<p>Being in Florida, one of the state schools will likely be the best financial choice, but it seems that they are all either very large, or more of a commuter school, etc</p>
<p>My D is in an IB program at her HS, and really has loved being surrounded by 'her people', the more academic, less partying, more rule following crowd, and wants to find that in college. Being an introvert, we also hope she can find a place where it is very easy to make friends, which would be harder for her in a large crowd, with lecture hall type classrooms and/or in a commuter type school where peole head home on the weekends. She wants to major in the sciences, right now leaning toward neuroscience.</p>
<p>She visited UF recently. They had a special, day long, event for prospective students. I thought maybe they would present things that would increase her interest in the school, but it seemed to have to opposite effect. She came home convinced UF is not the right school for her. In the past year, we have walked around New College..campus seems a little odd, the reputation is of a very hippyish environment, and they don't give grades...got crossed off her list. We walked around USF...too big, we drove around UCF, didn't even want to get out of the car. </p>
<p>Which Florida public might be best for my introverted, nerd?</p>
<p>Are you sure being in florida will be the best financially? Your daughter sounds smart, perhaps you could look at outside of state schools that would give her scholarship money? That’ll broaden her choices.</p>
<p>not necessarily true on $$$. grants/aid etc… can bring private schools in line for the right student.</p>
<p>some schools I would look at are carelton college, haverford college and maybe muhlenberg college… they probably have a better fit then u of f, ucf, fsu etc… for your daughter.</p>
<p>University of Miami…top school but kinda expensive…She probably can get some scholarships…beach, palm trees, warm weather…I can’t think of any perfect school than that…UF and University of Miami have the most reputation but you probably knew that already.</p>
<p>I second Carleton- known for being a ‘nerdy’ school, meets 100% of need. Just use the net price calculator, you’ll see: <a href=“https://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/estimator/[/url]”>https://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/estimator/</a></p>
<p>You are right, I am not sure that a Florida school will be best financially and we will be looking at private schools that meet need, perhaps some with merit aid possibilities too…and really hoping that will work out, but I feel that we should probably have a Florida school or 2 on the list as a safety. I also get that the safety should be a school you might actually want to attend, so I am just hoping to find one. ;-)</p>
<p>New College could be interesting. Do not give up on it so easily. It is, in my opinion, one of the best hidden gems in college education. Could be a great environment for a quiet and shy teenager.</p>
<p>[New</a> College of Florida - Florida’s Public Honors College for the Liberal Arts and Sciences - New College of Florida](<a href=“http://www.ncf.edu/]New”>http://www.ncf.edu/)</p>
<p>[Neurobiology</a> Major at New College of Florida - New College of Florida](<a href=“http://www.ncf.edu/neurobiology]Neurobiology”>http://www.ncf.edu/neurobiology)</p>
<p>FAU has the Wilkes Honors College, which is on a separate campus about 40 minutes north of the main Boca campus. It is very distinct from the other campuses, and it is very rare for students at one campus to spend much time on any of the others, so I bet it will be practically a LAC. Most of the students who get in are able to get a full ride, or close, with several different merit scholarships. It’s also close to 2 huge science research centers, Scripps and Max Planck.</p>
<p>I second the New College of Florida suggestion for all of the reasons stated above.</p>