Academics

My classes were challenging but not to the point where a good study plan didn't help. As long as you are on top of your academics and studying, you will/can pass your classes with high marks.

Academic rigor? USF sure has a lot of that! At USF, classes are challenging, difficult, and well designed to stretch student ability In general, classes are inspired, interesting, diverse, and fulfilling. But that does not come easily. Superior marks at USF are very difficult to earn and do not go to those who passively wait for them.

At any one point, students are spending at least 25 hours hitting the books. That is about 5 hours a day in study. That is the norm here and do not expect it to be easy if you skimp.
Let me sum it up:

If you want to be challenged personally and academically, learn like you never learned before, be surrounded by students who have no problem debating with you, and want to have professor and faculty that will test you to the limits with no short cuts, USF is for you.

If you want to breeze through school, get an easy degree without really working for it, and not having a fulfilling college experience, USF is not for you.

My classes were very intriguing and I felt that I expanded my knowledge a lot in classes. All the assignments caused me to think and actually do work. In high school, I got by without studying or doing anything because I was that smart. Now, in college I study a lot, spend hours on homework, and am actually challenged like I should be. But, I would say the assignments are more time consuming than they are difficult. The only class where the assignments were a little scary was my ancient philosophy class of course but I even got B+s in that class.

I'm in the nursing program which is hard work, but you can definitely see the results.