Orlando is not only the hometown of Mickey and Minnie Mouse; it also is the home of a Preeminent Research University, UCF. Its main campus is 13 miles from downtown Orlando, but it also has an accredited College of Medicine, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, a big, beautiful campus in, as well as UCF Connect locations throughout Central Florida. One of the largest universities in the nation, UCF offers 99 bachelor’s, 89 master’s, 31 research doctorates, 3 professional doctorates, and 3 specialist degree programs, choosing the right majors can be daunting.

The most popular majors at University of Central Florida include:

• Psychology BS
• Health Sciences BS (Pre-Clinical)
• Integrated Business BSBA
• Hospitality Management BS
• Criminal Justice BS
• Finance BSBA
• Interdisciplinary Studies BS
• Biomedical Sciences BS
• Sport and Exercise Science BS
• Elementary Education BS
• Nursing BSN
• Health Services Administration BS
• Mechanical Engineering BSME
• Computer Science BS
• Political Science BA

These, however, are just the most popular, but there is so much more to choose from; 90+ degrees to be more exact. Read more about all the choices. And if there isn’t something there that works for you, it is possible to create one’s own major. Truly. Sit down with an advisor and create a major that suits your interests. There will surely be parameters; it is still a serious major with real classes and studying, but it allows students to focus on topics that are of interest to them. With all this, it is no surprise that UCF’s freshman retention rate is over 90%.

UCF is unquestionably known for its Rosen College of Hospitality Management. What better place to study hospitality than in Orlando, one of the most visited cities in the world? At Rosen students can receive degrees in:

• Hospitality Management (BS) – Hospitality Information Technology
• Hospitality Management (BS) – Professional Tennis Management
• Hospitality Management (BS) – Theme Park and Attraction Management
• Hospitality Management (BS) – AS to BS
• Hospitality Management (BS) – Lodging Management
• Hospitality Management (BS) – Golf Management

HaveUHeard they even have a Theme Park Management Track?

Engineering at UCF is in the top 100. Engineering is divided into many sections that are also ranked as follows:

• Industrial Engineering (No. 36)
• Computer Engineering (No. 52)
• Electrical Engineering (No. 53)
• Materials Science and Engineering (No. 57)
• Environmental Engineering (No. 63)
• Civil Engineering (No. 65)
• Mechanical Engineering (No. 65)
• Computer Science (No. 82)

Nursing at UCF is highly ranked and includes the first and one of the best online graduate nursing programs in Florida and in the nation. CollegeChoice.net ranks UCF No. 28 for the best online Master of Science in Nursing programs. RNtoBSN.org ranks UCF No. 6 on their list of best RN to BSN campus programs.

Below are a few other great highlights and rankings about UCF:

#1 for top game design schools in the south

#1 for best online programs in Communications, English, Healthcare administration, Legal studies, Liberal arts, Writing, Political science

#1 nationally for Best Online Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

#2 for best online colleges in Florida

#5 for top illustration programs

These majors are unique to UCF:

• Golf and Club Management (BS)
• Senior Living Management (BS)

In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked UCF above Harvard, Princeton, Duke, and Johns Hopkins as most innovative in its annual list of best colleges. UCF is an academic, partnership and research leader in numerous fields, such as optics and lasers, modeling and simulation, engineering and computer science, business administration, education, hospitality management, healthcare, and video game design.

Pretty exciting, right? You might want to read about How to Become a Knight now that you know how much opportunity awaits you at UCF. 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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Just when you thought that going to college in Orlando, the home of Mickey and Minnie, couldn’t get any better, Disney has teamed up with the University of Central Florida to offer free tuition to its cast members. Called Disney Aspire, it offers 100% free tuition. Disney wants to make it easier for their team to pursue their dreams. At present, approximately 40% of Disney’s 85,000 full-time and part-time hourly employees with 90 days of service have signed up for Disney Aspire and more than 6,000 are actively taking classes.

