Struggling with UCF vs. UF

joefrommiami · 10-25-2009, 12:10 PM

I'm struggling with my UCF vs. UF decision.

I'm a National Merit Semifinalist and hopefully Finalist. If I make Finalist, UCF has offered free tuition, room, etc. UF offers very little.

I've spent time on both campuses and while I like UCF, my preference would be UF.

But the scholarship that UCF is offering is compelling and hard to turn down.

If it weren't for the scholarship, my choice would be UF. But having the extra money available for grad school is compelling.

I want to major in Chemistry and go on to graduate school in either Pharmacy or Pharmacology.

Here's my question... would getting my B.S. from UCF limit me, in any way, from getting into a top flight graduate school? Would getting my B.S. from UF be more beneficial than getting my B.S. from UCF?

(I'm posting this to both school's boards so I can get the different perspectives.)

mom2three · 10-25-2009, 05:23 PM

You have a few months before the UF decisions come out. If you are going to second guess yourself forever, go UF. I don't know your family's financial circumstances, but with Bright Futures shrinking year by year and expenses rising, a full ride is nothing to sneer at, especially if you are planning to go to graduate school.

My oldest graduated from UF, and our middle son was at UCF. Our youngest faced a similar decision to yours. (although the aid was less - he wasn't a NM finalist, UCF was still generous). UCF treated him like an individual. UF treated him like a number.
Based on that, the aid, and the experiences of his two older brothers at the two schools, he ended up at the UCF Honors College and is very happy there.

You can have an outstanding undergrad experience at UCF, doing research and building a resume that will certainly enhance your chances of admission to grad school. It's what you make of it.

Go with your heart.

joefrommiami · 10-25-2009, 05:55 PM

Finances are the thing that is driving this. And I agree with you in "it's what you make of it." I have friends who have done very well at any number of college regardless of "prestige."

But I also have friends who have gone on to grad school and felt that they weren't very well prepared (and struggled in their first year because of it).

GradBoy · 10-26-2009, 05:03 PM

Go with your heart. UCF is a growing university and it is in a position to recruit mostly first choice students and legacies. If your heart is settled on UF, go to UF. If you apply yourself to what you do, the grants and scholarships will take care of themselves. What UCF really needs at this critical time in its young reputation are students who love UCF for what it offers academically and socially. These students will, in turn, become the alumni that help push the university further into national prominence. While a full ride might seem very enticing, it's better when a student has an initial pioneering spirit toward their school. Money will mean very little when it's all said and done.

With that said, if the financial factor is a very important issue, then discuss with your family what's best for you financially.

MysteryTime · 10-27-2009, 10:51 AM

I agree that you should go where you feel most comfortable. Make sure to visit each campus again, and really get an idea of where you see yourself. Something else to consider is whether you'll get into the UF Honors College. Your automatically in UCFs Honor College, and it really helps in terms of choosing classes first and getting to know your professors and I think looks good to graduate schools. It really makes the school smaller for you. It's all up to you and your family and what you can and want to spend.

weirdfish · 10-28-2009, 02:22 AM

I agree with all of the other posts. UCF is a very good school and it is up and coming, especially with our new medical school. I am not exactly sure what level of prestige you are looking for when it comes to graduate schools, and honestly if you are looking for something upper tier to ivy and you really work hard, you can get their from both schools. But if you are just looking for a solid pharmacy degree, I would choose Florida. Florida has an excellent pharmacy program and you can start sooner (I believe it is after you put in 80 credit hours.) I am aware of several graduates who are doing very well in all aspects of the pharmacy business from the Florida program. With that said, if you are looking for a graduate degree from a more prestigious school, I would stick with UCF. You are going to need the money you will be saving for graduate school. I hope this helps, good luck.

redslash · 11-22-2009, 03:47 AM

absolutely. Can I jsut say one thing? I'm national merit, I know at least a dozen other national merit ones... if you want your time at UCF not to suck (assuming you go), apply to LEAD scholars. It'll provide opportunities for you to get leadership positions to make sure grad schools like you, and you'll make a bunch of friends that you'll be able to keep for a long time.

SSobick · Yesterday, 08:27 PM

^ This is a silly thread...

UCF can't even compete with FSU

rocky9999 · Today, 12:24 PM

what do you mean by "compete?. compete in what? ucf is ranked in top 10 on patent scorecard for the last 3 years ahead of harvard, wsu and georgia tech and fsu is not even in top 50 (source: ieee and iptoday). ucf engineering college is consistently ranked in top 100 both in US and world (source: USNews and the highly regarded ARWU) and fsu-famu engineering is no where. but the overall rank of fsu is better than ucf, both in US and world rankings. it all depends on what major you want to pursue and what departments a university is strong in. so, the comparison must be relative. actually, where is fsu coming from here when the poster asked about ucf and uf? calm down and cheer up man. fsu is better than mit, stanford, berkeley and harvard if that makes you happy :-)

mom2three · Today, 01:15 PM

The way the poster (post #8) goes out of his way to attack UCF whenever its up and coming status gets mentioned makes me think UCF's rising status is threatening to him for some reason. UCF is getting more selective every year and their Honors College (4 year program) is superior to UF's honors program (2 year program) (and I've had kids in both).

Bottom line for anyone making this decision: look at the program, look at the school, go where you feel a fit. For some that's UF, for some FSU, and for more and more top students every year, that's UCF.

UF's a good school. Harvard of the South? Not so much. If nationally ranked sports teams mean a lot to you, you'll be happier there.
UCF's a good school. Lots of focus on undergrads. Not as highly ranked as UF. If you care a LOT about the US News rankings, you'll be happier at a higher ranked school.

Both schools have a lot to offer students, and neither is the perfect place for all students. Individual decisions must be made, as they should.

SSobick · Today, 10:12 PM

My previous post was that UCF is a lesser university in comparison to FSU. If this commuter school isn't even the 2nd best public in florida, then how in the world can they even think about competing with UF?

FSU v. UCF:
FSU is ranked higher, has a stronger endowment, superior graduate & professional programs, better athletics, a larger & more prestigious alumni base, etc...

Compare and contrast:

Commuter - List of University of Central Florida alumni - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

National - List of Florida State University people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia