<p>For anyone that’s actually at UF now, is all this Gator Nation stuff just as noticeable and annoying on campus as it is at these programs? Because I’m interested in academics not any of this school spirit stuff and I’m hoping it’s not going to ruin my experience there.</p>
<p>You’ll be surrounded by as much ‘gator nation’ stuff as you choose to be. The only time it will be forced on you will be at random restaurants or stores that are decked out in gator stuff.
Also, don’t be so sure you won’t catch the fever too. Granted, there are plenty of people on campus that hold out for whatever reason. To each his own I guess.</p>
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<p>Aside from people wearing gator shirts and sweatshirts, that’s pretty much it. What you mention will usually only happen during game days, rallies, and championship stuff.</p>
<p>We attended the Scholar’s Day with our son. We had also done aregular campus visit/tour, as well as a campus visit/tour and orientation with our older son who is about to graduate from UF.</p>
<p>We found it to be 1) an AWFUL lot of rah rah, and 2) an awful lot of “we’re the best, you’ll be lucky to get in, and if you don’t want to be here there’s plenty more where you came from” vibe. </p>
<p>Son 3 was accepted to UF, but missed the honors program by a hair (GPA). He chose a different in-state school where they showed he was more than a number and where they spend a lot more time showing the the focus is truly on undergraduate success and the overall undergrad experience. He’s in the Honors College there and they gave him a nice merit package.</p>
<p>YMMV.</p>
<p>Well, I am on the faculty at USF and I have a daughter who attends UF. At USF, I attend lots of freshman and transfer orientations, as well as other recruitment programs at USF as a representative of my dept. I also attended preview at UF with my daughter a couple of years ago. I have to tell you, it’s basically the same at USF as at UF. It’s just as rah rah at USF, they basically run it almost exactly the same. I dunno, I see the kids and parents who attend and they look far from miserable to be there. Most seem very excited and want to get as much info as possible. Attending preview as a parent, my experience was the same. By the second day, I had had it, but it was more that I was tired, rather than displeased with the program. I thought the info was valuable, but then again, I knew a lot going in by virtue of my job and I also try not to be a total helicopter parent, unlike many others. </p>
<p>I also have to say that when my daughter was a freshman, she was total gator this gator that, always dressed in gator stuff. Now that she is in her third year, I rarely see her in the gator gear. It’s as much or as little as you want to do it. Frankly, I think it’s nice. At USF, for many many years, the kids had no school spirit and were totally apathetic. Now that we have football and teh admin is making a concerted effort to infuse teh school with spirit, I have to admit it’s kind of nice to see the kids support the school by wearing the colors, etc. </p>
<p>I think everyone has to find teh school that’s the right fit for them. That’s the purpose of these programs. If it’s not a good fit, don’t go, but don’t bash. That’s all I’m saying.</p>
<p>Oh and FloridaGator3 - Many core classes in your freshman and sophomore year are informally referred to as “weeding classes”, esp in the science. UF is not unique in having students take these as pre-reqs before major courses. I am talking about things like calc, physic, chem, etc The reason your instructors say that you will fail is because many of the students will. Can you make it in that major? The weeding classes tell the story. Perhaps the instructor was being a bit too blunt for your delicate ears. This isn;t HS, where it’s the teachers job to get you through, it’s your job. And I’m not saying all the faculty are great, because they aren’t. That’ life, kid. At some point you will work for a lousy boss who has unreasonable expectations. It’s part of life, get used to it. I used to work in a law school and it orientation for first year students, the dean would get up and say look to your left and look to your right. One of the three of you won’t be here at this time next year. Frightening to them, you bet. True? Yep.</p>
<p>I hope my future job market babies and caters to me as much as many of the posters here need to be catered to by prospective colleges.</p>
<p>poeticlicense, My dad graduated from UF. He has told me the story many times about his freshman orientation (1969) being held in the football stadium at UF, and while sitting in the stands that evening, being told the look to your left and look to your right, one of you will be gone spiel by the speaker. Guess things haven’t changed much at UF in forty years, other than the retention rate has improved. Too, I think at these orientations it is probably better that the parents be seen and not heard. Once in college, the student should do most of the question asking and talking–not the parents.</p>
<p>poeticlicense - I completely understand that the core classes are the weed-out classes to separate those who are willing and able to study and pass the class from those who aren’t. I also realize that many students will fail. I just found it obnoxious, not intimidating, when the professors made comments like that. I know it’s not high school and I don’t expect the teachers to get us through the class. It would just be nice if they weren’t so discouraging and seemed more willing to help those students who are willing to learn. But like I said earlier, I did very well in my classes and know that I should just ignore the comments the professors make.</p>
<p>vincanity1- Did you actually read anything I said?</p>
<p>This isn’t a bashing thread, as I’ve said already. Quit with the attacks! We’re stating our opinion on the way the school performed.</p>
<p>Who’s bashing who? And yes, I did read what you said. While I understand that you and your daughter are looking for a university that makes a greater attempt to lure students with organized and effective programs, I think they are immaterial when speaking of the ‘college experience’ that you mentioned. I am addressing not just you, but everyone that I have heard on this forum complain about the lack of effort put forward by UF in attracting new students, in saying that I believe it to be irresponsible on the part of a parent to let the child pass up on a more highly touted, more recognized university as a result of the lack of appreciation in the searching stage. Quite frankly, while some correlation might exist with regards to how much the university or its faculty caters to the enrolled students, its almost outlandish to immediately brand the college experience as being a lesser one than that which one might attain at a university that sent a card to your child saying how badly they want/need a student like yours. </p>
<p>I am in no way claiming that UF is without fault because I myself have plenty of qualms about the school. I am also not saying that you, Navarre, or anyone else I am addressing this to, is passing on the ‘better’ school per se. However, I would truly hate to see parents leading their children astray from a more qualified (in the most general sense of the word) university because of a lack of attention before the student is even enrolled. </p>
<p>Again, I understand that UF might not be the most caring, cozy, or compassionate university in the world…far from it actually. By the same token, I was never aware that one’s college experience was meant to be as such. College is a place of growth and maturation, and being left to find one’s own way is the most effective means of realizing that growth. </p>
<p>On the other hand, the individuals whom find it necessary to whine about UF’s lack of flirting probably are suited for a more sheltered and catering environment, and as such their ‘better fit’ might present itself in the form of a different university. In that case, negate everything I’ve just said and enjoy your ‘better fit’</p>
<p>i know vocational schools who sent me more nice cards and letters than UF did, but i still went with UF</p>
<p>Santa Fe sent me I basket of muffins. Maybe I should go there instead of UF.</p>
<p>Navarre2: I went to WED too and I loved it. The second I stepped in, I had students asking my name, what I was interested in, if I needed any help. The differences were overwhelming. Even with the amount of people there, they still made it feel like you were an individual who they were generally excited in meeting :)</p>
<p>I am hoping to be a Tiger next year!</p>