My son is a high achieving, rising senior (as of tomorrow) at a competitive public high school in Florida. The big goal is the University of Florida, but we are trying to plan for a great outcome if he doesn’t become a Gator. I ask this because the dropoff from UF to the other publics in Florida is significant. However, with Florida college prepaid plus Florida bright futures, staying in Florida is tough to beat. We are not in a position for private school. So if he doesn’t get into UF, does he stay in state or is there an OOS option that offers merit aid that makes more sense?
Stats:
GPA: 3.73 unweighted on 4.0 scale; 4.82 weighted; Florida SUS recalculated: 4.3
Top 10% of class
ACT: 30 (he will take it again in the Fall, so it could go up)
10 total APs by graduation
Qualifies for Florida Bright Futures full award
In the standard array of clubs: NHS, etc.
Eagle Scout, plus a ton of leadership in Scouting
A few nice local awards
Miles of community service hours
Anglo male, middle class, third generation in college – so no special boosts
Wants to study in the STEM arena – engineering, maybe biology, maybe pre-med.
As discerned from my screen name, he will be a legacy at UF, not that such things really matter anymore. As a family of Gators, FSU as a backup is a tough pill, just being honest.
If your son wants to study in the STEM arena, why would FSU be your backup instead of UCF? I would think that UCF would be a very likely admit and would help him achieve any goals he wants to set for himself, as well as accepting of Bright Futures.
Thanks @Joblue. You are absolutely correct and UCF is definitely on the list. Frankly, this type of feedback is what I am looking for. I perceive a big dropoff between UF and UCF, but I’m trying to get my preconceived notions flushed from the process. Thanks.
UF is tough to get in - several of my son’s friends with better stats than your son didn’t get in to the school. Not that his scores aren’t great, to the real world I’m sure he’s a star, but to UF, higher is better. UCF is a great school for Engineering and pre-med. I think they said 98% of students go on to the next level. Take the tour there and do the knight for a day program to see if he likes it there as a back up. Of course, I am a UCF fan, I graduated from there twice, my husband did once, and our son starts there in August.
The private schools in Florida become much more affordable once using BF and the EASE (residency grant) as those cover the first $10k, plus most schools allow stacking merit on top. If there is a private school he’s interested in, he shouldn’t let the initial sticker shock keep him from looking deeper into the school (Miami, Embry-riddle)
My nephew was an anti FSU student. I don’t know why but he wouldn’t even apply. I remember his first acceptance was to UCF and then to USF, and he would have been happy with either of those. He ended up at UF, but also had acceptances at Cornell, Brown, NYU and a lot of other top schools. At my kids’ high school, the class was pretty split among UF, FSU, and UCF. Those going to UCF seemed to be the most enthusiastic (something I never understood, as I hate Orlando but to a person they all loved it). Another group went to FIU and were all pretty happy and involved.
We had a tour guide at Florida Southern who said he was from a UF family but Florida Southern just ‘called to him.’ By choosing a smaller, private school, he could still be a big gator fan.
I know prejudices are hard to overcome, but the current reality is that there is not as much of a drop off from UF to FSU. UF is ranked the #9 public, with FSU #26 and rising (if you care about rankings). There are tons of kids at FSU with the same or better grades and ACT scores. The honors college at FSU is also very competitive and full of high achieving students. Granted, FSU is not so hot for engineering, but UCF is a great option. If he went out of state, he would likely not do better for the price.
Thanks @vistajay. The UF/FSU discussion is absolutely personal and irrational. At least I can admit that I have a problem. We are are from Miami and getting to/from Tallahassee is also an issue – so freaking far. We know many current FSU students and alums. It’s an excellent school, no doubt.
Thanks @twoinanddone. He has mentioned Embry Riddle but I didn’t know about the aid. Very interesting.
UCF and USF are the main “backups” at the moment. He may be doing a weeklong program at USF this summer, so he could get a real good look then.
I toured UCF with my daughter two years ago and she really liked it. She’s now a sophomore at UF, but I think she would have been happy in Orlando – she too was excited about the idea of living there.
@ucbalumnus , I don’t know a lot about it I just know its reputation is not great, it’s a bit of a pain for FSU students to take the courses at FAMU, and any changes or funding issues with the program become a political tug of war between the two schools. Not an great set up, IMO. My next kid up is a STEM kid and if he is NMF we are going to look hard at UF. But for my music major son, FSU is perfect.
@GatorDad305 , I can understand. My son chose FSU over Miami and I have to admit I had been dreaming of visits full of beach life and Miami nightlife and restaurants. Tally is a bit different than Miami! But at least it is closer to us.
thanks @ucbalumnus. I’m a 30 year Gator fan and my “issues” with FSU are merely rivalry and football. Not interested in stirring stuff up on here. Frankly, I know most of the state school issues in Florida and am looking for broader perspective.
He also may want to consider the Santa Fe option for UF. It’s the UF experience without the UF admission. It may be perfect for some but considered the red headed step child by others.
There is a thread on cc about the Santa Fe option by a father whose daughter took it (engineering) and it worked out well. IIRC, she lived in a UF dorm and participated in UF activities.
Just saying this because it may come down to accepting UF under less traditional conditions - summer start, online start, Santa Fe- or going to the enemy school (FSU). That decision can feel really pressured when it has to be made right after the disappointment of not getting accepted to UF. If you consider those options now, it might be easier to say yes or no when the time comes.
A friend’s son just graduated from Santa Fe in theater. He loved it but I don’t think he did much with UF at all. Was headed to UCF but got a late admit to Coastal Carolina and is off to Myrtle Beach.
I get the UF/UCF dilemma. My kids didn’t even know Nebraska had a college or that students from OOS could apply. GO BUFFS. Any other school is fine but no cornshuckers at this house.
@GatorDad305 Have you an opinion on Wilkes Honors College in Jupiter? It’s affiliated with FAU but physically separated and appears to be pre-professional by sharing the campus with two of the world’s premier biotech research centers, Scripps Florida and the Max Planck Florida Institute.
Despite Charlie Pell, enjoyed my time there so totally understand. But there are lots of divided families (UF/FSU, UGA/GT, etc) who survive. That said, when DS dated a criminole/Semihole, I cringed a bit. Good luck!!