More find their University of Florida dreams dashed

<p>By ANNA SCOTT
Sarasota Herald Tribune</p>

<p>Three years after university officials capped the size of the freshman class at about 6,600, competition at UF is at an all-time high, forcing admissions workers to choose among the brightest and leaving behind an unprecedented number of disappointed families.</p>

<p>Of those who applied to be part of this fall's incoming freshman class, an estimated 42 percent were accepted -- the lowest acceptance rate in the history of the state's public schools.....</p>

<p>Maybe UF should do what UC has done and establish additional campuses. If UF is already at 50K students it probably doesn't make sense to try to keep expanding it. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Not only does the school boast the lowest tuition among similar-sized public schools in the nation...

[/quote]

If they don't have the funds to build another campus, maybe this is why.</p>

<p>Nature of state of Florida's population has changed markedly over last twenty years, as has Texas's and to lesser extent Georgia and some other southern states. UT still requires 90% of undergraduates to be in-state, diluting its quality, though people here act as if it has gotten "too hard" to get into. Does anyone know what strictures are imposed on per cent of out-of-state admitees at U of F? It seems to be making great strides as a university, but perhaps should increase tuition and provide financial aid as needed.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>There are more than twenty-three million people in Texas. I find it hard to believe that they have trouble finding "quality" students. The UC fills ten campuses with a population only 50% bigger. I have never considered the UC "diluted."</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>Kudos to Clark Kerr and the citizens of California who consistently voted in favor of university-construction bond issues and tax overrides throughout the 1960s. I am still in awe of their plan in the late 1950s for California's amazing growth in the 60s and 70s. I lived in the country's fastest-growing city during the 60s and benefited from the decision to build a new university in 1965. Why didn't more states copy an obviously-successful program?</p>

<p>EDITED TO ASK: Does Florida suffer from retirees who won't vote for any tax increase for any purpose? There are two Leisure World communities near where I live, and local politicians worked long and hard to rezone them out of their district because of their famous reluctance to approve any spending measure.</p>

<p>I hear that the median family income level of U of FL students is remarkably high. Tax-subsidized low tuition for the well-off probably isn't too appealing to working-class Floridians.</p>

<p>I don't believe there are any mandates to admit top 10 percent, etc. like Texas has, at UF. Nor OOS restrictions. </p>

<p>From what I can tell, Florida Brights has kept students that used to go OOS, in state. Hard to pass up "free" when you have plans to go to grad school. UF has been a beneficiary of this, who knows why, moreso than some of the other state universities. Maybe because of location, sports, breadth of offerings, their med/vet/pharm school, research, .........</p>

<p>UF did away with ED this year. From what I hear, there were a lot of late-applying students who were getting shut out due to ED.</p>

<p>Florida already has many public state universities, and they are all pretty huge. We are a BIG STATE!</p>

<p>FAU is expanding. Wisely, the UF bought a lot of land, and now has room to expand. (building a med school and a stadium). Also, Jupiter campus is growing. UCF is growing in popularity. For FL kids, it is hard to resist a free or inexpensive option.</p>

<p>bookworm, do you mean UCF has a lot of room and built a stadium and med school? UF has had a stadium and med school for a long time now.</p>

<p>I have heard nothing but awesome reviews from students going to UCF.</p>

<p>tokenadult,
Bright Futures is funded by the lottery.</p>

<p>I have heard the idea of tuition increase above and beyond that provided by Bright Futures kicked around. In that case, the difference would come out of our pocket (students/parents). In my opinion, there wouldn't be any question... still a fantastic deal.</p>

<p>I mean at FAU. The med school is for practicum.</p>

<p>UCF was hardly mentioned years ago, but now is quite popular.</p>

<p>UF and FSU have always been popular. UCF has recently become popular and FAU and USF are gaining in popularity (USF mostly because of its current football success).</p>

<p>USF has become harder to get into as well, hence why UCF is becoming more popular.</p>

<p>"UF bought a lot of land"</p>

<p>University of Florida has over 2,000 acres on their campus. They have been very wise about the development, and have conserved alot of the natural beauty. They never actually bought the land, it was given to them by the citizens of Gainesville back in 1905 to lure the campus away from Lake City.</p>

<p>Bright Futures has made it very attractive for even the best students to stay in state. With all schools capping admissions this year, it won't be just UF disappointing lots of applicants, but FSU and USF as well. A tuition surcharge (not covered by Bright Futures) for just those 3 schools begins to phase in this fall. This may turn lots of attention on UCF, now cheaper for the first time, which has already been seeing a rise in popularity and rising admissions requirements, as well.</p>

<p>Yes, but the extra fee has been written into law that the money generated by tuition differential must be used to hire more Professors & Advisors. Therefore the student to faculty ratio should drop considerably at UF, FSU, and USF. The smaller class-sizes should provide a more quality education. UCF was very upset that they were not also allowed to be included in the extra tuition.</p>

<p>Yes, UCF was disappointed. They are next in line for a surcharge, and may get one as early as fall 09. My point was that in the short run they may get the benefit of snagging some good students who just don't want to, or can't, pay the surcharge now.</p>

<p>"They are next in line for a surcharge" - In regards to UCF also getting the fee.</p>

<p>That is a big if. They do not qualify as a Research Flagship according to a law passed in the 2005 session. They would have to change the law just to qualify, and that would be bad public policy and a dangerous precident.</p>

<p>Tokenadult, there are a number of extremely well off kids at UF. Where we live is a perfect example where the attitude is, "Why pay for Yale, when I can buy myself a nice Hummer and send the kids instate?" I've heard several people say that.</p>

<p>Seriously Graduate & Professional degrees are what matters these days. Save the debt until after college.</p>

<p>Unless your trying to go into investment banking, what is the point?</p>