FLVADAD

Op, I really think it's a toss up. Best you can do is visit both, talk to current students, and decide which one resonates best with your individual tastes and interests. Good luck.

ehleez

hey..high school senior here, having the same problems! i can't seem to choose between uf and fsu anymore. i am a full out seminole fan but i really liked the whole "college-feel" to uf when i visited the campus, so i became obsessed with it and HAD to go there but as i thought about it more, i decided that i really like fsu more now too. i havent visited the campus recently, so i should probably get on that, but i have absolutely no idea what to do anymore..=/ i get me fsu admission decision on wednesday and i have till feb 13 for uf..nervous much?

pierre0913

Here are student opinions on Florida State University:

"You don’t have to sell Florida State University to its prospective students; the school has established a clear and recognizable brand based on a tradition of “accomplishment in academics, athletics, and politics,” and these are a source of “an enormous sense of school pride” for FSU’s myriad devotees. Those traditions include a beloved football program, of course, but they’re much more than that; they envelop a complete undergraduate experience that includes “a wonderful mix of both the academic and social spheres” and “an intimate social community,” despite the fact that the “school is so large.” Academics here “do an excellent job of preparing students for the real world,” with standout programs that include an “amazing” international program that “encourages all majors to study abroad and bring many international students and teachers to campus,” a college of business that “graduates some of the best businesspeople in the United States,” an “extremely competitive” premed program, a “fantastic” music school, merchandising, education, criminology, and the only exercise science program in the state. Workloads in the research-intensive sciences are heavy; elsewhere, “It’s just enough so that you have free time, but if you study and work hard you get a lot out of each class and a good grade.” FSU’s facilities are a mixed bag. Those that are good are fabulous; they include “one of the best career centers in the country, a state-of-the-art school of medicine, and magnet labs that are supposed to be among the most advanced in the country.” However, as one student points out, while FSU’s “incredible athletic facilities are great,” other facilities “could be better taken care of.”" "While the typical FSU student is a “sweatpants-wearing, Starbucks-drinking, Dave Matthews Band listener,” undergrads point out that “there are so many students of so many different types here that the ‘typical student’ is a very poor representation of the school as a whole.” While that ‘typical student’ hails “from a middle- to upper-class family in Florida,” for example, many students here receive substantial aid packages, and about one in seven undergrads is from out of state. Students tell us that almost everyone is “highly involved in extracurricular activities,” whether it’s a “fraternity/sorority, sports, the arts, or one of the many school organizations out there.” FSU students also tend to be people who “strive for success, but also know how to enjoy the social experiences college has to offer.” “Each and every student has their own place at FSU, and all students share a common identity of garnet and gold.”" "Life at FSU is “very social oriented,” with “events always happening” either on campus or off. Weekdays, “Campus is always a-bustlin’,” with tons of activities, presentations, organization meetings, and casual get-togethers. On weekends, the options are somewhat more limited; some here describe weekends as “calm, even tranquil, except of course on game weekends,” but most report that the weekend is a time to blow off steam. One student explains, “A lot of people at FSU are big partiers. [A lot of students] love to drink and have a good time. [A lot of students] find many excuses to drink: holidays, sporting events, or a day at the pool.” The administration has created a coalition to change the drinking culture on- and off-campus.The administration has created a coalition to change the drinking culture on- and off-campus. Home football games are the ne plus ultra of campus activity, as football “becomes a religion in the fall.” The games attract “most students and many out-of-towners,” and pre-game and post-game parties are both de rigueur. “Most students here seem to be very physically active and involved in the outdoor pursuits on our campus, such as hiking, running, fishing, skydiving, rock climbing, etc.” Intramural sports “are also extremely popular . . . anyone can play and every sport is offered, from football to dodgeball.” Greek life at FSU “is everywhere,” as the Greeks “have established themselves within the university community portraying strong leadership, service, and scholarship.” From “fraternity parties and tailgating to seminars on how to become an effective leader, Greek life at FSU is very interesting.”"

