Am I a fool to not go to UF?

State Forums
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<p>I’m a high school senior at a private school and I have also done dual enrollment. I am actually extending my high school graduation to at least December (or May 2014, depending on if it’s better to transfer as a freshman or transfer student at USF) to still compensate for my final dual enrollment classes. Consequently, before I go to college I will have obtained my AA degree. I have a 4.0 weighted GPA from my high school and a 4.0 GPA from my local college. My SAT score (which I took last spring and plan on taking once more, after rigorous studying, in the fall) is 1620.</p>

<p>I am interested in studying psychology, and the two schools that I am considering are UF and USF. All in all, I just want to go to a school in Florida that will give me a great education and provide sufficient internships needed to eventually obtain my PhD. </p>

<p>I have toured both USF and UF, and I liked USF so much more. UF couldn’t even compare, in my opinion. I liked everything about it; it seemed to “fit.” That being said, I don’t know if I would get better job opportunities and/or internships if I went to UF, and hence my dilemma. If I knew that at USF I would get a good education, internship, and possible job placement (that is, if I don’t go into private practice first), I would pick it hands down.</p>

<p>My question: is USF a good school for my field of study (also, if it matters, in graduate school I plan on pursuing clinical psychology), will it provide reputable internships, and is it respectable in terms of placing students into jobs?</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to read this; I appreciate it.</p>

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<p>If you wouldn’t be happy attending UF it wouldn’t be worth it</p>

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<p>My understanding is that if you want to work in the field of psychology, you typically need more than a bachelors degree. Admission to grad school usually has more to do with test scores and GPAs than the relative prestige of your undergraduate institution. Based on that, I think I would just go to the school that offered the most financial incentives, and save your money for grad school.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you are certain that you will stop at a bachelors degree, there may be a benefit to going to UF if their psych program is much more highly-ranked (I don’t know if this is the case, I’m just speaking theoretically). Just keep in mind, that many people start out majoring in psychology and then switch to another major before they graduate.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>USF isn’t known as a research university for nothing. They have a program for freshman that can get them involved in research their first year. </p>

<p>Personally, I feel I will get more job opportunities and internships based on 1)Being in the honors college and 2)The small class sizes that allow me to crest relationships with t professors. Can’t really do that with a 300 person lecture hall.</p>

<p>I say go to USF. Through experience, they’re more personal than UF which is necessary for internships, letters of recommendations, and networking.</p>