<p>I have been accepted unconditionally into USF Honors, FSU Honors, and UCF Honors, and I am still nervous about Februrary 10th. It has to be indicative of something that the criteria for honors at other Florida universities is on par with merely the middle-50% of UF. I would not participate in UF Honors if offered, however, as it is a certificate of completion rather than a complete program.</p>
<p>I just realized I didn’t state my topic of discussion, sorry. Why is UF different? It’s not a bad thing. I loved the school on my campus tour and it is my first choice, however, I just don’t understand why all of their admissions stats are higher, except accepted percentages.</p>
<p>runescapeowns1 simple it is a matter of supply and demand. A fixed quantity of space for a very popular school.</p>
<p>I am going to say something that some may not like. Here goes: 35 years ago in my high school 19 students applied to UF. Three of us were accepted everyone else went to FSU or USF. 10 years later in my little sisters class the same scenario played out. And this past year at my son’s HS every single student that was accepted by UF is currently a student there, the ones that were turned down are now either at FSU, USF, or UCF.</p>
<p>I am not unbiased observer I will admit that. But the facts are the facts. Ask your friends where they will be going to school if not admitted into UF? The answer is understood.</p>
<p>WHY is this the case? Is UF that much better? maybe maybe not, but one thing is certain the majority of HS students want to be Gators. Some may not but the majority do.</p>
<p>I think you really need to look at the program you want to study. My son wants to study Actuarial Science. He was accepted in to FSU Honors where they have that major. UF only has it as a minor. So, originally UF was his choice when he did not know what he wanted to pursue, but now he is 90% leaning towards FSU Honors even if he is accepted into UF due to FSU having the stronger program.</p>
<p>If you get do get into UF honors you should defininately accept.</p>
<p>@phflorida, just curious: what specific thing about their actuary program did he choose FSU for?</p>
<p>Well, the FSU curriculum includes topics that cover the first two exams and at least 12 semester hours of topics on the 3rd and 4th exams; the UF curriculum covers topics on the first exam (this is according to the Society of Actuaries website). Also, we know that there are courses at FSU that cover Risk Mgmt/Insurance, Property & Casualty Insurance Products and Operations, Life and Health Ins Products, and Employee Benefits. The Honors Program also has some nice benefits. I have also spoken to a few alumni from UF that are working actuaries. Most said either school would be fine, but one knew a lot about the FSU program, spoke highly of Dr. Paris who is in charge of it, and said his company recruits from FSU and have three students that graduated from the Actuarial Program there. That being said, we are going to visit UF on Feb. 20 and I plan to make an appt with an advisor and in the Math/Statistics Dept. I know he would receive a great education at UF, and he may decide he rather go the path majoring in math with the actuarial science minor.</p>
<p>Its good to hear they go past the first exam. UF has better career services than FSU, which I think are often highly underrated–enough so that if there weren’t any bonafide professional benefits to the actuary degree at FSU i would strongly recommend against it.</p>
<p>However, I think that being able to say you’re certified past the second exam would more than make up for the differences in how strongly companies recruit from each campus (assuming he does ultimately want to be come an actuary). Good luck to him.</p>