Princeton Review Ratings (on a scale of 60-99) and Rankings

Academics: 72
Admissions Selectivity: 88
Quality Of Life: 85
Fire Safety: 83
Green: 83
Financial Aid: 88

Rank List
#9 Jock Schools
#13 Lots of Hard Liquor
#10 Party Schools
#10 Students Study the Least

College With A Conscience

pierre0913

Here are student opinions on the University Of Florida:

"“It is often joked that we only pay tuition so we can have a football team,” one University of Florida student writes, but in fact UF provides “a quality education from the state’s oldest and most prestigious university” as well as top-flight football to its undergraduates. “The University of Florida is about finding out if you have what it takes to distinguish yourself from 35,000 other intelligent, talented people. It’s a reality check.” It also provides “tremendous” “networking opportunities.” A robust alumni network over 300,000 strong adds to the possibilities, and some undergrads to assert that, in addition to providing a top-notch education, UF delivers “a career in the future.” Stand-out programs include engineering, premed, and journalism. While the school “has its share of boring, unapproachable professors,” the “vast majority” are “available to help students throughout the week.” In fact, both professors and teaching assistants “are easy to access,” as they have “set office hours” that are “made very apparent to students.” UF’s administration “is not too bad, although there is so much red tape to get through that getting anything accomplished is likely to take half the semester.” Students appreciate that most administrative tasks can be accomplished “over the computer.”" "The UF student body conjures to mind the “Greek macho man” and the “Barbie blonde” for many, but with undergrad enrollment around 35,000, “it’s hard to define the typical student” here. While the “large, sprawling campus” is home to “more students than can be observed,” even a perfunctory glance reveals “all kinds—jocks, Greeks, religious, political, nonreligious, out-of-staters, international people, intense athletes, and everything in between.” Some here tell us that “the typical student falls into one of two categories. Either the student is a know-it-all who graduated with an IB diploma and had a 4.0, or [he or she] is a slacker who somehow got into UF and now doesn’t take anything seriously except partying.” Because of UF’s size, “There’s a place for everyone to fit in, whether your thing is knitting, rugby, or video games.”" "“You can tell that students at UF like to have fun,” undergrads here agree, and fortunately for them the opportunities are ample. There is “a lot of stuff to do on campus,” and if partying is your thing, there are “37 fraternity/sorority houses” and “an ample number of clubs to check out” in downtown Gainesville. The Student Union also hosts “a bunch of different activities” and “shows recent movies in [its] theater, long before they come out on DVD.” Then, of course, there’s Gator athletics. “Almost everybody here is crazy about our sports teams, and team spirit is really high,” students tell us. One writes, “Sports, both intramural and intercollegiate, are very important. This is one of the main reasons people are drawn to UF.” Greater Gainesville “offers enough things to do” that “not being Greek does not hamper one’s social life.” Indeed, Gainesville “is a true college town—everything is catered to the UF student.” For outdoor enthusiasts, “There is a recreational lake that is university-owned, [and] students can go swim, boat, fish, or BBQ [for free].” UF is also located “within 2 hours” of the beach and “under 2 hours” from “theme parks in Orlando.” Students here are “always willing to drive the distance” to “away football games within the SEC (Southeastern Conference).”"

Princeton Review Ratings (on a scale of 60-99) and Rankings:

Academics: 72
Quality Of Life: 79
Fire Safety: 72
Green: 97
Financial Aid: 80

Rank List
#13 Best Career/Job Placement Services
#7 Best College Newspaper
#10 Dorms Like Dungeons
#6 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
#2 Jock Schools
#7 Lots of Beer
#17 Lots of Hard Liquor
#10 Major Frat and Sorority Scene
#1 Party Schools
#1 Students Pack the Stadiums
#1 Students Study the Least
#4 Best Athletic Facilities

gthopeful

I thought that too, but then I got that full ride and minimal financial aid from the #1 choice so I headed off to Gainesville for 4 years and I can't say that it was a bad choice.

