Congratulations, you made it. You have matriculated to one of the most prestigious public universities in the entire United States. You are now an official member of The Gator Nation. Allow us to offer you a hearty Orange and Blue welcome. We would also like to give you some unsolicited and hopefully useful advice about what to expect and how to take full advantage of the fantastic voyage upon which you are about to embark.
To say that the 2008-2009 freshmen class is an elite bunch is an understatement. Less than a quarter of this year's applicants for admission were accepted (out of the more than 28,000 who applied, only 6,600 were admitted). You are the survivors of what has become an increasingly arduous and highly selective competition: the college admissions process. And you should be proud of yourselves for earning a spot at the Sunshine State's flagship university. But don't let it go to your heads. Don't rest on your high school laurels and expect to do well here.
Speaking of laurels, if you would permit us to inject a shameless plug, we hope you will make Darts and Laurels -- the Alligator's weekly lampoon-apalooza of winners and losers -- a part of your Friday routine. We at the Department of Darts and Laurels strive to inform our readers as we vent our frustrations and dole out plaudits in an attempt to bring levity to the fluctuations of this crazy world.
But our ultimate wish is for you to become regular readers of the Alligator, and not just the Opinions and Sports sections. We are a hard-hitting, independent, student-run, journalistic tour de force (and we're not pretentious at all) that strives to inform the student body on the pressing campus, local, state and national issues of the day. And we have a virtuoso of a cartoonist, too.
We're confident that daily reading of these pages will result in increased intelligence and a better quality of life -- or failing that, something to pass the time while you're ridding the bus or waiting for class to start. The crossword puzzle isn't the only reason to pick up a copy of the Alligator everyday. So check us out.
Alright, we digress. Back to the advice thing.
UF is no cakewalk. Once the strenuous intellectual marathon of each semester begins, the work doesn't end until you've taken your last final exam. So pace yourselves. Stay on top of your course work and guard yourselves against the prevalent, potentially debilitating plague of procrastination that is a typical consequence of your newfound freedom. But don't overdo it either. Grades are important, but you won't learn everything you need to know about this life in books alone.
Learn to budget your time so that you can avail yourselves of the numerous activities, clubs and services UF affords. Play intramural sports, join a student association, honor society or service club.
UF is a veritable hotbed of political activity. Get involved by joining the College Republicans or the College Democrats. And don't forget to register to vote with the help of our friends at Chomp the Vote. This fall's presidential election will be one of the most important and competitive in history. Be sure to take a stand and chose a candidate who shares your vision for the future of the country. And don't forget about local politics. The folks we elect in Gainesville and Alachua County make decisions that will directly impact you as long as you live here.
Don't be shy, say hello to the good folks "tabling" at Turlington Plaza and the Reitz Union for information on any of the aforementioned as well as countless other groups and activities.
The next four (or five, or six) years will be among the best of your life. So get excited, get involved and get going. And most immediately, get ready for tailgating and Gators football! Good luck and go Gators.
