Hillsborough Community College
Tampa, FL, USA

Reviews

Hillsborough Community College

Julia from Tampa, FL

a current student here
7 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Coming out of high school, I was not expecting professors who were so passionate about what they were teaching. Some of them might be a little stricter than others but regardless they are all still there to help you learn. As long as you don't waste their time and treat them with respect I guarantee you will have wonderful experiences.
Am enjoying being here
I am at the HCC Dale Mabry campus for the medical program. It is a very big campus and can sometimes be rather confusing (especially for people in their first semesters) and parking is rather hectic, but no worries, everyone catches on within the first few days! The campus itself is in wonderful condition and although it hosts over half the students attending any HCC campus, it is very clean.
Bang for the buck
HCC is very affordable compared to any University, and the quality of learning here is more hands on than it is at Universities. So you are paying half the money for more efficient learning experiences! How much better does it get?!
Tips for prospective students
It's a big step from high school to college, we all understand that. Coming to HCC will be a wonderful idea if you are looking for a comfortable transition. The teachers will work with you especially if you have a job and work difficult schedules, you just need to be vocal about it in a respectful manor.
Great for these types of students
It's great for those who need to save money, people who have children, full/part-time jobs, odd schedules, etc. This school is really for everyone and anyone.

Marie from Riverview, FL

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am a transcient student here, but am thinking of turning it into a full time status. If you want a good math instructor (from MAT0012-College Algebra), get Janet Sibol, she's AWESOME!
Tips for prospective students
Apply early and register as early as you can. Wait times are long and class openings are limited. Be sure to have all the info that you need before you go on campus because they will not take half information. Usually the phones are not answered during registration season.
Great for these types of students
All.

jayla from hudsonville, mi

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
i have not attended this college yet, but i am currently graduating high school and will be enrolling in hillsborough community college for the fall semester. this college has interested me due to its care for their students, its low cost, and the amount of other students who have had a positive experience going here. i am moving all the way from michigan to florida to be attending this college. i researched their dental hygiene program and saw the high success rate, and the amount of graduates with associates degrees.
Tips for prospective students
i would highly recommend this college for other students. the close campus to jobs and exercise facilities is very convienent, and the cost is very feasible. my brother is actually already interested in going once he's in college just from me telling him about the college. i would rate this school five stars for the help there when i went on a visit everyone was welcoming with open arms and big smiles across their face excited to show me their campus and different programs offered.
Academic Rigor
hillsborough college is a community college and really gives the chance to get those core classes out of the way so that if your previous/ current gpa isn't where it should be you can raise your grades and your academic scores and gpa.
Dorm Life
dorm life here at this college is a little different because it's a community college it does not have dorms, but it does have campus housing directly across from the college. the apartments are very convienent, very safe and very affordable. i will be living in one beginning in august.
Food and Dining
food and dining is great due to the fact that the college is right in tampa it's right by all of the delicious restaurants down the street with variety of choices. if spending money on fast food/expensive resturaunts isn't for you they do have grocery store to pick out healthy affordable food choices for you and maybe even your roommates.
What to do for fun
luckily this college is right by everything and fun surrounds the campus. directly across from the housing is the tampa buccanerrs stadium so if sunday nfl football is on your mind (you probably hear the game going on). sports are offered at hcc such as baseball and basketball. it's fun to get out of the house and go enjoy some sunshine and relax while watching sports. the college is right around the corner from the malls, and the beach is only a 20 minute drive or so. there are lots of places to exercise and let your mind unwind after an exhausting week of finals!
Bang for the buck
incrediable faculty and community! as i mentioned this already, but i am driving all the way from michigan to florida for this college it really caught my eye. i am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to go to college there this year.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
as of right now i haven't heard of any, but i am sure i would find that out the first week of college!
Great for these types of students
the college is great for students who do not have the money or the grades for a four year university right away. this college helps you to figure out your future while meeting friends and saving money to stay out of debt, and pay for the college.
Clubs and Activities
clubs and activities are everywhere there are lots of study groups and clubs who get together and meet frequently to help hold eachother accountable and stay caught up in classes. there are people who get together and play sports and exercise together, and there are people who just get together to hangout and go see a movie every now and then. college is full of all different diverse people with different goals and interests.
Campus Safety
campus feels so safe as soon as entering the housing on the campus there are body guards and security guards watching the campus. it is a gated community with cameras everywhere. i couldn't feel any safer that also helped me to lean towards this incredible college.

