Stepping onto a new campus is overwhelming enough without having to figure out who to go to when things get messy (you know they will). For UF Gators, things just got a tad bit easier.
Read on for College Magazine’s list of the best people at the University of Florida for help throughout your academic career.
1. Career Connections Center
From a straightforward welcome page to interactive videos that help you navigate the resource, the CCC’s website is a potential job candidate’s dream. The resource is modeled after a LinkedIn profile, displaying mock applications and interviews. Need to borrow an outfit that fits your style and size for a professional interview? They got you. Consult with industry and skilled specialists as they prepare you for all things professional. Does your resume need editing? Look no further. Their daily articles are a great resource, too.
2. Broward Tutoring
Some learn better in a relaxed environment with and from their peers. Students can find this kind of intimate, one on one setting at the tutoring center in Broward Hall on Broward Dr., where they can find specific course help from other students who have succeeded. With help from peers and upperclassmen, students can find a welcoming and helpful environment at Broward Tutoring.
3. Preview Staffer
Although Preview, UF’s version of orientation, looked a bit different this year, the staffers are nonetheless a helpful resource. Your staffer can answer specific questions about academics and campus life. Following your own and other preview staffers on Instagram keeps you updated with on-campus events and new student meet-and-greets.
Keegan Carr, a 2020 Preview staffer, said she considers her time as a staffer as one of the top experiences at UF.
“Meeting my staff, working with the ProStaff and getting to hear about the various backgrounds from my students proved a very humbling experience. It has been one of the foundational growths that I experienced as an individual at UF, largely due to just hearing how people grew up and what they overcame to attend such a prestigious university,” Carr said.
Connecting with your staffer right off the bat can seriously help you adjust to campus life.
4. RAs
You know that guy, gal or non-binary pal living at the end of your hall who gathers everyone together? That’s your Resident Assistant, and they live there to help you out. By mediating roommate quarrels and hosting group events, RAs alleviate some college-stress so you can focus on classes. They live to make sure you survive your time spent on their floor. But beware, they take notes… and swap co-ed horror stories with other RAs.
Preya Patel, a senior at UF, said it’s really cool sharing the RA experience with students who have the same goals and interests.
“Interacting with everyone on an intimate level and knowing the people you’re living with is really the best part,” Patel said.
Plus, if you haven’t seen RA TikTok yet, you’re missing out.
5. Professor
Obvious, right? Wrong. So many people do not take advantage of all the ways professors help out their students. Remember all those stories heard on campus tours of professors bribing their students with Chick-fil-A if they utilized office hours? That could be you. They should be you. Come up with a question and eat more chicken. That magical piece of fried something may help you get an internship or letter of recommendation. Said internship or recommendation could lead to your dream job and life.
6. Library
The library, although a great place to study, is a fantastic potential resource. Here, librarians help students print their assignments, navigate the virtual and physical shelves and set up events that promote learning.
April Hinez, a journalism and mass communications librarian, urges students to check in with their librarian for academic resources.
“A lot of students don’t realize that every discipline has a college librarian on campus. Journalism, marketing, telecommunication students can reach out to who can help. These librarians can act as your academic teammate and act as a great resource for you,” Hinez said.
All students should definitely check in with their college librarian since they are a great resource all four years.
7. UF International Center
Were you worried about your semester abroad being canceled? Ranting on Twitter before anything has been decided? Check in with the International Center before you panic. The IC handles international student affairs and semesters abroad. With ever-changing national policies regarding international students’ status, this office works to ensure that each student is protected and on track for graduation.
Home to over 1,500 international scholars and about 2,600 students who travel abroad a semester, the center definitely stays busy. The International Scholars Program even encourages Peace Corp involvement, which gives you a leg up when applying to Peace Corp organizations. Advisors also work with other students who wish to study abroad to determine which program would be the best fit.
8. Innovation Academy Advisor
IA students know that their academic experience looks a little different from other UF students. Your specific IA advisor oversees your class schedule, financial aid and internships. Use them as your little secret weapon as you learn how to navigate all the college things. Not every student on campus gets this type of VIP treatment, so take advantage as much as you can.
9. Counselors
I know you may see like 20 of them, but your counselors really want you to succeed. It says so on their website. Yes, students can see several counselors in the course of their academic careers. These people can help you with all things academia and career. Together, students and counselors will create plans that keep you on track for graduation that maximize learning and career potential. Although meeting hours are even more limited and you’ve probably clocked record-breaking hours on Zoom, make it a point to talk to your counselors about the future, no matter how uncertain.
10. Mentors
The relationship between a student and mentor can be beneficial, both in the short and long-term. Some of these unions even last beyond college. Look for postings on Facebook groups and around campus promoting mentorship programs, whether it’s alumni-student, faculty-student or upperclassmen-underclassmen. Finding a mentor who works or holds a passion for the same field as potentially provides a significant boost among peers.
