Your son or daughter is going to be a Knight!! Congratulations!! It is great to be a Knight for so many reasons. You can now take that sigh of relief that a decision has been made and then take a look at our list of what to do next. First, this may sound silly, but check your admissions letter for accuracy regarding their name, entrance term, address, and major. If any changes need to be made it needs to happen in writing or online at myUCF.

Next, you are going to want to get that $200 deposit and form in by May 1 for summer and fall semesters and December 1 for the spring semester. Without the deposit, they won’t be able to register for the mandatory orientation, etc… This can also be done through myUCF. Register for a Knights email account. They will need one; all official UCF communication will be sent to their Knights email only. Then get that immunizations form completed and sent in. Registration cannot happen without this. You can download the form. By the way, while you are on the health services page, take note of all the amazing services they offer students, and yet, they do not require proof of insurance (though, of course, health insurance is highly recommended.)

Be sure to confirm the following

• your residency status for tuition purposes
• that your student has signed up for Bright Futures
• arranged for any final transcripts and scores (AP, IB, AICE, CLEP, and transfer credits) to be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• your Florida PrePaid program if you have one (You will need to be familiar with what you paid for with Florida PrePaid.)

Get that FAFSA form started. You can check out our blog on the FAFSA form.

Check out the housing information. There are many options at UCF both on and off-campus. If living in a particular dorm is very important to your student, don’t wait too long to send a deposit and apply for housing. On-campus housing is limited and not guaranteed for all freshmen. Have your freshman join the Facebook group for their incoming class. Many freshmen find their future roommates through this group page.

If you haven’t already visited UCF, I highly recommend it. Campus tours are offered Monday through Friday from 10 to 2. They last approximately 2 hours. To tour the dorms you do not need a reservation, but sign up.  They are available from 12-4 and you meet at the RWC. The only tours offered right now are in Libra and Hercules. Planning on having a group of 10 or more people? You may want to check out the Admitted Students FAQs page as well.

Also, check for any holds on your student’s account. It could be the simplest thing, but there is nothing worse than going to register for classes and not being able to because of a simple thing that could have been fixed earlier. Check out our blogs on Housing, Meal Plans, and Orientation for many more helpful details. Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

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It is the season for a campus tour. Many of you have already visited a multitude of schools, but now that the verdicts are in; decisions have to be made. Therefore, this tour should look different as it should point out the pertinent things that will help your students make their final decision as to which school to attend. Of course, my daughter loves being a Knight, but your students may have specific things that will help them weigh out the pros and cons of each college.

Go with a list of questions, but not the kind of questions that you can just google an answer to. Don’t be shy about asking your tour guide, financial advisor, a specific department, or even students hanging out near the fountain or in Knightros. They can be your greatest resources.

For instance; how important is Greek life to your student? I always recommend students try to get a tour of a sorority or fraternity house if they envision rushing when they get to college. In order to do so, they will have to find someone who knows someone that can get you in. Perhaps you have a friend whose daughter or son is a member of a sorority or fraternity. Reach out to them before going. There are not Greek life tours, but you can certainly take a quick drive through Greek Park. However, on a side note, do not let the condition of some of the frat houses scare you should you get into one. Some are off-campus. The boys tend to be much happier than their living conditions may reflect.

If your student has a health condition that makes having specific health center capabilities nearby of great importance; go check it out. Call in advance to tour the facility. PS. There is a pharmacy there as well. One of the great things about UCF is definitely the dorms. They are newer, nice, and many allow students to have their own room and/or live in apartment-style. Sign up to tour the dorms.

Go on a 90-minute campus tour led by a UCF ambassador.

Through the Knight for A Day campus tour, you can learn about the application process, academic programs, and financial aid at UCF. This tour is about 6 hours. The UCF RWC – the big gym – is super impressive. The state of the art facility, including the smaller gym near the Arena, is worth checking out, even if you aren’t a fitness enthusiast. If you have a major in mind, do your research; set an appointment to speak with an advisor in that department. What programs do they offer? If you’re religious, be sure to check out the student organizations around campus. There is a Hillel and Catholic Center right across campus, among others. Around 10 minutes from campus is Waterford Lakes. This plaza has pretty much any type of store you can think of and dozens of restaurants. Having this all so close is truly convenient.