andrea from tampa, fl

a past student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
So,
I know you want to go to big name universities, but you can get the same degree for a cheaper cost at HCC first then transfer. Earning some college experience at HCC shows other universities that you are capable to do work on the college level and therefore more likely to accept you. If you think community college is too easy, try enrolling in the honors program for a more rigorous education.
Tips for prospective students
Look up the rating of your teachers before enrolling into their class and register EARLY. Classes fill up quick.
Academic Rigor
depending on what classes you take and what you want to major in, the complexity of the class will change.
Dorm Life
The Brandon HCC campus does not have any dorms.
There is a dorm @Dale Maybry campus. I never lived there, but I've had friends who lived there and they said it's okay.
Food and Dining
Better than high school lunch, but bringing a homemade lunch is cheaper and probably yummier. The cafeteria is always crowded, but there are tables and benches all over campus; some tables even have solar panel umbrellas to charge your laptop or phone.
What to do for fun
There are many events going on and free food every other week. With the free food they have little activities as well like: making wax molds of your hands, or decorating sandals, making chocolate lolipops, key chains made of wood with a design of your choice burned into it. They had a little fair ground a couple of times with a booths with free food and coffee.
They play movies some times.
On the Dale Maybry campus, there people always playing Smash/board games/video games in the student lounge.
Bang for the buck
Literally half the cost of USF but with the same classes
Clubs and Activities
There are club fairs every semester and there are a variety of clubs. Activity-wise, there are posters all over campus anytime there is an activity.
Campus Safety
I have not seen any fights or negative behavior, most people are pretty focused. There are professors always walking around campus.

K. Rich from Tampa, FL

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is an excellent choice for continuing education whether solely seeking an Associate's Degree or planning to transfer to a four-year college. With class sizes averaging 25 students, instructors are readily available to assist their classes in their pursuit of excellence. On-campus housing, low tuition, 160 different degree programs, and student government activities make HCC worth your time and effort.
Tips for prospective students
A tip for all students would be to become involved in the campus activities, your tuition dollars pay for these programs, so why not get more bang for your buck? Prospective students should take advantage of the Rate My Professor listings for a smooth transition into college life.
Academic Rigor
Hcc provides assistance for its student with an excellent physical library as well as a virtual library that gives access to every library in Florida's schools.There is a Math Lab, a Writing Lab, a Career Lab and a Computer Lab to name a few all there to provide assistance to students.
Dorm Life
Good reports from the residents of the Hawks Landing on the Dale Mabry campus are plentiful.
Food and Dining
HCC has a SubWay, a Pizza Hut, a Burger Grill as well as the Gourmet Dining Room.
What to do for fun
HCC, located in Tampa, Florida, is home to Lightning Hockey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers football, and Tampa Bay Rays baseball. We have a top notch aquarium in Tampa and the home of Winter, the dolphin, is at the aquarium in nearby Clearwater. Tampa has Busch Gardens. Invest in a two-hour drive to Orlando for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Tampa has a top notch Art Museum and the Salvidor Dali Museum is under an hour drive in St. Petersburg. The Tampa Bay area has The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center with touring Broadway plays as well as two other theaters in the area. The plethora of activity provides for multiple opportunities for entertainment as well as community service and job opportunities.
Bang for the buck
For in-state residents, the price per class hour is hard to beat.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
De-Stress fests during mid-terms are wonderful. They include chair massages, food and fun.
Great for these types of students
HCC is great for the fresh from high school student as well as advanced degree students who go there for the excellent cost of classes which are all transferable to Florida's university system.
Clubs and Activities
HCC Dale Mabry campus has an excellent well organized Student Government Association and 46 clubs in various areas of interest.
Greek Life
The only Greek clubs are not fraternities, nor sororities. Phi Beta Lambda (the Business Club), Psi Beta (Psychology Honors Club), and Phi Beta Kappa (the honor society) are the only Greek letter named clubs.
Campus Safety
The campus is well-lit and has an excellent security staff.

