Application questions

DD is applying to UCF and is a top 10 Knight. Her essay for the common app is about 650 words. I saw UCF asks for max 500 words. Should she attend it anyway or just skip it since she has guaranteed admission and it doesn’t matter?

She can submit her application via the common app and then can use that 650 word essay instead of going thru UCF’s app. The only difference using the common app is it takes about 5 days for it to sync up with UCF’s system. Biggest recommendation is to apply as early as possible. Greater chance of getting scholarships.

The other suggestion I would offer is to **apply for dorms **as soon as she makes a final decision to attend UCF.

This year was a huge anomaly because of Covid-19. Because of cancellations, the dorm waitlist was completely exhausted and last week they reopened dorm applications with no waitlist.

However, in a normal year, there are hundreds (probably thousands) of students who wait too long to apply for dorms and get shut out.]

So as soon as she gets accepted and you send your enrollment deposit to commit to UCF, apply for dorms and send that deposit as well.

@JimDadinmia are those deposits refundable? I know when many kids get into FSU they all deposit and then back out if the get into UF. How does UCF work?

Yes, no, and maybe.

Enrollment deposit is NOT refundable. I could be wrong, but I think that might be the case across the board in Florida.

Some people consider that $200 a reasonable sacrifice. We were gonna take it, but when we went on the tour (after acceptance, but before UF/FSU decisions), our daughter stopped us about 3/4 through the tour and said, “This is what I want. Let’s go to the store and get a sweatshirt.” (And she never looked back.)

Housing deposit IS refundable at UCF, provided you change your mind within a certain timeframe. I do not know about other schools.

However, if you miss the deadline to cancel, you could get hit with a $1,000 penalty. But you’d have to mess up pretty bad to get that penalty – the deadline is pretty late.

Are UCF apps open now?

No. From the UCF Undergraduate Admissions webpage:

“You can apply up to one year prior to the term for which you plan to enroll. Freshmen should apply between September and December of their senior year in high school.”

UCF uses rolling admissions, rather than a specific “decision day” like some schools. It costs $30 to apply. Once you get your acceptance, you have the option of committing by paying the $200 enrollment deposit, or waiting.

If you choose to wait, your spot is still held until a deadline (don’t remember when that is). If UCF is your #1 choice, it makes sense to commit early and apply for dorms and wrap everything up.

If it’s a “safe school” for you, you can wait but if you wait too long you risk getting shut out of the dorms.

There is an amazing wealth of info on all subjects on the UCF website, so you should really explore there. Also, just FYI, if you can’t find something, their website has the best search feature I’ve ever seen on any website.

@flprepaidmom You can apply for housing prior to committing. The housing application opens in late October and requires a $250 deposit, with $150 refundable if you back out by May 1. No need to have committed to UCF to apply for housing. However, I believe that Top 10 Knights are offered guaranteed housing if they apply for it prior to May 1.

My son submitted his app via the common app in late September, had acceptance within a week. The common app is open now so I’m sure you can submit it now but I don’t think they start reading apps until early September. He applied for housing when that app opened. He had a housing confirm date of Oct 23 so got a selection appointment on the first day possible. He did not officially commit to UCF, paying the $200 enrollment deposit, until Christmastime. We figured a possible loss of $100 for housing if he went elsewhere was worth it given how quickly housing can fill up.

Thank you @JimDadinmia @vannevka

I just checked through the Common App and it is not open yet. In the past applications have opened in July- early August and acceptances sometimes start as early as the 2nd week in September. This is not a typical year, so it might be delayed a bit. Students should be able to create a UCF account and then check it to see when the UCF application opens up- they can do the same on the Common App- just add UCF to the school list. Also, make sure you get everything in (scores/transcript) before October 15- it seems to really get jammed after that date.

Like @vannevka stated above, mid October seems to be the time they open up housing. I remember watching it like a hawk and texting D at school telling her to get on it at lunch. I don’t think you need to be as crazy as I was, but keep it on your radar.

Having an early housing confirmation is one of those little secrets that nobody tells you, but there are several important things about applying early.

First, obviously, you don’t get shut out. UCF is a huge university, so there is a lot of demand for dorm space. I believe there are about 7,000 dorm rooms on the Main Campus, but I don’t know how they count rooms. (Does my daughter’s Towers apartment count as ONE room, or FOUR?)

You also have to keep in mind that many of those dorm rooms are reserved for various "Living Learning Communities (LLC’s), so a good number of rooms are not available to all applicants.

Second, as @vannevka mentioned above, your housing confirmation date governs your selection priority. You actually pick your room in many cases, so that matters.

Also, once you receive your confirmation you can start looking for roommates. The ideal situation is to have your roommate group set prior to room selection. If you don’t, once you select your room, ANY student meeting the dorm qualifications (contract type, LLC if applicable, etc) can choose any open bed in your dorm.

Third, your earlier housing confirmation allows you to “pull in” friends who apply later. Even if a good friend applies months later, you can pull them into your roommate group as soon as they are confirmed – if you have an opening.

Thanks for all these great tips. Does anyone here @jeneric @JimDadinmia @vannevka know if student is selected for honors–is that a guaranteed 4 years of housing or is it a scramble every year? We are oos. Jeneric may have answered this for me before, but I can’t find it now. TIA

@1Lotus I would reach out to HonorsAdmissions@ucf.edu I know I read that they get housing, but I can’t find it, so I would check with them. I always thought it was one of the perks.

I know that the Burnett Honors program students are in an LLC in Tower 3 of the Towers at Knights Plaza, but I don’t know if it’s all four years. I will ask my friend whose daughter is in that program.

I don’t know what the deal is with the Burnett Medical Honors program.

The answer from my friend is NO, Honors program students do not have 4 years guaranteed housing.

Her daughter is a National Merit Finalist, and we think that gives her 4 years guaranteed.

UCF uses a lottery system for dorms. There are the obvious priorities for students with disabilities, etc, and also apparently for National Merit scholars.

Other than that, entering freshmen have first priority and everyone else goes through a lottery. Rising sophomores who want to remain in the dorms have secondary priority within the lottery and there is also a priority given for Florida Prepaid Housing plan students.

There is a complete description of all this on the Housing page.

Thanks @jeneric and @JimDadinmia ?