So I’m currently in college but am thinking about transferring to UF. I love everything about the school, except I’m not sure how “southern” it is. I’m born and raised in upstate NY and don’t do well with country music, bless her heart, sweet tea, Paula Deen kind of southern. I’m afraid I’ll get there and not fit in. Anyone who’s currently or recently attended (esp northerners) how did you find you fit in and is it a very southern type of school or mixed? I know it says only 4% or so are out of state students.
I love sweet tea 
The other SEC schools will tell you UF (and the state of Florida) isn’t really “southern”. Most students are from the more urban sections of the state (Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, etc.) and many are from families that relocated from the north. Students are much more likely to be into Alt music than country. It’s a liberal campus, but compared to NE schools it will feel a bit more conservative.
Gainesville (and Florida in general) are not “southern” in the traditional sense, probably because so many people move to Florida from northern places. People in most parts of Florida, and Gainesville in particular, don’t usually have southern accents or feel any particular kinship to “old south” traditions. And central Florida has its own feel that is different from the beachy areas of the coasts and south Florida. The area around Gainesville is filled with natural springs, lakes, and forests. You can still find sharks’ teeth in the natural springs that run through Gainesville. It’s a really interesting place. If you haven’t visited, you should.
My son has lived all over the Southeast and currently lives in FL will be attending UF in the fall. None of those things that you mentioned describe him at all, or any of his friends. He wouldn’t fit in in that type of environment either. Just wanted to add that not everyone in the south is like that.
The “real south” is north of Gainesville. Gotta be in Georgia or Alabama to hit old South.