Disney Aspire will cover not only student tuition upfront, but will also reimburse any application fees and textbook materials so students do not need to worry about paying for school. Disney employees must meet in-state residency requirements and can choose from 34 of the undergraduate and master’s degree programs – 10 of which are fully online. Degrees range from biology and nursing to entertainment management and business. Check them out below:

In-Person Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Biology

Biomedical Sciences

Computer Science

Digital Media

Elementary Education

Emerging Media

Entertainment Management

Event Management

Industrial Engineering

Integrated Business

Computer Engineering

Construction Engineering

Economics

Electrical Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Film

Information Technology

Mechanical Engineering

Photography

Radio/Television

Restaurant and Foodservice Management

Secondary Education

Statistics

In-Person Master’s Degree Program

Business Administration (MBA)

Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Communication and Conflict

Hospitality Management

Interdisciplinary Studies

Legal Studies

Nursing (BSN | RN to BSN)

Online Master’s Degree Programs

Digital Forensics

Hospitality and Tourism Management

Mechanical Engineering

Nursing

Here are some great links for more information:

disney.guildeducation.com/partner

ucf.edu/news/disney-ucf-team-up-free-tuition-cast-members/

thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-aspire-education-investment-program-expands-to-include-university-of-central-florida/

Disney realizes that a college degree is a powerful tool for transforming lives. “Those with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of 65% more than those who only complete high school.” UCF is undoubtedly and luckily just miles from Disney properties. Disney just made working while in college that much better.

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Is that A really and A? Give or take a plus or minus? The University of Central Florida is ranked as a college of excellence among other national universities. This level of excellence is a balance of many things including rigorous academic courses and competitive entrance exam scores. Technically speaking, it is a UCF policy that all professors use the plus/minus grading scale so most classes follow this rule. UCF strives to uphold a strong academic standard and, because of that, the GPA scale can either work for or against you. So you really need to count each plus or minus for the best grades! Here is the official GPA break-down:

Passing Grade, Grade Points

• A 4.0
• A- 3.75
• B+ 3.25
• B 3.0
• B- 2.75
• C+ 2.25
• C 2.0
• C- 1.75
• D+ 1.25
• D 1.0
• D- .75

This GPA scaling system can be tough; however, it serves to encourage students to continuously work as hard as possible for the chance for a better grade. For example, a student that studies consistently to achieve 89% versus a student who skates by getting 80% but receives the same 3.0 GPA may seem unfair. This system is designed to prevent that from happening and better reflect the efforts of many students.

For certain majors, getting that minus next to a letter grade can affect your overall GPA which plays a large role when applying to graduate school or getting accepted into an extremely competitive program. For other majors, where perhaps your experience and portfolio weigh more heavily when it comes to getting a job, the difference between an A and an A- may not be as important. Of course, one must also take into account that not all classes even use the plus and minus system. In that case, an A is actually just that, but so is a C actually a C.

Depending on what major is chosen and the rigor of the classes that must be completed for your degree, some classes curve and some do not. Some professors also don’t use the traditional grading scale. For example, while an A is usually between 90%-100%, some professors start the A at 85% or a different percentage which is up to their discretion. This applies to any letter grade. Or, to further confuse things, one of our interns recently reported her class was scaled with the usual A-C letter grades, but a D ranges from 35%-69%. This sounds horrible at first, but in actuality for those students at risk of failing, it won’t hurt your GPA as much. Chances are if this is you, you will still have to take the class over, but the D is not as harsh as an F to one’s cumulative average. Make sure to pay attention to the syllabus and the professors grading scale.

Another grading scale used is the No Credit grade. NC is often used for STEM classes when a grade falls in the D category. Instead of it affecting your GPA you get NO CREDIT and therefore it doesn’t hurt your GPA so drastically. Basically, you just paid for the class, but you don’t get a grade. Chances are you will retake the class for a letter grade next time, but it can be a better option for taking the poor grade when it is too late to drop the class. The NC still shows up on a transcript.

