University of South Florida – St. Pete

USF – St. Pete Campus (visited 3/31/22)

USF-SP is the mid-sized campus of the USF trio. For those who are looking for a vibrant waterfront community, smaller classes, and access to everything St. Petersburg has to offer, this is a great fit. One of the reps said, “This campus is a better choice for the artistic, creative, introverted, shy student. It’s easier to get involved and be seen here. If students enjoy extra-curriculars, this is a great choice.” However, if students are looking for Greek Life and 300-person lecture halls, this isn’t the school for them. If that’s what they’re looking for, they’d probably fit into the Tampa campus which will provide the “traditional” large state school college experience.

If USF is high on your list, it’s important to apply by the priority deadline in order to have the best shot at getting the campus you want! If you apply for fall (most competitive), they’ll consider students for summer and spring as well. It’s more a capacity issue than anything else, said the reps I spoke to, both of whom were recent alumni. They were quick to point out that even though there are 3 campuses, “It’s one USF. You can take classes at any of them.” That extends to multiple other things, including being able to attend football at the main campus; all students go up to Tampa for the games (and they’ll run buses up from St. Pete). It’s also fairly easy to transfer if they feel like they’d be better served later at another campus.

They can currently house about 4000 students on campus giving students a medium-sized university feel with the options of a larger institution; a brand-new dorm opened last year with 916 beds. Students are never required to live on campus, though, and all students can bring a car to campus. Parking passes cost $215 and enables students to park at all 3 campuses. The reps didn’t gush over the food here but did say that it’s changed recently and is now “pretty good. Food off campus is great, though!”

Campus is right on the edge of downtown. “There are tons of museums (including the Dali Museum), the Pier (a focal point of the city), and many great restaurants. It’s a young, emerging city with energy, festivals, and a lot of job opportunities and internships. It’s colorful and vibrant.” They described the St. Pete vibe as “choose your own speed.” Students take advantage of the weather and the surroundings, including spending a lot of time on the campus Harbor Walk; the campus is on the water which students seem to enjoy. People were out there even on the relatively dreary day I visited. The university even has solar-charging stations for students who are studying out there.

The reps said that there’s more community outreach here vs. the Tampa campus. The Career Center has developed a new partnership to pair students with local business leaders for shadowing and internships opportunities for more access to career exploration. One of the reps did a Judicial Process class where he was able to observe courtrooms and talk to judges, defenders, and prosecutors about the process. Through the Compass Student Experience Program, students can also get paired with an upper-level mentor.

Activities and traditions include: Screen on the Green (done once a month), cardboard boat races during homecoming (This happens at all campuses with some specific twists unique to each campus – and they’ll shuttle students up for the Tampa concert), Welcome Week, and Back-to-School pool party. They offer lots of dances; the PD Shuffle is their traditional campus dance which all students learn at orientation. Most sports are Club and Intramural on this campus with the exception of the Varsity Women’s Sailing team housed on this campus. They host students from the other campuses (men compete in a coed sailing club team).

Classes are much smaller here than they’ll be on the Tampa campus. The rep’s smallest class was 6 students (News Editing 1); largest was about 45 (American History). His favorite class was The Road to the White House: students went to NH for 10 days and covered both sides of the aisle. Because they were gone for so long, they had to clear this with their other classes to make up the work, but the professors worked with them. He also took a Travel Course that looked at food and cooking in Germany and France (he loved learned to make Black Forest Cakes and trying the cheeses in France).

Academic draws at this campus include:

• Graphic Arts (design and illustration fall under that umbrella) which is housed in the old Dali Museum. Students can go to the new Dali Museum for free with ID.
• Sustainability Studies
• Forensic Studies and Justice and Criminology
• Digital Communications and Multimedia Journalism
• Marine Sciences (Can’t beat the location for this major!)
• Business Analytics and Info Systems and Global Business
• Professional and Technical Communication

© 2022

NC State

The Brickyard

NC State (Visited 3/12) (Click here for notes and pictures from my 3/24 visit)

For such a large campus, I was impressed with how attractive it was. Most of the buildings are brick with only a couple notable exceptions, one of which is unfortunately on an otherwise brick-building-lined-quad filled with trees, flowers, and open grassy spaces. The campus, including the quad, has wi-fi, so this becomes a popular study area in the warmer weather. The “Brickyard” is another open space where students tend to congregate.

