UNF Summer 2014 BSN hopefuls

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Hi everyone!

With the deadline only a little over a month away, I figured we all need a place to stress, hope and worry! I just took my first stab at the TEAS and hit the average score of the past few years (335). I have a 3.9 GPA. One pre-req left. Applying for ABSN. I'm scheduled for a second TEAS attempt next month. How is everyone else doing? Drooling over stats as much as I am?? Any interview preparation plans?

Ahhh I have to admit, I am super relieved to see that all of you are feeling just about the way I am right now. I keep going over the interview over and over and thinking of things I could have said and should have said. My mom was like, Veronica... stop "shoulding" on yourself, it will all turn out okay. LOL I just know I need to take a deep breath and wait, but it is sooo hard! I can't wait anymore. Like Sarah said, the idea they already know and I don't is freaking me out!!! I actually have started looking into living situations, because there is so much I have to do before school starts and I can't afford to waste any time. I hope it doesn't jynx me GUYS!!! lol, I am so in love with Jacksonville thought that I think even if I don't get accepted, I will probably still move there anyway and just apply to Jax schools for Fall.

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All I know is where I would live for the summer and it is on Beach and less than a mile from campus! For fall, I have absolutely no idea where I am living

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I still have a lease in Gainesville till August so I talked to a friend and would live in their apartment so I wouldn't be on two leases

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Rent right now is so expensive in the neighborhoods I want. Honestly, I'm looking into buying a condo outright. The market is so low for buyers right now, and the mortgage will be so much less than renting for almost double square footage.

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Jacksonville is great (though I admit I don't know anything about living near UNF). I moved back last May after 6 years in Gainesville and the rent here was really surprising. I ended up buying a house in Riverside because it worked out to be way cheaper than renting and I plan to be here long term (my parents live here). The area around UNF/the Town Center seems really popular, and especially if you get in on the Facebook group it seems like finding a roommate wouldn't be too hard, based on what some of the current students were saying before the interviews.

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Yeah, I was looking into two condos that I've narrowed down.. one off of Hodges, realllllyyy nice area.. not so much sq footage for the same price, and the other is in greater Arlington on the river side just east of downtown.. I just like the idea of owning better and esp when it's so much cheaper these days anyway. I think long term here is so possible for me as well. Plus, with so many colleges, renting it out eventually wouldn't be so hard either.

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Sarah, how do you like it, Riverside that is?? And is that on the eastside or westside? All I know about Jax is literally the impressions I get from driving around. I know everywhere I looked is way nicer than where I live now, small town littered with violent crime :/

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I live in Riverside/Avondale - which is one of the two historic districts in Jax (the other is Springfield, which is basically downtown and is still pretty rough). I live about 5-10 minutes southwest of downtown. I really love Riverside - it's pretty young and has a nice little walkable area/cool shops/bars/etc. Reminds me a lot of living near downtown Gainesville, but minus the college-y feel. It's about 20-30 minutes from UNF, 15 if it's a non-traffic time of day (like going to the interview, haha, I ended up getting there WAY early).

When I lived here in middle and high school my parents lived in Mandarin, which at the time was nice but had way more of a suburban feel than the historic district. I've definitely had better neighbor experiences here than in Mandarin, and I love that literally everything I need is about 5-15 minutes away (except school if I get in, lol). On the plus side, I am super close to most of the area hospitals.

I know a few people who live in Arlington and really like it, and anything out by the Beaches is pretty nice from what I've heard.

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Thank you! :) I really appreciate the local scoop. hahha. Well I really hope its tomorrow, and not on Tuesday, I'm sooo anxious!

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Specializes in CLC - Certified Lactation Counselor.

I'm going to try to answer all of you in this one (long) post :)

I've lived all over Jacksonville. I'm originally from the westside, went to high school on the southside, lived in Southside area, Beaches and riverside while I was attending UNF for my first undergrad, and have finally settled in 7 miles outside of Ponte Vedra beach about 20 minutes from St. Augustine. I've been around! (am I dating myself?) :)

Sarah is right. Riverside / Avondale / San Marco are historic districts and are a 20 minute trek to UNF without traffic. With traffic, bet on at least 30 minutes. But the areas (Riverside, specifically) are young, hip and progressive. Riverside is artsy, big equality (LGBT) community, dogs welcome inside everywhere and hipsters everywhere you turn. This was my go-to hang out spot in my 20s. I think you'd love it. Avondale is a little more on the upscale side or riverside - more family oriented, and a lot of times people with money. San Marco is where money lives a historical lifestyle.

The eastside of Jacksonville (i..e Downtown) is rough. Big homeless community downtown (although, they're friendly - that's a plus). The high-rise condos, though, are really nice and they are working hard to turn downtown around. The nightlife downtown is super fun - but it's somewhere you visit for now - not live (in my opinion).

Southside by far is going to give you the best bang for your buck in terms of being close to campus, shopping, movies, the new clubs and bars and is literally a 15 minute drive from pretty much anywhere in Jacksonville which is saying a lot because Jacksonville is MASSIVE. Southside includes Hodges, San Pablo, Southside, some parts of Beach and Atlantic.

Some people like Arlington but that is one place I have never ever wanted to live like ever. I consider it rough. It depends on what side of it you live on, but not being from the city I wouldn't recommend it to you.

My favorite (by far) are the beaches. I love love love LOVED living at the beach. Especially in my 20s (I'm 31 now, by the way). I surfed a lot back then before baby and loved parking my car and literally walking, skateboarding or biking anywhere I wanted to go. I saved SO much gas and only traveled "over the ditch" for work or school. However, if you're easily distracted I cannot recommend the beach. You will forego studying for all of the other awesomes it has to offer. Also - some of the areas are sink holes for drunken college students and that in the middle of the night when you're trying to study can be really crappy. I'd recommend getting on a bike and driving up and down roads looking for "for rent" signs. You'll get a better feel for the neighborhoods that way. Stay in south jacksonville beach, neptune or deep atlantic beach for peace and quiet.

sunshine, it sounds like you're talking about apartments in the southside area - you CANNOT go wrong. As long as it is off of Kernan, Hodges or San Pablo - it's just a matter of which one you like the best - they're all going to be close to lots to do and school.

Places to avoid, in my opinion?

Westside (too far from school)

Orange park (too far from school)

Arlington (I just don't like it - but you might!)

Eastside (unless you like it kinda rough)

Northside (too far from school and some areas are rough)

You're golden if you pick:

Beaches,

Southside,

Riverside,

Avondale

I live on the outskirts of mandarin in Bartram Springs - this is a new area that is still building up. There isn't too too much to do here yet, but for those of you that are looking to buy it is townhome heaven. They are literally everywhere. St. Augustine is 20 minutes away and UNF is about 20 minutes as well. Recommend googling "Bartram Park" if you are interested in the area.

let me know if you have any questions!

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Thank you Nursh!!! Yes, I have a lot to learn.. haha the area in Arlington I found is called Carlton at Oak Landing, its right off of Atlantic on the water with a view of the downtown skyline. I'm looking to buy, I think, but maybe once I figure out whether or not I'm in i'll get with a Realtor to take me around and check it out. The area I live in right now is pretttyy rough so I'm thinking anywhere will be an upgrade hahahaha. But again, thank you for the help! :)

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Specializes in CLC - Certified Lactation Counselor.

No problem! There are some really nice areas around Arlington depending on where you pick! There is also the "St. Nicholas" area (close to San Marco) that is close to the water, kinda near arlington and will give you some pretty gorgey views of Downtown. A realtor can definitely help you out and I promise to tell you if I don't think you'll be safe :)

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