<p>So...I've heard of this program. Honestly, I've heard more complaints than compliments. How is it a program to "challenge traditional thinking"? To me, it just sounds like a different undergrad schedule- one that doesn't include the whole fall term experience.</p>
<p>Can anyone give me some feedback as to what this program is like? I'm a psychology major and would very much like to enter during the fall term, for various reasons, not just to enter with the rest of the freshmen. I'm also not too keen to take online courses..I've had enough of FLVS. I guess I'm just afraid the IA academy isn't what I want my college experience to be like. </p>
<p>Now for me, UF is a reach school. I have a 4.4 GPA, lots of CS hours, some EC's but my test scores aren't so high as other admitted students. Truthfully, my hopes have diminished quite a bit on being admitted here, but I've got nothing to lose! So I'm applying nonetheless.</p>
<p>Even if I weren't to check that box, would I still be considered for the IA academy? How does it work? Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s not worth it. You are restricted to a specific set of majors so if you want to switch (you probably will like most college students) then it’s a PITA. What if your major isn’t offered in IA? Well, too bad, because you restricted yourself by checking that box.</p>
<p>You are forbidden to take fall classes. So I interpret it like UF really doesn’t want you, they just want to fill up the spring and summer terms. They market IA like it’s special and has significant benefits (which aren’t worth the drawbacks). Anytime you ask anyone from UF about IA it’s such a great program</p>
<p>If you are ok with how this “academy” operates then check it. Many people are fine with it but most aren’t.</p>
<p>You are better off going to another university where you aren’t restricting yourself.</p>
<p>i regret checking that box. Its just not worth it to take classes spring and summer, especially summer. Unless you’re are completely sure you wanna take classes spring and summer terms, then check the box otherwise its better to go elsewhere. there are NO benefits from IA. I really wanted to go to UF so that is why I decided to give IA a chance, but I regret not going elsewhere. online classes are tedious and they said there’s a whole bunch of jobs/ internships in the fall, but there really isn’t. because Gainesville is a college town, EVERYONE will utilize each term.</p>
<p>its a stupid program they made up just to make more money since more students will be entering, but they failed to think how those pre-med majors are going to handle chem 2 or organic chem 2 in the summers…</p>
<p>It seems like I dodged a bullet by not checking that box while filling out my application…I didn’t have much info on that at the time so I wasn’t sure either. The major difference seems to just be the terms and if you’re looking to go the preprofessional route I think the normal curriculum is best. </p>
<p>Also, please be confident! 4.4 GPA is decent and a lot of CS + EC looks really good. Write a really good essay and mini-essays talking about your high school experiences, etc. My tests scores were not as good as I wanted them to be either (well mostly because I really didn’t prepare at all for either test), but the test scores only count for a portion of the application. If you excel in another portion, say the essays, then you should be fine. </p>
<p>First off: these forums are full of people venting. CC tends to have users more negative on everything, from housing to admissions to things like IA. That being said, trying to find an honest, unbiased, or fair opinion on CC is near impossible–at least on the UF forums. The only happiness I ever see is when people announce acceptances (which is not bad to get happy about BUT everything else usually has some negative connotation to it). What you gotta do is talk to people who took advantage of IA (listen to their stories, not their opinions) and you make the decision from there. Everything on these forums need to be taken with a grain of salt, and I usually appear around these forums when Fall rolls around to keep saying that for new students to be aware of. </p>
<p>There will be some “Preview IA” sessions or something like that if you want to know more about the program. These forums are biased so take everything here with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>The inaugural IA class, which is probably what this thread has now, is very biased. Mainly because many of them didnt know they were applying to IA or something like that when they checked the box. So they felt rather “tricked” and are upset. The incoming class knew what they were applying for, so you’d probably get some better opinions from the next class. </p>
<p>IA DOES have its benefits, plenty. Both on and off campus and I know this because my IA friends are ahead of me in terms of involvement and experience, when they only did their first year because IA helped them. I’m approaching my final years of college and it surprises me how ahead they went. Then again they were ambitious and had a open mind about IA. The inaugural students that checked the box that didnt know they were “applying” are the ones who complain–they are also the ones that may be a bit more close minded than expected and do NOT take advantage of anything IA has to offer </p>
<p>From my observation, IA is not for everyone. If you’re very explorative, then go regular. If you know a major you definitely want to commit to, and it’s in IA, go for it. Its worth it, granted you take advantage of it. I believe IA has the most popular majors at the moment. You don’t miss out on the fall experience because I see plenty of IA students here and fall, and many of them tell me having the Fall off is BETTER (I guess since they can do everything without needing to take classes)-interestingly enough. </p>
<p>I used to be pretty good about IA, but students in the program have been getting more benefits and perks, and I haven’t been keeping up. I just keep seeing my IA friends get ahead of me so quickly lol. Just go to one of the IA preview sessions (they have a name, i just cant remember them) and you’ll learn everything</p>
<p>“The inaugural students that checked the box that didnt know they were “applying” are the ones who complain–they are also the ones that may be a bit more close minded than expected and do NOT take advantage of anything IA has to offer”</p>
<p>Correction: The inaugural students that checked the box that didnt know they were “applying” AND GOT UPSET are the ones who complain–they are also the ones that may be a bit more close minded than expected and do NOT take advantage of anything IA has to offer. </p>
<p>–</p>
<p>Really though, go out and get some unbiased opinions/stories. There are organizations and even companies in Gainesville that have said they want “specifically IA students” for some kind of thing and/or they had an invitation to something for UF students “specifically in IA.”</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s just the inaugural class, but also the class after that who checked the box because they too didn’t know much about IA. If that class applied fall 2012, that was when the inaugural class haven’t even started their classes. So really there was no feedback then like there is now.</p>
