University Central Florida
Michelle Balaun2019-01-21T10:08:01+00:00UCF is an emerging preeminent research university in Florida and one of the largest universities in the U.S. One of the best colleges when it comes to q [...]
Tax Time
Michelle Balaun2019-01-29T16:35:46+00:00Seems like it always almost time for Uncle Sam. April 15th is right around the corner. As you are preparing your return or having a CPA prepare your re [...]
They’ve Been Accepted, A New Knight!
Michelle Balaun2019-02-13T20:28:02+00:00Here's what you do now... Your son or daughter is going to be a Knight!! Congratulations!! It is great to be a Knight for so many reasons. You can now t [...]
The Next Four Years
Michelle Balaun2019-02-13T20:34:19+00:00Do 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 [...]
Study – The Best Places to Study around UCF Campus
Michelle Balaun2019-02-06T09:53:20+00:00Finding a good place to study is very important for students. However, they all need a few other options for good places to study. Fortunately, there a [...]
Proctor U
Michelle Balaun2019-02-04T13:00:45+00:00Online Test Taking for Today’s Students I have taken taking exams throughout my stay at the University of Central Florida in allocated classrooms across [...]
Interning in New York City
Michelle Balaun2019-02-12T10:40:11+00:00Who doesn’t want to live in New York City? Ok, I am a little partial. I am a born and bred New Yorker, living in S. Florida for 25 plus years, and I sti [...]
What U Should Do Before Heading to UCF
Michelle Balaun2019-02-12T09:15:15+00:00Before you leave Before you leave to take your kid to college, there are a few items you will want to take care of that are extremely important. Most co [...]
Make the Call
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:40:39+00:00If 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 he [...]
Career Showcase- A Student Perspective
Michelle Balaun2018-12-13T13:35:14+00:00It is normal to change your mind. When I first applied to UCF, I didn’t even have a question of what my major would be. I confidently clicked Psychology [...]
Off Campus Living
Michelle Balaun2019-01-25T16:53:41+00:00Economical to Extravagant It happens before you know it. They are really living it. Literally. In about October or November of your student’s freshman y [...]
Is an A Really an A?
Michelle Balaun2019-01-16T14:44:10+00:00A Plus or Minus Does Count! Is that A really and A? Give or take a plus or minus? The University of Central Florida is ranked as a college of excellence [...]
Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2019-01-29T14:09:15+00:00We Know You Care For six summers I worked in the office at the sleep-away camp that my kids went to. Watching the elation on the camper’s faces when the [...]
Care Packages … Because Sometimes They Get Sick…
Michelle Balaun2018-10-22T10:22:25+00:00You just want someone to make you a cup of tea. When our kids are sick, regardless of the fact that they are supposedly considered adults, it feels awf [...]
Dorm, Home Sweet Dorm
Michelle Balaun2019-02-14T11:02:11+00:00Just Like Home You may be surprised at how one can transition a mass-produced, industrial-looking dorm room into a warm and inviting room/suite. And the [...]
FAFSA, all you need to know!
Michelle Balaun2018-10-23T11:47:53+00:00What is – FAFSA? First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, of course! FAFSA is the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid but, based on how a [...]
Credit Cards for College Students
Michelle Balaun2018-11-19T14:01:43+00:00What Every Student Should Know Recently I told my daughter to go pay something with a check. She responded by asking me if she had those somewhere. She [...]
Teaching Them to Budget
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:03:45+00:00My Best Advice as a Parent Three times the charm. Well, I suppose that isn’t fair; all three of my kids are charming and adorable. The difference is tha [...]
First Time Student Loan Borrower?
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:48:21+00:00You'll Need to Do This. What is Entrance Counseling? In July of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education made it a requirement that, in order to have stud [...]
Florida Prepaid
Michelle Balaun2018-10-15T12:29:22+00:00What Does It Pay For? Many of us who have lived in Florida, planned for our students’ education by taking advantage of the Florida Prepaid program. The [...]
Happy Birthday Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2019-01-29T14:01:33+00:00Blow out those candles! When their birthday rolls around, it can be just one more reminder that you won’t be celebrating together so putting together a [...]
