<p>ACCEPTED!
Stats posted earlier in this thread. </p>
<p>Just based on my school alone it seems like they took leadership and extracurriculars very seriously in the admissions process. A friend of mine got accepted with an SAT score in the 1500s but was an officer of a dozen clubs. Another friend of mine had an SAT score of 2030 with no leadership positions and hardly any extracurriculars… got rejected. </p>
<p>Anyway, congrats to everyone else who got in! </p>
<p>@anderr123 I think is right on point. As a holistic admission school, they are looking for a little of everything and that outweighs scores and grades. </p>
<p>ACCEPTED!</p>
<p>SAT: 2080 (3rd sitting; did not submit)
SAT IIs: World History (690), Biology (710 or 720 I think), Math 2 (we don’t talk about that) (did not submit any of these since UF doesn’t look at them for admission)
ACT: 34 (1st and only sitting!)
GPA: Uhh… I forget but it was well above a 4.0. I think 4.2 or 4.3 UF GPA?
Rank: 15/about 500-ish at time of submitting app (top 5%)
Other stats: National Merit Finalist (Semifinalist at time of submitting app), AP Scholar with Distinction, Vice President of debate team and Distinction level for National Forensics League with heavy involvement throughout all four years, Corresponding Secretary of our school’s medical club, National Honor Society member (and chaired a small project in 11th grade), Student Government Association member with some small leadership positions for it in 9th and 10th grade (which is a pretty big deal for someone first starting out in high school), lots of volunteer work, summer job for one summer at a special needs camp, attended a national leadership conference another summer for medicine</p>
<p>Major: Pre-Med (psst… look up the UF pre-med Blurred Lines parody on YouTube)
Essays: I’d give mine an 8/10. Personally, I felt it was very passionate, but my guidance counselor warned me that they might be iffy about it since it <em>could</em> have come across as being about other people. Basically, I wrote about how I’ve met many people through debate over the years that have taught me a lot about life (trust me this was worded really nicely not just “lol I learned about life”), gave two examples of people I’ve learned from (without naming names), and answered in the final paragraph about how this would influence me as a college student - I’ve realized that life’s not just about academics and awards but rather about connecting with others, and I wrote about how I’m looking forward to getting to know people (again, worded better lol). It was about me, and about how I see things, but I referenced others’ experiences as examples. I’m partially an observer. For the “shorter essay” thing (forget what the exact topic was atm) I wrote about my objectives as VP of debate (this was written in the beginning of the school year, so there wasn’t a ton I had already done to write about yet) and gave an example of how I improved communication on our team using email and a mass text messaging system.
Teacher Recs: n/a (UF doesn’t use)
Counselor Rec: n/a (UF doesn’t use)
Hook (if any): I had an interesting family situation, not going to go into details but I did briefly mention it in the “family circumstances” section. I didn’t explain how it could’ve possibly hindered my academic success or anything (though it did create some small nuances, nothing worth explaining though), but it might have helped slightly since it’s not something a lot of people have and it gives me a unique background.</p>
<p>Location/Person: South Florida (Broward County)
State or Country: Florida
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Caucasian/Non-Hispanic
Gender: Female</p>
<p>Other Factors: NOT legacy, NOT first-gen. 12 AP courses throughout high school, with mostly A’s. No athletics (is debate a sport?). Did NOT dual-enroll at the local community college, even though many of my comparable peers at my school did. (My GPA was still competitive with theirs, though, since I had taken numerous AP’s and done well in them.)</p>
<p>(Going to put my “general comments” in a separate post since it’s really lengthy and contains a lot of advice for future applicants)</p>
<p>General Comments: I believe what got me in were my strong stats + strong involvement + passion. I’ve had at least like 50 people tell me “you’re definitely gonna get in” because they really felt like I’d be an ideal UF student, but I was still scared because I’ve heard some “weird” rejection stories before. But here’s something I’ve learned - you never really know EVERYTHING that’s in someone’s records and history. </p>
<p>In this post I’m giving you guys a lot of info because I’m sure there’s some high school underclassman who’s gonna stumble across this thread one day, all worried like I was. The truth is, UF is really good (like, I’d say 95% accuracy) at knowing who’d be be the best fit for their school. There are some exceptions - definitely, but naturally that’s going to happen with such a large and diverse (not just in race/class/gender! but also in interests and passion) app pool - but in general, they know what they’re doing. I know the classmates in my grade better than I knew the c/o 2013 and so on, and there was (generally) a good division between those who got in and those that didn’t. There were some surprises on both ends, but more so on “I’m surprised he/she got accepted” than “I’m surprised he/she got rejected.” Not that the “accepted” surprises didn’t deserve it - they totally did! - just that I, personally, didn’t know the reason(s) why… but clearly UF did, and I’m very happy and excited for them too!</p>
