FSU vs. UF

[kmobley820]

<p>Hey everyone !!!! I'm a Community College student and next fall I either want to transfer to FSU or either UF . Can you guys tell me why FSU is so much better. It will really help thanks :)</p>

[sunnyflorida]

<p>What are you interested in majoring in? That is where the most important differences lie.</p>

[kmobley820]

<p>I plan on majoring in political science with a minor in history</p>

[acntmajor]

<p>Being in the state capital is a huge advantage for a poli sci major. There are many great internships and the capital has a close relationship with the school.</p>

[parent2noles]

<p>Start by doing some research why FSU would have the better political science program.</p>

<p>The [FSU</a> Department of Political Science web page](<a href=“http://polisci.fsu.edu/]FSU”>http://polisci.fsu.edu/) has some academic studies hyperlinked you should review about program performance:</p>

<p>

Our Department is a Top Ranked Political Science Program</p>

<p>Simon Hix at the London School of Economics and Political Science recently published a world-wide ranking of political science departments in the Political Studies Review. Based on publications in 63 political science journals, the ranking incorporates the quantity of publications, journal prestige and size of the department faculty. Over the five year period from 1998 to 2002 (the most recent data available), the Department of Political Science at Florida State ranks 9th among American public universities, 17th among all US universities (public and private) and 24th in the world.

See the analysis at: <a href=“http://personal.lse.ac.uk/HIX/Working_Papers/Hix-PolStudiesReview-2004.pdf[/url]”>http://personal.lse.ac.uk/HIX/Working_Papers/Hix-PolStudiesReview-2004.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Our Department is Top Ranked in Placing Ph.D. Students in Academic Positions</p>

<p>FSU’s department has been ranked 22nd among all U.S. universities and 8th among public universities based on the success of its Ph.D. graduates in the academic job market. The study by Schmidt and Chingos was published in the July 2007 issue of PS, Political Science & Politics. The rankings looked at the overall percentage of new Ph.D.s who hold tenure-track positions in political science as well as the influence of the universities where they were employed.

See the analysis at: <a href=“http://polisci.fsu.edu/news/Placement_Rankings.pdf[/url]”>http://polisci.fsu.edu/news/Placement_Rankings.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>These studies represent probably the best analysis of departmental performance one can find. You can see real, documented, academic performance here over a period of years. There is no US News-type smoke and mirrors or gaming</p>

<p>Once you have done some research with as many sources as you can find, then go and visit the departments that interest you and meet the faculty. See where you fit.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

[kmobley820]

<p>omg!!! Thanks so much :)</p>

[popcharlie93]

<p>Academically, FSU is usually not ranked as highly as UF in the sciences and mathematics, however, the political science program is MUCH better at FSU. You have the perks of being in the capital, getting those internships, and having better political experiences than those offered in Gainesville.
Also, FSU is very much oriented in the humanities with a liberal arts focus, so taking history there would be beneficial, too.</p>

[parent2noles]

<p>

Academically, FSU is usually not ranked as highly as UF in the sciences and mathematics

</p>

<p>Wrong. FSU is excellent in these areas and is typically better (physics and chemistry) or comparable to UF. This is why FSU, and not UF, has the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Which was won by FSU from MIT in 1990.</p>

<p>See: [FSU</a> gets national magnet lab - The Tech](<a href=“http://tech.mit.edu/V110/N31/magnet.31n.html]FSU”>http://tech.mit.edu/V110/N31/magnet.31n.html)</p>

<p>UF has a better engineering school. Hopefully FSU will improve the performance of the College of Engineering it shares with FAMU.</p>

[kmobley820]

<p>Wow !! Fsu is looking really good right now</p>

[korokuxneo]

<p>The internships in Tallahassee are definitely better for your chosen major. Good luck with your decision! :)</p>

[Tallalassie]

<p>FSU has an interesting “Applied Politics” master’s program for those interested in working right in the trenches of real world politics.</p>

<p>[Happy</a> 10th anniversary to FSU political program | Florida politics blog: The Buzz | tampabay.com & St. Petersburg Times](<a href=“Florida Politics”>Florida Politics)</p>

[NativeNole]

<p>I received this just this week from FSU- I think it will give you some insight in to the program</p>

<p>Dear MAAPP Students & Alumni,</p>

<ol>
<li> This past week, FSU’s Master’s of Applied American Politics and Policy celebrated it’s ten-year anniversary. Please find below several articles concerning this milestone:</li>
</ol>