Jessica from Tampa, FL

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
I am starting HCC this fall, and so far, just being able to meet the faculty and staff before hand was a wonderful experience for me. They were well mannered, maintain a positive attitude, and wonderful people to work with. I cannot wait until the school year begins.
Tips for prospective students
For new students, if you have a phone, make it to good use! Keep a track of application deadlines for scholarships, fasfa, class registrations, school holidays, and when the term ends. HCC keeps all of this information online so it is very easy to access.
Academic Rigor
Make sure to maintain your grades to high standards so that if you wish to pursue a higher degree later on, you will be accepted to the ones you desire ad so much more. The teachers also push you to excel in all you do, and to keep you on the right track. They have alot of faith in you!
Dorm Life
The HCC Dale Mabry Campus dorm has a beautiful exterior. After two weeks when i applied for the dorm for the Fall of 2014, i read some reviews online about it. I was truly shocked because the dorms were not for me. After reading all of those reviews, i just felt more and more distant from choosing HCC Dorm as my home. But I don't want to take other people's reviews on how it is, because my version of justice and Truth is not the same as anyone in the world. I want to find my own Truth.
Food and Dining
The food at the campus is just like an other fast food restaurant. It is very convenient because since the Dorm is right next to the campus, if you don't have a car, you can just simply walk 5 minutes to campus to get a bite to eat for the day with friends. The service is fast and reliable, and many of the stores have friendly service.
What to do for fun
Things to do for fun would be taking jogs, going to the gym at the dorms, or even hanging out with your friends. Meeting and making new friends does seem a little scary to me, but there are tons of things to do for fun, and this list is only naming a few.
Great for these types of students
Students who want to save money for their First Two years of college
Clubs and Activities
There are many clubs at all of the HCC campuses. A Christian club, feeding the homeless, student government, and all of these clubs are very active to assisting individuals and the community.
Campus Safety
The campus does not have gates, but i do not know of any campus that has gates surrounding the premises. I would consider the Campus to be safe, i do not see alot of speeding or dangerous things. It is a very quiet and calm campus

Alyssa from Tampa, FL

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
This is the perfect transition from high school to college. You get a sense of the hustle and bustle of a busy university campus, without all of the stress of a university. Besides, why pay twice as much for your (in most cases) prerequisite classes?
Tips for prospective students
Pay close attention to the mandatory orientation: they have you go through it at your future campus for a reason. I drew my own map of the campus in a notebook and it actually helped me remember where different buildings are (at the Brandon Campus).
Bang for the buck
You're getting more than what you pay for. Since it's a community college, the price per semester is cut drastically, but you're still getting classes that are transferable to a university!
Great for these types of students
Did you slack off your senior year? Did you score really well on your SAT/ACT and still get rejected at a university? Well, you're in luck at HCC: they'll take you in, teach you, and send you off for to that university that rejected you for the last 2 years of your degree.

Alex from Tampa, FL

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
I feel that this school will give me the start to my academic college career I need. I plan to attend for one full year. Soon after transfer to another college geared more towards my career choice.
Tips for prospective students
Good school to tranfer from after.
Academic Rigor
Very easy to handle.
Dorm Life
Honestly not that great.
Food and Dining
Very nice many shops and restraunts in local area.
What to do for fun
Since it is very close to alot of stores you can have fun just roaming around.

Vinoshka from Lutz, FL

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The instructors are very informative and always on point.
Am enjoying being here
My experience at HCC so far at the Dale Mabry campus has been very nice.
Bang for the buck
You save a lot more money by attending this collage.
Tips for prospective students
If your looking to learn and like small classes you should consider HCC
Great for these types of students
Anybody who wants a education and cares to learn should go to this collage.

Adrian from Plant City, FL

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Learning will definitely be easier when there are fewer students in a class. The teachers are able to take the time to focus on one person if need be.
Am enjoying being here
I definitely enjoy being here, as there are lounges for some of the students to relax in after class. Campus is not that big, and not that small, so you can find your away around the campus pretty easily.
Bang for the buck
This college is pretty cheap, and you get a good education. It's a little over $100 per credit hour for in-state tuition, about $380 for out-of-state. It's a pretty good deal, since you save A LOT of money, and you get a better education than a University would offer, since in this institution, one can go up to their professors to ask any questions.
Tips for prospective students
Always manage your time wisely. This is still college, so there may come a time when you will be overwhelmed by the workload. The best way to avoid these types of situations is to make yourself a personal calendar of due dates.
Great for these types of students
Those who want to meet with their professors personally. Not everybody can just sit in a room the size of an auditorium and no expect to stop and ask for questions when something doesn't click right away.