<p>I can’t stress the passion thing enough. Look up their “This is Home” YouTube video. The quote said in that video is basically my attitude toward school, and what my app likely conveyed as well. They want students that they feel will fit well with their school’s philosophy. “Home is not a place. It’s a piece of your soul. And when it shines alongside hearts akin, we become connected.” The admissions officer that visited my high school told us that she wanted our app to “tell a story,” so I structured mine in a way that made it felt kind of like you were in the room with me (especially since UF doesn’t do interviews). (Lol, I wonder if any of you feel like you’re listening to me talk right now.) (My friends think I talk a lot… wonder why.) (Wait, why did I join the debate team again?) </p>
<p>For example, I didn’t just write that I worked at a camp - I explained what the experience working there was like. I love UF’s app, especially compared to the Common App (sticks out tongue) because UF gives you room to really elaborate on your activities. AND THEY DO THAT FOR A REASON. Some people apply with very good stats, but don’t really elaborate - those students don’t always get in.</p>
<p>“Knowledge, passion, courage, and grit, we’re all a part of this family - and together, we will embark on a journey that will take you beyond your limits and into greatness.” (I kind of wonder if they heard my freshman presidency election speech, since it was based on this concept.) (I lost, lol but who cares. I did great things with my time in HS anyway.) The other main point the admissions officer told us is that she wants/they want to admit people they can see themselves being friends with. You’re not just an academic student - you’re also someone’s roommate, you’re also someone’s lab partner, you’re also going to be laughing over a tray of cookies at 3 AM, or leading others on a project. You can’t just be a hermit - you also have to be personable. Now, I’m not saying that the rejects are hermits, but some (definitely not all!) might have not shown enough example in their app proving how well (in detail) they’re able to connect with others. I feel like my essay really showed that, especially.</p>
<p>With that in mind, UF doesn’t like arrogance, or people who feel like they “deserve” to get in. Do I feel I deserved it? I feel that I worked for it. I also felt like this school is a great school for me, and made sure to subtly convey that throughout my app. (The “This is Home” video only proves I was right about my fit there.)</p>
<p>So, to those aforementioned underclassmen - I won’t tell you to take a deep breath, since that won’t really help you. But I’ll tell you to a. eat ice cream, because ice cream makes everything better and b. to just be yourself while filling out the app. Write about you, but make sure to write in a way that SHOWS (not tells!) that you’d make for an excellent Gator. Don’t just show your merits - also show that you’re good at CONNECTING with people.</p>
<p>One last note - speaking of merits - yeah, grades matter. Try to get mostly A’s, maybe a B here or there. If you get too many C’s, or anything lower, you’re likely out. I’ve known of people with, like, national rankings in debate, or legacies, or people with high test scores, or sports stars or whatever who didn’t get in. For many of them, it was likely due to not having a strong enough academic record - basically, the stuff that goes on your SAR. That’s like 50% of your app (the holistic side being the other 50%). For some, arrogance might have played a role. And for some, they might have had awards, yeah, but they didn’t really show their influence.</p>
<p>So I’ll say oneee last thing (I promise this time!) - I’ve never won any awards in debate. Ever. I mean like, I’ve gotten some certificates at novice afterschool tournaments my freshman year (the smallest deal at all possible), but that’s literally it. But I’ve gotten much more out of debate. I’ve strengthened my speaking skills, but more importantly, I strengthened my “people skills” and learned that who you are and how you treat others is often more important than what merits you have and what cool stuff you’ve done. I decided I’d be a positive influence for my team, especially this year’s novices (love you guys), and that means more to me than any piece of scrap metal dust-collector.</p>
<p>Keep that idea in mind. UF certainly will.</p>
<p>(Oh, and if you’re reading this and know me personally - HIIIIII! yes this is exactly who you’re thinking it is.)</p>
<p>(Meanwhile, I’m gonna go deal with my 300 Twitter notifications from fellow #UF18’s. No seriously my phone’s blowing up with pinging noises right now. I think I’ve found my new home for sure)</p>
<p>Rejected…</p>
<p>SAT: 2110 [Super Score: Math 800 / Writing 720 / Reading 590]
ACT: 32 [Super Score]
UW GPA: 3.967
W GPA: 4.827
Rank: 2/463
Other Stats: 16 AP’s (3 in Freshman, 3 in Sophomore, 4 in Junior, and 6 in Senior) and did 5 Dual Enrollment courses at Miami Dade College.</p>
<p>Major: Chemical or Material Science Engineering
Essays: I’m sure I did really well, I wrote about how I did an experiment my own way at a NASA internship in the summer about graphene conductivity and opened a whole ton of ideas. I wrote about how exciting this environment was for me and how it pushed me further for my dreams in material science.
