Where to Pre-Game at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-21T14:05:55-04:00Tailgating Season Has Begun! Football season is upon us and other than making sure you will be properly attired in black and gold and have your keys rea [...]
Valencia First
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:32:07-05:00...Then Transfer to UCF Some students may not be ready for a big university, but want the excitement that goes along with it. For this reason, many stud [...]
More Veggies Please
Michelle Balaun2020-06-03T14:53:43-04:00Vegan/Vegetarian Dining Slowly, but surely, more and more young people are going vegan or vegetarian. I can’t blame them. Sometimes the choices on or ar [...]
Safety Matters
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:35:15-05:00Their Safety is Really All that Matters I’m not a helicopter parent. Really, I’m not. (Ok, some may disagree.) Regardless, once we have moved our studen [...]
Take the LEAD
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:35:59-05:00Apply for LEAD Academy. Looking for a leadership opportunity while at UCF? You may want to consider applying to be part of the LEAD Scholars Academy. UC [...]
College Majors to Pursue at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T14:32:10-04:00Perhaps It’s Time to Consider Majors that are Sustainable in Tough Times Students usually choose their majors over time. I have always been a fan of tak [...]
Sorority Recruitment: What to Expect & What to Wear
Michelle Balaun2020-09-13T11:19:58-04:00Here Are Tips & Tricks on What to Wear Adding another chapter to your life is a big deal. If you decide to go through sorority recruitment at UCF, i [...]
Parking at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-03T13:55:12-04:00For my next magic trick, I will conjure up a parking space! You sent them to college with a car and they are grateful. However, although it will make a [...]
Student Accessibility Services at UCF
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:38:48-05:00Accessibility for all at UCF! When my oldest began college, which can feel tremendous by way of size alone compared to high school, she was relieved to [...]
Working While Attending College
Michelle Balaun2020-10-17T18:36:15-04:00Make Some Moola While at School. Some students have to work to pay for college, some consider their school work their only job and fortunately don’t hav [...]
Beauty & The Beast
Michelle Balaun2021-06-10T14:55:25-04:00Look Your Beauty Best! Beauty upkeep is important to your well-being. When planning for college, we rarely think about the fact that our kids may still [...]
Sick at School, Mom Can Help!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T11:56:11-04:00Mom..... Due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, as of Monday, March 23, 2020, Student Health Services’ Downtown office will provide telehealth [...]
Grocery Stores
Michelle Balaun2020-07-20T13:19:09-04:00Let’s Eat Whether your student lives on campus or off, they will need groceries. Orlando has plenty of places to shop right near UCF in this regard. For [...]
Get on the Bus
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T15:19:06-04:00A Guide to UCF’s Bus System The bus could be your answer... If you’ve ever been to UCF’s campus, you know that driving and parking can be a hassle. Gett [...]
Supervise an Easy Budget for Your College Student
Michelle Balaun2020-10-19T10:27:35-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! Some students actually keep to a budget. Well, sort of. I admit, it was hard telling my daugh [...]
Sorting Out College Life – A Guide to Laundry, Dry Cleaning & Alterations
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T16:24:40-04:00The least favorite chore! I tried to teach my kids to do laundry before they each left for college. Really. I did. Yet, somehow when they went away to s [...]
An Insider’s Guide to Living on Campus at UCF
Michelle Balaun2022-03-09T12:56:40-05:00The inside scoop for real! You can certainly read about the dorms and where to live on campus on the UCF Housing and Residence Life pages, but we asked [...]
Diversity and Inclusion for LGBTQ College Students
Michelle Balaun2020-07-06T17:09:20-04:00LGBTQ Campus Support and Resources College can be challenging for all students which is why finding ways to make connections with others who identify si [...]
The Best Apps For Students
Michelle Balaun2020-08-21T16:54:12-04:00UCF and College Studying Apps Remember when you were in college and everything was easily accessible via an app on your phone? No? Well, me either. Our [...]
Eating Healthy – Healthy Students
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:07:00-04:00Eating, it really does help concentration! It can be hard to be eating 'healthy' when at college. Meal plans, rushing to and from classes and activities [...]
Advice to my Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2020-08-06T21:08:06-04:00Advice Every Freshman Should Know College life seems like a dream. It’s the first time living away from home and not by parents’ rules. College classes [...]
The First Few Weeks
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:31:53-05:00We completed the drop. We unloaded the car in the treacherous Florida heat and we set up their rooms. The bed was made, everything had been put away and [...]
Roommates and Residential Life
Michelle Balaun2020-03-03T16:14:12-05:00How to manage a shared living space. For many students entering college, this may be their first time away from home for an extended period of time. Whi [...]
Eating on a Budget is More Than Just Ramen
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:34:53-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! Some students actually keep to a budget. I know this is true because I have had three of my o [...]
Good as Gold Knight
Michelle Balaun2020-08-24T11:51:53-04:00Putting Together Great Knight Outfits I love going to UCF football games- there is nothing like game day. HaveUHeard how UCF got its colors? In 1970, a [...]
