<p>So I have applied to FSU, UCF and USF and my personal order of preference is FSU, UCF, USF.</p>
<p>So my question is how do all three of these schools compare with one another, I am fairly certain that I can get in FSU, although the only problem is the distance factor ( I live near Tampa). My father insists that I should go to USF since it's so close and if something happens I'll be close by, and he doesn't want me to go to FSU since it's so far away etc.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>In terms of academic reputation FSU>USF>UCF.</p>
<p>FSU is more of a traditional campus school and I think the best choice of the 3 both academically and socially. The only caveat to that is that FSU is a more “southern” school than USF or UCF, especially if you are from the Tampa area. </p>
<p>Most people who live in Florida understand what I am saying by calling it more “southern” so I won’t write more unless you don’t get what I am saying.</p>
<p>^I think you mean to say Tallahassee has a somewhat more Southern culture than Tampa, right? There is nothing generally Southern about the faculty or administration of Florida State. It was decades or a hundred years ago, perhaps, but even that is debatable given the faculty make up.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that UCF is more selective than USF</p>
<p>It used to be the other way around, but admissions are tougher for UCF than USF now</p>
<p>James is correct. UCF is ranked 6 spots ahead of USF in the US News Poll, and while I would take their ratings with a grain of salt, UCF has several advantages over USF. </p>
<p>For me, it’s definitely FSU>UCF>USF or at best for USF: FSU>UCF=USF</p>
<p>I think of FSU as a Buick, USF a Ford, and UCF a Chevrolet. They all are good and each can get me where I need to go.</p>
<p>You should visit all three to help decide. For a decision that important, drive up to Tallahassee early one day and spend the rest of the day on campus. Spend the night, leave early and hit up UCF the next day. </p>
<p>What are you interested in studying? Do you have an intended major? What about grad school or professional school? These things can sway a decision as well. Each location has it’s strengths.</p>
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<p>Yes, more students from North Florida and more out of state students from southeastern states vs. northeastern states.</p>
<p>Florida is a big state and as I am sure anyone who has traveled about in this state understands, Tampa is very different from Tallahassee which is very different from Miami, etc. I think in Florida this is more true than in other big states like California and Texas. Yes there are differences between the mix of people and cultural attitudes between Northern and Southern California or East and West Texas, but nothing like the differences you see in Florida.</p>
<p>It was interesting to me when I first moved out of state how many northerners seemed to think that all of Florida was like Miami. I would ask them if they had ever looked at a map, for goodness sake. Just looking at a map should tell you that the panhandle is a very different place from Miami.</p>
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<p>For fall 2010 admits, not by GPA but by a small amount for SAT and ACT. So small I am not sure if it is statistically significant. Their selectivity by percentage of admits is the same, too. And I really don’t think 6 spots when you get to the lower tiers of the US News list is all that signficant.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.inlikeme.com/files/2010%20FL%20SUS%20Matrix%20Final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.inlikeme.com/files/2010%20FL%20SUS%20Matrix%20Final.pdf</a></p>
<p>Ok, so then:</p>
<p>FSU > USF = UCF</p>
<p>I just checked the USNWR ranks, UCF = 179 and USF = 183. That is hardly a significant difference when you get down to those numbers. There is a smaller difference in rank between UCF and USF than there is between Harvard and Stanford and I think it is fair to say that most people are just as impressed by Stanford as they are by Harvard.</p>
<p>^Agreed. They are both more urban universities geared to wide access.</p>
<p>Egalitarian USF perhaps has the widest access of UCF, FSU, and USF. 63% of USF’s students are awarded need-based financial aid, with USF maintaining its academic integrity at the same time. 27% of UCF’s students receive need-based aid, FSU - 38%.
<a href=“http://www.inlikeme.com/files/2010%20FL%20SUS%20Matrix%20Final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.inlikeme.com/files/2010%20FL%20SUS%20Matrix%20Final.pdf</a></p>
<p>I don’t fully agree that a university is “good” or “better” just because its new freshmen arrive with certain SAT or ACT scores. The kids got the scores maybe a year before they ever stepped foot at their college. The college had nothing to do with the scores and didn’t contribute anything at all to what they are. A better measure of how good a college is would be measuring what is accomplished and learned by the student while at the college.</p>
<p>I think of UF as a Ford F-150 pickup truck with some hoes in the back.</p>
<p>As to living in Tampa and the distance. We live in the St. Pete area. Yes, it’s a bit of a hike up there and the ride can get tedious. However, my son has never had a problem finding a ride home this year. There’s a lot of people there from this area. It’s a great campus and it gives him a feeling of really being away at college. Of course if something went wrong it’s not as close as USF but unless there’s a reason for him to be concerned, I wouldn’t base my choices on the “what ifs” in life.</p>
<p>Uh, lizard…that UF Ford F-150 would be hauling hogs.</p>
<p>They don’t call Gainesville “Hogtown” fer nuthin! Ain’t thet rite?</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>IDK. If they were hogs, they were wearing a lot of lipstick.</p>
<p>first of all, im from south florida. south florida is the least southern part of the state. i read about this before i went up and wasn’t sure what to expect. to be honest, i like it a lot better. everyone speaks english, and people are generally nicer. as far as the school goes, i feel like most people i meet are from south florida anyway. and seriously tampa is really close to tally. its a 6+ hour hike for me every time and i have no problem doing it. the more you make that drive, the easier it gets. don’t let the drive or “southern-ness” or proximity to home hold you back from your best opportunity. and if money is an issue, take out a loan. it’s a small investment for a big return.</p>
<p>I need some help with my decision!
I have been accepted to FSU, UCF, and USF. However, I’ve narrowed down my choices to FSU and UCF and it’s a pretty hard decision. lol.
I’m going to major in communications and minor in hospitality management.</p>
<p>Can anybody briefly describe to me the quality of the FSU communications program (compared to UCF)? Thanks.</p>
<p>The [FSU College of Communication and Information](<a href=“http://www.cci.fsu.edu/”>About CCI – College of Communication & Information) includes three nationally ranked programs…“this site serves as an entryway to the three nationally-ranked schools that constitute the College of Communication & Information: the School of Communication, the School of Communication Science & Disorders and the School of Library & Information Studies”.</p>
<p>The [FSU</a> Dedman School of Hospitality](<a href=“http://dsh.fsu.edu/]FSU”>http://dsh.fsu.edu/) program has long been a strong and nationally regarded program.
</p>
<p>See also: [FSU</a> Highlights - Communications](<a href=“Rankings | Florida State University”>Rankings | Florida State University)
and
[FSU</a> Highlights - Business](<a href=“Rankings | Florida State University”>Rankings | Florida State University)</p>
<p>With the student-faculty ratio at FSU being around 21:1 compared to 31:1 at UCF I would think your decision would be easy - go to FSU and congrats on being accepted.</p>
<p>Thanks!
Wow…I didn’t really know this info before. Thank you for it and I’ll definitely be taking this into consideration.
After Christmas, my family and I are stopping by Tallahassee on our way to Georgia just to see what the campus and city is like one more time (I visited the campus last spring).
Hopefully that will make my decision! :)</p>