I just recently got accepted to University of Florida (woo!) unfortunately I’m not financially stable enough to go this year and I am hoping to go to community college and live at home and then transfer to UF with my AA in 2 years. Is this a good idea? I’m just really scared because I’ve gotten accepted once and I’m afraid of not getting accepted again! I wish I could convince my mom to let me go but that would be selfish of me if we don’t have the money 
That definitely is tough. Financial Aid should be out early March. That will let you know more. If you do need to be a transfer student, you will need to pay attention to prerequisites and earning an AA degree. Congrats on your admission.
Hang in there…wait for Financial Aid and then make your choice. Going the CC route is a popular choice, each year, almost 1/3 of incoming undergraduate students, are transfer.
If UF is too expensive (I’m NOT a big fan of large student loans), then you may want to ask UF if you can switch into the PaCE program. Stay home a year or two, take your classes online (UF charges 75% of the normal tuition rate, without many of the fees…very affordable), and then AUTOMATICALLY be accepted into your major. If you plan on taking one of the majors offered via PaCE, it may be an option.
http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/learn/pace/
Good Luck!
EDIT: A quick Tuition and Fee’s cost comparison.
Local CC (most affordable option): $3,146 a year (30 credits)
UF PaCE: $3,876
UF: $6,380
^^LOVE the PACE idea!
You’d probably be OK going the CC route, but there would still be the wild card of getting ‘in’ after you get your AA… PACE is a work-around that could be a great solution.
If you’re worried about online, my DS did UF dual enrollment online and it was fine. Many first years live on campus and have an online course or two or three.
@Gator88NE Wow thanks for telling me about PaCE program that actually sounds like a great idea!! I’ll definitely look into that
@SouthFloridaMom9 I agree! the pace idea sounds like a great option for me, let’s hope it works out!! I definitely want to be a Gator!
PaCE works IF it offers the major you want. It is not easy to switch majors. If you do switch to a major not offered in the PaCE program you would still have to compete as a transfer student.
what if a PACE student transitioned to campus in his or her major, then tried to change majors after that?
for example, a PACE business studies major who wanted to switch majors to something like finance or accounting after transitioning as an on campus student? Assuming, the student met all pre-requisites course and GPA criteria, would the student be prohibited from changing majors solely on the basis of having started as a PACE student?
The community college route is a good option. You can save a ton of money living at home. You just have to keep a high gpa. Be aware of prerequisites in your major. Once you decide on a major you can visit the college and counseling will review your curriculum to ensure your on track for admission as a junior. Go get straight a’s at a CC and you’ll be fine.
RCGator–I think that the PACE program is truly limited to certain degree offerings from the onset. If you want to transition outside of the PaCE major offerings after you reach the 60 credits then you are considered a transfer student and will have to apply as such.
I’m sure it’s a great program for many students–they are Gators, can participate in student services if they pay an optional fee. It’s cheaper. They need off campus housing if they choose to be in G’ville but since they take on-line courses they don’t worry about the walk to classes (you can still live at home). Your diploma will say UF on it.
But I’d counsel against it if you think you really want a science track or want to get into a program other than those offered. I’d really research it big time before signing up.
thanks - I am researching it, and to some extent some of the issues are uncertain since the program was started only a couple of years ago and its possible these issues haven’t been addressed yet since the first group of PACE students probably only recently started transitioning to campus. From reading an older thread from a couple of years ago when a UF rep. was answering a lot of questions about PACE, it seems once the student transitions to campus, the student is considered the same as any other residential student, and should be able to change majors just any other regular student, without the need to be considered as a transfer student. The key point as I see it is that the PACE student is transitioning to campus in their major, then switching majors afterward. I understand that a PACE student who wants to change majors prior to transitioning to campus would have to apply as a regular transfer student.
@RCGator - once you transition to campus you are considered a junior - at that point it can be very difficult to change your major.
Sorry. You can consider taking Pace enrollment