<p>that wasn’t my experience, but its conceivable. </p>
<p>fun fact, denslow is retiring on the 15th.</p>
<p>UF didn’t give money because the school is undergoing very large budget cuts. The school does not have money for some whole departments, let alone scholarship money.</p>
<p>However, I go to UF, and I love it. It’s perfect for me regardless of some downsides. Good weather, inexpensive, diverse population and great school spirit. Try to consider the schools for what they are, not the money or wooing.</p>
<p>My son started out in an IB program, played varsity baseball for 4 years, took 8 AP courses, graduated with a 3.9 GPA and was not accepted into UF. He later appealed and was still not accepted. This was a blow to his self-esteem as a student. He was accepted at FSU and several out of state universities with financial aid. I am so sick of the UF elitist attitude. I know several students who had lower SAT and ACT scores and took less rigorous coursework who were accepted. It is what it is. But, to be honest, I now detest UF and the Gator Nation. You are not all that!!</p>
<p>As the state’s grown, admissions to UF has gotten very competitive, and the holistic admission process can seem very random (way to random IMHO). Florida has 550 high schools and UF enrolls 6,400 freshmen (89 to 90% in-state), so that comes out to a bit over 10 students per high school (more at some, less at others). My DD’s high school had close to 600 seniors and will be sending 19 to 20 kids to UF Lots with 4.0+ GPA’s didn’t get accepted.</p>
<p>As a parent, combine this selectivity (and random seeming holistic process) with a lack of merit aid, it can be very frustrating. However, I’m sure your son will excel at FSU (or the OOS schools) and that your both will enjoy the FSU/UF games (as long as your team wins!).</p>
<p>Ok, so I understand the frustration. But @crazymomofboyz, it would have been the greatest school ever, had your son been accepted right?
My son was accepted to every in state school he applied to, all with Honors and significant money. We were fully prepared to send him to FSU had he not gotten in UF. I was actually leaning that way but it is up to him. He was accepted, rejected for honors and no scholarships. It’s the nature of more quality kids applying than slots available. Ever apply to any Ivies, or other private schools? Everyone accepts they are selective but somehow a state school can’t be?
Again, I understand, my sons #1 was Northwestern, should we now assume it’s a crappy school because he didn’t get in. I hope all goes well wherever he attends. </p>
<p>@oldbull2 I can relate to your son’s situation. I’m a senior and I got into all the state schools with scholarships and honors, and even got into FSU Legal scholars, where I would have been auto admitted into law school, but I chose UF. Even though I got rejected from honors and got no merit aid, I like the campus feel, the strong academics, the prestige and the strong sports. I got rejected from my top pick, Rice, but I didn’t even care anymore by the time I had received the rejection email. I can vouch for UF’s selectivity. At my school, only about 30-40 kids got in from a class of 430 students, and yes, not all of them had 4.0+ GPAs. One kid picked UF over Yale and MIT. UF is a much cheaper alternative, and it still has powerhouse research and academics.</p>
<p>My DS just finished his freshman year at UF and loves it! He made sure to join some clubs and sports to meet people because the school is huge and you have to make it smaller. He has had some awesome opportunities and is currently at UF for summer serving as an RA for the Preview kids:) He seriously considered both UF and FSU but UF felt like home to him and he found the kids at FSU to be snobby…he didn’t care for the student who gave the tour at FSU. I have always found the students on UFs campus to be very nice (I usually end up lost at least once when I visit!) and I have found the staff helpful too, but I have not had to deal with them much because son is taking care of everything on his own including scheduling and financial aid:)
I think both schools offer great educations so it really is about which school feels right for your son/daughter. I know students at both and they are all doing well:)</p>
<p>I posted on this thread 2 years ago when my daughter was accepted to UF, but we were frustrated that she didn’t get any scholarship money. She is about to start her junior year at UF and absolutely loves it! Like @sophieandlola’s son, she made the campus smaller by joining a club right away. Her choice was a Christian sorority, of which she is now President-Elect. She has met the most wonderful people, many of whom I’m sure will be life-long friends. She had a pretty rude awakening academically her freshman year, coming from a small private school in MS, but she’s fine now. </p>
<p>There are things I’m not crazy about - such as 1) the non-negotiable requirement for every student to earn 9 credit hours in summer school at some point during their 4 years, 2) UF’s strict requirement to graduate in 4 years; she was actually told she could have a semester of “slack” but then would have to walk, degree or no degree, and 3) charging the same tuition rate for online classes as live ones. </p>
<p>But no school is perfect and, all things considered, UF is an awesome school. Seeing our daughter SO happy makes us happy, too! </p>
<p>Woot! =D> </p>
<p>Glad to her your daughter is having a wonderful time! </p>
<p>At this years preview, some of the parents complained about the on-line classes. As long as they are only being used to replace the 100+ student auditorium type classes (and can give the student some scheduling flexibility), I’m fine with them (and that they are used for “intro classes” and not junior+ level classes). I remember back in the 80’s we had “video” versions of classes at UF. The class was taught in one section, and then recorded and viewed in several other sections through out the week. Now these have been replaced by on-line viewings. </p>
<p>Yes @Gator88NE that’s what they’re still doing. Her microeconomics professor teaches a live class on T-Th and records it for students to watch online. My D has found that watching a 2 1/2 hr lecture online is tough. The good news is there are extra seats in the classroom, so she attends the live lectures, and then just does the assignments and exams online. Works for her! :)</p>