<p>i live in florida and i plan to attend college in florida... i have narrowed my choices down to FSU vs UCF and am having a lot of trouble deciding between the two.</p>
<p>i like both of them a lot... but maybe im missing something... i want to study pre-med... and i know FSU has a med school now... but UCF has a pre-med track with an advisor... i don't know what to do...</p>
<p>can someone please help me out with this... maybe do a little comparison?</p>
<p>FSU: rated 109 by US News, in Tallahasee (state capital) , old green campus, decrepit dorms, lot of school spirit (great football team) reputation as party school, This is from the college review website:
99 students have rated FSU
(91 undergrads + 8 grad students)<br>
Average ACT 25.8<br>
Average SAT 1207.8 </p>
<p>Education Quality B+ (7.8)<br>
Social Life A- (8.2)<br>
Extracurricular Activities A- (8.2)<br>
University Resource Use B (6.8)<br>
Perceived Campus Safety B (6.9)<br>
Surrounding City B (6.6)<br>
Campus Aesthetics B+ (7.8)<br>
Campus Maintenance B (7.1) </p>
<p>UCF: rated third tier by US News, in Orlando (lots to do), new campus with neverending construction everywhere, nice newer dorms, not much school spirit, gaining reputation as party school,
From the college review website:
61 students have rated UCF
(55 undergrads + 6 grad students)<br>
Average ACT 26.3<br>
Average SAT 1182.9 </p>
<p>Education Quality B+ (7.6)<br>
Social Life B+ (8.0)<br>
Extracurricular Activities B+ (8.0)<br>
University Resource Use B+ (7.8)<br>
Perceived Campus Safety A- (8.3)<br>
Surrounding City A (9.1)<br>
Campus Aesthetics A- (8.5)<br>
Campus Maintenance A- (8.5) </p>
<p>Hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>FSU is a biggggg party school. All the people that I go to school with that like to party are going to FSU because of that. I think it's sad, but if that's what your into, then suit yourself.</p>
<p>One of my best friends is going to UCF. The campus is really nice and convient. It's built in a circular structure, so you really can't get lost. And then it's in Orlando. There is so many opportunites and things to do, so you will never be bored.</p>
<p>thanks a lot... i appreciate it... anyone else?</p>
<p>FSU is a better school.</p>
<p>Try and visit both and see which one feels like "it"</p>
<p>Doesn't UCF have more of a commuter school reputation?</p>
<p>I'm an FSU dad... it's a big party school, but the university also has some great resources for those who take advantage of them. Lots of school spirit.</p>
<p>I know of two people who chose FSU and both transferred to UCF because they hated it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, everyone I meet who has graduated from FSU is a diehard Seminoles fan and brandishes the FSU logo on every thing they own.</p>
<p>I think the party school aspect depends on your major. One of my kids is a biochemistry major at FSU and she's beginng to view sleeping and eating as optional given the tough course work she has. I really don't think she or her science major peers are shutting any bars down in Tallahassee. If they are, it's on their way to the lab or the library.</p>
<p>I recall FSU being rated 64th in the US by USNews in 2002. Not that 64 or 50, for that matter (like UF), is all that great but I'm pretty sure nothing burned down that would drop the school to 109 or whatever.</p>
<p>No FSU is definatley ranked 109 now...</p>
<p>Yes, I see that. I just want to know why.</p>
<p>Here are more rankings from USNews:</p>
<p>To correct the record as a message above is incorrect about FSU dorms.</p>
<p>The older east campus dorms have been renovated to the point that they are as nice as any state building can be that is that old. I have personally been inside almost all FSU dorms recently on tours. </p>
<p>All have AC, high-speed Internet per student (not per room), card-pass entry security (parents like this) on all doors, emergency generators, and clean, well-kept facilties.</p>
<p>Diviney Hall still needs work, but it still has the basics listed above. Smith or Kellum are questions, but kids who live there seem to like it.</p>
<p>New Hall or New Dorm is extremely nice; as nice or nicer than most private apartments.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to FSU film school several years ago. Their film school is probably the second best in the east after NYU. We visited the campus twice. We were not impressed. We also looked at UCF since they had a good second level film school--the kids who did the "Blair Witch Project" went there. It's newer and nicer. They are building some strong programs in the sciences, but overall FSU is a better school.</p>
<p>I understand the sentiment. I guess when you have buildings that old and a campus that has up to 40,000 students using it at any one time it's tough to keep that 'new' feeling. </p>
<p>UCF and the other directional (directional = schools like South Florida, Central Florida, Gulf Coast, etc) schools in Florida are more along the lines of commuter schools and exert a bit less pressure on the campus. FSU has the most compact campus, due to it's being the oldest university in Florida, and no one ever thought that many kids would be there on original design. </p>
<p>Administrators are trying to buy surrounding land whenever they can to open things up a bit.</p>
<p>I think my daughter liked the hills and the fact that you don't need a car to get most anywhere around campus. I especially like the view towards FSU from the captiol area - looking west down College Avenue towards the main gate.</p>
<p>I though the sports facilities at FSU were very handsome. I especially liked the way they had tucked in numerous academic buildings, including the film school, under the stands of the football stadium. I didn't think that it was an easy campus to get around. Perhaps it was the gray, raining day, but the campus appeared shabby. It didn't help that my son heartily disliked one of the film school interviewers. Furious with the person is more like. Had he not gotten into USC film, I don't know if he would have accepted their offer or gone to UVA or UNC and waited until grad school for film. BTW, because of its size FSU is harder to get into than USC CNTV.</p>
<p>That's interesting. I will be sure to pass that perception on to the administration. The springtime is particulary beautiful if you ever consider a repeat visit. </p>
<p>I've found that President Wetherell himself will answer email from parents and I share those things I think they need to know. Now, I don't contribute millions to FSU, either; just my children, which to me is much more important. </p>
<p>I have found the FSU authorities very responsive for such a huge university. Amazingly so, in fact. They must kill themselves in the effort. I am impressed; and both my kids could be and were accepted into UF, the next best alternative they considered down the state.</p>
<p>I did hear the film school is very hard to be accepted into. On the plus side, not that I know much about film school (I don't) but I hear they (FSU) will buy the equipment for each student, which apparently is a significant expense.</p>
<p>When my son applied FSU was taking 15 out of 250 applicants for the first year class and 15 out of 250 transfer applicants. The quality drama program at FSU provides a ready source of actors for the films. The major drawback is that Tallahassee isn't LA. Many of the graduates seem to pick up and move to California.</p>
<p>I don't know what you mean - Lower Alabama is only 100 miles away...</p>
<p>; ^ )</p>
<p>Well that wasn't the LA I was talking about; not the Redneck Riviera. My brother is an attorney in Birmingham and I have been to his house in Seaside a few times.</p>