Flu Season Ahead
Michelle Balaun2019-01-25T16:16:30+00:00The 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 Classes to Take
Michelle Balaun2018-12-01T10:08:01+00:00When You Need Electives At orientation before freshman year, had started, advisors asked that students declare a major. My daughter left there practical [...]
Money, Money, Money
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:03:18+00:00When Will They Get Their Financial Aid? The time has come to pay for your college costs and panic sets in. I remember receiving my tuition statement fo [...]
Making the Most of Summer B
Michelle Balaun2019-01-25T16:12:35+00:00This is when summer gets fun! Summer B for freshman is probably one of the most exciting times. It is most likely the first time living with thousands [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2019-01-12T10:50:02+00:00Money 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 [...]
Moving In
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:56:51+00:00Let'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 [...]
Midterm Blues Care Package
Michelle Balaun2019-01-29T14:04:57+00:00Surprise Them With a Box of Love! Midterm and final exams can be some of the biggest stressors for your student. I typically do not get to speak to my d [...]
Storage UCF
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:09:40+00:00Where Will They Put All Their Stuff? That time between semesters when they want to bring everything home for a few weeks or a summer and you are wonderi [...]
GAP Year
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:07:15+00:00Should Your Student Take a Year Off Before Graduate School? I remember when I started graduate school and on the first day of class, we were assigned to [...]
Valencia First
Michelle Balaun2018-10-23T17:10:44+00:00Then 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 student [...]
Bright Futures
Michelle Balaun2019-02-13T20:45:32+00:00Scholarship Shining Bright! On Friday, March 9th, Governor Rick Scott signed the SB4 bill, which amongst other items encourages universities to graduate [...]
Take the LEAD
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:13:56+00:00Apply 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 [...]
Student Accessibility Services
Michelle Balaun2019-01-25T16:21:07+00:00Access for all! When my oldest began college, which can feel tremendous by way of size alone compared to high school, she was relieved to know that som [...]
Sick at School
Michelle Balaun2019-02-06T10:52:22+00:00Mom..... It’s bound to happen. At some point, while our kids are at college, the phone will ring and suddenly our mature, independent college student w [...]
Get on the Bus
Michelle Balaun2018-11-10T07:55:29+00:00A Guide to UCF’s Bus System If you’ve ever been to UCF’s campus, you know that driving and parking can be a hassle. Getting to and from campus can be st [...]
An Insider’s Guide to Living on Campus at UCF
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:16:50+00:00The 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 [...]
The Best Apps For Students
Michelle Balaun2019-02-07T17:28:25+00:00UCF 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 [...]
Finals Are A Bear – Send A Care Package!
Michelle Balaun2018-11-29T14:30:49+00:00Send Help Now! Finals can be some of the biggest stressors for your student. I typically do not get to speak to my daughter during exam weeks. My calls [...]
Advice to my Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2018-11-05T12:18:22+00:00What Every Freshman Should Know College life seems like the dream. It’s the first time living away from home and not by parents’ rules. College classes [...]
The First Few Weeks
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:18:02+00:00We 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 [...]
Types of Student Loans
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:20:50+00:00What are your options? When I attended school back in 1979, my Dad had four of us in college at the same time. It was through student loans that my pare [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion into Action
Michelle Balaun2018-11-05T12:55:24+00:00There are many reasons Volunteering lets you give back to the community, to make a difference in the world, to gain experience and to change a person’s [...]
Dropping A Class
Michelle Balaun2018-10-23T11:44:52+00:00Grade 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 Balaun2018-09-18T19:19:33+00:00How to manage shared living space. For many students entering college, this may be their first time away from home for an extended period of time. Whil [...]
The David Project
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:23:18+00:00Israel, however, is not just for Jews It’s true that Birthright is a fabulous (and free) program for Jewish individuals from 18 to 28 to visit Israel. I [...]
Preparing for Grad School
Michelle Balaun2018-10-18T11:45:52+00:00The fun never stops! I know it feels like you just finished studying for the ACT/SAT’s and left for college, but before you know it, graduation will be [...]
Tutoring
Michelle Balaun2019-01-14T17:32:06+00:00….It’s a Good Thing Students who attend UCF, are no different than many other highly sought after colleges, they will be faced with challenging classes, [...]