Finally, some classes are graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory (S/U) and don’t count towards your GPA, but still show up in your transcript. 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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The time has come to pay for your college costs and panic sets in, where is the money?  I remember receiving my tuition statement for my son when he attended UCF and yet his student account showed no Prepaid Florida (which I was fortunate enough to have 4-year college and 1-year dorm)  In addition, his bank account did not reflect his Bright Futures Scholarship money. So when does this money get disbursed? Can you get a deferral for books, living accommodations, and student fees? For your student’s specific account details you should log into their account at myUCF portal and create their New Knights Email Account. Set up an email account.

Here are some specifics:

Florida Prepaid

For any enrolled student who has an active Florida Prepaid College Plan, the University of Central Florida automatically extends the tuition and fee due date after the drop/ add deadline on the academic calendar. For Spring 2020 this day is January 9, 2020. All students must check their fee invoice for their adjusted tuition and fee due date after the add deadline on the academic calendar. If the student does not wish to utilize the Florida Prepaid Tuition Plan or wants Student Account Services to bill less than the number of credit hours the student is enrolled, then the student must submit a Florida Prepaid Tuition Plan Management Form to Student Account Services by the first day of classes each term. Please check your account at studentaccounts.ucf.edu  Correspondence from the Student Account Services office (including delinquent monthly billing statements) will be sent to the student’s official University Knights email account. Students are expected to check their email on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with university-related communications.

Financial Aid Money

The timing of disbursements is contingent upon students meeting all conditions for receiving aid and confirmation of academic activity or attendance. See Confirming an Academic Activity for additional information. Disbursement of financial aid money will begin the week following Drop/Swap & Add and continue each week throughout the semester as students complete and meet all eligibility requirements. Before loans can be disbursed, first-time Federal Direct Loan and Perkins Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling. In addition, the master Promissory notes must be signed and on file.

Deferments allow students to extend the payment beyond the published due date for tuition & fees and on-campus housing. The amount of estimated financial aid available for deferment can be found on the fee invoice as “Estimated Financial Aid Deferment” or via the student account section of the myUCF portal as “Anticipated Aid”. The estimate does not include any Bright Futures Award amount, which is listed separately on the Fee Invoice and has already been subtracted from the “Amount Due prior to Estimated Aid”.

Payment Plans

The UCF payment plan is a 2-payment design in which the student pays $15 upfront to be allowed to pay only 50% of the total tuition bill by the regular payment deadline, therefore avoiding the $100 late payment fee, and being dropped for non-payment. The student is then responsible for paying the remaining 50% by the payment plan deadline on your fee invoice.

Students will sign into their myUCF account and click on the “Payment Plan” link to sign up. The payment plan will be available to sign up for at the end of Add Deadline on the Academic Calendar. Students receiving financial aid, Florida Prepaid, waivers, or third party payments already have an extended deadline and will not be eligible for the UCF payment plan. Students will still be able to sign up for the payment plan after the payment deadline, but before the drop for non-payment occurs. However, students signing up during this time will still be required to pay the $100 late payment fee that they have incurred for not paying in full on time. Students signing up at this time and paying the required payment will not be dropped for non-payment.

Students will not be automatically enrolled in the payment plan. All students making a partial payment will need to sign up for the payment plan to avoid being dropped for non-payment from their courses. Students cannot cancel enrollment in the payment plan after they have signed up; therefore, the $15 enrollment fee is non-refundable. You may have the option to enroll in a two-installment payment plan through your myUCF portal.  The Tuition Payment Plan will be available on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

UCF will begin posting all deferments including Financial Aid and Florida Prepaid the week following the Drop/Swap and Add period.  A deferment is an extension of your tuition and fee due date for 6 to 8 weeks later into the term. To verify the most accurate deferment and fee assessment information, please check your Fee Invoice the week following the Drop/Swap and Add period.  Please verify deferment amounts if you have one, which can be found at the bottom right side of the Fee Invoice.

