<p>In a relative sense, UF tends to place a higher emphasis on GPA and course selection, while FSU prioritizes test scores. UF is apparently very interested in bolstering retention and graduation rates, and admits substantial numbers of “reliable” students - applicants whose academic records suggest that they have been studious, if not altogether exceptional or brilliant. This is why UF takes a large number of CC transfers, accepts numerous students with average or low test scores, and also rejects students with high test scores but spotty or inconsistent academic records. 82% of the FTIC students UF admits have a weighted GPA of 3.75 or higher. FSU rolls the dice a bit more - I knew a lot of brilliant slackers in high school who ended up at FSU. Some are managing hedge funds today, and others are cashiering retail stores.</p>
<p>Obviously, UF does attract a ton of very talented students each year. Enough that they figure they can anchor their student body with a chunk of hard-working students of fairly average talent without damaging their overall reputation. The school is, after all, a state university with 40,000 students - not the “Harvard of the South” as some overzealous alumni postulate.</p>
<p>With grade inflation being as it is these days, everybody and their mother is coming out of high school with a fairly high weighted GPA, so there’s a wider variation in the applicant test score range than GPA range. Thus far, FSU has been aggressive than UF in capping enrollment/limiting admission in response to the state budget cuts. Given FSU’s admissions policies, many of those cut were those with mediocre test scores - consequently, admissions standards appeared to rise dramatically overnight, and you’re seeing numerous students rejected from FSU but admitted to UF. I would be interested in seeing the grade distribution profile for next year’s incoming class at FSU - no doubt it has risen somewhat from previous years, but not as rapidly as the exam score spread.</p>
<p>Most of the hard information on this matter is public record. The explanations are simply my deductions (accurate or otherwise). You can see more here:
[Office</a> of Institutional Research - Florida State University](<a href=“http://www.ir.fsu.edu/]Office”>http://www.ir.fsu.edu/)
[Office</a> of Institutional Planning and Research - University of Florida](<a href=“http://www.ir.ufl.edu/]Office”>http://www.ir.ufl.edu/)</p>
<p>Note: the fact that UF actually has a “National Rankings” subsection on their IR website should give you some idea of where their priorities lie.</p>