Molly!

FSU is more student friendly. There are many things to do on campus as well as many places to eat (restaurants, sushi bars, etc). Students are warmer and friendlier as a result. UF tends to breed more competitiveness and rivalry. Most things to do are off campus. Students tend to stick to their own groups. However, Warrington School of Accounting is well known.

Noles'guy

I got into both Universities and chose FSU over UF, this was because of the campus and the attitude of the students. UF students seemed to be a little more arrogant and I felt that the FSU campus was much more inviting.

maryf143

Academics- hands down, UF. Let's face it, FSU is full of people that got rejected from UF, unless you planned on majoring in the arts, FSU has top-notch art programs.

Athletics- Lately? UF...National championships abound.

Partying- FSU had that locked up for awhile...but the latest ratings say no. Both cities have great bar scenes.

Town- Tally-big city, capitol. G-ville- hard-core college town, everything revolves around the school, even the city recycling bins are orange and blue. And no matter what anyone says...both are full of hicks!

Clearly, I go to UF, but all of this is true.

parent2noles

As an FSU graduate with family graduating from both schools...

UF is not a hands-down step over FSU. Totally wrong. Both have strengths and weaknesses, but Florida State recently received:
See: http://cob.fsu.edu/pdf/cobfastfacts.pdf

Go 'Noles!

sandi0815

What about their medical schools? Does anyone have any info on their schools???

Thanks!
Sandi

pierre0913

FSU has a state-of-the art school of medicine

jwy09

I go to FSU and was torn between UF and Fsu. I was accepted to both as were many of my friends. The ones who chose FSU over UF were like me in that they were impressed by how nice the campus is. Its super pretty here and ofcourse it has a couple "not so attractive places", but for the most part tallahassee rocks. You have to drive around the city to see some of the nicer parts. But either way FSU's campus (the place where you will spend most of your time) is 10 to 1 nicer than UF's campus.

Gville is boring for most part and is extremely dirty. The streets are filled with garbage from the parties and the campus doesn't bring much to the table.

tomslawsky

To the OP,
You mention that you didn't think UF was very "competative". Before you assume admissions, realize that the average SAT of accepted students is above 1335 and GPA is above 4.0. The gropu of applicants with a 1070-1300 )1185 average) SAT still had only a 38% admit rate. For that matter, FSU isn't that easy to get into either. But assuming automatic acceptance to Florida when you say your high school transcripts "limit you" could be dangerous, unless you have 1350+ SAT or you're a minority.

http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/ugrad/frprofile.html

Any Yes, UF is ranked #47 (Tie with Penn State and U-Texas) overall by USNEWS (Although I have a lot of problems with this ranking and feel UF is underranked by 10-15 slots)has a "Top" business department:

For overall Undergrad business, US is ranked by US NEWS ranks Florida #25 overall and #15 among publics.

For Accounting, US NEWS ranks Florida # 18 overall and #12 among publics.

http://www.cba.ufl.edu/rankings.asp

http://www.cba.ufl.edu/fsoa/about/rankings.asp

UF also has an MBA ranked #37 by USNEWS and the GMAT score of 690 is #20 of ALL US MBA programs, even edging out Cornell by an insignifigant margin.
http://www.floridamba.ufl.edu/Press/rankings.asp

So, yes for business, UF is a great first choice for almost ANY applicant.

tomslawsky

And the most important factor if you want to go the accounting route is CPA pass rate where UF grads almost double the national average of 27%-

About FSOA - Fisher School of Accounting - Warrington College of Business Administration

For direct comparison:

University of Florida pass rare (2005-2007)- 47.5%
Florida State pass rate (2005-2007)- 43.7%

UF has a 9% edge over FSU on CPA pass rate (47.5/43.7 = ~1.09)

interestingguy

Haha. While this may be a slight exaggeration, there is much truth to this statement. That being said, UF > FSU, which makes FSU look even worse.

The point is that outside the state of Florida, both schools are totally irrelevant.