<p>Oh whoops, this didnt appear in my initial post. Third times a charm? Just pretend this is in the initial post</p>
<p>Anyways, regarding the above claim that IA was made to make money–i just wanna throw out that it also COSTS money to offer more classes, hire new, top-quality professors for the minor courses, and provide exclusive services for IA students. So in other words, it’s not there to make money (which is a big misconception and makes no sense-for the amount of work it took to establish the program, I’d expect UF to be making millions like they do with athletics…but they aren’t, meaning [based off analysis and…info from faculty who I have close relationships with and talk to] IA is here for another reason). If anything, it’s an ambition by UF to do two things: provide a new solution to overflowing resources and to integrate essentials of creativity in the undergrad curriculum. It’s really there to boost UF’s status and should any other college start their own “IA,” UF can say they did it first. That has weight. </p>
<p>UF makes most of their money (MILLIONS of dollars) from athletics and donations.</p>
<p>@tutu982 I saw the applications the incoming class has. It specifically stated what IA was and there wasn’t a simple box, it was almost like a separate section. Students of the incoming class also had a website to resort to at that time. I can understand the inaugural class and any feeling of being “tricked” (or whatever) because they had no website, no office to call, and essentially no information on the application.</p>
<p>still isn’t it better to get some advice and feedback from previous students even if there was a website? The application had a check box and what major you chose. It wasnt a completely separate section. yea the inaugural class barely had any information plus they weren’t allowed to do football lottery their first year but there’s actually MORE students enrolled in the inaugural class than the class now</p>
<p>Yes it does cost more money to set up 7 more classes with new teachers for the IA minor and yes UF does have a lot of money but with the IA students enrolling in the summer term, UF is actually getting more money through other the other classes since it costs more to enroll in the summer.
If UF did want to start their own IA, why use a spring/ summer calendar and not a traditional one? Each class has about 6,400 students and it wouldn’t hurt to add 200-300 more for another program</p>
<p>One of the admission officers I have talked to a lot over the years confirmed to me the numbers for the incoming class are greater than inaugural numbers. </p>
<p>And it doesn’t cost more to enroll in summer, it’s the same. Bright futures covers the same amount (it’s not allowed to cover any less than what is promised I believe). It costs more for ME because I don’t had bright futures in summer. My IA friends however basically have the costs the same (essentially) as spring. </p>
<p>Tuition itself that the university gets from you, goes to fund student facilities like the gym, libraries, and centers. If anything, money goes BACK to the students as a whole. Even then the university doesn’t make a “ton” of money off tuition. The majority of their money is off athletics and donations. To think of it, the tuition gotten from IA students in summer is going to fund facilities having the ability to remain open throughout summer (that’s just one example of how the extra tuition fees are going to be used). </p>
<p>One thing you are right about is that the incoming class had no current students to talk to DURING the application period. Acceptance period is different but still. I guess that’s a “perk” for the next class?</p>
<p>And UF used a new calendar because they want to show to the education world that its possible to streamline resources without cutting back on quality, while also showcasing how have the “Fall” off can be more beneficial than “Summer” off (but that’s dependant on the student. Perks of having fall off would be like interning during the fall/doing a co-op, without getting off track on the curriculum)</p>
<p>That makes sense. Third times really is a charm then.
I still don’t like the whole Fall off thing since that means the summer curriculum would be at a faster and more rigorous pace but yes that’s totally dependent on the student.</p>
<p>Yep, give it a shot and see what happens. Hopefully everything works out well for you. One thing for sure is you’ll undoubtedly be experiencing the best university Florida has to offer.</p>
<p>I think UF answered the question the best in regards to why they set up the Innovation Academy.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Desire to admit additional students (it is competitive to get admitted, and allowing additional students to obtain degrees is beneficial not just to the university, but to the students).</p></li>
<li><p>Desire to have the university operational year round. There already was a summer semester, but this guarantees (especially when IA becomes fully operational) a specific number of students.</p></li>
<li><p>Ability to have an innovation component. The students going into IA are being geared for cutting edge businesses. They get exposure to certain concepts (through the minor and also certain programs tailored for them) that will hopefully make them more prepared for the world when they leave the UF. This means a greater expectation of doing internships during their fall semester.</p></li>
<li><p>Creation of a small liberal arts college at UF. It is very easy to be overwhelmed by all the offerings at UF and other big schools. Even if you do not become overwhelmed, the large public university experience is different (I did not understand this until I heard people complaining about the large private university that I attended for grad school (UM), and thought that they were hand holding me there - those with small school experiences found UM cold and unfriendly). </p></li>
</ol>
<p>The big school experience is still there at UF, but they also provide small type experiences through the creation of the Innovation Academy.</p>
<ol>
<li>While 2013 was the inaugural class, UF had a prototype for a few years where they started students in the spring to see if they adjusted well. Hopefully that was successful enough that they thought the program could work.</li>
</ol>
<p>I think each student needs to way the pros and cons. I enjoyed my days at UF, and I like football as much as anyone else, but I do not remember my falls being more special than other semesters, so if that is the only sacrifice (and IA students can take UF classes online) as well as needing to stay within the available majors, it may be worth it to prospective students to consider the program.</p>