You may want to visit the registrar’s office to be sure that your credits would transfer from any AP, AICE, or dual enrollment classes too. The UCF Athletics department has grown so much in the past few years. Our football team recently won the Peach Bowl l and made it all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. In spring the basketball team also just placed third in the AAC conference! Sports can be a big part of college and UCF has all of this! Take a peek at UCF’s beautiful sports facilities. Check out Athletics Village here.

If you were accepted to the Burnett Honors College, definitely be sure to make this one of your stops at UCF. The program is slightly more rigorous so be sure it will be a good fit. The students in this program offer sessions to share their experiences and answer questions. For more information. There really is no better way to get a sense of how you truly feel about a college until you step foot on campus. Just don’t step on the seal in the middle of the Student Union, because according to the UCF students; this will give you bad luck! You can also find a wide range of campus tours on the UCF Youtube channel.

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Looking for a leadership opportunity while at UCF? You may want to consider applying to be part of the LEAD Scholars Academy. UCF’s LEAD Scholars Academy is a two-year academic leadership development program. The program emphasizes academics, community service, and leadership. Scholars commit to many hours of community service each year.

Acceptance into the program is pretty competitive; we are talking an average SAT score of 1342 or ACT score of 28, a high school GPA of 4.2 and have done a fair amount of leadership activities and community service along the way. Students interested should apply as early as possible. Applications also include a resume, essay, and a project. If selected students will need to commit to the program and pay a one-time Student’s Association (LSA) fee of $125. They must also attend one of the LEAD Scholar sessions offered during Orientation. If you are selected early enough, you will be invited to attend a special LEAD Scholars Orientation session (usually in June).

There are benefits to being part of this inclusive community at UCF. It is the only academic and co-curricular leadership program in Florida. LEAD Scholars offers many opportunities in academics, leadership opportunities, student organizations, research, and campus life.  Some program benefits include:

• Access to LEAD Lounge for studying, networking and professional development
• $200 fellowship every semester you remain in good standing
• Priority class registration

The LEAD Scholars Living Learning Community is located in Neptune  (dorm). Students living in this LLC program will receive:

• Connections with LEAD Scholars Academy faculty
• Networking opportunities with LEAD alumni and upperclassmen
• Resources to fulfill necessary LEAD Scholars requirements and learn about your personal leadership development

Accepted scholars will receive 8 hours of elective credit earned through their leadership classes. Becoming part of the Academy will mean being prepared to be a social change agent in a global society and cultivating invaluable campus partnerships. As though being a Knight wasn’t enough, maybe you want to be a Lead Scholar as well.

Here are the available programs:

• The Civic Engagement Scholars Program: teaches students how to engage with the community and leadership, service, political engagement, active citizenship, and more.
• The Global Leadership Program encourages students to become a more globally-minded leader. This includes volunteering with cultural or internationally-focused service agencies.
• The Inspire Women’s Leadership Program provides UCF students with empowerment opportunities and leadership enhancement. Networking, mentoring, experiential training will prepare students to hold leadership positions on campus and in the work arena.
• The Lead Out Loud multicultural leadership program: aims to empower students to embrace diversity, strengthen life skills, and become involved with leadership opportunities.
• The LEAD with Pride Program: focuses on leadership topics relevant to the LGBTQ+ community. Students learn how to be more inclusive and empathetic leaders or allies.

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College life seems like a dream. It’s the first time living away from home and not by parents’ rules. College classes aren’t daily, like high school and, bonus: you don’t have to wake up before dawn if you don’t want to. So many great things come from being in college, but there are also some big pointers that you should be aware of now that you are a Knight. Let another Knight give you some advice!

