<p>The data is only available from UF back to 1999-2000. FSU generally is more open about such data, and provides it back to only 1996-1997. I would love to see a comparison back about 30 years.</p>
<p>This is an area where FSU clearly needs to improve and has not done as good a job as UF in recruiting top-level undergraduate students. </p>
<p>High School Rated - Incoming Freshmen in Top 10% HS Class</p>
<pre><code> FSU / UF
</code></pre>
<p>96-97 - 47% / **</p>
<p>97-98 - 43 / **</p>
<p>98-99 - 45 / **</p>
<p>99-00 - 47 / 69</p>
<p>00-01 - 57 / 66</p>
<p>01-02 - 47 / 66</p>
<p>02-03 - 58 / 75</p>
<p>03-04 - 55 / 79</p>
<p>04-05 - 55 / 81</p>
<p>05-06 - 26 / 85</p>
<p>One reason I've heard over the years about UF's higher numbers is that it is closer to population centers, thus making it more convenient to attend.</p>
<p>UF also has a great deal for national merit students, which I am choosing to ignore, but I wish FSU would give me some more financial help.</p>
<p>UF is a bad word to Noles....Gators have a reputation here for being pretentious snobs.</p>
<p>FSU will become more competitive in this area if they choose to. While this information is uncomfortable for FSU fans, it needs to be published and addressed. FSU will never improve by ignoring a weakness.</p>
<p>Frankly, National Merit scholars are 'bought' by universities - I've heard at least one admissions officer state it like this and others hint at it. It is no great feat that UF has a lot of NM students. They have decided to pay a high price for them and they then publish this so-called high attendance rate as an example of how good a school they have as often as they can. This is misleading. I would suggest they consider this an advertising expense.</p>
<p>UF has been somewhat more popular than FSU over the years due to it's proximity to Tampa and Orlando. I've spoken to many parents and students who've said they want only to be 3 hours away from home as opposed to 5. Plus, they have a well-established engineering program and for a long time the only med and law schools around. This has developed a following among some professionals, like medical doctors and attorneys. This will change with time. Not to mention the fact that UF was funded better by the Legislature for years until elected FSU alumni changed that - that issue goes back to 1905, when UF served males and FSU females. Mostly men were in politics back then, less so today. It's very political. Now the two are joining together politically, because it serves their interests at the moment. </p>
<p>This proximity advantage, however, is an advantage of convenience, and that's why many UF people get nervous when FSU decides to fund competing areas. The advantage of convenience is quite brittle and thin, and easily overcome. For example, about the only difference between Gainesville and Starke, Florida is UF (oops, forgot the state prison in Starke). Tallahassee has a substantially better developed base because it's been the capitol since Florida was a state. </p>
<p>That's one reason why Eppes, the grandson of Thomas Jefferson, (and ex-mayor of Tallahassee) is honored at FSU. There is an actual family tie-in between FSU and U Virginia due to the influence of Eppes in the development of FSU. I think this is celebrated at FSU - UVA football games with a special trophy - whoever wins, gets the trophy for a year.</p>
<p>FSU's programs in this area are quickly catching up, especially in Law. The natural advantages of a law school being in Tallahassee (the capitol) with all the associated governmental structures and law firms are significant and very positive. The med school has real potential with the distributed learning concept and cutting-edge technological implementation. It will be complementary to the UF program for the benefit of the citizens of Florida.</p>
<p>It's good to be considerate - because there is quite a lot of cross-over of UF graduates attending graduate programs at FSU and also the reverse.</p>
<p>In many ways the schools complement each other - as they should. This is to the taxpayer's advantage.</p>
<p>However, that being said, the 'Noles should kick Gator butt on the sports field as often as possible. This helps the Gators in so many ways. :) And we Seminoles always want to be helpful.</p>