About Me

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Intro

You've probably never heard of me, but don't let that fool you—I'm totally gorgeous. My sister campuses in Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee can only dream of being as beautiful as me.

I sit along Bayboro Harbor, which isn't just picturesque; it's home to loads of dolphins. Spend time with me and you might even paddleboard alongside one.

I'm a public school with the size and charm of a private school, and I'm proud of the small, homey feel I have. My "large lecture halls" rarely seat more than fifty students, and classes for majors typically have less than twenty-five students. The biggest and most popular majors—business, psychology, and environmental science—are the only ones that even get close. 

Chances are pretty good you'll grab a drink with a professor at The Tavern at Bayboro at some point, too.

Despite my good looks and knack for intimacy, I can be standoffish at times. Some of my commuting students come just in time for class and then quickly leave. On the flipside, the resident students want to have the full college experience. In other words, when it comes to my friendliness, it depends on who you ask.

Name

Rocky the Bull. Yes, I borrow my mascot from my main campus sister in Tampa. Don't judge.

Hometown

I call the sun-soaked city of St. Petersburg, Florida, home. I'm right downtown, too, so students get the full urban experience (think: restaurants, museums, shows, and more) while enjoying waterfront views.

See? I told you I'm beautiful.

Birthdate

1965

Body Type

If you think I'm just USF Tampa's kid sister, you're wrong—I'm the hot younger sister. That said, I'm having some growing pains, and boy, do they hurt.

I plan to double in size by 2024 (source). I'll still have my small community charm, but I'll be more of a force to reckon with, too. So while I have almost fifty acres of land right now, I need to find more. I also need more parking...more places for students to live...more buildings...ugh.

Current Living Situation

Despite my beauty, the majority of my students live off campus. Many stay at home with their parents and commute from cities across the Tampa Bay area, and some live in apartments in St. Petersburg.

I still totally have residence halls, though. (Pro tip: don't call them dorms unless you want to bring the wrath of the housing staff upon yourself.) In fact, I have two of them, and they're probably the most luxurious living spaces you've ever seen on a college campus. There are no community bathrooms, and most of the time, students only have to share a bathroom with one other person.

Most of the rooms in Residence Hall One are apartment-style, meaning students get their own mini-room, share a bathroom with one other person, and share a kitchen and living room with three people.

The sweetest deal is the view, though. Many of the rooms have views of Tampa Bay, Bayboro, downtown St. Petersburg, and downtown Tampa. Condo owners in downtown St. Petersburg pay millions of dollars for this view.

As I grow, so does the number of students who want to live in my halls. Since my halls are often full, sometimes I have to send students a few blocks away to live in the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel. Students who live in the Hilton pay more for housing and have longer walks to class. They can't complain too much, though—after all, they live in a luxury hotel.

Relationship Status

I have two sisters, Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee. We used to have a third sister, but she broke off from the family a few years ago. Ouch, right? We never speak her name.

There's some gossip swirling around that I also want to break away from the family, but most of my students are against the idea. As much as I fancy myself superior to my big sister Tampa (who enjoys main campus status), I appreciate the resources and school spirit she provides. I look up to my older sister for support...but don't tell her I said so.

My glorious waterfront also hosts the Tampa-based USF College of Marine Science, so big sis depends on me a bit, too.

Eckerd College is my neighbor and also boasts a waterfront. Despite both attracting students interested in marine sciences, we have a good relationship. I'm so much more affordable, though.

Politics

My liberal voice is the loudest, but I have plenty of conservatives, too. Just ask the College Republicans club.

You should apply to me if...

you keep your eyes on the prize. I provide the university experience, but I'm by no means a party school. I don't have much Greek life—not yet, anyway—so I'm the perfect fit for the freshman who wants a tamer version of college life, as well as the older student who can't afford school without working.

Website

http://www.usfsp.edu/