Best years of my life! Here is my breakdown

CAMPUS APPEARANCE
Slowly but surely, the campus is being rejuvenated. When I was a student at FSU (88-92), the buildings were falling apart. No more! Say what you will about the importance of football at FSU, but the revenue generated has allowed for the repairs of all the buildings. This is not to say that the old campus-side (everything from Westcott up to Woodward) was never beautiful, because it is! The newer campus-side (Woodward up to Stone Building) is much more industrial feeling. But then this is where most of the science buildings and labs are. But it's still nicer than, say, USF.

SPORTS
It's Florida State! Sporting events are religious in nature and Bobby Bowden is called "St. Bobby." Football, more than anything, is LIFE at FSU. If you aren't interested in football and don't plan to be....go to Cornell or someplace boring.

DORMS
Yup, FSU's got 'em. Most of them are old and rather beaten up. But so what! I would not have traded my 2 years in the dorms for ANYTHING! My closest friends today I met in the dorms. Sure apartments are nicer, but they are less social in nature. So think about whether or not you want to be extra lonely your first year...then choose. I lived in DeGraff and McCullum and I was the Chair of the Residence Hall Life Improvement Committee (don't ask). Trust me...the dorms are not THAT BAD. And if you are the anal, single child, spoiled-prissy type...even MORE reason to try a dorm. Open your mind for pete's sake!

ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
There is more campus-related stuff to do than I could keep up with: student union, flea market, bowling, sports, girls, fairs, movies, parties, just name it. You will never be bored.

OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Popular to contrary belief...Tallahassee has quite a bit to do: canoeing, lakes, malls, clubs, bars, book stores, movies, etc just like any other city. Don't listen to Gators who swear there is more to do in Gainesville...because there's not.

GIRLS
I cannot speak for the female perspective here so this is the male point of view. In my opinion, the best-looking girls anyplace are in the state of Florida. Don't ask me why but they just are. Any university in Florida is stocked full with incredible women. FSU does not lack in this department. We often pondered the possibility that the girls were being manufactured someplace on campus. Unreal.

GREEK LIFE
Yup. I got involved. I was in the Sigma Pi fraternity and during my pledge semester, I got NOTHING DONE. I was also the Pledge class President which accounted for 90% of my time. There are 2 schools of belief in regards to greek life. 1) You wish to be a greek. You love the idea, the perks, the brother/sisterhood, whatever. 2) You HATE the greeks. If you wish to be a greek and you are a guy, plan for a HARD semester (schedule a light class load). If you are a girl, I honestly don't know HOW tough it is. If you hate the greeks, well, that's fine too. Let me just say this. I did not pledge until my sophomore year and if you are interested in meeting people and having free-flowing access to sorority girls for dates and parties (you will be hard pressed to get a sorority girl to go out with you if you are not greek)...go for it! My life was much less exciting (my grades were higher) before I pledged. But it is not easy, it can be expensive, social pressures are tough and grades may suffer.

PARKING ON CAMPUS
Good luck. :)

SHOULD I GET THE MEAL PLAN?
Absolutely! The food sucks but it provides 3 perks.
1) Your parents get to pay for most of your food, not you out of your pizza/beer/laundry fund. Think about this: I had the 15 meal plan (3 meals a day for any 5 days in a week). That was 15 LESS meals I had to spend actual cash on!
2) You ALWAYS have food to eat. I tried a semester without the meal plan. BIG mistake. I was always broke and out of food. Remember, this is ALL YOU CAN EAT!
3) Its a great social experience. Nothing beats gathering up all your dorm buddies and trekking over to SAGA/Marriott/name du jour for dinner. We had a blast! Also, the breakfasts are a great excuse to skip class and chill all morning (did I say that?)

YOU SKIPPED CLASSES??
Yup. All the time. I'd show up for reviews, lab, exams, interesting classes and classes on days when the planets were aligned. I'd skip classes for food, the beach, the mall, hangovers, Rocky III and various other excuses. Why? Because I could. And in reality, I never skipped at first, skipped a lot in the middle years and skipped less towards the end. Guess what?? I graduated. I got my degree and make a fine living. Just be smart about it, ie. don't skip a mid-term or a review day or ANY LANGUAGE COURSES (you'll understand).

SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY GPA?
Unless you are planning to get into Med School...nope. Just don't flunk out. I graduated with a 3.00. Am I stupid? Nope. I STILL got into Med School (I left after year 1 to backpack across the world). I had 4.00 semesters and 2.00 semesters. Did not make a hill of beans difference overall. So lighten up! Enjoy yourself because it goes by QUICK!

IS IT REALLY THE PARTY CAPITAL?
Yup. It sure is. Enjoy :)

WHY SHOULD CHOOSE FSU OVER UF?
Well...that's a personal choice you have to make. Overall the education is better at UF, this is true (FSU is not THAT bad though). But...there is something wonderful and personable about FSU. UF is cold feeling, the students are obnoxious and it's almost mechanical in nature. Go visit both! They are only 2.5 hours apart.

HOW MANY HOURS SHOULD I TAKE?
Well... I used to take 15. Some people stick with 12. It just depends on how sadistic you wish to be. BUT! If you plan to pledge...take the lightest load possible.

FINALLY, HOW GOOD WILL MY EDUCATION BE?
Is it Harvard. Nope. But the education is quality. Mostly, what you get out of it is directly proportional to what you put in. Have fun!











Recommended: Yes