Hooks: First Generation</p>
<p>Location: Sunrise, FL
State: Florida
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
EC: 4 years of All Country, 3 years in Mu Alpha Theta (President and top scorer in my school in the competitions). I played the piano for 2 years and was in the school band but I dropped it in favor of taking more rigorous courses.</p>
<p>UF has been my dream school since middle school. I would always be with the Gators in the football games. I knew decisions came out at 6 pm yesterday, but I was too nervous even though I thought I was a shoe in. I kept getting calls from friends who were happy to be accepted, which made me even more so hopeful because I supported and tutored some of them in the hopes that we could go to the same college together. Around 9 pm, I finally felt the urge to check, and then I was heart broken. No reason at all, just flat out rejected. I couldn’t sleep. I’m seriously depressed and feel betrayed by the education system. I feel really insecure about my future, and I am even angry to see people in my facebook getting admitted to my dream school, who I know aren’t anywhere near as qualified as me. I guess I’m jealous, but I don’t know what to do anymore. I wish I could appeal, but I don’t have any grounds to make one. I simply cant…</p>
<p>rejected</p>
<p>I really don’t know what went on with Florida admissions this year. It is if they picked who they would accept out of a hat. I know so many over qualified applicants who were rejected who had seemed as if they were shoo-ins. It makes me upset to see people who were much more qualified that I was be turned away. I too was recently rejected from my dream school and I know it hurts. Just try to stay positive to all of you that were rejected. You will all wind up attending amazing schools. </p>
<p>@hopmayer really I am so sorry. I was sure you would get in. AH NELL NAH YOU BETTER APPEAL THAT ON GROUNDS OF THEM BEING STUPID</p>
<p>My S was rejected and frankly I’m really disappointed. He has all the qualifications (not going to list them), better than some on these boards and he wasn’t selected. His first choice was UF. He was accepted into USF Honors and FSU Honors but really wanted UF. Maybe his mistake was applying for their pre-med program. I don’t know. All I know is that he will not be a Gator come this Fall. </p>
<p>How do you appeal anyway, just for kicks? </p>
<p>@hopmayer wow real sorry to hear. How are you taking it and what do you plan to do?</p>
<p>ACCEPTED</p>
<p>SAT:1710
SAT IIs: Did not take
ACT: 27
GPA: 4.7
Rank: My school does not rank
Other stats: Honor roll student</p>
<p>Major: Engineering
Essay: Pretty good. I wrote about being an immigrant and getting accepted to a top 10 highschool in the U.S
Hook (if any): I am a minority and a girl applying for an engineering major
Location/Person: Miami
School Type: Public, very demanding. I go to high school and I also go to college. I will be graduating with and A.A degree
Gender: Female
Other Factors: I took a lot of demanding college courses. So far I’ve taken about 30 courses (high school and college) I am in the National Honor Society</p>
<p>General Comments: I am very surprised I got in! After reading stats from the people in this discussion I feel very lucky and grateful being accepted. I think admission officers took into consideration that I came to the U.S 3 years ago and I’ve done a lot of challenging things (In my essay I wrote that English was very difficult for me, nevertheless I didn’t make that an obstacle…)
Even though my SAT is BELOW average I believe that this DOES NOT reflect the quality of students, some of us are not good taking standardized tests, I also did not make SAT/ACT such a big issue because I knew that UF admission people look beyond that, such as your history, GPA, and things that you have overcome as an student.
It is true that UF’s admissions are very weird, I didnt even thought of applying (1710 SAT score !!) but after I talked with some friends who encouraged me to apply I decided to do it…I am very thankful they helped me feel less scared about applying :D</p>
<p>@PinkLoveSunshine I loved your comments btw :)</p>
<p>DENIED
1880 sat
4.05 UF GPA
6 APs
Legacy
In-State
Cross Country Captain
Philanthropy Club Treasurer
Great essay and well written resume</p>
<p>go noles! :D</p>
<p>ACCEPTED!</p>
<p>SAT: 2210 - 1st and only sitting
SAT IIs: None
ACT: 32 (1st and only sitting!)
