I'm a UCF student, but I live and take classes on a campus at least 30 minutes away. I'm a Hospitality Management major that lives and goes to school at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. This means that I have all the benefits of a UCF student, but I don't often set foot on the 60,000 person campus on the opposite side of Orlando. I've been at UCF for about 6 weeks and this is what it's like for me at UCF - Rosen.
I'm surrounded by like-minded people in the same major.
Here at Rosen, our classes consist of people in our major. The apartments may have a few individuals that simply enjoy living on this campus better than Main Campus, but a majority of the people you meet are Hospitality Management, Event Management, Food and Beverage, or Entertainment Management majors. Everyone you run into wants to work in the same industry and our professors consistently remind us how important it is to network, even with our classmates, because they are also going to be future industry professionals.
I have countless resources for my future career.
Whether it be networking with fellow classmates and professors, meeting potential employers every day in the courtyard or Student Lounge, having guest speakers in every class, or the countless clubs and organizations that not only have a UCF chapter but connections with the Orlando and International chapters, there is no lack of opportunity for students at the Rosen College.
I have the option to experience large campus life and small college life.
When I was a senior in high school, I was convinced I wanted to attend a huge 4-year university where I knew that I would never see the same people every day. I still really enjoy having that experience, but I truly love having the option to be a part of the 2nd largest university in the country, but also come home to quiet campus in the middle of the hospitality industry.
Just because I don't live on Main Campus, does not mean that I'm not a part of UCF, or that I don't want to be.
On average, it takes 30-45 minutes one way to get to UCF Main Campus. With traffic or rush hour, it can take up to and maybe over an hour. An Uber costs between $20-40 one way. If I was to summarize the commute in one word, it would certainly not be "convenient". Any trip I take to Main Campus needs to have a purpose, whether it be Financial Aid, an organizational meeting, or just hanging out with a friend, it all takes planning to take the time out of my day. I want to be involved, I want to attend events, I want to experience all that UCF has to offer as a university. It's just not always convenient to pop over for a few minutes to look around or just hang out.
Everything around us is expensive.
We don't live on or next to the huge university. We live right off of I-4 and minutes away from numerous large tourist attractions (including the largest McDonald's). There are very few options for "cheap student meals" or discounts unless asked explicitly. We live and work where everyone vacations, which means everything is ridiculously expensive, even grocery shopping.
The people I've met on each campus are so unique and amazing. The vibes on each campus are so different, yet refreshing in their own special way. The experiences and opportunities that I have had on each campus are absolutely unmatched. In short, I love the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and I love the University of Central Florida. I'm just lucky enough to be a part of both.
