<p>Ugh! Bouncing back and forth between Fall admission to FGCU or spring admission to FSU, while waiting to hear from UCF, and then I spoke to a few parents that told me some things that are confusing the decision. Hoping for some clarity.
Was told by a Mom who’s son attends UCF that the classes only hold 200 students and yet there are 2000 kids taking the class. So unless you want to get to class an hour prior to it starting, you’ll be taking an online course. She said that that environment makes it difficult to get any help if you are struggling.
The Dad I spoke to about FSU said his son is about to graduate from there, and “good luck trying to get the classes you need.”
Spoke to another Mom who said she hasn’t heard that kids that go to FGCU like it because there’s nothing to do there. But then again, the classes are so much smaller.
I’m sitting down with my son this week to discuss what he wants and help him with his decision, so I wanted to see what others have found about the class sizes and ease of getting the classes you need.</p>
<p>Hi becriser, I think I can be of some help to you. I am from the area FGCU is located, my brother and a number of friends of mine graduated from UCF, and I went to school in Tallahassee before transferring. It looks like you are the mother of someone looking at these schools? </p>
<p>First, I will say that you MUST visit the campuses. What does your son want to major in? If he already know he needs to talk to the faculty while on campus and see what feels right. Without visiting you simply cannot make the best decision, the schools are all drastically different.</p>
<p>FGCU- I tend to not recommend FGCU to people not from the area. Most of the people from my hometown go there and commute from nearby areas. I would imagine it to be difficult to meet people/find things to do if you aren’t a local. Anyone I have met that where I live now (in Gainesville) did not enjoy FGCU and transferred.</p>
<p>FSU- By far the closest to your “typical” college experience. Beautiful historic campus, college town FILLED with students, everything in town catered to students, big class sizes, big Greek life, many social events, lots of nightlife, many academic/career resources. Main complaint for me would be the city of Tallahassee. Very ghetto, dangerous if you live in the wrong area. HUGE school spirit, sports events, sense of student community. The best choice of the 3 (in my opinion).</p>
<p>UCF- Commuter campus, also big classes, Orlando can also be dangerous if living in the wrong area, nightlife, very big city outside of student body, industrial campus. For the record however, EVERYONE I know who has gone to UCF has loved it though my description may not sound enthused. </p>
<p>Your son will have difficulty getting all the classes he wants at the times he wants them at any major state university. It is a NIGHTMARE at UF. Please visit the campuses and towns because that will probably make the decision for you! I’d recommend FSU of the 3 personally because it is a very unique college experience. The only other school in FL where you can get that is at UF. All other campuses are not residential or historic. </p>
<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Yes, I am a Mother who’s son has been accepted to FSU (spring 2013) and FGCU for fall. You are right, you have to visit the campuses. We went to all the school’s open houses, including FSU, FGCU, and UCF. I actually went to FSU myself, eons ago. Having not heard back from UCF, he’s making his decision between FSU and FGCU now. Two totally different experiences, complicated by the fact that he has no real idea what he wants to do. Career counseling is a must for him.
FSU, he knows two people going. One going summer admission, one fall.
FGCU, he knows 8 of his good friends attending in fall, same as he was accepted.
He is graduating from a small private Christian school, so he is struggling with deciding to branch off and reach for the unknown at a much larger university, while waiting a semester to attend, or going to a smaller school with many people he knows, starting in the fall.
He knows FSU will challenge him while FGCU is a safer choice.
Tough choice.</p>
<p>I attended FGCU a while back and was just accepted to UCF and FSU. (I am currently a student at FIU)</p>
<p>Absolutely HATED FGCU. Majority of the teachers/TA’s are under qualified. My prof. for Chemistry 2 didn’t even hold a degree in Chemistry or any other science major! She lost a lot of my work, and caused me a lot of trouble. I received my AA from there and submitted my AA application several times to which my adviser also lost.
Anyways, I know a couple of people who had trouble graduating due to lack of organization on the schools part. If you are not a local, you will find it VERY hard to make friends and honestly, it is easily comparable to a large high school, in the middle of nowhere… </p>
<p>I don’t know your son but from what I read in this forum, I honestly think he would be better off at FSU. Yes it is a large school and it’s a big change, but it would benefit him in many ways to branch out and meet new people. If he attends FGCU he is also missing out on a real college experience (one that any of the other major universities in FL would offer.) It would also highly benefit him if he plans on attending grad school somewhere else or going professional (Law/Medicine etc.)</p>
<p>The student to faculty ratio is the same at both FSU and FGCU. FSU might be bigger, but they also have more faculty and resources.</p>
<p>My son is not from the Lee County area and just absolutely LOVES FGCU. Had no trouble making freinds as the Resident Assistants in each resident hall coordinates activities and events to help gets the kids to mingle. As far as the professors go, you get good apples and ad apples in any bunch. I recommend going to ratemyProfessor.com when choosing classes. The FGCU campus is brand spanking new, with brand new dorms. Everything is clean, new and state of the art. One thing some students complain about is that there is not much to do around the area. The campus is near Fort Myers Beach, Naples, Sanibel Island, Bonita Beach…etc so saying there is “not much to do” depends on what you like to do. No it is not a big party school-no football team. Pretty much the lowest crime rate in the country for a college campus. But if you are looking for good CLEAN fun and dorms overlooking their own private beach with access to paddle boards, sail boats, kayaks…etc, this is the college for you.
If you want the party hard scene, with the liquor and drugs, I have heard horror stories from FAU parents that I met during FGCU orientation. I personally don’t pay college tuition for my son to fry brain cells, He can do that for free. I am paying for a top notch education on a top notch college campus.</p>