GPA: 4.45
Rank: 1 of 491
Other stats: National Merit Commended Status (205 in CA), Marching Band Drum Major, CSF, AP Scholar with Distinction, Lead Defense Atty. Mock Trial, National Honor Society member
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Essays: I was very passionate about my Florida roots. 4/5
Hook (if any): My focus on team building and collaboration.</p>
<p>Location/Person: Ventura County
State or Country: California
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Caucasian/Non-Hispanic
Gender: Male</p>
<p>Other Factors: NOT legacy, NOT first-gen. 13 AP courses throughout high school, one B. all 5s except Physics as a sophomore… Did NOT dual-enroll at the local community college</p>
<p>Rejected. Repost of stats here - </p>
<p>SAT: 2070, 1390 CR+M
SAT IIs: 730 Lit
ACT: N/A
GPA: 3.67 uw at the time of submission, 3.79 now
Rank: N/A
Other stats: 7 APs. President of MUN. Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper. Award for AP Lang. Libertarian Party rep.</p>
<p>Major: Political Science
Essays: Meh. I wrote about charity work. Well-written, but I think the AdCom could tell I really wasn’t interested in their school.
Hook (if any): Expat brat. LGBT, possibly?</p>
<p>Location/Person: Dubai, but Florida resident
State or Country: UAE/US
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female</p>
<p>Reflection: Tbh, I applied to UF solely because I was in-state… going to study law at UCL (my first choice) this fall regardless. I hope everyone else does well!</p>
<p>@snb123 My personal theory is that UF wanted to pick students who really, really wanted to go. I think they got tired of being seen as a reliable safety for high-achieving Florida kids using it as a backup if they didn’t get into their top choices. So they picked kids who fell into their range with huge demonstrated interest, instead of kids outside their range with only a little demonstrated interest. Not that they’re admitting unintelligent kids, obviously.</p>
<p>Like, I’m fairly sure the reason I got in is because I didn’t really appear to be enthused about the school (though I had the stats). </p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear about those rejected. As it is with many flggship schools ( especially those with a state lottery college support program) UF selects students based on majors and their space availability. In addition they know that there are a lot of cpable students that never got a good education choice, they make some room for those too. </p>
<p>I guess what I’m saying is if you are going after a popular major the bar might be much higher that you anticipated, therefore we are seeing such surprises. I always think that you compare your stats with those in your own high schools and the majors selected. That will give you a better sense of what happened.</p>
<p>That being said, Florida has a lot of good schools with UCF being the upcoming school in STEM fields. In Pre-med you have a ton of good choices with their own medical schools. Just focus on the end game of what you want to be. Everybody takes a different route to success.</p>
<p>IMHO, Florida is overrated during the first 2 years of your undergraduate degree. The clasess are humoungous and learning gets diluted. Sure the school spirit is there and top athletics but that’s not all in you college life.</p>
<p>Best to all! </p>
<p>Accepted!
(I took the liberty of adapting this from an earlier post)</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I: 2330 (740M 790CR 800W)
SAT IIs: did not submit
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.90
Weighted GPA: 6.13
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 2%
AP (place score in parentheses): AP World (5), AP Human Geo (5) AP Biology (5) AP Euro (5), AP Spanish Language (4), APUSH (5), AP Art History (5), AP Calc BC (5), AP Chemistry (3), AP English Language (5), AP Physics B (4), AP Physics C, AP Gov, AP Macro, AP English Literature
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, Creative Writing 3/4 H., Multivariable Calc/Diff Eq., AP Gov/AP Macro, World Religions H./Holocaust Studies H., AP English Lit
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): National Art & Writing Awards, Silver Key
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): National AP Scholar, National Hispanic Scholar, Bryn Mawr Book Award, Silver Knight nominee (it’s a district thing)</p>
<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Lab Show Coordinator (officer) w/ Science NHS (12), Secretary w/ Creative Writing Club (12)
Job/Work Experience: Research with a professor at the local university
Volunteer/Community Service: I volunteer four hours a week at a science museum, and help out with Science NHS. Not much else besides
Summer Experience: Lab work at the university.</p>
<p>Major: Physics
Essay: I’d give it a 7/10.</p>
<p>U.S. State/Territory or Country: FL
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Income Bracket Range: < 30k
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athlete, development): I’m Hispanic, low income, a girl in science. I also have cerebral palsy but I don’t know if that’s a hook or not.</p>
<p>Reflection
Strengths: SAT, URM status + hooks, essay
Weaknesses: …</p>
<p>What would you have done differently?: nothing. I did everything I could.</p>
<p>General Comments & Advice: UF seems to be really sporadic. Arm yourself with this intelligence so you won’t be too bummed if you got rejected. Congrats to all those who got in and may everyone who didn’t get in find their place somewhere better!</p>
<p>@dubaitragedy yeah I know. it just hurts me seeing people with higher stats get rejected when I know they should have gotten in over me. I live in NJ and have not shown a lot of interest to the school (although I am a huge Florida Gators fan) and my stats are extremely low compared to a lot of people. I most likely will be attending another school instead, so I guess I feel sort of guilty that I took the spot of someone who really wanted to be there. It just makes me wonder what they saw in my application that they didn’t see in others and what got me accepted, because I am pretty sure it was not my mediocre stats. </p>