FSU movin' up

so we have a Northeast daughter with typical high Northeast stats, who wants the South. We are not expecting her to get into Vandy or Duke or UVA. Around here the safety schools tend to be places like U of Maryland, Indiana, and Pitt. But by the US News rankings, FSU beats them all at #19 for public uni’s (Maryland, Univ of Washington, and Pitt are tied at #20). I am having a tough time convincing my wife that FSU is a good backup for our daughter if her reach schools don’t pan out, but she is having trouble accepting that FSU is as good as, say, Maryland or Pitt.

Who’s right?

We have one high stats OOS kid about to graduate from FSU, and another who is interested in attending. Rankings alone are not worth much, but there is a reason FSU has been climbing. The State of Florida is pouring money into FSU, UF and its other state schools and trying to raise the level of the state system. In contrast, many states are cutting funding to their public university system. A better measure for you may be is FSU good at what your daughter wants to study? For example, FSU is very good at education, business, the arts, pre-law and pre-med. It does not have the hard science chops of UF, and its engineering program is not highly ranked. When it comes to value, FSU is hard to beat. If she can get her ACT over 31 and has good grades, she may very likely get a waiver of OOS tuition difference, and in state FSU tuition is quite inexpensive compared to the other colleges you listed.

4 Likes

We’re from PA and my S21 goes to FSU. He got the OOS waiver and Honors program. He applied to their highly ranked film school. Didn’t get in but offered digital media instead. He weighed his options and chose FSU. I was a little surprised but after visiting I think he was sold. Penn State with palm trees was his phrase. It is a pretty campus that’s walkable. They have their own big top circus tent. Who has that?

So far he’s enjoying his experience. There seems to be a lot do and the clubs seem to be active. That said, there are parties to be found.

Agree that not well known for STEM but anything else seems pretty good. Their Communications school offers some good programs. They actually have a degree in Advertising which my son looked at. I’m sure for pre-med they’re fine. I believe they have a medical school on campus.

The only drawback has been flights. More expensive and one layover which isn’t awful but we’re used to cheap, non-stops to Atlanta for our other son.

Go visit. Depending on what your D wants, FSU might be a very nice choice. If she’s interested in CS/Engineering then Pitt or Maryland would be tough to match. If she’s interested in medical professions, Pitt is probably the best choice by a lot (Pitt grad). Good luck.

1 Like

I’d be careful about looking at the overall ranking of the school, especially when it comes to large public universities. They usually have some very good programs within the University, but other areas not so much. If one of the better programs happen to align with your DD interests then it can be a really good match.

4 Likes

Thanks.
She def has the stats for OOS waiver. She doesn’t have an area of interest yet but likely not pre-med or CS or engineering. Not having an area of interest scares me for some larger publications that force you to apply to a major…
I’ve noticed the difficulty in flights to FSU and to UF. We also have a kid in school in Atlanta and those flights are so easy…

Depends on major but FSU is very well thought of and cheap but you are right…through debates on here people are living through the rep of 20 years ago.

Harder than pitt to get into and depending on major harder than UMD.

Rankings don’t tell a story though. None of these are Harvard but all are solid state schools.

FSU is cheapest at full pay and really cheap with out of state waiver which in the past required a 31 ACT. Not sure about this year. Their OOS acceptance is low. Also note at any Florida school so this includes UF too there is a summer requirement…6 or 9 hrs…I forget.

U of SC seems to cross shop FSU a ton. I see y. Both in capital cities. Great campuses.

Honestly do you think anyone cares if u go to FSU, UMD or Nebraska for that matter ? Yes Pitt will be better in health/science, UMD is engineering/CS and FSU in accounting/finance, theatre, meteorology.

Find the right fit. They have to spend 4 years day after day after day. For what it’s worth they all have Honors. UMD decides if you belong. FSU needs an app. It’s not easy and my daughter, who got into top ranked U of SC Honors was rejected.

If you are looking at Vandy / Duke, will the large schools be too big?

Take a look at Elon, Emory/Oxford, Miami, etc too from size POV too

Good luck.

Edit. I fly to thassee for work. No issue. U have to stop. Or u can fly to Panama City on southwest although it’s 2 hrs. Gainesville…Jax is where u fly. Check with UF. has to be holiday shuttles. We r in Nashville. Kids who go fly into Jax.

1 Like

This is absolutely true. You have to look at the program, not necessarily the school.

Pretty much every school we visited had at least one well ranked major even though the overall school rank might not have been high. This was especially true for S21 who was looking at film programs.

1 Like

I wouldn’t let the travel be a showstopper. It’s not a terrible drive from Atlanta. Our sons visit at least once a semester. S20 is at GT.

You can take buses to Orlando, Jax sand Tampa and fly out if there. Kids also share rides. They figure it out.

2 Likes