Attending College in Orlando

[lauren is soarin]

Hi everyone! Love this new community

I have been given an opportunity to attend college in Orlando! It is a hard decision to make, so I want to make sure I know everything there is to know. Does anyone have any tips about Florida in general (seasons, places to go visit in Orlando, transportation, etc.) or any ways to cure homesickness??

[rachel r]

lauren is soarin, I'm in the same boat you are in right now! I am a freshman in college and want to transfer and move to live closer to the magic, it's been my dream since I was a kid!

[Andrea1114]

I have also been offered admission to attend college in Orlando in the fall! I’m still deciding if I will go to college there but as a Florida resident myself, I can tell you the weather here especially in the summer is very bipolar - sunny one minute rainy the next. Also there is plenty to do in Orlando besides theme parks like International drive, mini golf, museums, malls, some outdoor activities, just to name a few

[kdbennettjr]

We are from NJ and my daughter is attending the hometown University in Orlando. She is a sophomore. She LOVES it there. There is plenty to do without having to go to Disney and Universal. She has an annual pass to Universal. We use Facetime constantly especially if she is lonely. Her roommates are wonderful and are from Florida. She does visit the malls quite a bit, just to get out of the house and browse. There's lots of stores to go and browse. Bars and restaurants are open, but she does not visit since there have been a lot of cases. Pre-Covid, there were plenty of bars and clubs she would go to with her roommates. Please let me know if you have any specific questions and I can ask her

[Andrea1114]

Hello kdbennetjr, do you mind asking your daughter how she picked her roommates freshmen year? And how college life is like with covid like if her classes are mostly online or if some are in person and other helpful advice for incoming freshmen?

We are from NJ and my daughter is attending the hometown University in Orlando. She is a sophomore. She LOVES it there. There is plenty to do without having to go to Disney and Universal. She has an annual pass to Universal. We use Facetime constantly especially if she is lonely. Her roommates are wonderful and are from Florida. She does visit the malls quite a bit, just to get out of the house and browse. There's lots of stores to go and browse. Bars and restaurants are open, but she does not visit since there have been a lot of cases. Pre-Covid, there were plenty of bars and clubs she would go to with her roommates. Please let me know if you have any specific questions and I can ask her

[kdbennettjr]

Her university had a roommate match. They asked questions like what time do you wake up, are you a neat freak/slob/in between, etc.. Then they match you with other people who answered the same and with their compatibility (100%, 95%, etc.). Then you read each person's "bio". If you want to get in touch with them, you can message them. If you like each other you go into a group. She had a suite (4 beds, 1 bath), she wanted a shared room with a roommate since we are out of state. She likes to meet people. She had a group of four and were placed with them. College life is definitely different this year. Her classes are all online. They were also online in the fall. Some classes have set times that you sign on to Zoom for a lecture. Some classes are pre-recorded lectures. Her roommates have a couple in-person classes. When all of this is over, the college life at her university is wonderful. So much spirit, football games and so much to do on campus!! Let me ask her about helpful advice for freshmen.