USF Bullbits

Hello again,

I thought I would take some time to drop a line about my first summer at USF. Every summer since I have been here, I usually end up returning back home to Maryland but this summer my major has placed summer classes into my schedule and has forced me to stay here At first, I was upset because I knew that by my staying here, I wouldn’t be home to spend time with my family and friends that are there. However, three weeks into the summer session I am able to admit that I am enjoying my time here. I’m taking a course in the College of Nursing and also giving my campus tours and although that may not seem like much I am able to keep myself extremely busy. I still have many of my friends and classmates that are also here taking summer classes with me so I see them all the time and we get together to do all sorts of things like going to the gym, watching movies, and going to Busch Gardens or the beach. It doesn’t take a lot for me to not be bored and I enjoy having the company of my friends.  Also, I enjoy the environment of summertime at USF. Although the hours of many of the places that I usually go to on campus are slightly different, the reduction in the number of students here for the summer gives the campus more of a relaxed setting and I am still able to get everything that I need to get done on a daily basis. It almost makes it seem like I’m not in school and even though I actually am, it is not as overwhelming. My classes also don’t seem to be as scary in the summer as it is in the Fall and the Spring. My professor is able to give us all the information that we need but she has more availability since all the classes that she usually teaches are not taught in the summer so she is almost always there to help students who need help outside of class. The reduction in class size also helps me because I think personally I am more willing to sit in class and ask questions so that I am understanding the material that I need to know not only for my tests but also as future reference in many of my future classes. I personally recommend that everyone spends at least one summer at USF because it really is a different way to experience the campus and for many it may be a positive experience.

USF Rec Center is a very cool place.  Located on campus, it has a full gym with bunches and bunches of equipment.  It also has lots of classes.  Some of the classes are Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Cardio Funk, and several others that I can not think of right now. They are hour long group fitness classes.  They also have a full range of outdoor equipment.  They have a rope obstacle course that you can go through but I am not really interested in it.  They have boot camp training sessions too.  Its really nice stuff.

The coolest part of the gym is that they have a bouldering wall.  Its basically a wall you climb up.  Its really good exercise and really fun at the same time.  I am really interested to try it.  I want to see if I can do it. I am going to try that for sure.

I was really excited to get back into a gym. I have not been able to go for quite a while.  Gyms are expensive and there are really not any close enough to us to make it worth having.  The coolest part of the whole USF Rec Center is that is all FREE.  Everything you could possibly need is included in the tuition.  If someone wanted to go with me its only 5 bucks.

I have enjoyed being able to workout without have to deal with a meat market atmosphere.  The people who are at the rec center are there to workout, not to be seen.  It is a good feeling when you are surrounded by a like-minded group of people. I feel like my classes go smoother for me because I am more alert.  The rec center gets my body and mind moving before going to class and starting my day.

For people just starting out at the rec center, they offer an orientation to get to know the gym equipment.  For a very small fee you can be measured and get your body mass index so that you have a jumping off point.  They also have both male and female trainers to help you.  Training sessions are offered in a group setting or in an individual setting.  There is a small fee associated with the training sessions but they are worth the money.

There are two locations for the rec center.  Both centers have their own hours.  Information about the Rec Center can be found on the website http://usfweb2.usf.edu/CampRec.

Yes! School is out! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and… take summer classes?!

My name is Camille Gouveia and I am a senior at the best University in the world!  I am a Secondary Education for English major with a minor in Psychology.  This is actually my first time taking summer classes and I have definitely learned a lot about the process within the first week.

The most important thing is to make sure that you apply for Financial Aid through OASIS if you need it. You never know, you may be qualified for grants or loans as long as you are taking 6 credit hours. Once you do that, the next step is to start looking for your classes. I always make it a point to look up fall classes along with my summer class schedule so I don’t have to go through the process as the Fall registration time approaches. This will also help with my chances of getting the classes I want.

So far my summer class experience is actually relaxing, which is surprising since I am taking 12 credit hours this summer in an attempt to graduate on time. The atmosphere of the University is very slow paced and quiet but in a good way!

The only thing that I would say is the worst about summer classes is the fact that it’s hard not to be lazy because you have “summer vacation” mode programmed in your brain.  The way I solve that is by staying active during the day when I don’t have class. There are events held by organizations throughout the summer, you can get a job and earn extra cash, or even do community service projects with the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement.

The most important thing to know is that summer classes aren’t as bad as they seem… it’s a lighter course load that will be done before you know it! It‘s also a great way to make good friends or study buddies before the Fall semester starts so it can be even more fun being a USF BULL!

Hi my name is Jerry and I’m officially a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Public Health. I’ve been at the university for quite sometime now and i know a thing or two about what classes are like at USF especially during the summer.

