FSU students move onto campus, look forward to academic opportunities ahead of fall 2024

Florida State University's students are moving into residence halls across campus with a Seminole spirit of excitement mixed with nerves as the fall semester begins in less than a week.

As University Housing Executive Director Shannon Staten and the rest of the FSU community welcome the new kids on the block with open arms, Staten says the move-in days are favored moments for her.

"This is my favorite time of the year – when we bring our staff back to train them and when we start bringing the freshmen and returning students on campus," Staten said. "The families may be a little sad, but they're excited at the same time."

Diane Broerman was among the population of families on FSU's campus Wednesday who experienced the usual sentiments of both sadness and excitement.

She helped her daughter Daphne Broerman, an 18-year-old chemistry major, move into Magnolia Hall during the bittersweet process.

"If you ask me how I'm feeling about my daughter moving in too many times, I'll start crying, so you probably don't want to do that," Diane, a Jacksonville native, told the Democrat. "I'm excited, but very upset. A lot of mixed emotions."

More on college move in: 'Confident in the changes': FAMU students, parents hope for the best during move-in week

Approximately 6,700 students are moving into the campus's 18 residence halls this fall, with about 4,500 of them being first-year students, according to Staten.

Although FSU had about 200 students on its waitlist in July after university housing reached capacity, some of the students have been able to secure a bed on campus due to openings following student cancellations.

The waitlist currently has under 200 students on it, but Staten says most of them have already found somewhere else to live.

"People find things off campus as they're on the waitlist," Staten said. "We still have a short waitlist now, but most of them have already figured out where they're living, so as we call them if we have an opening, they'll most likely deny it."

Academics are among reasons students feel they 'fit in the best' at FSU

The move-in process marks a significant milestone in the lives of freshman – one that is usually followed by creating lifelong friendships, attending the university's iconic football games and more.

But after FSU freshman Samantha Duarte and her parents unloaded their car to get settled into Deviney Hall , she said FSU's Digital Media Production program is one of the things that attracted her to the university, which was her top choice.

"Since my freshman year in high school, I've wanted to come to FSU because of the digital media production route," said 17-year-old Duarte, a Fort Lauderdale native.

The Digital Media Production program at FSU is offered through the College of Communication & Information, allowing students to create visual material while also giving them the skills needed to become visual storytellers and media makers.

"I know a couple of people in the program, and they say they've learned a lot about not only production, but also other aspects such as the business side of things," Duarte said.

Nicholas Jufer, a freshman from Clearwater who will be majoring in cell and molecular neuroscience, is also looking forward to taking advantage of the academic opportunities FSU has to offer.

He moved into Magnolia Hall Wednesday. Already planning ahead, he says his goal is to get into the university's medical school – the College of Medicine – after graduating with his bachelor's degree.

"I know FSU is partnering with hospitals around here, so that interested me," said Jufer, 18. "I've also heard about research being a pretty big thing here, and I'm going to try to get involved in UROP ( Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program ) next year. That definitely drove me to come here, too."

Through FSU's UROP, students conduct research five to 10 hours per week while assisting a faculty member, doctoral student or company. They are also able to present their work at an annual undergraduate research symposium.

"I toured most Florida colleges, and I felt like I would fit in the best here," Jufer said. "It was either here or the University of Florida, but I like the environment here more."

FSU will continue the move-in process through Sunday ahead of the fall semester, which begins Monday.

Contact Tarah Jean at  tjean@tallahassee.com  or follow her on X:  @tarahjean_ .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State students move into campus dorms ahead of fall semester