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 [...]
Auxiliary Fees for Online Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-06-23T18:21:02-04:00HaveUHeard of These Auxiliary Fees for Online Classes? There is no denying that college tuition, in and of itself, is a huge expense; however, on top of [...]
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 [...]
Flu Season Ahead
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T14:07:51-04:00The Flu ends with “U” It’s that season again – and I don’t mean hurricanes. Flu season is generally from October through May; peaking in December. Given [...]
Fun Electives Classes to Take
Michelle Balaun2020-10-06T16:24:28-04:00When You Need Electives Did you plan for some electives? At orientation before freshman year, had started, advisors asked that students declare a major. [...]
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 [...]
Making the Most of Summer B
Michelle Balaun2020-03-23T14:23:00-04:00This is when summer gets fun! ** Due to the unusual and unprecedented Spring (2020) situation and circumstances, Summer B 2020 classes will also be onli [...]
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 [...]
Nature vs Nurture, there is more than the “Mouse”
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T12:19:10-04:00As they say, after Disney... Once you’ve completed your obligatory Disney trip, your most recent trips to Orlando have probably been about seeing the sc [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:36:31-04:00Money Doesn't Grow on Trees At orientation we were inundated with information about all sorts of things; from FAFSA forms to meal plans. No one ever rea [...]
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 [...]
Moving In The Easiest Way
Michelle Balaun2020-01-28T11:43:07-05:00Let's Move! Once your student has been given their move-in date and dorm/residence assignment, the process of handling what can be a stressful, labor-in [...]
Being Thrifty
Michelle Balaun2020-06-29T09:20:23-04:00When You Need to Stay on Budget Before coming to college, I knew I wanted an updated wardrobe. Being trendy and cute is important. So is being thrifty. [...]
Storage for your Stuff at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-16T12:00:40-04:00Where Will They Put All Their Stuff? Is storage the answer? That time between semesters when they want to bring everything home for a few weeks or summe [...]
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 [...]
Bright Futures, Get Your Shades Ready!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T20:02:35-04:00The Future Is So Bright You'll Need Shades! SEE END OF BLOG FOR CHANGES EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR Bright Futures has been a grea [...]
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 [...]
21 and Oh So Fun
Michelle Balaun2020-10-26T15:24:21-04:00Becoming an official adult. How fun. My daughter will turn 21 in October of her junior year at UCF as do many students during their junior year. How fun [...]
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 [...]
Health Insurance for Students at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T16:30:48-04:00Insurance Plans and Requirements Students at many colleges today must have a health insurance plan that meets their university’s minimum requirement. T [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Dropping A Class
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T15:12:53-04:00Grade Forgiveness to Drop a Class I’m not sure which class it was; business calculus or accounting, but the horror stories were coming true. When my son [...]
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 [...]