<p>“Anyway, I do believe UF has a better reputation out of state”</p>
<p>… As well as in-state. UCF has absolutely no brand-recognition nationwide and only a fraction of the recognition that UF recieves in-state.</p>
<p>“as far as academics, [UF] wins hands down… You get the taught the same material there as you do in UF.”</p>
<p>This is almost contradictory. It may be the same material, but the quality of education differs greatly. If all that mattered was the material, we could all just buy the textbooks and stay home to teach ourselves. The institution matters, and UF is a superior institution.</p>
<p>UCFers and the rest will say anything to convince themselves and others that it’s not such a bad thing to go to UCF instead of UF. They’re probably right. The plain fact is that UF is superior academically, and in terms of degree prestige without a doubt. Can you work hard and succeed at UCF? Sure. Will UF open more doors for you? Absolutely. Can you work just as hard a recieve a better education at UF? Definitely.</p>
<p>I guess my statments did seem to contradict themselves, but you understand where I was getting at. You can work hard and succeed at UCF, just like you can work hard and succeed at UF. Will a biology degree from UF teach you more than biology degree from UCF? No. The amount of information one learns is directly equivalent with the effort one puts in to learn it. A UF grad is not automatically smarter/more knowledgable than me just because he went to UF and I didn’t. He could be, considering the quality of students UF graduates, but it doesn’t mean he is. </p>
<p>What makes a school academically superior to another anyway? The quality of students, faculty, and research right? But of all these, I believe the quality of students is the most important. Consider a scenario where all UF students went to UCF for a year. Will they learn any less than what they would have learned at UF? I sincerly doubt it. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong guys, UF is a great school, but choosing not to go there does not make you any less competent than someone who does. Yes, UF OVERALL has better students and staff, but that doesn’t mean UCF does not have good people either.</p>
<p>I guess the moral of my post is this: UF has a better reputation because of what I just mentioned above. It doesn’t mean a UCF grad is any less competent. It just means his/her school is not as well known for its quality of students and faculty.</p>
<p>By the by, I will defend my school to the death. Bring it gators.</p>
<p>That was a very insightful post. Whereas the student caliber at UF is unarguably higher, I agree that you could probably learn the same amount at either school. </p>
<p>However, UF has a much more powerful alumni base and the degree holds more weight.</p>
<p>This is what makes this question so hard to answer. Answers generally don’t address quality of education but rather conventional wisdom and common perceptions - not all of which are true.</p>
<p>But here’s the question that I have (and it’s hard to answer) - If I want to get a Ph.D. in Chemistry from a top-flight school (University of Chicago, for example) will getting a B.S. from UF better prepare me than a B.S. from UCF (or FSU or any other public university)?</p>
<p>Again, instead of getting quantifiable answers all people really have are generalizations and perceptions.</p>
<p>^^^ It is quantifiable. Degree strength is an important factor for graduate school admissions. UF provides a stronger degree than UCF. It’s not a generalization. </p>
<p>As a pre-law major I was told by an admissions person at my top-choice law school that going to UF rather than USF or FIU would make my application “a thousand times” more competitive assuming grades and test scores were equal. </p>
<p>You have a choice between a school that offers a stronger degree or a weaker degree. One has strong, quantifiable brand recognition on a national level while the other is unheard of. It’s a no brainer. It would be foolish to turn UF down for an unknown, unrespected regional institution like UCF or another school of the same caliber IMO.</p>
<p>“I guess the moral of my post is this: UF has a better reputation because of what I just mentioned above. It doesn’t mean a UCF grad is any less competent. It just means his/her school is not as well known for its quality of students and faculty.”</p>
<p>No one is discussing competence. We are discussing which degree offers more to graduates. If a UCF grad from the top of his class is in competion with a UF grad from the top of his own class for a job, who do you think is more likely to get an interview? ESPECIALLY if the job is out of state or out of UCF’s market area in-state. The school with greater respect and greater brand recognition, which is obviously UF. On paper (which is all that gets you to an interview), the UF grad beats the UCF grad and beats him soundly.</p>
<p>Defend your school all you want. Coming out of either institution won’t make you competent or incompetent. The fact is that UF provides a higher degree of prestige to its grads and that prestige will follow them for the rest of their careers, whereas UCF is unheard of and unrespected even in the state of Florida.</p>