Payment Methods

You may pay online with an electronic check or credit card through the myUCF portal. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are accepted with a 2% convenience fee.  Electronic check payments may be made without a convenience fee. You may drop off check payments at the 24-Hour Depository Box located at the Millican Hall (Reflection Pond entrance).  Please be sure to include your name and UCF ID number on checks and other correspondence.

Bright Futures

Florida Bright Futures will disburse after the drop/add. For the Fall of 2019, this will be approximately after August 29th. For the spring of 2020, this date will be January 9, 2020. For more information on Bright Futures.

Deferral for Books

Financial aid disbursements begin the second week of each semester, so students will not receive their financial aid refunds to buy books until then. For this reason, there are two programs to assist financial aid recipients in purchasing their textbooks. They are the Textbook Purchase Program and the Short Term Advance for Books. Students must select to use one or the other of the two programs, not both, during any given semester.

Students who apply late for financial aid or have incomplete files should be prepared to cover their textbook expenses out-of-pocket. Students registered for classes at any of the UCF Connect Campuses are likely to purchase textbooks/course materials from the bookstore on that campus site. For this reason, the Short Term Advance would be their best option.

On-Campus Housing Rent Payments

The due dates for housing at UCF for the Fall of 2019 is September 6, 2019, and for Spring 2020 on January 17, 2020. Students must regularly check their student account at the myUCF website for housing charges and room rents. Failure to regularly check student accounts can cause past due amounts, late fees and one or more HOLDs to be imposed on the student account.

Due dates for “housing charges covered by anticipated financial aid in excess of tuition and tuition-related fees” are automatically deferred until the financial aid is received or the mid-point of the semester. Deferrals are calculated and granted automatically and do not have to be requested. Anticipated financial aid must appear on the student account in order to be considered, so third-party payors (529 plans, vocational rehabilitation, GI Bill) are not considered anticipated financial aid.

Should you need further assistance or have other questions, please feel free to contact Student Account Services at (407) 823-2433 or email studentaccounts@ucf.edu.

Take a breath, then read that all again. You’ve got this. Besides, it’s only money, right?

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SEE END OF BLOG FOR CHANGES EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR

Bright Futures has been a great source of financial aid for many Florida Students and is now shining even brighter. Summer 2018 was the first-year Florida Academic Scholars received 100% tuition and summer 2019, 75% of tuition is available for Florida Medallion Scholars. The $300 college-related expense stipend is still only available for fall and spring semesters.

The requirements for summer are as follows

• Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours across all summer sessions.
• Students with less than 6 credit hours required for graduation, may receive FAS and FMS by submitting a memo on letterhead from an academic advisor indicating less than 6 hours are required for graduation.
• Graduate-level hours may be approved by the student’s academic advisor.  Students taking graduate-level courses must submit a memo from the academic advisor indicating graduate-level courses meet undergraduate graduation requirements.

NOTE: A maximum of 45 credit hours may be funded in one academic year.

The requirements for Bright Futures are as follows

The top scholarship awards students with an SAT score of 1290 or an ACT score of 29 and higher. The Florida Medallion Scholarship awards students with an SAT score of 1170 and an ACT score of 26.  In addition, there are weighted GPA minimums of 3.50 for the Florida Academic Scholars Award and 100 community service hours and a 3.00 GPA for the Florida Medallion Scholars Award and 75 service hours.

For the renewal of Bright Futures, students need a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 for the Florida Academic Scholarship and a minimum of 2.75 for the Florida Medallion Scholarship (unweighted and unrounded).

Students who do not meet the annual minimum renewal GPA requirement in their first year of funding will be allowed a one-time restoration in a subsequent summer or academic year renewal period (end of spring term). Students who do not meet the minimum earned hours requirement or who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement after their first year of funding will NOT be permitted a restoration opportunity.

Funding from financial aid will not disburse until after the end of the drop/add period for each term, which is typically after the second week of each semester.

Florida Prepaid disburses first for tuition and then Bright Futures will be applied to any institutional charges on the student’s account. Any left-over credit will be funded into your student’s bank account.

Effective July 1, 2019 – The actual test scores will be released in the next few weeks.

FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS AWARD

For high school students graduating in the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 academic years, a student must achieve an SAT combined score of 1290 or an ACT composite score of 29.

For high school students graduating in the 2020-2021 academic year and thereafter, a student must achieve the required examination scores published by the department, which is determined as follows:

The minimum required SAT score for the Florida Academic Scholarship must be set no lower than the 89th national 902 percentile on the SAT. The department may adjust the required SAT score only if the required score drops below the 89th national percentile, and any such adjustment must be applied to the bottom of the SAT score range that is concordant to the ACT.

FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS AWARD

For high school students graduating in the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 academic years, a student must achieve an SAT combined score of 1170 or an ACT composite score of 26.

High school students graduating in the 2020-2021 academic year and thereafter, a student must achieve the required examination scores published by the department, which is determined as follows:

The minimum required SAT score for the Florida Medallion Scholarship must be set no lower than the 75th national percentile on the SAT. The department may adjust the required SAT score only if the required score drops below the 75th national percentile, and any such adjustment must be made to the bottom of the SAT score range that is concordant to the ACT.

For more information on UCF Bright Futures scholarship award requirements click here

For more information on the Bright Futures scholarship, visit here.

Should you have any questions about the number of hours your student needs or the impact of dropping a class or any other situation, download the interactive tool here  – BFCreditHourTool (8)

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Students usually choose their majors over time. I have always been a fan of taking a variety of classes until you find the ones that you enjoy most and choosing a major around that. Every school, including UCF, has its more popular majors as well. However; in these unprecedented times, students might want to take recent events into consideration when choosing a major.

As with any major event, such as a recession, war, or, in this case, a pandemic, there is a shift in what type of degree a student may want to consider pursuing. Certainly, the job market will look different in the future. Contemplating what jobs were sustainable throughout the pandemic may also help in the decision-making process.

For instance, public health, which can include hospital management, infectious disease, and clinical research among other things, was already a fast-growing major but may continue to grow due to an upcoming need. Similarly, we definitely learned the significance of our health-care workers. There are many avenues that can stem from majors in the Health Sciences or Health Services Administration, which is one of UCF’s strongest majors. A degree in Health Services Administration is now available online and in the classroom. Along those same lines, UCF’s degree in Biomedical Sciences may be one to consider as well. Uniquely, UCF’s Nursing RN (B.S.N.) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online; however, entrance to the program can be rather stringent.

More Major Ideas

Teaching has undoubtedly taken on a new lens, aside from many having a newfound respect for the value of a good educator. UCF offers degrees in both Elementary Education and Secondary Education. However, while the look of education has also been altered, teachers will always be needed and now could also benefit from a background in computer sciences, which UCF offers as well.

The food industry is undoubtedly in for some changes, but people are going to be needed in various food services whether it is in management or administration of restaurants or grocery store chains, etc. Check out what UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management has to offer and their related programs.

Politics in one form or another, particularly since politicians and government seemed to have become an integral part of our daily lives, could be worth considering. UCF’s Political Sciences major has various programs from International Relations to American Politics and Policy, etc. Wellness from mental health to new forms of fitness (particularly those that can be done remotely) have increased in popularity as well, so a major in psychology or a degree from UCF’s School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy may be in order.

Majors in engineering (UCF’s Mechanical Engineering major is rather popular). Computer programming, which includes software development is as well. Finance, which can prepare students for careers in corporate finance, investments, banking and real estate or Economics, that provides students with skills and training for careers in business, law, government, politics, teaching, research, and a variety of other areas lead to stable, higher-paying jobs that will undoubtedly remain popular, but it can’t hurt to consider what jobs can be done remotely as well.

In addition to choosing a major, students may want to add some skills like mastering Photoshop, Google-drive, Zoom, data analysis, computer programming, proficiency in a second (or third) language. There are many certificate programs that can be done outside of college classes that can only enhance your employability. Increasing your knowledge escalates your value to potential employers.

