They’ve Been Accepted, A New Knight!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T11:50:30-04:00Here's what you do now, new Knight! Your son or daughter is going to be a Knight!! Congratulations!! It is great to be a Knight for so many reasons. You [...]
The Next Four Years
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T11:31:27-04:00Do you know what a true Knight does with their keys during a football game? Do you know what a true Knight does with his/her keys during a football game [...]
ProctorHub, Test Taking Online
Michelle Balaun2020-03-18T12:11:46-04:00Online Test Taking for Today’s Students **While UCF is online, all course content will be delivered in Webcourses@UCF. To take quizzes and exams online, [...]
Finding a Roommate for the first time
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T14:29:14-04:00First time living with someone you're not related to, your first roommate! Living in a dorm during my freshman year was probably one of the best decisio [...]
The Benefits of Joining the UCF Alumni Association
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T15:12:43-04:00Alumni Networking, Perks, and More... Before you know it, you are walking across the stage at graduation, and with that last step, you are officially a [...]
They Care at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:43:47-04:00We know you care too! Once you commit to the University of Central Florida you officially become a family member for life. UCF does care and has many di [...]
Grad School Housing is More Grown Up!
Michelle Balaun2023-05-08T16:21:20-04:00Because Grad School Needs are Different For students heading to Grad School, finding an apartment if they go to a different university entails completel [...]
Planning to Sublease an Apartment at UCF?
Michelle Balaun2023-05-08T16:27:49-04:00The Supply is Greater Than the Demand. Here's How to Sublease HaveUHeard about how to sublease? Students generally sign a lease for twelve months when t [...]
Banks and Credit Unions at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-01-29T15:50:45-05:00Many Places to Grab Money, Banks Galore Leaving for college comes with so many new things, but banks and handling their own money can be one of the scar [...]
Knights Spring Debut
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T13:26:13-05:00They're Back At It, Debut time! After the last football season’s remarkable performance, our UCF Knights are itching to get back out on the field to pla [...]
Make the Call
Michelle Balaun2020-06-05T12:31:52-04:00If you think you should, you should do it. A distraught friend recently called me wondering why they hadn’t yet heard from UCF although they sent in her [...]
Disney Aspire a great way to afford school!
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T13:33:42-05:00Working For the Mouse Pays Off! Disney Aspire! Just when you thought that going to college in Orlando, the home of Mickey and Minnie, couldn’t get any b [...]
Favorite Apartment Rentals, tips and tricks
Michelle Balaun2023-05-08T16:27:06-04:00Living Off-Campus, the real rentals. Here are our best tips for rentals at UCF. With each of my kids, I have three; not one stayed in the dorms beyond t [...]
Having A Car at College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T16:20:53-04:00Can You Get By Without a Car? If you have ever talked to a UCF student, you would know that the #1 complaint involves parking on campus. Whether your st [...]
Who You Going To Call?
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T13:58:37-05:00Call Here for Answers The important contact info you need to have. Over the years there have been only a few times that I, as a parent, have felt the ne [...]
Is an A Really an A?
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T17:48:05-04:00Is an A really an A, or does plus or minus Count? Is that A really and A? Give or take a plus or minus? The University of Central Florida is ranked as a [...]
Controversial Speakers
Michelle Balaun2020-06-10T13:17:54-04:00Free Expression, Controversial? UCF is a melting pot with a variety of people from different backgrounds and beliefs. No matter who you are, UCF makes s [...]
Taking the Campus Tour at the UCF Campus
Michelle Balaun2020-11-05T11:20:03-05:00A Tour Can Help You Make Your College Decision It is the season for a campus tour. Many of you have already visited a multitude of schools, but now that [...]
Spring Sports
Michelle Balaun2020-03-16T17:54:19-04:00So Many Sports, So Little Time After a phenomenal football season for the Knights, fans are getting really excited about UCF Athletics. While Football m [...]
Sports
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:07:50-05:00UCF Sports If I think back to touring UCF when it was down to decision time as to which college, one of the first things I realized was that I better le [...]
Retail Therapy
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:48:57-04:00A Little Retail Therapy There is plenty of shopping in Orlando – may be too much - and although your student is up there for school, there is always som [...]
Hotels
Michelle Balaun2020-08-07T17:15:50-04:00A Nice Place to Stay Keeping in mind that Orlando is not only a college town but also the fun capital, there is a vast selection of hotel options. There [...]
First Time Student Loan Borrower?
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T12:22:34-04:00You'll Need to Do This for a Loan. What is the Entrance Counseling? In July of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education made it a requirement that, in ord [...]
How Will Students Stay Safe, Sane and Happy this Fall
Michelle Balaun2020-06-22T11:32:02-04:00Where is a Safe Spot at College? Safe, Sane, and happy, is that possible? As colleges are doing their best to come up with ideas as to how to keep our s [...]
Graduation Photography for UCF Seniors
Michelle Balaun2020-12-01T14:44:44-05:00Memorialize Graduation Day with Photography The last four years (or so) probably flew by and commencement is around the corner. There is no doubt that g [...]
Entertainment
Michelle Balaun2020-01-27T15:51:58-05:00All Round Good Times. It seems almost silly to write about things to do when visiting your student at UCF simply based on the fact that our kids are lit [...]
Money, Money, Money, Show Me The Money!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-23T18:55:51-04:00When will they get their financial aid, alias "money"? The time has come to pay for your college costs and panic sets in, where is the money? I remembe [...]
Food for Thought
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:02:18-04:00No Student Hungry Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getti [...]
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Michelle Balaun2020-09-11T14:33:34-04:00Knights Athletic Events, Are You Ready? Note: Everything is a little different this year; even football. To better understand everything Knight's footba [...]
Safest Places to Visit Your Student This Semester
Michelle Balaun2020-10-09T16:36:54-04:00We Still love to Visit Our Knights Let’s face it, these are odd and crazy times! Things look very different at UCF this semester but one thing is still [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion into Action
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:33:59-05:00There are many reasons for volunteering. Volunteering lets you give back to the community, to make a difference in the world, to gain experience and to [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]