I guess one could applaud FSU’s and FAMU’s partnership as a way to increase lower income and minority representation in fields that are essential for the state’s well-being.
Why don’t FSU and FAMU share budgets and funding, btw? It seems that funding FAMU less than FSU would be a leftover from the 50’s.
The ‘two campus’ thing sounds like the situation at Rutgers.
I’m not from Florida and I get that FAMU has been mismanaged, but seen from the outside this cooperation would be an example of the South moving away from the segregation era and trying to build bridges so that kids currently attending segregated high schools can study together in high-quality institutions.
The fact the presence of the African American students from FAMU is used as an explanation as to why there are fewer students enrolled in engineering is puzzling, euphemistically speaking.
@ucbalumnus has often wondered on these forums why OOS or Florida kids won’t apply to FAMU for engineering since their scholarships are good. As guess the above, rational or not, could be an explanation. The mismanagement is another likely culprit.
@ny1517: outside of Florida, few people know the difference between UF and FSU. Within Florida, people are aghast at the thought people in Minnesota or New Hampshire would confuse the two. Floridians are often lifelong Seminoles or Gators, and most will say UF is the strongest university.
UF has for the past 10 years or so tried to build itself as an equal to the best Southern public universities. Its national stature has grown and it’s now a top 10 public university nationally. The student quality is very high. Within Florida and increasingly for grad schools, UF is recognized as a notch or three above FSU in academic quality. However many students take introductory classes online and are on their own, it’s very big and impersonal, and its funding and resources aren’t quite at the level of the universities it wants to compete with (such as UNC)/yet.
FSU is also very strong, even if its research output isn’t at the same level. The students would attend the flagship at many states because they tend to be in the 4+ wGPA group. FSU Honors will likely offer a better experience, especially the first two years. You can apply if you were selected for a Freshman scholarship.
FSU also has online classes, just like UF. Both towns have their supporters.
So, from OOS, I’d pick FSU Honors over UF unless it’s a major UF is nationally famous for, and plain UF over plain FSU.
Can he do an overnight at borth?