One of the biggest differences between being in high school and college is that you have to buy your textbooks and scantrons. Where to buy or rent books is up to you, but maybe this will help you decide. Scantrons can be purchased at the bookstore and in vending machines in classroom buildings. But you can save yourself money by picking up a scantron at the Student Union. They give out one free pink or brown scantron per day. You’re also able to get 5 free blue books/green books per semester. Those are only needed for certain classes though.

• Sometimes your “easy” classes, the ones you take for fun, are the ones you have to worry the most about. These are your GPA boosters, so don’t neglect to study for them.
• If you didn’t bring a printer, don’t worry! The union has got you covered. At All Knight Study, located in Ferrell Commons, all Knight Study by the UCF Arena, and in the Student Union, you can print up to 100 pages per week for free! Don’t waste money on printing, paper, and ink when you don’t need to. It may not be as convenient as having a printer in your room, but if you leave yourself time, it is worth it.
• This may be one of the only times in your life that you can get free access to gyms and fitness classes. It’s included in your tuition, so all of the equipment is paid for. Take advantage of it, because once you graduate, you’ll have to start paying for gym memberships. UCF fitness facilities are pretty amazing.
• There are also such great places to eat around campus like Lazy Moon, Bento, Spoleto, and Burger U to name a few favorites, but try not to get carried away and always eat out. It adds up really fast and can lead to the freshman 15. Spend the extra money on a mini-fridge and do some grocery shopping, especially if you don’t have the meal plan. For more health tips, check out our blog here, but if you just want to know how to eat on a serious budget, check this out. By the way; if you also live on campus, specifically in Neptune, Nike, Hercules or Libra, the “POD” in Neptune is a great snack/mini grocery convenience store, but it can get a little pricey. They even have a smoothie machine there! The Health Center is another great snack/ mini food market. They even have vitamins, medicine, and sanitary products.
• There are a lot of fun things that you should do over the next four years here. Don’t wait until senior year to do them all; some you may even want to do more than once. Check out our bucket list here.
• There’s a myth that you won’t graduate on time if you step on the stamp in the middle of the Student Union. That’s why it’s guarded off. So… my advice is not to step on it! You’ll want to stay at UCF for more than 4 years, but why tempt fate.
• Try not to take classes every day. For instance, if you can leave your Mondays or Fridays as a study and catch up on workday; you will be grateful for that extra time.
• Use social media with caution. Perhaps this sounds like motherly advice, but I assure you that before you know it you will be looking for a job in the real world and cleaning it up is much more difficult than keeping it clean from the start.

If you lose your UCF ID, you can get it replaced for $15 at card services in John T. Washington Center on campus. You’re going to need to get a new one eventually because you need it to take exams, get into UCF events, to print on campus, and more.

Welcome fellow Knights!

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If two nights and two days can make your head spin, these might be the two. Orientation, is not a bad thing, of course; it is just the amount of information you and your student will take in at that time that can get a bit overwhelming. I believe the first orientation I spent taking pages of notes, marking things I wanted to talk with my daughter about later and highlighting things I wanted to keep close in case situations came up that may make those notes useful (ie: tutoring, healthcare, safety on campus…. honestly they touch on everything you can imagine and many things you haven’t yet.) Later I learned that parents took pictures of the slides – much easier. Besides, you will get to keep the packets they hand out.

My other kids went to other state schools, so I expected orientation to be the same. There were some differences though; the first being that I expected all students would stay on campus, while the parents stayed at a hotel. Check out our blog on hotels. Believing this was a great way for our students to begin to meet new people and get a feel for their “new home,” I signed my daughter up to stay in the dorm. When I went to sign her in at Lake Claire, I was surprised that not a lot of kids were staying in the dorms and there wasn’t much planned. This was a bit of a disappointment and not necessarily a great way to start, but all went well anyway.

