My daughter is a couple years away from applying but loves UF. I’m trying to find some common threads between those accepted and rejected from non IB high schools. I’m hearing so many crazy rejection stories. Would love your thoughts.
My daughter was accepted (public low to mid income high school, non IB), 1420 SAT, 5.19 weighted GPA (not sure what the UF recalculated GPA would be), #1 in her class (as of now), state and national award winner, tons of EC and leadership.
My daughter was accepted to hybrid program Gator Engineering at Santa Fe. Non-IB.
She was right on the bubble.
Unweighted GPA: 3.5
UF GPA: 3.94
SAT: 1270
State Of Residence: Florida
Class rank: 16%
AP’s: World History, Environmental Science, Human Geography, Psychology, Language and Composition, Computer Science, Calculus, Literature
EC: Girl Scout Gold Award, Also built a website to sustain the project. She’s also in other organizations like NHS and the future educators with another 100+ hours.
Volunteering- More than 350 hours at a university affiliated pre-school for kids with and without special needs.
Awards: Silver Knight nominee and numerous for her community service including some high profile honors.
“Hooks”: attended a pre-college program at UF (CPET) this past summer. From a family of Gators. Also went on the tour and spent a lot of time on the application.
Major/Field of Study: Digital Arts and Sciences in Engineering
My daughter was accepted last year from a private (non IB) school - 34 ACT, 5.7 wgpa, Valedictorian, NMF. Many of her classmates with much lesser stats were also accepted, though. She says that when she has “compared notes” with friends that she’s made now on campus, that many of them had weighted GPA’s in the 5’s.
son was accepted last year from non-IB Title 1 public school in Dade County. Unweighted gpa was 4.0, weighted 5.1. ACT 33 and SAT 1430. NHS president and many other EC’s. 8 AP classes with scores of 4 and 5.
Quick Note, a UF weighted GPA can’t be higher than 5.0. UF awards 0.5+ for honor classes (and pre-IB/Pre-AICE) and +1.0 for IB/AICE/AP/DE class.
However, several school districts in Florida have different ways to calculate weighted GPA, with some getting as high as 6.0+ or 7.0+ GPAs…So don’t compare one students 5.5 GPA with another students 5.5 GPA, unless they both come from the same school district. 
I am in for fall with a 4.41 UF GPA and 1300 SAT. What I think got me in were my essay, legacy status, financial circumstances, and course rigor (20 AP and Dual Enrollment classes).
Son accepted for summer is from a non IB, traditional high school in- state.
1440 SAT
4.4 GPA
31 ACT
Eagle Scout
Tons of music, marching band
9 AP, DE classes
Part-time job tutoring homeschool student in science
AP scholar with distinction award
Essay was about persistence through music
I got accepted for fall.
1470 SAT
4.5(?) UF GPA (5.1 at my school)
10 AP classes + 9 DE classes
Varsity swimming
Part-time retail job
VP of a club
AP scholar with distinction award
Accepted for PAcE.
4.3 UF GPA
31 ACT (32 Superscore, although UF doesn’t superscore ACT)
7 AP and 11 Dual Enrollment Classes
Tons of EC and Leadership, including 2 choirs and flag football.
Works 20 hours weekly
Approximately 300 volunteer hours
Legacy to UF
Accepted for Summer B
3.7 UW/ 4.2 W GPA/ 4.3 UF GPA
30 ACT/ 1320 SAT
13 AP classes
Not many EC’s, not many volunteer hours
School has IB, but I was an IB dropout. Hope this helps.
Accepted for Innovation Academy (I’m one of the rare few who knew what it was when I checked off the box). I did not apply for special consideration for a disability.
3.5 UW GPA, 4.1 W GPA / 4.3 UF GPA I think
1360 SAT
2 AP classes, 13 honors + currently self-studying for 2 AP exams (mentioned in application)
At my school we dual enroll at a technical college which we share a campus with, and although the credits are labled “DE” on my transcript and are taken with adult students they are weighed as elective high school classes. I’m in a program for legal administration.
ECs include:
- Counselor at local camp for visually impaired/blind kids
- Realy for Life team member for 8+ years, team leader for two
- Founder and president of a music initiative/program at my school
- Student government, elected into a leadership position every year
- Freshman Class President
- Student Body Treasurer
- Student Government President
I’m a first-generation, low-income student (EFC = $0). My family was displaced by Irma and we are still not yet living at home. I work two jobs to support my family.
My essay was about what it was like to progressively lose my vision when I got ill at the age of 12, but it was from what I have always imagined the perspective to be from my family, friends, and peers.
I still don’t feel like I should have gotten in after looking at everyone who was rejected.
DD was accepted for Summer B
Attends private non-IB school
4.36 weighted GPA
High school doesn’t rank
9 APs (4-5 scores) and all Honors courses
1380 SAT
Lots of deep ECs and work experience, including a lot related to her intended major
I’m non-IB, instate, homeschooled (using Florida Virtual School for all classes)
30 ACT, 1370 SAT
4.47 GPA W