Safest Places to Visit Your Student This Semester
Michelle Balaun2020-10-06T15:08:21-04:00We Still Love to Visit Our Ospreys So with the ever-changing world and new guidelines coming out, it can be very difficult to know where is safe to go a [...]
Great Grad Gigs
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T14:44:30-04:00Great Gigs That May Pay for Tuition Finally, you're a grad, but you need a little side gig to help with costs. In the Florida university system, there a [...]
Care Packages for UNF students
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T11:35:59-04:00Who doesn’t enjoy getting a package delivered? We know you really care, you care a lot about your student and want them to be happy. Whether it is for a [...]
Best Coffee Shops at UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T10:26:29-04:00Coffee, Cup of Joe, a Cuppa, Java Caffeine is king for most college students and, while generally the most economically savvy way of getting it is makin [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion Into Action
Michelle Balaun2020-09-02T16:01:03-04:00Volunteering with passion is key. From personal experience, I have found that volunteering can feed the soul. It can provide something that is missing [...]
Cultural Resources for Hispanic-Latino Students
Michelle Balaun2020-08-24T11:24:20-04:00Support, Empowerment, and Connection for Hispanic-Latino Students Campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably over the years and colleges v [...]
Campus Resources for Students of Color
Michelle Balaun2020-07-24T14:25:44-04:00Campus Guide to Resources for Mulitcultural Students Campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably over the years and most colleges acknowled [...]
Diversity and Inclusion for LGBTQ College Students
Michelle Balaun2020-07-08T12:40:00-04:00LGBTQ Campus Support and Resources College can be challenging for all students, therefore finding ways to make connections with others who identify simi [...]
How Will Students Stay Safe, Sane and Happy this Fall
Michelle Balaun2020-06-29T10:19:34-04:00Where is a Safe Spot at College? As colleges are doing their best to come up with ideas as to how to keep our students safe and healthy as they reopen c [...]
College Majors to Pursue at UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-05-28T12:41:03-04:00Perhaps It’s Time to Consider Majors that are Sustainable in Tough Times Students usually choose a major over a period of time. I have always been a fan [...]
Sorority Recruitment: What to Expect & What to Wear
Michelle Balaun2020-07-22T12:55:29-04:00Here Are Tips & Tricks On What to Wear If you are planning on going through recruitment at UNF, we have all the tips and tricks on what to wear to e [...]
Dance Marathon
Michelle Balaun2020-10-23T13:48:12-04:00You Can Dance If You Want To One of the most popular fundraising events in colleges across the country is Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon is part of a na [...]
I’m Not Your Maid: Cleaning Services at UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-09-04T15:09:04-04:00Maybe It’s Not A Luxury, But A Necessity? Do our students really need a maid? I never thought I would be saying this but sometimes hiring a cleaning ser [...]
Sending A Package to UNF? Make sure it get’s there.
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T17:07:13-04:00Make Sure Your Package Gets There For all the many reasons that a student receives a package, most of them are a welcome highlight to their day. Whether [...]
Fun Electives to Take as a Freshman
Michelle Balaun2020-10-06T16:53:18-04:00When You Need Electives and Some Fun! As incoming freshmen, students are guided by their advisors to take their core academic classes. Advisors will mi [...]
Bucket List for Osprey’s
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T12:06:34-04:00Check out these Bucket List Osprey things to do! If you have committed to becoming an Osprey, there are a few bucket list things that you might want to [...]
The Benefits of Joining the UNF Alumni Association
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T15:07:44-04:00Alumni Networking, Perks, and More ... Truly some of the best times of a young adult’s life are college. But all good things must come to an end and wha [...]
So, your child wants to be an Osprey?
Michelle Balaun2020-10-28T12:28:17-04:00Osprey, who could blame them! The University of North Florida, otherwise known as the hidden gem, is a gorgeous campus with its own ecosystem, lazy rive [...]
Grad School Housing is More Grown Up
Michelle Balaun2020-07-06T11:53:10-04:00Because Grad School Needs are Different Most grad students are looking to live in apartments or houses. Their needs are different than incoming freshme [...]
Weekend with Dad
Michelle Balaun2020-10-27T09:42:13-04:00Officially, unofficial for Father. There is nothing like a father and son or father and daughter weekend to get the bonding time flowing! I truly believ [...]
Storage for your stuff at UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-16T11:54:21-04:00Where Will They Put All Their Stuff? In Storage? Feels like they have just moved in! Cars loaded with Every. Single. Thing. from their room at home to [...]
Who You Going to Call…
Michelle Balaun2020-07-23T20:39:31-04:00Who Should You Call When You Need Answers? The important contact info you need to have. Over the years there have been only a few times that I, as a par [...]
Make The Call to Admissions
Michelle Balaun2020-07-08T10:50:51-04:00Should I, or Shouldn’t I Make the Call? Waiting to find out if you were accepted into the college of your choice is nothing short of nerve-wracking, esp [...]