Due to the current situation that have all classes and service regularly scheduled on campus, UCF Orientation sessions will now be online. With guidance from the state and with university-wide technology, UCF First-Year Experience plans to continue providing an engaging and interactive program remotely.

Time of Their Own

Just so you know, you will not be spending most of those two days with your students regardless of where they stay; they have their own sessions. You will, however, be reunited when it is time for them to register for classes.  Try to discuss what classes your student may want to take before orientation by reviewing the Online Course Catalog and Undergraduate Catalog prior to attending.  There is very little time to chat when an advisor actually sits down to enroll them. Remind them that whatever they end up with does not necessarily have to determine what they study for the next four years. This seemed to leave some students in a panic, which in turn if you are anything like me, becomes the parents’ worry as well.

Take the tour and maybe even bring a tape measure so you will be better prepared when you begin shopping to fill that dorm room. Dress comfortably, bring a sweater (it gets very cold), and bring snacks and drinks (it can get long, and I, for one, like to nibble all day long and although there are plenty of places to eat around there, I was hard-pressed to find healthy snacks). Walking shoes are recommended for the tour. Bring an umbrella. It always seems to rain at least once a day in the hot months. Welcome to Florida.

Come Prepared

A great deal of what the students cover will require they have access to their student portal. Have your student bring everything – forms that you will have filled out in advance (check your list), ACT/SAT/AP/Dual enrollment scores in case any overrides are needed at registration. Wondering about AP scores and University Course equivalents? Here is the current chart. Make sure they are aware of their passwords, etc. Bring any medical forms, copies of insurance cards, etc. you may need.

Be sure to read our blog on meal plans, although this was another surprise to me – many students don’t sign up for meal plans. The dining rooms are generally a long walk away from their dorms and they can use Knight Cash to eat anywhere on campus.

All students are required to take an online orientation portion. Students will not be able to access the Virtual Orientation until their Orientation registration and payment have been processed. You will be automatically enrolled into your Virtual Orientation component within 3 business days of your completed Orientation registration. You will be able to access the course via WebCourses@UCF.

Bank Ready

Set up banking if you are interested in it. UCF’s banking provider is actually a credit union, Fairwinds. Their Fairwinds card can be used to buy food on campus, but so can a debit card. I chose not to go this route and stick with our Bank of America account. It is just easier for both of us to access and with the Knight Cash being refillable at all times, it seemed less complicated. If your student will be receiving Bright Futures or financial aid, it can be easier to have it direct deposited to a bank account or Fairwinds.

Items to Bring

Your student will want to bring comfortable clothes, a pillow, sheets, a bath towel, shower shoes and a blanket, a jacket or sweater and, of course, their toiletries. Many of the girls bring duffles to hold all of their belongings. I remember getting my daughters a Vera Bradley duffle because that’s what college girls use. They still use it to this day for weekend trips or trips home when they do not need to bring a suitcase.

Ready to Go?

Have you made hotel reservations yet? For information about hotels in the area check out our blog. And one about restaurants too. They are chock-full of good information.

And, of course, while you’re there, head over to the campus bookstore or an area retail store and start stocking up on Knights apparel.  My favorites are Walmart and Target. The prices on all your UCF gear will be far less expensive. You can always resort to black and gold clothes to start, but truly you do not want to be wearing black in the stadium when it is hot – and it gets really hot. Face it; you’re going to need them because you too will soon be a Knight fan.

There are a Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Cafe Bustelo and Einstein’s right there on campus should you need a pick me up at some point in the day. This is not to imply that orientation is boring, but it is long. Orientation ends around lunchtime the second day. Don’t fret if you don’t make it to every single break out session.

Possibly the most exciting part of the two days is when your student gets their ID; making them feel very official.

Click here for more information on UCF orientation or here for costs and options. Register early; dates fill quickly.

Main Campus

Downtown Campus

Transfer students- Main campus

Transfer students- Downtown Campus

Orientation is 100% required for all incoming students. You can work with UCF staff if you can’t make any of the dates required, but it’s best to go as early as possible.

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