State’s library is more notable than most I’ve seen; not only is it extensive (8 floors of stacks and study spaces – and students can access the catalogues and request materials from the Duke and UNC Chapel Hill libraries, as well) but the first floor is a funky, open, well-lit, inviting space for students filled with lots of computers, meeting areas, overstuffed chairs, and even PlayStations. Even though I visited during spring break, this space was well utilized.

My tour stayed only on the main campus so I did not get to see the Centennial Campus (the school is celebrating its 125^th anniversary this year, just as a side note). The Centennial Campus has most of the Engineering and associated programs and is about an 8-10 minute shuttle ride away. Most Freshmen, even in that department, will take their core classes on the main campus to acclimate before they have to start going back and forth between campuses. The university is also in the process of putting dorms on Centennial Campus to make it easier for students and to alleviate some of the housing crunch. Now, many of the dorms are on the far side of the train tracks (under which runs the “Free Expression Tunnel” full of fun graffiti and signs that advertise all sorts of activities and points of view). The university does not guarantee housing, but reserves space for at least 70% of freshmen to live on campus. There are extensive opportunities for off-campus housing. On campus, there are several themed Villages: Global, Honors, First Year, Scholars, Women in Science and Engineering, and others.

The university is currently in the process of reducing the size of their freshman class by several hundred students to about 4,300 students. Although in part to do with housing, it has more to do with budgets and class sizes. They want to be able to continue providing high-quality education and class availability. Applications have steadily gone up over the past two decades, and this year is the first time that applications have exceeded 20,000. Their acceptance rate in 2011 was 53%. Currently, 9-10% of their students are out-of-state. Like other NC public universities, they have to cap OOS at 18%; they would like their numbers to be closer to that.

Because application numbers are going up so much, they highly recommend that students apply before the deadline. Files are read in the order that they are received so if anything is missing, students will be notified much earlier if they have submitted materials before the deadline – even if it’s just a week. Also, the completed application will be read earlier. If students send SAT or ACT scores during junior year, they will keep them on file and students will be placed on the “perspective” list so they will be invited to open houses, etc. If a student does not report scores until Senior year, the admissions people do NOT recommend rushing the SAT scores – it’s a waste of money and will not really get them to the admissions office any more quickly. Essays and recommendations are not required, but the admissions people will read them if they are sent. Students must apply by 11/1 to be considered for Merit Scholarships.

The most prestigious scholarship they offer is the Park Scholar, named after an alum. This comprehensive scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, room and board, and stipends for living expenses and technology. Students also become eligible for additional grants for study abroad, service projects, or other enrichment opportunities. About 45 scholarships are granted each year. Last year, they received 1500 applications so the acceptance rate is about 3%. Endorsement for the Park Scholar program can come from the school (by 10/1) or from the student (by 10/25). The application is due on 11/1. Students must also complete the NC State application by 11/1 to be a PS candidate. Scholars are selected based on Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.

The University has several schools; along with the more traditional and expected sorts of majors, there are several unusual ones: 1) College of Natural Resources: Forest Management, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management: Tourism and Commercial Recreation, Natural Resources, Professional Golf Management, Sport Management. 2) College of Management: Internal Auditing, Labor Economics, Supply Chain Management. 3) College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Marine Sciences, Meteorology, Financial Mathematics. 4) Engineering: Agricultural, Biomedical, Aerospace, Nuclear, Paper Science, Texile. 5) College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Creative Writing; Public Relations and Organizational Communications; Africana Studies; Science, Technology, & Society. 6) College of Textiles: Fashion and Textile Design. 7) First Year College: Undecided? Use this college to explore, get advice, and figure it out!

The Free Expression Tunnel