Most of the “South” will swear that Florida is not southern.
See the UF forum for lot of discussion around UF’s holistic admissions. Basically, about 50% of admissions is based on GPA, Course Rigor, the essay, and test scores, with test scores being slightly less important than the other three (that essay really matters). The other 50% is based on ECs, volunteering, work, etc. UF uses the coalition app, as does FSU. The application fee was $30(?), so if you apply to one, you may want to go ahead and apply to both. I would also recommend you tour both school (and then perhaps continue down south to Tampa or Orlando to check out UCF and/or USF).
Just gave my D the directive to name a few more places to tour - and I suggested some that everyone was kind enough to recommend in this thread.
I don’t find rankings such as USN and Forbes particularly helpful, but I like FIske a lot. During my S’s 2014 cycle, I developed my own system that worked pretty well … I started with 250ish colleges with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter (not that I think my kids are candidates), then sorted by location, size, and get-in-ability. I think that rules out UCF and USF, but I hope D is open to considering FSU, VT and Clemson.
@Gator88NE I will definitely review discussions on UF (and UGA) forums for additional info. Thanks!
Reading through this thread, there are some schools, like UGA, that, although they don’t have OOS restrictions, their net price yields no aid. SO why even bother applying? Bama, NC State and others are better options
@mcr976 Correct, USC does offer generous merit based scholarships (that don’t show up in a net price calculator). Many include OOS tuition waivers (pay in-state tuition rates). That’s one reason a high percentage (52%) of the undergraduate class are OOS.
I would Not consider an OOS public with low OOS numbers. Too often the campuses of those schools empty on weekends since it’s too easy for many instate students to head home on weekends.
I can Imagine that UF and FSU may not because they’re located in the upper part of a very long state…meaning that it’s more difficult for South Florida students to vacate for a weekend. But UGA and a few others mentioned don’t have the geographical challenge. That said, if UF or FSU have a high % coming from northern FL, it could also have the issue.
About 12 years ago, when Alabama’s OOS numbers were much lower, it did have the problem of too many instate kids going home one or two weekends per month and it did affect the feel on non football weekends. Of course since it’s OOS numbers have been high for awhile now, that issue doesn’t exist.
Emptying on weekends doesn’t really mean 75% or even 50% leave. It just means that enough students are gone on any given (non home game) weekend that it affects the feel and affects campus operations. Schools often have very limited residential dining hours on weekends if too many students are gone. Some may only have one dining hall open and limit hours/food selection.
A school located where a high percent of students can get home within 1-3 hours on a weekend can and likely will have this issue. Visiting hometown boyfriend/girlfriend, Family event/birthday, etc, becomes easy and almost expected when travel time is relatively short. Heck, some may even keep their hometown jobs and work there weekends when they can get home in a good time.
When you add the students who do go home on any given weekend to the ones who leave campus for off campus but in the area weekend jobs, it can affect feel.
UGA does offer merit money for some OOS students. D17 was offered 9K (about half of the differential between our in state flagship). She did not attend but S19 may apply now that we have family (one a UGA alum) living in Atlanta. UGA has the HOPE scholarships for IS students, which has really increased its selectivity (definitely for IS students). Also, Athens is an awesome college town, UGA has a fantastic football team, a lovely campus and great alumni network. But perhaps it is hard if you are from OOS, given its low percentage.
OP here. @mom2collegekids D liked UGA and will be tour FSU & UF next week - but I have worried about too many kids going home on weekends. I guess I figure with schools of that size, there will be a lot going on anyway … stop me if I’m wrong.
Also, I assume most State schools with large OOS populations draw heavily from neighboring states. Could be easier to go home to Atlanta from Bama than to go home to Miami from UF.
Sounds like you are exhausting options in the Southeast, though I might add Kentucky.
If you are willing to expand the geography a bit, check out Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State. Merit aid at all should make each a bargain (and no alligators to worry about!).
@moooop Cannot tell you how much I would like to add Kentucky. My S is there, but D refuses to go to same place as her brother - even though she toured and said “it was pretty much perfect” My H and I keep thinking maybe if we don’t push it … I look better in blue.
Should have heard our super intellectual conversation about which mascot of schools she’s looking at would win fight. Figure it’s between gator or Seminole (if properly armed). Bulldog was going down 1st. Don’t look for us on Ivy League chance me threads.
Do any of these schools (besides Bama) publish merit aid offers? As far as I can see, it can vary depending on the applicant pool. That being the case, the net price calculator gives the closest idea as to what you can expect to pay. I wouldn’t want to ahve my kids apply, get in with high hopes and then not afford to go. That’s why we have been using net price info first to eliminate schools such as UGA and USC
Great thread! Still early for my D as she will be a Sophmore this year but she is also interested in checking out some OOS options. We’d like to steer her into looking at schools with good OOS merit to offset cost as well. Our IS choices are Purdue and IU, both great schools in their own right, but would like to apply to more than those 2 schools. D is not interested in small LACs so that’s why we’re also looking into other quality big state schools. Thank you OP for this thread and to all the posters offering info.
moooop, or anyone else, can you provide more info re: Texas A&M for OOS students? D likes the state of Texas and thinks she would like to live there or Florida after college.
@rjm A&M is huge & is about as rah-rah as you can get. If you get a little merit aid they usually waive the out of state tuition & u pay instate rate. People are apparently friendly & cohesive. Area is thriving & growing. Well located (by Texas distance standards) to access Houston, Austin, San Antonio, & even Dallas. I have a kid going there for grad school starting in fall.
Other big publics with automatic or nearly automatic merit aid/oos tuition waivers include Iowa State, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kentucky, FL State, Tx Tech, W.Virginia, Kansas, Kan. State, Ok. State, Nebraska, Mississippi,LSU, Clemson, S. Carolina. (Maybe Auburn & Mississippi State?) Obviously most of these are not in glamorous coastal locations, which is probably why they offer significant financial incentives to out of staters. But most offer a solid education in a fun town for a bargain price, which ain’t a bad combination.
How do I know that UF, FSU and UGA don’t “empty on weekends”? With UF and FSU it’s first hand knowledge.
It’s a 6+ hour drive from Tally to Miami, it’s over 3 hours to Orlando; most in-state students come from the Orlando/Tampa/South Florida region. We live fairly close to both schools (North Florida, about 1.5 to 2 hours from each school) and our kids and their friends spend most weekends staying in town, they have things to do.
Holiday weekends would be an exception. Then they go home or on road trips with friends. Other than holiday’s/3 day weekends, nether school should be described as emptying out on weekends.
As moooop stated the schools listed have great OOS tuition deals. It is fairly difficult to get into A&M from OOS and with good merit. S17 from big urban TX area went OOS to Kansas State. He wanted to be OOS. The deal we got there was great. He had stats to get into lots of higher ranked schools but chose this one because of fit and the deals he got were great! Not a well-known location but he loves it, has a blast, has done well and loves his professors, friends and the environment. He says it feels a lot smaller than the 23,000 student number.
Thank you moooop for that great list and the link! D showed interest in several of the schools I mentioned to her from your list. You’ll have to fill us in on how your kid likes TAMU after being there this coming fall.
