Finding my place: UCF and UF

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
1

<p>I have been accepted into both UF and UCF, and currently applying for UCF honors college. My problem is that I am pretty much 50/50 borderline on which college to go to. As far as majors go, I am interested in Comp Sci, Psychology, and Accounting. UF appears to be the place for Accounting, and UCF for Comp Sci. I've been told by many that I can't really go wrong with whichever school I decide to go to. I've toured both, asked numerous students from both schools, and yet I still feel so undecided.</p>

<p>When it comes to campus and setting, I love UF's campus way more than UCF, however I liked how UCF had activity around it, I didn't feel isolated because it was the city.</p>

<p>With UCF Honors college I like the fact that it is a small learning environment in a large campus, but with UF you get the high prestige that follows you. People say at UF you are just a number because it is so large and UCF Honors is a better opportunity, but I still question if it will open the doors for me like UF, since UCF isn't as well known yet (at least outside florida).</p>

<p>Help would be greatly appreciated, if there is anyone here that has experienced or is experiencing the same dilemma, or anybody that transferred from UF to UCF and vice versa please respond, because I would be interested in knowing why.</p>

2

<p>It sounds like you really can’t go wrong.</p>

<p>Regarding Honors Colleges, I great preferred what I heard from UCF vs. UF.</p>

<p>I’m with you on the colllege - I like UF’s campus a lot better, but I like the setting of UCF.</p>

<p>Agree on Comp. Sci. I would pick UCF.</p>

<p>I think for psychology or accounting I would choose UF.</p>

<p>It sounds to me like you can’t go wrong with either choice.</p>

<p>Just relax and follow your gut.</p>

3

<p>“People say at UF you are just a number because it is so large and UCF Honors is a better opportunity, but I still question if it will open the doors for me like UF, since UCF isn’t as well known yet (at least outside florida).”</p>

<p>UCF is huge. I think it’s actually bigger than UF in terms of enrollement. You don’t go to UCF because you want to be in a small school, honors or not.</p>

<p>And when you say “UCF isn’t as well known yet,” UCF will NEVER be as well known as UF. UF is the state’s flagship university, and has very strong brand recognition on a national level. UCF will always be considered at best a second or third tier University, unknown by anyone outside of Florida.</p>

4

<p>Agree with Sean. UCF may seem a lot better than it really is within Florida, but on a national level UF is by far the better school. If anything, you can spend a year at UF and transfer to UCF if you don’t like it.</p>

5

<p>FYI: UF’s computer science program is ranked in the Top-50 amongst all universities in the United States.</p>

<p>I also believe that FSU is tied with Miami for the 2nd strongest brand recognition in the state (However - UM has the edge in the Northeast).</p>

6

<p>UCF doesn’t even have a great reputation in Florida, much less on a national level. </p>

<p>It’s the fourth-best public university in the state. Fifth best (maybe) overall in-state. UF is number one overall in-state and a tier one school nationally. This is a no-brainer.</p>

7

<p>UF any day.</p>

8

<p>^^^ High praise coming from an FSU grad.</p>

9

<p>While I will debate with UF supporters the FSU - UF difference with enthusiasm, don’t forget that I have a lot of UF grads in my family. :wink: FSU and UF are the two flagships schools of Florida.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>[Senate</a> bill would designate UF as state’s elite school | Gainesville.com](<a href=“http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100326/ARTICLES/100329564/1002?Title=Senate-bill-would-designate-UF-as-state-s-elite-school]Senate”>http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100326/ARTICLES/100329564/1002?Title=Senate-bill-would-designate-UF-as-state-s-elite-school)</p>

<p>;)</p>

11

<p>(fsu=ucf)<uf</p>

12

<p>FSU is on a much higher level than UCF – its not even close.</p>

13

<p>“Senate bill would designate UF as state’s elite school | Gainesville.com”</p>

<p>even more reason to hate my county… >_<</p>

14

<p>I was going through the same ordeal, because UCF does have some positives, such as a nice campus that’s not as spread out and easier to navigate, a nice honors college, the Lead Scholars program, and the location and opportunities in Orlando. I also thought the students on campus were friendlier, and I’m not as much of a football fan as the typical UF student. I was also concerned I’d feel lost in a crowd at UF and not get much personal attention. Nevertheless I am choosing UF, for financial reasons as well as many other reasons. I’m going to join clubs and seek out advising and make sure I don’t have those problems. And I like a good football game every now and then, so maybe the passion will grow. I think in the end its whatever is right for you. Don’t let the reputation and rankings make the decision for you.</p>

15

<p>It is impossible to legislate excellence. Senate Bill 2442 is all about money; UF is trying to position itself to be first in line for state funding.</p>

16

<p>Looks like the only really measurable thing in the bill that distinguishes UF as “flaghip” separated from other state universities is the $500 million per year research threshold.</p>

<p>[Session</a> :Bills : : flsenate.gov](<a href=“http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb2442c1.html&Directory=session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/html/]Session”>http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb2442c1.html&Directory=session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/html/)</p>

17

<p>UF tried it before and was soundly defeated in 1988: <a href=“http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XsQMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2EDAAAAIBAJ&dq=dressler%20flagship&pg=6416%2C7729797[/url]”>http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XsQMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2EDAAAAIBAJ&dq=dressler%20flagship&pg=6416%2C7729797&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>FSU is too highly ranked today as it was then for UF to win this.</p>

18

<p>

</p>

<p>Its the ONLY measurable thing. It doesn’t stop other universities from bolstering their research income to meet that threshold and become included as a “flagship”.</p>

19

<p>p2n, this is what I find the most interesting in the 1988 article you just provided:</p>

<p>“… the University of Florida, long perceived as the state’s flagship university…”</p>

<p>That goes 100% counter to anything you’ve tried saying regarding FSU being considered “better” than UF in the “recent” past. :D</p>

20

<p>First of all, UF journalism grads have long dominated Florida media. I suggest you take Florida media pronouncements with a grain of salt. ;)</p>

<p>Reading the article we also find:

</p>