I would also like to comment on the differences between Gainesville and Orlando. There are significant pros and cons to both.
Gainesville is purely a college town. There is nothing else there, and no other reason for its existence. The good part of that is that the town is very much focused on UF. The downside is that it’s kind of remote and not really near anything. Transportation options are limited, which can be difficult for out of state students.
UCF is located in the NE corner of Orange County, which is where Orlando is. It’s a suburban campus, but close to many amenities. The Main Campus is probably 20 minutes from downtown.
The Orlando International Airport (code: MCO) is the busiest airport in Florida (which is the 3rd most populous state in the US). The only reason our Miami International is close to MCO in traffic is our huge international traffic. For domestic US travel, MCO is hard to beat.
Everybody talks about Disney, and it’s important. Disney World is about 45 minutes from UCF, expressway all the way. And UCF students get discounted Disney tickets.
That said, UCF students greatly prefer Universal/Adventure Island, which is about 30 minutes from campus, also expressway. Universal also has student discounts, and each year at the beginning of Spring Break, they have “Universal Knights” – which is free admission for anyone with a UCF ID.
Florida’s Atlantic beaches are also nearby. Cocoa Beach is only about an hour away, Daytona Beach is about 1 1/2 hours.
UCF has a full range of sports. They will join the Big 12 next year, I believe.
And not for nothing, they played in the Gasparilla Bowl last season.
Score: UCF Knights 29, Florida Gators 17 – and it was not nearly that close! (Full disclosure, that’s the first time we’ve EVER beaten the Gators.)