<p>Haha, I just noticed this was a UF forum. No wonder I was feeling so much opposition. </p>
<p>Anyway, SeanCris, your attitude of superiority is amazingly evident in your post. Dude, I get it, UF IS A GOOD SCHOOL, and it has a better repuatation that UCF. WE GET THAT. Congratulations. But don’t come on here and try to downplay my school by calling it “unknown and unrespected in the state of Florida”. That is a formal way of saying “Your school sucks, I’m a gator, and I’m way better than you.” Ya, no.</p>
<p>“Anyway, SeanCris, your attitude of superiority is amazingly evident in your post. Dude, I get it, UF IS A GOOD SCHOOL, and it has a better repuatation that UCF. WE GET THAT.”</p>
<p>That’s the point of this thread, in case you hadn’t noticed. OP wants to know what makes UF a better option than UCF. Most of us on this forum believe that UF is a much better option. Don’t get all offended and defensive when people discuss the reasons for that being the case.</p>
<p>“But don’t come on here and try to downplay my school by calling it “unknown and unrespected in the state of Florida”.”</p>
<p>That’s a fact, what I said is true. UCF virtually unknown nationally, and is recognized as being maybe the 4th best public school in the state behind UF, FSU and USF. If you add private schools in-state UCF drops even further in the rankings. That would make UCF the 5th or 6th best school in the state of Florida. 5th or 6th place in the competition of a single state doesn’t impress many people. Sorry if that offends you, but the OP should recognize that fact and make an informed decision.</p>
<p>"That is a formal way of saying “Your school sucks, I’m a gator, and I’m way better than you.” Ya, no. "</p>
<p>You rank UCF the sixth best school in Florida? You’re kidding right? Maybe in sports ranking, but not academics. I say third, and quickly rising. Central Floridians are realizing that UCF offers a great education in our very own backyard, and through time, we will make it even better. The school’s been around for 40 years, give it time to build a reputation.</p>
<p>This is what has been established pertaining to the Op’s original question:
1.) UF is a great school and has the best reputation of all schools in Florida. You can’t go wrong by going there.
2.) You can still get a great education at UCF, especially if you plan to stay in Florida.</p>
<p>My problem with you:
Your tone and choice of words towards my school. We respect your school, respect ours.</p>
<p>I never said I was better than anyone for going to UF. All I’ve talked about in this thread is the fact that UF is superior in a number of ways (national brand recognition, degree strength, etc.) and you haven’t even disagreed. You just got all defensive when I said that UCF is unheard of outside of Florida (which is true) and that it’s not generally respected in-state (also true). When I say that it’s not respected I simply mean that it isn’t considered to be the same caliber as UF or FSU, and their degrees are considered less prestigious. </p>
<p>“You rank UCF the sixth best school in Florida? You’re kidding right? Maybe in sports ranking, but not academics. I say third, and quickly rising.”</p>
<p>Of course you do. But the fact is that UF > UCF. FSU > UCF. Miami > UCF. This is hardly debatable. That makes UCF fourth by default. </p>
<p>USF vs. UCF is the only debatable matchup here. USF has three times the endowment of UCF (UF having around 10 times the endowment of UCF). In terms of national brand recognition USF wins out. USF has stronger brand recognition due mostly to its athletic programs. In terms of academics I think New College of Florida would edge out UCF as well, but UCF certainly has the edge over New College in terms of brand recognition. </p>
<p>“Central Floridians are realizing that UCF offers a great education in our very own backyard, and through time, we will make it even better. The school’s been around for 40 years, give it time to build a reputation.”</p>
<p>In 50 years, UCF won’t be the same caliber as what UF or FSU are today. UF and FSU will continue to progress. Everything you’re saying is an attempt to downplay this fact (ie “UCF is third and quickly rising”). UF and UCF are miles and miles apart in terms of endowment, academic competition, degree strength/prestige, and national brand recognition. They always will be. If you have an opportunity to go to UF over UCF, you should take it IMO.</p>
<p>No one’s saying that UCF is a bad school. It’s just isn’t in the same conversation as UF, and this thread addresses the differences between what UCF offers and what UF offers. This whole conversation is like asking which school is better; UNC or East Carolina University. It’s a rediculous comparison. East Carolina might be nice but if you have the opportunity you should go to UNC because it offers much more to graduates.</p>
<p>Seancris, your posts are so full of ridiculous statments that I no longer have the energy or desire to quote and fix all your misstatements and contradictions. It is evident that you look down on UCF. Your posts have confirmed that. This is no longer a matter of the OP’s original question. It’s a matter of you trying to shove your UF propaganda down my throat by seriously downplaying my school. You think too highly of yourself. </p>
