If the University of Central Florida campus has seemed a tad deserted lately, that changes this week. Classes for the Summer B semester began today, bringing an influx of nearly 17,000 more students to campus.<\/p>\n
The size of the UCF community drops precipitously after classes end in May, with many students graduating or returning home to spend time with family. With the start of the Summer B semester, 16,967 students have registered for classes. Coupled with the 20,252 students taking classes during the Summer C semester that began last month, more than half of UCF\u2019s 63,000-strong student body is back hitting the books.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just the beginning of life as a Knight for many Summer B students, including 17-year-old Megan Driggers. She was one of the students moving into rooms in the Nike, Hercules and Neptune housing communities Friday, the first move-in day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt kind of looks drab\u00a0right now,\u201d Driggers said, surveying her new home after her fourth trip lugging clothes, bedding, snacks and other necessities. \u201cBut when I put a rug in and hang some stuff on the walls it will start to feel like home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Driggers said she\u2019s not nervous. She\u2019s already gotten a head start by taking dual-enrollment classes during her senior year at Mount Dora High School. And she\u2019s familiar with UCF: Her mother is an alumna, and her father \u2013 an engineer \u2013 conducted his doctoral dissertation research at UCF.<\/p>\n
\u201cUCF has a really good engineering school, and that\u2019s why I wanted to come here,\u201d said Driggers, an electrical engineering major.<\/p>\n
Tatyanna Thompson of Riverview first visited UCF on a field trip with other students from East Bay High School. She\u2019s majoring in athletic training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the campus \u2013 it\u2019s so big,\u201d Thompson said as she and her parents unpacked a mini-fridge, microwave and what she called the most important items: snacks.<\/p>\n
UCF won\u2019t be up to full size until the start of the fall semester on Aug. 22. That\u2019s when the majority of new freshman and transfer students start classes.<\/p>\n