including the Library and multiple computer labs.
Although my parents may still want me to call them once a day to let them know how I am, they no longer ask me if all my homework is done or who i'm hanging out with. Moving away was a huge deal for me and my independence. The moment my parents left after helping me move on campus the first day I felt a sense of responsibility as well as relief. I could finally start to become my own person (that's part of going to college too, right?) and make my own choices without having to check with an authority figure beforehand.
Students face many different issues when it comes to moving away from home for the first time, but hopefully through this blog, students, as well as their parents, will be able to see that life at UT isn't as daunting as you may think. I will try to share my experiences about the inital move from Mass to Florida as well as my life at UT for the past 4 years in hopes that I can put your minds at ease a bit during such a stressful time. I hope all perspective UT freshmen and parents can gain insight from reading!
Hope everyone has an awesome Thursday!
After reading the amazing blogs that Jess had posted over the last 6 months, it looks like I have big shoes to fill! Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Kim Duggan and I am a senior at the University of Tampa majoring in Sociology. I am originally from Canton, Massachusetts where my mom, dad, and 2 sisters still live. Once I receive my diploma in May, I plan to stay in Florida while exploring my career options. I am currently interning with the admissions department at the University of Tampa and getting a "behind the scenes" look at how high school seniors become college freshmen.
When I first decided that I wanted to come to UT, I had a few issues to take care. First and foremost, I had to figure out a way to tell my parents that I wanted to move 1,200 miles away to go to college. Although some of you may not see this as a problem, others can probably understand where I'm coming from. As a disclaimer, I'd like to say how much I love my parents and that I think they did an amazing job raising me and my sisters. My mom and dad, however, are helicopter parents. For those of you who have never heard that term before, "helicopter parents" refers to parents who hover over their children's every move. Even though helicopter parents typically have their son or daughter's best interest in mind, they tend to hinder the individual growth of their child by not allowing him or her to deal with life issues on their own.
In my case, my parents had always been around to help me through any sort of tough spot I was put in, but they also made me check in with them multiple times a day. My mom would be concerned about where I was, who I was hanging out with, if I had gotten all my schoolwork done, and other annoying things most parents want to know about. I understood why my parents wanted me to call or text them every so often during the day, but I also felt like I was 11 when I was really 18. I decided that when I picked a college, regardless of the school's proximity to my home, I was going to become more independent and shoo my helicopter parents away. When I explained to my mom and dad that I had chosen UT for my undergraduate degree, the first thing my mom said was, "Tampa is so far away!". I later explained how close Tampa International Airport is to campus if I ever needed to come home as well as how safe the UT community is. With her mind at ease a bit, my dad mentioned that he was concerned about me partying too much instead of studying since he and my mom wouldn't be around. I told them about UT's Academic Center for Excellence, which provides free student tutors in many different subjects, as well as the other educational facilities students have access to on campus, including the Library and multiple computer labs.
Although my parents may still want me to call them once a day to let them know how I am, they no longer ask me if all my homework is done or who i'm hanging out with. Moving away was a huge deal for me and my independence. The moment my parents left after helping me move on campus the first day I felt a sense of responsibility as well as relief. I could finally start to become my own person (that's part of going to college too, right?) and make my own choices without having to check with an authority figure beforehand.
Students face many different issues when it comes to moving away from home for the first time, but hopefully through this blog, students, as well as their parents, will be able to see that life at UT isn't as daunting as you may think. I will try to share my experiences about the inital move from Mass to Florida as well as my life at UT for the past 4 years in hopes that I can put your minds at ease a bit during such a stressful time. I hope all perspective UT freshmen and parents can gain insight from reading!
Hope everyone has an awesome Thursday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)