Pets in School
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:37:24-05:00Take Your Dog (or Cat) to College Most every time I Face Time with my daughter, she always asks to see our dog. We all love our pets. We can be talking [...]
Controversial Speakers
Michelle Balaun2020-05-18T19:55:03-04:00Is Free Expression Controversial? UNF has definitely had its fair share of public speakers coming on campus and preaching to those who pass by. While it [...]
Having a Car at College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-04T10:56:10-04:00Can You Get By Without a Car? Whether to let your student bring a car to campus will probably lead to many conversations. In order to try to have a stud [...]
The First Few Weeks
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T15:16:43-04:00We 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 [...]
Banks and Credit Unions UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-05-28T13:21:38-04:00Many Places to Grab Money, Banks Galore! Leaving for college comes with so many new things, but handling their own money can be one of the scariest. We [...]
How to Transition as a Transfer Student
Michelle Balaun2020-04-10T11:41:17-04:00Transfer, There is A Place For Everyone! Some students transfer after attending a two-year college and some transfer because they recognize that the uni [...]
Advice I’d Give my Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2020-08-10T21:06:52-04:00Freshman Year is an Adjustment, Here's My Advice... My freshman year wasn’t your typical one. I started as an undecided freshman at Florida State Univer [...]
21 And Oh So Fun!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-26T16:52:41-04:00You’ve waited 21 years for this fun! As each year ticked off, you waited for the fun of being 'legal'! Anyone over 21 in Jacksonville will know about th [...]
Preparing for Graduate School Exams UNF
Michelle Balaun2021-05-07T13:08:21-04:00Just Keep Going... Deciding to go to graduate school is a major decision for a lot of students. Having a master’s degree is a great way for students to [...]
Spring Sports at UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-05-07T15:52:46-04:00So Many Sports, So Little Time As most students and parents know, UNF does not have a football team. So the usual hubbub and spirit surrounding footbal [...]
Spring Break, Fun Times
Michelle Balaun2020-05-27T17:10:02-04:00Letting Off Steam Before Finals Spring Break...just the words conjure up so many different feelings, memories, and emotions. Some of the memories are f [...]
Birthright Israel
Michelle Balaun2021-01-14T16:24:28-05:00Young Jewish Adults Israel Trip What exactly is Birthright Israel? Birthright began in 1999 with a bold idea—offering a free, life-changing trip to Isr [...]
Flu Season Ahead
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T17:06:51-04:00The Flu ends with “U” It’s that season again – and I don’t mean hurricanes. Flu season is generally from October through May. Given that the flu is easi [...]
Register to Vote UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-08-27T12:35:42-04:00How to Have Your Vote Count While at College, Register! For students in a new city adapting to a busy college schedule, the voting process can seem daun [...]
The ABC’s of 529 Savings Plans UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-13T10:07:36-04:00What 529 Pays When you decide to have kids, your first thought is not how am I going to pay for college, but it might be your second. When my kids were [...]
You Really Do Want More Veggies!
Michelle Balaun2020-11-05T12:11:48-05:00More Veggies Please - Vegetarian/Vegan Dining With our country’s focus on health and healthy eating, college students are growing up used to “making bet [...]
Auxiliary Fees for Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T12:13:12-04:00HaveUHeard of These Fees for Online Classes? There is no denying that college tuition, in and of itself, is a huge expense; however, on top of the cost, [...]
Nature vs. Nurture
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T12:34:41-04:00So Much More Than You Think Thinking back to when my daughter went to orientation at UNF, we never imagined that Jacksonville had much nature to explore [...]
My Student Made Honor Roll
Michelle Balaun2020-07-08T10:45:28-04:00Honor Roll Pride Some parents believe in rewarding hard work-honor roll, with money or gifts, I happen to not be one of those parents. I always tell my [...]
Sorority Girl – The Inside Scoop
Michelle Balaun2020-09-24T15:39:46-04:00It’s More Than Parties, Sorority Life. Congratulations if your daughter has joined a sorority! Joining a sorority was one of the best decisions I made [...]
Get on the Bus
Michelle Balaun2020-06-17T15:16:36-04:00A Guide to UNF’s Bus System Getting to and from campus or around campus at UNF can be a little stressful, however, UNF’s Bus system Osprey Connector can [...]
Is A Grade A Really An A?
Michelle Balaun2020-05-18T20:03:20-04:00Those Pluses and Minuses Do Count! Get the Right Grade. Getting good grades in school really does matter. The grade you are given will have an effect on [...]
Need Advice?
Michelle Balaun2020-06-05T14:29:01-04:00Advice Guide to Getting An Advising Appointment Usually, the busiest time of a semester is when students need to create their schedules for the followin [...]
Transfer to UNF
Michelle Balaun2020-04-29T11:25:58-04:00You Can Change Your Mind and Transfer It is not uncommon for students to start at one university and find that it is not the place for them or to begin [...]
Mother Daughter Time
Michelle Balaun2020-06-04T10:49:38-04:00There is Nothing Like It! One of my favorite things to do with my kids is spending one on one time with them. Typically speaking, my daughter always wa [...]