<p>I really want to attend the University of South Florida as a freshman for the Fall of 2012. I'm from Ohio. I have a 3.9 unweighted GPA and a 26 on my ACT. I'm in my school's band and head of my section. I'm also a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters. For my senior year I'm taking courses such as Dual Credit Calculus/Physics, Dual Credit English, Spanish 4 and Western Civ.
Do you believe I have a good chance at getting into this university? Also, what are more things I could do that would help me? I want to get into the Honors College, and I know I have to get my ACT up about 3 points. If you're in the Honors College or are an OOS student or a recipient of the USF Green and Gold scholarship, I'd like to know what your GPA/ACT ect were.
Also, what is the campus like? Being from Ohio, I doubt I'm going to be able to go on a college tour :/ Is it a newer campus? Are there more than just fast food places to eat? (Healthy foods that people on a diet would eat) What Is the Rec Center like? Big/small/new equipment/old equipment/pool? ect. What is the city of Tampa like? I heard it can be a pretty scary place haha. Also my sister tried to tell me that almost ALL Floridians speak spanish.. which I know is bull crap :p so what is the diversity like?</p>
<p>Finally, is there anything someone whos never been to Florida should know? Any advice? This is a lot of stuff but it'd be a huge help! Opinions from current students are especially helpful. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>You should be a lock for admission with your stats. USF is looking for more OOS students too and recently lowered some of the fees charged OOS students to attract more non-Florida residents. Get your app in early and keep your grades up senior year and you should be all set. Get your ACT up to 29 to be considered for Honors College invite.</p>
<p>USF just turned 50 so everything on campus is relatively modern; half the building space on campus was built in the last 10 years. Three dining halls are on campus and a 4th will open in a few weeks additionally. The Marshall Student Union has a food court, and also a Beef O’Bradys restaurant, and a fancier restaurant too. There is a free-standing Burger King in the middle of campus. You can eat healthy in the dining halls and get special needs diets prepared too.</p>
<p>The rec center is just finishing up a major renovation and additions, I’ve attached a link with info about the rec center work being completed now–the finished center will be ready this fall.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay region has over 4 million population. There is something to do for everyone in the area no matter what interests one has. Too, you can stay plenty busy with activities right on campus. About 20% of USF’s students are bilingual and speak Spanish. The student body and faculty are diverse, USF has a cosmopolitan feel even with over 90% of its students being Florida residents. </p>
<p>Don’t forget to bring your musical instrument to join the “Herd of Thunder” marching band!</p>
<p>OOS students need to know everyday won’t be spent at the beach–you have to study too!</p>
<p>Forgot about swimming pools you asked about. There is a 25 yd. indoor pool at rec center, and an outdoor 25 yd. pool too by one of the dorm areas. There’s a smaller pool on campus too over by Juniper-Poplar dorms. USF even has an 18 hole golf course too adjacent to north side of campus if you’re into golf.</p>
<p>Thank you for the info!! I have an additional question. If I apply as early as September and get accepted by October, and sometime after I get accepted I get a higher ACT score, would they accept the new higher grade? Or would I be stuck with the lower ACT score since they already accepted me?</p>
<p>If you get a better score later on after being accepted, USF will use the improved score for scholarship consideration or Honors College as long as you meet any other deadlines. Remember USF superscores ACT too so a better composite score can possibly be conformed with some better sub-test scores. Good luck!</p>
<p>Also, what is the campus like? **It is very spread out. In total it is something like 3 square miles in size, but most of your classes should be in one specific area. (At least for me they are.) **</p>
<p>Being from Ohio, I doubt I’m going to be able to go on a college tour Is it a newer campus? Some are new, some are old. There is an evident yellow brick theme on campus with all the older buildings, but the new buildings look much nicer. It’s not a beautiful campus by any means, but it is improving.</p>
<p>Are there more than just fast food places to eat? (Healthy foods that people on a diet would eat) There are quite a few places on campus. If you think Subway is healthy we have two of those.</p>
<p>What Is the Rec Center like? Big/small/new equipment/old equipment/pool? ect. **Kind of big but it is usually a little crowded.**What is the city of Tampa like? Some people love Tampa, some hate it… I’m in the later camp. Also my sister tried to tell me that almost ALL Floridians speak spanish… which I know is bull crap so what is the diversity like? Spanish isn’t uncommon in Tampa, but the ‘everyone in FL speaks Spanish’ notion isn’t true. Everyone speaks Spanish in Miami, but the rest of FL is more English… USF is VERY diverse. We have a lot of international students and professors. It seems like a good mix, each ethnic group is well represented on campus.</p>
<p>Finally, is there anything someone whos never been to Florida should know? Any advice? **Florida doesn’t have much in the way of public transit which may or may not be a problem. The weather in FL isn’t always predictable, once it gets above about 90 outside there is a very good chance you’ll have a afternoon thunderstorm. Hurricanes are very rare, nothing to worry about. **</p>
Is it a newer campus? Some are new, some are old. There is an evident yellow brick theme on campus with all the older buildings, but the new buildings look much nicer. It’s not a beautiful campus by any means, but it is improving.</p>