Advice to my Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2018-10-03T11:14:40+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 [...]
Fun Classes to Take
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:39:48+00:00When You Need Electives At orientation before freshman year, had started, advisors asked that students declare a major. My daughter left there practical [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Valencia First
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:06:57+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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion into Action
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:20:22+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 [...]
Preparing for Grad School
Michelle Balaun2018-10-15T11:02:20+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 [...]
Student Accessibility Services
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:12:28+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 [...]
Making the Most of Summer B
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:01:58+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 [...]
Happy Birthday Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:56:11+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 [...]
Care Packages … Because Sometimes They Get Sick…
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:59:26+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 [...]
It’s All About the Delivery
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:35:05+00:00There'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 [...]
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 [...]
Exam Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2018-10-05T15:45:47+00:00Give Them A Little Boost! Midterm and final exams can be some of the biggest stressors for your student. I typically do not get to speak to my daughter [...]
Technology Services
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:36:22+00:00UCF Technology Services Students should create a Knights email account which you may use once you are fully admitted. Students also receive 50GB of stor [...]
Choosing or Changing Your Major
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:36:03+00:00You Can Always Change Your Mind. Considering the University of Central Florida offers 119 bachelor degrees; how is one to choose? Most students begin co [...]
Managing the Gap
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:33:04+00:00Where Will They Live- Managing the Gap Although it feels like you just moved your students into their dorms, you now have to move them out. The worst pa [...]
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:38:34+00:00Learn and Work in the Industry Hospitality Capital of the World. HaveUheard that Orlando is officially the most visited city in the nation? I bet that i [...]
Birthright Israel
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:26:18+00:00Young Jewish Adults Trip. What is Birthright Israel? Birthright Israel is the gift of a free, 10-day trip to Israel designed for young adults of Jewish [...]
I’m Not Your Maid
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:41:27+00:00Cleaning Services I never thought I would be saying this, but sometimes it is a good idea to hire a cleaning service for students. Hear me out… With flu [...]
Dropping A Class
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:19:55+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 [...]
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 Balaun2018-09-18T19:40:20+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 [...]
Finding A Job During Senior Year
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:39:24+00:00Start Your Job Search Soon! Graduation is only a few months off and depending on the type of job they are applying for your senior should probably star [...]
Transferring to UCF
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:40:02+00:00You Can become a Knight! Some students leave for college unsure of what to find and realize when they get there that it is not the place for them. Tran [...]
Finding an Internship
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:39:45+00:00Get the experience you need. What better way to learn about a prospective field or career than to do an internship? What better way is there to get som [...]
Tax Time
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:50:59+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 [...]
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 [...]
Searching for Scholarships
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:39:04+00:00More Ways To Pay! Almost as soon as the first acceptance to college came in, so did the idea of actually having to pay for their tuition and room and bo [...]
Study – The Best Places to Study around UCF Campus
Michelle Balaun2018-09-25T16:52:22+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 [...]
The Best Apps For Students
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:15:51+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 [...]
Honor Roll
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:35:28+00:00Did you get a letter? It is that time of year when students receive notifications that they have made a collegiate scholar society. The cream-colored li [...]
The Stress of College
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:38:13+00:00Here are ways to beat stress at school. Stress. It happens to all of us, including our kids. As though a full schedule and trying to maintain a social l [...]
They’ve Been Accepted, A New Knight!
Michelle Balaun2018-10-12T16:08:24+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 [...]
After The Hurricane
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:31:50+00:00Post-Hurricane Irma Prior to Hurricane Irma, our blog talked about hurricanes that had impacted Florida. It had been twelve years since a major hurrican [...]
Bright Futures
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:06:06+00:00Scholarship Shining Bright! On Friday, March 9th, Governor Rick Scott signed the SB4 bill, which amongst other items encourages universities to graduate [...]
So you want to be a Knight? Here’s How!
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:37:25+00:00Be a Knight! I don’t blame you; the excitement can’t be beaten. To be a Knight, belonging to a superior Universtiy and enjoying all the experiences and [...]
What Not To Bring To College, You really don’t need THAT!
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T19:32:26+00:00Nope, 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 [...]
Graduation Tips
Michelle Balaun2018-10-15T10:49:19+00:00Seriously, Graduating Already? Remember how when our kids were little we couldn’t envision them leaving us and going off to college? Now, if you are lik [...]
Sick at School
Michelle Balaun2018-09-24T10:00:46+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 [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2018-09-18T18:57:39+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 [...]