Decision to apply to UCF or USF out of state

UNF is a typical directional school. It’s got industrial style buildings, a pretty nice athletic area, and is close to the beach. It used to require freshmen to live on campus but no longer does. My friend’s daughter didn’t like the dorms because they are more like motels, with doors that open onto balconies (don’t know if they are all like that).

Jacksonville is a ‘low’ school, set along the St. John’s river. You can see the cruise ships and the cargo ships across the river. It’s got a lot of area and the buildings are sort of spread out. They are also low, with maybe 3 floors. Sort of 1970s modern. There are some businesses in the area but it’s not downtown. Also not far from the beaches.

We didn’t care for Stetson at all. There are buildings spread along one main street but also fields and athletic buildings woven into some regular neighborhoods. There are some big Dutch style barn buildings and those had the administrative offices in them. There were some big, modern classroom buildings and I think a pretty impressive library. The law schools isn’t near the undergrad school (it’s in Tampa) so those students aren’t on campus. We only lived about an hour from Stetson but I never heard the high school kids talk about it, and I don’t think any kids from my daughters’ hs attended.

Both Jacksonville and Stetson are D1 schools but my daughter wasn’t interested in either. They aren’t known as big sports schools, and kids looking for big football or baseball head to UF, FSU, UCF. There are often huge parties in areas near Stetson that aren’t students, and I’ve seen bonfires and crowds overturning vehicles, etc. on the news.

U of Tampa is close to downtown Tampa and has a much more urban feel than the other schools. It has walls around the campus. I remember a lot of red brick and some turrets that have middle eastern designs on them (like you are looking at an oasis). Very pretty. It is Division 2 and I know a lot of kids who go there do it to play sports.

Thanks much!

I graduated from UofTampa so I can only speak to that school. UofTampa is a hot mess, especially when it comes to housing. Like others have mentioned, they accept way too many students knowing they don’t have enough housing nor the parking to facilitate so many students. I had an okay experience, but I would advise others to steer clear of the school. I would have definitely selected a different school if I could go back in time.

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My daughter got in. On the first student acccepted board it was all about partying. While she likes to have fun she realized it likely wasn’t serious.

Her friend goes and loves it. Goes to Disney every week. Said classes are easy.

My daughter is complaining her college is so hard.

Hmmm. I guess you can go to college and have fun. But these HIgh Schools…even ranked ones…don’t set our kids up for the reality of what college should be.

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What did she choose? UCF, USF or somewhere else? Curious.

The OP has not been on CC for close to a year. Please do not reopen such old threads. Closing.