Some college majors may be changing and many are offered almost solely online. New ones may be added and others may disappear. Find out what major programs are of interest to you and how UCF school can help you decide. Knight advising will be most updated on any recent changes to majors and their programs.

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I’m not sure which class it was; business calculus or accounting, but the horror stories were coming true. When my son called and asked if we would pay for private tutoring, we knew something was up. He studied and studied. He was up for so many hours at some points his contact lenses had given him an infection. Then the call came when he literally asked us what he should do. Should he drop the class or not. No matter how hard he tried he was struggling. I retorted with my infamous line that I only break out when I believe my kids have given it their all, “C’s get degrees.” This would not suffice this time. The pressure he had put on himself was making him sick; worried that his scholarship may be at stake, or that his beautiful cum could be ruined or that he may not even pull the C (which is the minimum grade for required classes in a major). I will spare you the details, but we decided that he should drop the class and take it again (required) when he had an easier schedule, with a more sought after Professor, and start with a tutor from day one. There is no shame in this sort of plan. Sometimes the pressure is just not worth it.

Grade Forgiveness offers a student the opportunity to retake a course and earn a second grade that will be substituted for the previous grade. Students must be enrolled in the second attempt prior to applying for Grade Forgiveness and requests must be submitted no later than the Withdrawal deadline for the term/session in which the course is being repeated. The procedures to drop a course are on the student self-service page at my.ucf.edu

Requests must be submitted no later than the withdrawal deadline for the term/session in which the student has registered for the course being repeated. Consult the web calendar at calendar.ucf.edu. Use the drop-down menu to select the term for all important academic dates. View the policies for grade forgiveness.

There are financial repercussions as well when your student drops a class. Your student will still be fee liable for dropped courses, and it is YOUR responsibility to know the requirements for any scholarships you have, including Bright Futures. New state law requires students with Bright Futures scholarships to repay their award money if they withdraw from a class after the drop and add period – typically about a week into the four-month semester, repayment procedures. Should you have any questions about the impact of dropping a class as it relates to Bright Futures, you can download the interactive tool – BFCreditHourTool (8)

Please check with Financial Aid if you have concerns. Your academic advisor may be able to assist you with some financial issues, but Financial Aid is generally between you and Student Financial Affairs.

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Exams, the fun never stops!

Exams are right around the corner. I know it feels like you just finished studying for the ACT/SAT’s and left for college, but before you know it, graduation will be looming and many students will be preparing for a graduate school. And that means preparing for your grad school exams.

Getting familiar with the vast amount of programs out there would probably be a good first step. If you are considering graduate school at UCF, check to see if they have an open house. Consider visiting other college graduate programs as well. This will give you the opportunity to meet professors and ask questions about specific programs. Start talking to an advisor early to be sure you have all the correct prerequisites, shadowing, or research hours you will need.

Occasionally, too, there are also visits from various graduate schools about their programs. that are worth attending if this is something you may be considering. For instance:

Whether you are preparing for Medical or Law School or a particular graduate program, researching the continuation of your education may feel overwhelming. Finding the right concentration for you is important. Consider all of your options, including the location of schools, degrees offered, length of time to complete the degree, funding/cost, prerequisite classes testing and other requirements needed for entrance, and so on.

Most graduate schools require test scores with the application. UCF helps students prepare for the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, PCAT, DAT, OAT, TEAS, and FTCE exams. Visit UCF Continuing Education to see the many academic review programs offered; some of which are online.

Many accounting major students take the CPA exam while in school. Some of the more popular CPA review courses include Surgent, Becker, and Wiley.

There’s an office of Pre-Health/Pre Law Advising for students applying to any of UCF’s graduate programs that fall under these, next to 63 South that has advisors for tests, application questions, personal statement reviews, and mock interviews. They even offer free practice exams. Students can make an appointment or simply walk in.

Taking an exam test prep course is optional and you may not need to spend hundreds of dollars to do so. Taking a practice test a few months before the actual exam to see where to start studying will help gear how much studying you’ll need to do. By this point in college, you should have a good idea as to how you learn best. Perhaps online studying is not the best choice for you; therefore a local class or private tutoring may be a better idea.

