<p>Zebes, thanks for the information, we just checked and the status remained the same as it was since last Thursday. No Congrads, simply you application is now with the admissions committee. Wonder how long we will stare at the one? I'm not sure when and how often the page is updated so it's a bit of a CShoot knowing when something new may pop.</p>
<p>My son is a National Merit Finalist and UCF offered him a free ride, including weekly MAID service!! So they must be trying to recruit bright students for their honors program.He also got a great offer from UOklahoma, unfortunately he doesn't want to leave New England...UGGGHHHHH.....
I also know of a few kids who decided to go to UMiami, over schools like Duke and Columbia mainly because of the aid that they offered.</p>
<p>I can't remember which housing option it was. but I seem to remember from the housing tour that at least one of the options had people come in once a week and clean portions of the area. Sounds like the offer has that option.</p>
<p>The school choice and financial consequence of where you go is a ongoing discussion another couple of threads on this site. It's a difficult call for some parents, but if you have access to free money at several colleges and choose not to accept it then there will be a cost back to you as a result of your decision. Unless they understand that and have some skin in the process and know there is that consequence they have no pressure in making their decision, Many kids have no sensitivity for their parents money, ie Dad and Mom will just pay for it.</p>
<p>So far my D has been accepted to UCF, NCF and Rollins...with scholarships so all are equal financially. She thinks she prefers the LAC environment and will be going to visit NCF and Rollins soon (we'll also see UCF then, too). She has also applied out of state to several different types of schools, but is still waiting to hear back from them. I can't believe with all the schools we toured, we never visited some of the ones she ended up applying to/getting accepted at in our own backyard.</p>
<p>My gut feeling is that she shouldn't make any final decisions until she hears back from all the schools she applied to, even if she decides she really likes one of them. Meanwhile, I'm really interested in hearing from the rest of you with any information and insight you may have into UCF, NCF and Rollins. She did not apply to the other main schools in FL...UF, FSU and UM, etc. When we visited them, she just didn't feel like they were right for her, no matter how good they were academically or highly ranked. She's not a football, rah rah sort of kid. More into political discussions and saving the world.</p>
<p>"She's not a football, rah rah sort of kid. More into political discussions and saving the world."</p>
<p>Sounds like New College of Florida might good fit for her then (provided that she is very self-motivated and likes a very, very small environment). NCF is smaller than my daughter's small private school! It does have a reputation for having a very left, politically active student body. On another note, rumer has it that kids there tend to be the "marches to a different drummer type". </p>
<p>Rollins has more of the country club type atmosphere (many students came from elite private schools ) and has a decent regional academic reputation. The classes are small and the campus is beautiful but again, it has a rep for being a HUGE party school and Frats life is very very predominant there. Most of the campus social life tends to revolve around this. Student body has a rep for being superficial and arrogant....not the "save the world types".</p>
<p>seiclan,
Thank you for the insight. I think every school she applied to I have my positive and negative feelings about. I think she does, too. I'm just trying to give her as much info as I can, so she can make the choice that's best for her.</p>
<p>I was very impressed by UCF, I thought the campus, location, newness and what is a growing academic community were all positives. Orlando I think offers a lot of options and opportunities to the kids and the parents to enjoy the other social aspects of college life. I did not leave with the same feeling from FSU, although I don't have anything specific to say that was a big negative of one vrs the other. One thing for sure though if you D is not looking for a big campus and one that is not in an urban setting UCF probably won't resonate with her. </p>
<p>Also it's location in the center of the state at least for us as we are in Ft Myers offers us some better options than treaking up to Tallahasse. Florida is a big state.</p>
<p>One disclaimer I don't have the specific data on strength of academics between other schools and the experience of having kids there. I'm sure some will post here who have much more knowledge. We are comfortable that the breath and strength of the programs is consistent matches well with her goals and capability right now. Crossing the chasm to college is a major step for many, you mean they don't mark homework here and they don't spend 2 days of class review for the upcoming test? And what's this stuff about I have to have 100 pages read for three classes by Thursday, and I have two papers due and a Calc test on Friday? So my perspective is mainly based on where do I think is a better starting point for her when I consider all the factors I mentioned above. And there is always is that option for a later transfer if it doesn't turn out to be the correct place.</p>
<p>I can't speak to Rollins or NF, except that I love this quaint little restaurant in Winter Park, just down from Rollins, called The Briar Patch (breakfasts to die for). <g> As far as UCF, we've had several friends whose kids are in the honors program there, and they feel as though it's kind of like having a small LAC in the middle of a huge university. My one friend's daughter came in with lots of AP's, and with the honors "priority registration" managed to get out in 3 years, which is unheard of today, so she's ready to move on to her Master's. We're also from the community, so for us ... the school doesn't seem as large, and S is very involved in our church and knows the BCM minister on campus, as well. We'll see ... still hasn't made final decision as we're waiting for UGA and UF, too. We know that wherever he ends up, he'll do just fine. So, I'm not too stressed about that, just want to know what color t-shirts to buy. <g></g></g></p>