<p>[Tallahassee</a> Democrat - <a href=“http://www.floridacapitalnews.com”>www.floridacapitalnews.com</a> - Tallahassee, FL.](<a href=“http://floridacapitalnews.com/article/20110726/CAPITOLNEWS/110726015]Tallahassee”>http://floridacapitalnews.com/article/20110726/CAPITOLNEWS/110726015)
[FSU</a> celebrates politics program - WTXL ABC 27](<a href=“http://www.wtxl.com/content/localnews/story/FSU-celebrates-politics-program/MhLEMm8TbUiNRESLBzwY8Q.cspx]FSU”>http://www.wtxl.com/content/localnews/story/FSU-celebrates-politics-program/MhLEMm8TbUiNRESLBzwY8Q.cspx)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20110727/NEWS01/107270323/Political-junkies-celebrate-graduate-program[/url]”>http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20110727/NEWS01/107270323/Political-junkies-celebrate-graduate-program&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This event was the final project for the 2011 Earned Media course, taught by MAAPP grad and professor, Kevin Cate. The event was highly successful in showcasing the program.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you are an alumna of the program or soon will be, please make sure to sign up at [Welcome</a> | Master’s in Applied American Politics](<a href=“http://www.coss.fsu.edu/maap/]Welcome”>http://www.coss.fsu.edu/maap/)</p></li>
<li><p>Please find below several job openings submitted by MAAPP alumnae. If you are interested in any of these positions, please email me. If you have open positions which you would like to advertise to this list, please email them to me.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>a. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Communications Office is looking for an intern to help manage day-to-day requirements within the press office. Duties involve collecting daily clips, writing press releases and media advisories, drafting articles and blog posts, and generating summaries of coverage for the Commissioner and Department staff. Interns will also assist with public awareness campaigns, press conferences and other special events. Applicants must have a communications background and be able to work in Tallahassee for the Fall semester. Both part-time and full-time applicants will be considered. While the internship is unpaid, college credit is available.</p>

<p>b. Congresswoman Schwartz is seeking a Health Policy Fellow/Intern for the summer. We are looking for an undergraduate or graduate student with a solid academic record, strong writing, research, and communication skills and a demonstrated interest in health policy. Pluses: coursework in political science/communications/health policy, research experience.
Primary duty is to support legislative staff in research and writing
Attend health care-related Hill briefings
Prepare background memos
Draft constituent correspondence
Work on other domestic policy issues as needed (i.e. education, civil rights)
This is an unpaid position but academic credit may be arranged. Dates and schedules are flexible. </p>

<p>c. Democratic statewide campaigns in North Carolina and Tennessee seek finance staff (entry-level through director).</p>

<p>d. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Law Enforcement is looking for an intern to assist the Office of Training and Professional Standards. The general tasks for this internship will be to assist in the development of courses for sworn and non-sworn members, research public policy issues for general orders, assists with special projects and provide support to staff within the office.</p>

<p>e. Florida Democratic Party seeks finance interns for the fall semester. MAAPP credit is available. Learn how to put on fundraising events, raise money and experience the party structure first-hand.</p>

<p>f. The Florida Commission on Ethics is seeking to fill an Administrative Assistant position in the Executive Branch Lobbyist Office. The Commission on Ethics is an agency of the Legislative Branch of Florida government that is responsible for investigating possible violations of Florida’s ethics laws, advising government officials and employees about their responsibilities under those laws, and implementing the State’s financial disclosure laws. The work involves assisting the Executive Branch Registrar with administrative tasks and assignments. Including but not limited to data entry, maintaining of records and communicating effectively with the public and the press.</p>

<p>g. A southern Republican Congressman is seeking applicants for a unpaid Fall internship. An internship in the office will provide a valuable hands-on experience and a greater understanding of the legislative process. Responsibilities include attending hearings, researching specific issues, compiling information to respond to constituents inquiries, handling incoming mail and data entry, giving visiting constituents tours of the Capitol, and performing general office duties. Arkansas ties are a plus, but not required.</p>

<p>h. EMILY’s List seeks fall interns. Do you have excellent written and oral communication skills? Do you also have an irrepressible drive to change our country? By interning at EMILY’s List, you too can help change the face of power. We offer full- and part-time internships in six departments in Washington, D.C.</p>

<p>Beth Matuga
MAAPP 2006</p>

<p>bethmatuga.com
850.933.4497</p>

[Tallalassie]

<p>^^NativeNole, Great post about the political science Applied Politics master’s program! Too, anyone with excellent negotiating skills: please get on the next plane to D.C. Bring your hammer!</p>

[kmobley820]

<p>So I believe I’m making FSU my choice number 1 thanks everybody</p>

[secgrad2011a1]

<p>I have one graduate degree from FSU and am working on another at UF. I’ve been to both universities. UF is the public ivy of the state, in my opinion. Each region of the country has a strong “public ivy” or a well-revered state university. Here in the southeast it’s Florida. Out in the Pac-12 region (my home area) it would be Cal-Berkeley or UW-Seattle. In the former Big-12 Texas is very strong, etc. In the midwest Michigan and Wisconsin are excellent. With that said, FSU is very strong in political science, plus a large number of students work in state government as interns or alumni graduates. So if you truly want political science, FSU has the job opportunities because Tallahassee is the capital city. </p>

<p>In terms of raw ranking, UF is generally higher in many categories. But if you want a job in political science, FSU would have a more viable set of internships and jobs simply because state government’s presence is very large in Tallahassee. However, the question is do you truly want to study political science? As an alternative, you could always attend FSU as an undergraduate (i.e. international affairs) and then go to UF as a graduate student (or vice versa). A lot of students do that. A lot of state workers study public administration (PAD) as graduate students at FSU because many of the courses are in the late afternoon or evening.</p>

[parent2noles]

<p>Apparently these folks consider Florida State an “Ivy” of sorts, as well:</p>

<p>[Searching</a> the Bargain Bin for a Premier Public Education - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/budget-ivy/]Searching”>Searching the Bargain Bin for a Premier Public Education - The New York Times)</p>