Places of Worship, Keep it Traditional
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:52:45-05:00Continuing Traditions of Worship If you’re wondering about keeping up the tradition of worship, here are some thoughts. Shortly after my daughter starte [...]
Parents Weekend UCF Style
Michelle Balaun2020-09-11T16:53:25-04:00The Big Weekend I had been accustomed to booking for Parents Weekend the second it was announced, based on my older children who went to other colleges. [...]
Meal Plans for Hungry Students
Michelle Balaun2020-05-25T14:45:18-04:00To Buy or Not to Buy - Meal Plans Some of us will miss those family dinners. Others will find some relief. Either way, we all want to know that our kids [...]
Bucket List for UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:56:27-04:00If you have committed to becoming a Knight...fill this bucket. There are a few things that you might want to check out over your next for years at UCF. [...]
Mother – Daughter Time
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:47:06-04:00Spending Time Whether you are coming up for a mother-daughter sorority weekend or just to spend time with your daughter, you will find plenty to do toge [...]
Move. In. Day. at U.C.F.
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:53:53-04:00U.C.F. M.I.D. UCF’s move-in day is …well…a lot of work. Be prepared for many trips to the car and possibly one or two to the store for the inevitable fo [...]
Campus Resources for Students of Color
Michelle Balaun2020-07-21T14:31:05-04:00Campus Guide to Resources for African American Students Campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably over the years and UCF vies to maintain [...]
Weekend with Dad
Michelle Balaun2020-10-27T09:47:11-04:00The Best Things to Do With Your Dad on the Weekend My first father-daughter weekend was freshman year when my dad and I didn’t really know what to do fo [...]
UCF Coronavirus Update
Michelle Balaun2020-07-29T11:50:00-04:00Update on Latest Plans Seems like finding the right update in this unusual time is tricky. I don’t think I have ever used the word unprecedented as much [...]
Moving Out
Michelle Balaun2021-05-12T15:11:45-04:00Time to be Moving On Moving out can be almost as hectic as moving into the dorms and apartments. It did not make sense for us to drag the entire dorm su [...]
Orient Yourself – Orientation Tips
Michelle Balaun2020-04-04T16:08:51-04:00Overwhelm Potential If two nights and two days can make your head spin, these might be the two. Orientation, is not a bad thing, of course; it is just t [...]
Lost and Found, more than a box of junk
Michelle Balaun2020-07-10T18:04:05-04:00Oh No...it happened! It's Lost! Have you ever lost your phone or wallet, you get that sudden sinking feeling? My daughter spent the summer studying abro [...]
Namast’ ay at UCF: A Guide to Yoga Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T18:25:29-04:00Om Shanti! For years I tried to get my daughter to enjoy yoga with me, but she had multiple excuses. I knew it would be good for her mentally and physic [...]
Where the Wind Blows – Storms and Preparation
Michelle Balaun2020-10-07T12:28:07-04:00South Florida Knows...Storms Having grown up in South Florida, I have gone through more than 40 Hurricane seasons, storms galore! I prepared for my firs [...]
Rushing Her Way – What is Rush?
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:52:30-04:00The Rush Note: Fall 2020 - A lot of sororities are still doing open bidding for those girls who didn’t go through/dropped recruitment. Open bidding mean [...]
After The Hurricane
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:22:47-05:00Post-Hurricane Irma Prior to Hurricane Dorian, our blog talked a lot about Hurricane Irma which definitely left Floridians on their toes. Hurricane Irma [...]
Rushing His Way and How To Win It.
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:23:55-05:00Frat. Rush. Rushing. Do you what Rushing is? For parents of incoming freshmen, you have probably started to hear about the fraternity rush. The way rush [...]
Staying Fit
Michelle Balaun2020-09-01T10:41:03-04:00Freshman 15 - No Way! The Fit Way! Note: While much of the usual fitness options may not be available due to these unprecedented times, there still are [...]
Sorority Girl
Michelle Balaun2020-09-24T15:39:00-04:00So They’ve Joined a Sorority Congratulations if your daughter has found a place to call home. Being in a sorority opens the door to so many wonderful ex [...]
What Not To Bring To College!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T12:50:19-04:00Nope, Don't Need It Actually what I wanted to share here was that given that this is my third child to head off to college, I have learned that there ar [...]
Getting There – All the Transportation Options
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T15:54:07-04:00The First Time That first time you drop your student off at a college you will probably want to go with them and get them settled. Many of you will driv [...]
Knight-Thon, Dance all night! Do good!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-23T13:49:31-04:00Dance The Night Away Do you dance? When my kids were in high school, they each did some sort of volunteer work; all noble and worthy. Then they got to c [...]
It’s All About the Delivery and Getting it to Your Door
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T12:47:48-04:00There's a knock at the door... Taking time away from studying can be the difference between dinner or a bag of chips and a soda. Sometimes it pays to t [...]