<p>The reality is this: If you (SeanC) and I both graduate from our respective schools with the same degree and the same credentials, you will have a slight advantage over me in finding a job. True fact. It is the comparative advantage. Eventually though, you and I will both find a job. Guess what? The advantage is now over. What now matters is the skills I have acquired and how I use them on the job. Our skills are not that far off. This is not a comparison of a Harvard grad with a Full Sail grad. It’s one of a UF grad vs a UCF grad. If you and I both worked hard while in school, we will both possess about the same amount of education. You will not be way smarter than me or me way smarter than you. It’s all a matter of competence from that point on. If I am competent and can perform on the job, I will succeed. This is unarguable. </p>
<p>In disagreement with what you said earlier, the prestige of being a UF grad will not follow you your entire life. A degree from Harvard might, but not UF. This Sean, is logic. I don’t need to throw in statistics or endowment to explain my point.</p>
<p>“It is evident that you look down on UCF. Your posts have confirmed that. This is no longer a matter of the OP’s original question. It’s a matter of you trying to shove your UF propaganda down my throat by seriously downplaying my school.”</p>
<p>lol, by backing up my statement that UCF is the fifth best school in Florida, I am trying to shove UF propoganda down your throat. The OP should be aware that UCF has only 1/10th the endowment of UF. Sorry if facts offend you.</p>
<p>“The reality is this: If you (SeanC) and I both graduate from our respective schools with the same degree and the same credentials, you will have a slight advantage over me in finding a job. True fact. It is the comparative advantage. Eventually though, you and I will both find a job. Guess what? The advantage is now over.”</p>
<p>We are talking about education, and which school gives you a better advantage. You’ve admitted that a UF grad has an advantage finding a job. A UF grad with a strong GPA will also have an advantage on his/her grad school application. The advantage isn’t necessarily over. UF grads can become Phi Beta Kappans. UCF grads cannot. The advantage in applying to grad school could be invaluable. As I’ve said in other threads, I was told personally by an advisor at my #1 choice for graduate school that a degree from UF rather than UCF or USF (who both offered me more money) would make my admission “one thousand times more likely.”</p>
<p>“In disagreement with what you said earlier, the prestige of being a UF grad will not follow you your entire life. A degree from Harvard might, but not UF. This Sean, is logic. I don’t need to throw in statistics or endowment to explain my point.”</p>
<p>Didn’t mean to make it out as if UF was on par with an ivy league degree. Obviously it’s not, but the university has strong brand recognition which will follow a grad their entire life. This brand recognition is especially strong in the state of Florida, and it does carry a degree of prestige in-state. There is also great and growing disparity between the quality of students at UF and UCF as evidenced by admissions criteria and logically it follows that there will be disparity between the quality of graduates. By and large it’s a true statement that everyone who got into UF also got into UCF if they had applied to both schools.</p>
<p>"…I was told personally by an advisor at my #1 choice for graduate school that a degree from UF rather than UCF or USF (who both offered me more money) would make my admission “one thousand times more likely.” " </p>
<p>The beauty of advisors is that they all have different opinions and they are not always right. Do you think that as a UF grad that you are 1000x better than me? I sure hope you don’t. Like I mentioned earlier, the skill range between UF and UCF is not that big. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an overly biased moron. I was accepted into both UF and UCF, yet I chose UCF for a number of reasons. Am I now automatically inferior because of it?</p>
<p>Also, the ranking you gave UCF is an opinion, not a fact. True fact is that it is ranked at least third. Anything below is subject to scrunity and is a personal opinion. </p>
<p>"The OP should be aware that UCF has only 1/10th the endowment of UF. Sorry if facts offend you. "</p>
<p>Who cares? Cool, you can upgrade your landscape and build a new cafeteria. It won’t take away from my education. </p>
<p>“You’ve admitted that a UF grad has an advantage finding a job”</p>
<p>Yes, a slight one, due to the reputation of graduating good students. But this only applies to your FIRST job. Everything after that is based on your previous job and the skills you have. </p>
<p>“A UF grad with a strong GPA will also have an advantage on his/her grad school application”</p>
<p>This is true. I agree with you Sean. (My God!) This is probably the biggest advantage, especially if applying to a UF grad school, as they seem to highly favor their own. I personally plan to apply to a UCF grad school, so I see no problems for me there. Still, a UCF grad with high marks willl eventually find a grad school somewhere. You will not be doomed to fail just because you went to UCF. I guess this is the most important point of all.</p>
