UF, UA, vs USCarolina differences?

College Search & Lists
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<p>I know that UF, FSU, U of Alabama and Univ of South Carolina are all big southern state schools…guess I’d throw UGA and UNC in there as well (not UNC Chapel Hill…that seems to be in a league of its own), but I’m curious about the genral Vibe on these campuses. Are there big differences between these schools?..What might make a student choose one over the other (besides being in-state). Are some more conservative/liberal than others? Is one more diverse (particulary with people from other parts of the country) than another? Does one have a much stronger honors program? What else sets them apart from each other?</p>

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<p>Cost? In-state of course, but also some offer large scholarships (e.g. Alabama for stats, UNC-CH Robertson and Morehead-Cain for reach level competitiveness).</p>

<p>Majors? UNC-CH does not have engineering. Some of the states have other large state universities that emphasize engineering more than the “University of [state]” (e.g. Clemson, Auburn, NCSU, Georgia Tech).</p>

<p>Arbitrage? FSU shares engineering with FAMU, which is less expensive and has a later application deadline. But the engineering campus is not on either school’s main campus, which is less convenient.</p>

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<p>I have been on all of those campuses…UF, FSU, UA, USouthCarolina, Clemson, …as well as UGa and other southern flagships and big state schools. </p>

<p>I don’t know if there is much of a different “vibe” at these schools. they’re all very spirited large schools that offer many, many majors. Nearly all have attractive campuses. </p>

<p>I think large sports schools seem to have split personalities. There’s the students in STEM and other demanding maors who don’t have time to party…and there are kids on the other side of campus in less demanding majors who do.</p>

<p>some are in more rural areas, while some are in mid-sized cities. Being in a more rural area might mean that there’s less to do/see off campus. </p>

<p>I know that Alabama has really made strides to have students from all over the country. Last year’s frosh class was over 50% OOS. This fall’s frosh class will be 60% OOS…which really makes for a more regionally diverse campus. California is ranked #8 for sending students to Alabama. I think Illinois is ranked about #6 (illinois sends a bunch of kids to Bama.) Florida is ranked around #3. </p>

<p>As far as honors colleges…some have very selective admissions, while some may admit by stats. Bama’s honors college admits by stats, so there’s no guessing about admittance. Bama has a very good honors program which is run by a very student-centered Dean and very student-centered faculty.</p>

<p>Southern colleges might be more conservative than NE colleges, but since these are college kids (and profs!), the climate will be far less conservative than their states. I know that Bama was Obama Country in '08, but may be more split this November due to changes in popularity.</p>

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<p>Most of these schools lean conservative - diversity is a lot less (while more for schools in larger urban areas) than those in other parts of the country.</p>

<p>Let me know if you have any questions about Clemson!</p>

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<p>Roll Tide all day!!!1</p>

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<p>pierre0913, I don’t know why I keep forgetting to include Clemson. Do you feel that it leans conservative? My thinking is that some of these schools might be popular enough to draw students from a variety of backgrounds…perhaps some more than others though.</p>

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<p>I think you’ll find UF is most ethnically diverse of those schools…</p>

<p><a href=“http://premium.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/campus-ethnic-diversity/[/url]”>http://premium.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/campus-ethnic-diversity/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Futher, Florida’s population is largely a cross-section of people that have moved from other parts of the country, so its native population in many ways is geographocally diverse as well. Right or wrong, some people do not even consider Florida a southern state.</p>

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<p>North Florida is Southern. South Florida is Northern. :)</p>

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<p>USC has strong honors program, highly competitive, good merit aid that stacks with other aid. NMF is guaranteed $.</p>