I was offered an invitation to gator engineering at Santa Fe and was wondering if anyone can tell me more about this program? Am I considered a gator? What kind of classes will I be taking and how soon will I be able to transfer to UF? Is the program worth it? Or should I go to FSU? (Only other college I applied to)
You’re a Gator (as long as you do well your first semester, see below).
However, due to a shortage of Freshman slots, you will need to take classes at Santa Fe for a few semesters, before transferring to UF.
https://www.eng.ufl.edu/students/programs/gator-engineering-santa-fe/
The Gator Engineering @ Santa Fe program, a collaboration between the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, is an innovative B.S. engineering degree program. This program allows a cohort of students to begin their coursework at Santa Fe College, gain admission to UF as early as after the first semester, continue coursework at Santa Fe for two more semesters (or until completion of all math and science critical tracking courses), and then matriculate to UF campus to continue their engineering study in their chosen major.
Why GE@SF?
Gator Engineering @ Santa Fe program students have unique experiences that closely bond them to each other, to the UF campus, and to their chosen field of study, even during their first semester before admission to the University of Florida. Participating in this program is a badge of honor visible to the surrounding UF community and to our Gator Engineering external partners, including employers and alumni.
Advantages for students participating in Gator Engineering @ Santa Fe include:
A close connection to the UF College of Engineering
A supportive cohort of fellow students in the program
Smaller class sizes
Access to UF departmental advisors, and a dedicated advisor from the College of Engineering who will meet with them regularly at Santa Fe College
Gator Engineering graduate student teaching assistants for calculus, chemistry, and physics classes
Exposure to potential employers and engineering faculty through information sessions and seminars
Interaction with engineering faculty who present their research areas, and opportunities to apply for and pursue undergraduate research
An engineering design and programming class developed just for this program and taught by a UF engineering faculty member
Access to all UF services once admitted as a UF student as early as after the first fall term
Access to the Gateway to the Gators, a hub for UF on the Santa Fe campus
Participation in UF College of Engineering events, including fall events, such as the Engineering New Student
Convocation and the Engineering New Student Welcome
So being invited to this program is not a bad thing? After one or two semesters I’ll continue my degree at UF, correct?
Yeppers, a few of my freshman daughter’s friends are currently in the program. Not much difference in taking Calc 2 at Santa Fe vs. UF.