Some of the popular test prep programs are Kaplan, Magoosh, BenchPrep, Next Step Test Prep, and Manhattan Test Prep. Some students who are majoring in finance or business will also take the Level 1 CFA exam. The Princeton Review now offers a test-prep course for only $299. Students who enroll will qualify for their money-back guarantee. Many are offered as online classes which allow students to study at their convenience. Some also offer private tutoring in person or online, as well as regular classes. Wyzant pairs students with tutors from around the area and could be a cheaper option; some tutors charge as little as $30 an hour.

Applications also require an essay or personal statement. To be sure you are sending in your best work, we recommend working with Essential Essays, which assists students with brainstorming, planning, and writing college, law, and grad school essays that will reveal their personality and give their applications a positive edge.

Here a few additional pointers

GRE- Get the ‘GRE Word of the Day’ app to help vocabulary. Sign up for the Question of the Day from Kaplan. It’s free!

MCAT- Next Step Test Prep offers live webinars to answer questions that may come up as you study

LSAT- Blackstone LSAT and Bar Prep is a class offered right off of University.

If English isn’t a student’s first language, they will need to take a test called the TOEFL or IELTS

Prepare a checklist for each school you plan to apply to. It may include GPA, resumes, test scores, letters of recommendation (LOR), personal essays, interview, etc.. Standardized tests are only one part of the application process. In addition, it may not be too soon to begin to look into scholarships or how you will finance your continuing education.

What it Costs…

• Most application fees are around $50-$100 per school, plus sending your GRE score. Most people apply to between 3 and 8 schools
• Taking the GRE also costs $205 in the United States.
• Medical school is rather hefty because students usually apply to a lot of schools and take the MCAT, which is can be over $1,000
• Students need to send their transcripts to each school which is an additional $15 per school. Note: Many students have claimed it impossible to send their transcripts using an Apple computer.

Finally, it has become common for some students to take a year off before starting grad school. College is stressful and there is a lot of pressure to start Grad school immediately. Perhaps the year can be spent gaining experience that will add to your application or having more time to prepare. Remember, this shouldn’t be a race; it should be a marathon. Give some serious thought to taking a gap year.

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HaveUheard that Orlando is officially the most visited city in the nation? I bet that is not a surprise, but what is a surprise is that the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, is part of the University of Central Florida. It is located just minutes from some of the most popular restaurants, resorts, and convention centers.

Rosen College provides its students with the opportunity to learn and work in the industry’s leading market. With its state-of-the-art, Mediterranean resort-style building containing 18 high-tech classrooms, an executive education center, a 200-seat training dining room, and a bar. It also has a beer and wine laboratory, two test kitchens, a 400-seat auditorium, three computer labs, a library, a bookstore, and a fitness center. Rosen College is located approximately 30 miles from the University of Central Florida’s main campus; conveniently set in the heart of Orlando’s tourism district, world-renowned industry, organizations, and businesses.

HaveUHeard that Rosen is ranked #2 in the world as a hospitality and hotel management school, according to CEOWORLD Magazine? With many industry partnerships, UCF’s Rosen College provides access to guest speakers, internships, memberships, scholarships, and networking opportunities that help stimulate successful careers in this exciting and booming industry. Many recruiters hire directly through Rosen College.

It is an amazing opportunity where students can even live, learn and work in the heart of the hospitality and tourism industry by living in Rosen’s convenient, on-campus housing. Residents enjoy a variety of amenities, including study lounges and free laundry facilities on each floor, complimentary coffee in the concierge lounge, a central community center, free parking, and a heated pool. Not too bad, right? Make you want to attend or change your major!

Rosen College of Hospitality Management recently released the first issue of its new magazine: Rosen Research Review. This magazine is focusing on hospitality research as it works with its industry partners. The goal is to help hospitality practitioners with the future of the industry in regard to attractions, entertainment, food service, and more. Check it out here.

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