<p>Ray111 - we feel much like you do in this process and we are a year behind you. We live near Ft. Lauderdale (a 7 hour drive from FSU, 2 1/2 hour drive to UCF, 4 1/2 hours to UF...but who are we kidding, she won't get in there!)My daughter is very very bright but has medical issues that have impacted her GPA and major time management issues that have impacted her SAT's. She can converse eloquently with the brightest of them but d/t the above mentioned, cannot compete academically (she misses too much school and never quite catches up). Her teachers have called her an "enigma". I would much rather see her at an institution that has somewhat easier academics, where she could be at the top of the class with less stress than ...treading water.</p>
<p>BTW, we are planning to visit both FSU and UCF during summer sessions (since my daughter cannot miss any more school days).</p>
<p>Seiclan, I totally agree, to me it's far better to have the child in the best school they can succeed in as opposed to a better school that they will struggle at. It places undue stress on the student and the family and doesn't make for a enjoyable college experience.</p>
<p>I get a chuckle out of those students on this site where getting into top school XYZ is an obsession. Especially those picking top engineering schools. They have no perception of what a meat grinder it is and what level of work will be required. Many just aren't ready for the whole scene, 2 out of every three will be gone by the end of the first year, they tell you the first day. I've been there and done that.. To me most of them could have been a bit less driven and started off at a lower tier school, got their sea legs under them and then made the big leap with a transfer. Penn State for example starts most of their kids at the small campus like Berhands for example and then brings them to State College as Juniors so they get a good start.</p>
<p>Good luck with your quest, it does take a village to get through the process.</p>
<p>This was a good thread for a number of people, lets keep it going.</p>
<p>Tomm (March 1st) is the deadline for summer admissions to UCF. I'm wondering if they are going to take in short order the applications they got for RD for the summer block and the defered pool kids who sent in updates and basically rank everyone and fill those seats since time is winding down here for the summer block? It's interesting to think about how they manage the summer admission and the fall admission's where the application cycle ends May 1st for the kids who are in the middle.</p>
<p>I second that sentiment, Ray. I've read so many times how kids will dismiss a school when they have NO clue just how tough it is. </p>
<p>Many state universities are real competitive cauldrons where kids have to learn to swim real fast or they sink.</p>
<p>My D did get her acceptance to South Florida today for the fall. We expected that would happen, but it was great news and hopefully will bode well for her other two schools. 3 down 2 to go.</p>
<p>Congratulations to Ray111's daughter!</p>
<p>Ray, congratulations to you and to your DD!</p>
<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I got into UCF a couple of weeks ago. I got into the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.</p>
<p>My average is about a 83 and a 1790 on my SATS.</p>
<p>I heard of plenty of kids with much better grades then mine getting differed/rejected. However, I had excellent EC's (including starting my own critically acclaimed software development company - the reason I believe I got in).</p>
<p>I have a friend in UCF and went to visit him in November. Everyone there is really nice and its a great looking campus. Its like a summer camp haha. Also the location, while can be dangerous if you drift into the wrong part, is pretty good.</p>
<p>And fellas, I dont know if you like blondes, but I love them, and there is no shortage! Haha. Its really fun here and the education isnt to shabby either. Especially if your going into Hospitality or Engineering. Both of those schools are becoming a very respected part of UCF.</p>
<p>If I don't get into UMiami or BU I'll be at UCF next year, over Penn State and other local colleges.</p>
<p>I think its a great startup school, especially at the price, but I dont know if I would stay there for 4 years.</p>
<p>Zevesal, congrads on your acceptance. Your right your probably a bit on the low end of their acceptance scale, but it does appear as you observed that you had qualities that caught their eye. So it's a good example of it's not always only about the marks and real life experiences can overcome shortfalls in academics.</p>
<p>Well I got into UCF, USF honors, and fsu.</p>
<p>Stats: weighted gpa{4.8}
Rank{108/720}
Unweighted{3.0}
Fsu gpa {3.6}
Test scores sat1160,act30</p>
<p>I didn't send my transcript into USF yet somehow got accepted into USF HONORS. its my last choice mainly because I've heard of the nightmares with housing. offered me an honors scholarship and a history of achievement scholarship total around 2,000 a semester.
Ucf this has been my second choice, the took forever to say they had my transcript but admitted me immediately there after, I thought i was honors program worthy but never got anything, and haven't gotten any scholarships or anything from them, so basically if things dont change soon there going to be at the bottom of the list. Have a few friends waiting anxiously to recieve an answer from them, this would be my top choice if it wasn't considered a commuter campus, and the graduation rate was a bit higher.
Fsu, i got in at the feb deadline, i opted for summer because i really want to explore the place before fall, recieved there university scholarship and there financial aid package was alot better than expected.waiting for there housing dept to give me the housing assignment for each</p>
<p>I applied to UNF and FSU in florida.</p>