How do I know that UF, FSU and UGA don’t “empty on weekends”? With UF and FSU it’s first hand knowledge.
It’s a 6+ hour drive from Tally to Miami, it’s over 3 hours to Orlando; most in-state students come from the Orlando/Tampa/South Florida region. We live fairly close to both schools (North Florida, about 1.5 to 2 hours from each school) and our kids and their friends spend most weekends staying in town, they have things to do.
Holiday weekends would be an exception. Then they go home or on road trips with friends. Other than holiday’s/3 day weekends, nether school should be described as emptying out on weekends.