<p>You need to go wherever you feel most comfortable. End of story. Some people like the small college type town of Gainesville, others like myself did not. I liked the opportunities living in Orlando had to offer. UF does have a large and strong alumni base. However, that could possibly be because when most of those alumni were at UF, UCF was either not created or just starting up as Florida Tech. The UCF we know today is only about 30 years old. In another 30 years, who knows what the alumni bases for the two schools will be like?</p>
<p>UF is well known throughout the country. The school has been around 100 years (probably more, sorry). However, in recent history, I believe that most people known the school for its athletic prominence. That may have led people to learning more about the school’s academics. I do think that the athletic success has created many of the gator fans we see on these message boards who think that UF is the best, no matter what.</p>
<p>UF, FSU, and UCF are probably the three best public universities in the state. This may change over time as each grows and changes. I believe that in four years UCF will be a tier one school with all of the improvements in facilities and academics. Every year UCF is getting better. And to the poster who mentioned the student to faculty ratio is too high: if you are in the honors college, your honors classes are capped at 20 students.</p>
<p>Let me briefly explain what a higher-ranked university has to offer over a lower-ranked university:</p>
<p>1) The professors/researchers are more known and respected in the academic and/or corporate industry. Ex: You will be taught by professors who have written popular academic text books or have theories, inventions, or methods named after them.</p>
<p>2) The students in your classroom are more competitive. Most of these students were top 10% in their class so they take academics seriously. Their egos will get the best of them and drive them to study as hard as they can to get the “A”. In turn, this should also drive you to study as hard as you can.</p>
<p>3) Tests are not trivial. Most of the tests are much more challenging. I’ve seen tests at lower-ranked universities and they are much, much easier. To get an “A” on those easy tests all you had to do was memorize answers to homework problem. Do you really maximize your knowledge of the subject matter by memorizing answers?</p>
<p>4) You will have more undergraduate research opportunities.</p>
<p>5) Hiring companies know about 1) through 4).</p>
<p>“However, in recent history, I believe that most people known the school for its athletic prominence. That may have led people to learning more about the school’s academics. I do think that the athletic success has created many of the gator fans we see on these message boards who think that UF is the best, no matter what.”</p>
<p>Haha, I completely agree. Sports at UF have really helped its reputation out. </p>
<p>By the way MysteryTime, where were you throughout this whole UF vs UCF argument? I could have used a hand.</p>
<p>“Tests are not trivial. Most of the tests are much more challenging. I’ve seen tests at lower-ranked universities and they are much, much easier. To get an “A” on those easy tests all you had to do was memorize answers to homework problem. Do you really maximize your knowledge of the subject matter by memorizing answers?”</p>
<p>My tests are not trivial. I have had questions on Chemistry tests that were APPARENT to ones I have had on my homework, but not the same. But this is necessary is it not? The homework is there to help you understand the material. If I have a hw question asking the molarity of x in diluted solution y where t reactions occured, why should I not have a similar question on a test. The point of the test is to make sure you can analyze a reacion and know how to extract information from it. If I did the homework, I would know how to do these things by practicing these kinds of problems. </p>
<p>I might just be misunderstanding your statement. If you’re talking about something like a history exam where the questions on the exam are the same as those of the homework, will then yes, those are trivial and easy. I got those in high school, but not college. </p>
<p>I think you just saw one easy test and falsely assumed they were all like this. They are not. Therefore I disagree with your #3, and to some extent your #2 and #4.</p>
<p>Lets remember we’re comparing UF to the Honors College at UCF, not really the university as a whole. When it comes to the honors college, goufgators’ criteria 1-4 certainly apply.</p>
<p>Often, as well, the Honors students at UCF mare much more likely to hold leadership positions outside of the classroom than the typical student, and tend to be club officers and SGA senators.</p>
<p>I was upset when UF rejected me two years ago, and went on to UCF Honors instead, turning down impressive scholarship offers from UM and New College. Ultimately, I decided not to transfer to UF, even though it probably would have been very easy with my 3.97 GPA. I’m having a great time here, succeeding, and am planning to go to grad school.</p>
<p>I think UF was on the losing end of the deal there. :)</p>