<p>Okay so back in November I was flat out denied from FSU (I was floored and could not believe it). I am an OOS who would in-state tuition at any state u. in FL through FL pre-paid college. I am now facing a tough dilemma. As of right now, I plan on attending the University of Alabama, a school that is great for my major(s) (Broadcast Journalism and Pre-Law). However, many of my friends who applied for the second round of admissions to FSU just received their decisions yesterday and one in particular was deferred and I thought that was good considering the stats for this round of admissions...that is until the told me about his SAT's. My friend got a 1080 on his SAT and scored a 700 in math.....that means he got a 380 in verbal...</p>
<p>I cannot comprehend how I was denied when we had basically the same gpa's, I had a higher SAT (1140), and my resume was stacked. I stressed in my application that math has been an extreme weakness for me in all my years of school and as a result, my gpa and sat suffered over the years even when I would get tutoring for the math I was learning in school and for the math portion of the SAT. I scored a 480 on the math portion of the SAT and I called FSU concerning that back in September and they said that although the minimum per subject is 500, someone that close could redeem themselves with a strong resume. </p>
<p>So here is my issue. How do I get denied in the first admission period, which was dubbed the easy on this year, yet my friend is deferred with a 380 in verbal during the second round of admissions, where they average SAT score in the middle 50% was in the 1250+ range up to over 1300!?!</p>
<p>Do you think I should file for an appeal?</p>
<p>Note: I had my heart set on FSU and although Bama is technically a bit better for my majors, FSU seems to be on the upswing when it comes to admissions and national rankings and will be on level with UF and a degree from FSU seems as though it will be very valuable when the class of 2012 graduates. That is what draws me back to possibly appealing my decision. Also, does anyone know anything about the broadcast/media production department at FSU?</p>
<p>I'm a college advisor at a FL public high school. Here is an excerpt from an email received from the FSU Director of Admissions regarding SAT/ACT subscores and admission decisions:</p>
<p>"In addition, we did adhere to our minimum subscores on the ACT/SAT. Those subscores were as follows: Writing - 21 on the ACT English or 500 on the SAT critical reading; Math - 21 on the ACT math or 500 on the SAT math; and Reading - 22 on the ACT reading or 500 on the SAT critical reading. With the exception of our special programs, those students not having the minimum subscores were either deferred or denied."</p>
<p>Unless your friend is being offered admission into a special program (CARE, etc.), it would appear that you are mistaken about his 380. That is VERY low. I can't imagine they'd even accept him into a special program with that low of a math subscore.</p>
<p>U of Alabama is an incredible school. You are fortunate that you still have the option to attend such a wonderful university.</p>
<p>FYI...</p>
<p>Stats from the 2nd FSU Admissions decision received from the Office of Admissions on 2/19/08:</p>
<p>"The middle 50% of students who are being offered admission tomorrow have a grade point average of 3.8-4.3, SAT scores of 1220-1350, and ACT scores of 26-30."</p>
<p>Unless you have seen his SAT score sheet, you don't "know" that he got a 380 on the CR And FSU not only superscores the SAT, they superscore the best subscores from SAT AND ACT. So if he got a 700 on the math and a 21 on the reading, he still met minimum requirements. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I scored a 480 on the math portion of the SAT and I called FSU concerning that back in September and they said that although the minimum per subject is 500, someone that close could redeem themselves with a strong resume.
[quote]
</p>
<p>Maybe you wanted badly for this to be true. But our experience during a trip to FSU last summer, was that the party line from admissions was that they would not accept anyone (outside of CARE) with anything less than a 21/500. Period. My D was dealing with a 490, and on a visit last summer, she was flat out told that she would not be considered for admission without a 500/21, no matter what the rest of her (very strong) application showed. She was devastated. But we drove the 6 hours home, she agreed on tutoring, she retested and made a remarkable improvement and was in on Nov 28. </p>
<p>If you eventually retook the SAT/ACT, and got that score over 500, appeal. If you have other awards, etc to show them appeal. It can't hurt. But at this late date, without more than "my friend got in with less" I am not sure they will even accept an appeal.</p>
<p>It stings, I am sure, but Alabama is a great school. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>There's always FSU for grad school or perhaps even a transfer.</p>
<p>His lowest math score was 680 so, that means his highest verbal was 400. Also, he let me see his scores on collegeboard.com today at school to show me it was true. He can't even believe that he at least got a deferral. It's just mind boggling and it sucks that of all years, this is the year where admission standards spiked. I also know that one of my biggest down falls was being OOS but paying in state tuition. If FSU were to have offered me admission, they would give me a spot that could go to an instate student for the same price or give it to an out of state student who pays the out of state rate (FSU would stand to gain more financially in that respect, especially with the shape the economy is in). So I feel like from the perspective of an FSU admissions officer, they would view it as "Well why should we take him? We don't stand to gain much and our first priority is to take care of FL residents." Although it hurts to view it in that way, I understand the reasoning. As a former FL resident, I want the universities in FL to take care of FL students first considering there are only 2 major flagship universities in the state and the number of FL students exceeds the number of spots available at the two schools. In the next 5-10 years (If not sooner) I see Florida universities becoming like those in California.</p>
<p>I did get an offer from FSU to attend Tallahassee Community College for a year with a private dorm and then I would be accepted to FSU my sophomore year but, I feel like I'd really miss a big part of the college experience if I did that. I am actually still in limbo at FSU, but will most likely not get admission but I am still in the works down there (Think of it as me being unofficially deferred...it's a long story). Bama is a great place and I love it so I think I would be happy there as well.</p>
<p>It does sound a bit mysterious. You really have two great options. </p>
<p>It sounds like FSU is your first choice, its just the road you need to take to get their is a bit different. Alabama is a great school as well. If you have the one year offer, that could be a great option. You'll have a nice dorm room, you can go to all the football/basketball/baseball games etc at fsu, enjoy the nightlife and before you know it you will officially be a Nole! You may even be able to start summer 09.</p>
<p>Not a bad option if FSU is your dream school. Most first year courses are general education courses anyway and you will most likely have smaller class sizes at TCC.</p>
<p>Good Luck on your decision. It never hurts to call admissions if you really have questions about your friend, but I think it would be a better use of your time to try and decide between TCC then FSU or Alabama. </p>
<p>I think they both have good elements.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses :)</p>
<p>I have talked to my parents about the TCC offer and the general feeling was that unless my last ditch efforts at FSU work out, they would rather pay the OOS tuition and see me go to Alabama which I am very happy with considering I loved that school as well. I've lived in GA coming on 13 years now but even though I only lived in FL for 6 years, the love for that state never leaves my system (It's why I'm happy to see both UF and now FSU becoming extremely competitive). I can only hope that what's brewing for me at FSU works out and I get a miracle admission for summer haha. </p>
<p>One follow up I did have though was, does anyone know how good the College of Communications is? (Specifically Media Production...you know...just in case it works out haha).</p>