Remember in elementary school when having to go to summer school was the end of the world? Summer vacation as you pictured it was over. You had to trade in morning cartoons and the beach for textbooks and homework. Unfortunately, summer school still has that negative connotation even for college students.

The truth is summer school for college students isn’t all that bad; in fact I think it’s a bit easier than the fall or spring. During the summer, classes have to cover the same amount of material in a shorter amount of time, which works in our favor. Since the professors cannot go as in-depth into the course material as they would like to, they cut things out, thus making tests easier.

Sometimes I wish I could take summer semesters in place of fall and spring. Not only are the classes great, but because most of the student body is away you can actually find an available computer in the library, a quiet spot to study, or even an outlet for your laptop. All of a sudden, USF goes from feeling like a huge hustling and bustling university to a small intimate college feel.

When starting summer school, it is important to also make sure you have everything straightened out with financial aid. Certain scholarships you may have may not pay for summer tuition and that was a roadblock I faced when starting. Not only that, but you need at least 6 credits during the summer to even qualify for financial aid, which put a damper on my plans to only take one class.  If you are thinking about summer school, go for it.  It’s an excellent way to catch up on classes to ensure that you graduate on time. In my experience, despite the swiftness of the semester, the course work has been slightly easier.

Have you ever been so excited to go into a restaurant and order your favorite dish? My favorite happens to be chicken parmesan.

I went out to eat a couple of weeks ago and as I waited for my meal to arrive, I remembered how good it was the last time I ordered it. When the server placed the meal down in front of me, she could not help but notice the look on my face. “Is this chicken parm,” I ask. “Yes,” she said, “isn’t that what you ordered”? The dish did not look anything like what I am used to, and although it was delicious, I had to adjust my thinking and be willing to try it. If I read the menu closely, I would have noticed the difference in the description of the dish. My point is, as human beings it is natural to assume that “things” with the same name are the same, but as you know, that is often not the case.

Every day I receive at least one phone call from a new transfer student asking me if they have to attend orientation because they attended one at their previous college. While I refrain from telling my chicken parmesan story, I explain that orientation is a time when the campus comes together to welcome you. It is a required program for all new students, including freshmen, transfer, international, resident and commuter students.

Orientation is important because it allows you to become acquainted with the different aspects of our campus, such as the buildings, student services, parking, etc. By attending orientation, you will have an opportunity to meet and establish relationships with the deans, faculty and several departments. Most importantly, you have a chance to meet your classmates and current student leaders, and this is an opportunity to build friendships that will last a lifetime.

To quote my friends in the Academic Achievement Center, a department involved with orientation, “orientation is not something we do to you, but something we do for you.” I promise you that you will walk away from orientation with a lot of useful information that you did not know before.

This post written by Sandy Christoun, Transfer Coordinator at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass.

Summer Stampede is designed to help students achieve early success at USF.  This special population of first-year students is conditionally admitted to the University based on high school academic performance.  During the Summer B term, these students must successfully complete two courses from the Foundations of Knowledge and Learning (FKL) curriculum which is required for all degree programs at USF.  These courses are pre-selected by the academic advisor and enrollment is limited to Summer Stampede students.

For students who have demonstrated the potential for success, Summer Stampede offers the opportunity to focus on their academics during the Summer B term.  In the fall, these students are strongly encouraged to take the University Experience course (SLS 1101), which will provide them with an introduction to USF resources and many academic and life skills that will contribute to their success as a student.  Although this group of students will interact with others from Freshman Summer Institute (FSI) and Student Support Services (SSS), each program has its own eligibility criteria, requirements and activities that are independent from the others.

The summer will be an exciting time for our Stampede students.  Students can get to know others by attending free social events and living in either the Juniper-Poplar residence hall or the Magnolia Apartments on campus.  Social activities will sponsored by departments such as the Center for Student Involvement, New Student Connections, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.  Events will range from Movies on the Lawn and ice cream socials to street festivals and karaoke contests.  Aside from these fun extracurricular activities, students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops designed to enhance their academic success.  These workshops will cover a range of topics, such as study strategies, time management, test taking, communicating with faculty, understanding a syllabus, procrastination, and anxiety.  In addition, there will be a signature event with tips for success from student, faculty, and administrative perspectives.

There are a few things Summer Stampede students should be aware of.  These students are given conditional acceptance to the University based on their academic performance, so they should put schoolwork first before any extracurricular activities.  Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in two courses during the Summer B term or their admission to the University will be cancelled.  Tutoring and Learning Services has a special team of Academic Success Guides to help students successfully complete their coursework.  Summer Stampede students should understand that it is their responsibility to take charge of their success.  We pledge to provide challenge and support as they pursue their academic and personal goals at USF.  Go Bulls!

This post provided by Amanda Cutchens, M.Ed. – Special Assistant, First Year Academic Programs.