Is there anybody here that got into both UF and FSU and ended up choosing to attend FSU? What helped you to make your decision? Academics? Campus? I’m finding it very difficult to find reasons for me to attend FSU over UF in the event that I am offered admission to both, and I’m not a life-long fan of UF or anything.
FSU may offer more in merit aid, but you seem as though you will be eligible for substantial need-based aid based on your chances post.
Check out the honors program for each school. I thought the FSU Honors and Scholars program was impressive.
Look into the internship/co–op programs. Tallahassee may offer more.
While UF is ranked higher both in (Graduate) Economics and overall, you may find that FSU has more of what YOU are looking for. Only you can decide.
I can give the perspective from out of state. My son got into both. But FSU was considerably more engaging. We never felt that there was any outreach by UF, but by the same token they are pretty clear that they are not really working to recruit from out of state. One of our close friend’s son started at UF last year, and felt it was difficult to integrate into the campus as an OOS student. FSU sets you up with a life coach to help ease the transition. The real truth – though only an outsider can say this – is that the difference between the schools is underwhelming, and your selection is great either way. Visit the campuses and get a feel of what life is like there by staying with friends during school. Go with the one that seems to make you most happy at the outset, but know there is no wrong decision here.
My son was accepted in-state to both and chose FSU. Reasons: FSU Honors program was more impressive, they offered some scholarship $, preferred Tallahassee to Gainesville, preferred the more compact and attractive FSU campus. If he were an engineering or compsci major then the choice may have been different, but for his majors (econ & history) and interests (politics and social sciences) FSU seemed a better choice.
FSU is definitely stronger in terms of outreach to prospective students, this was pretty obvious when we visited the campuses last year.
Either one is a good choice.
My daughter was accepted to both schools, and we visited both campuses, as well as the campus of UCF (where I went to school when it was a much smaller university!) She much preferred the campus and atmosphere at FSU, and she liked the Tallahassee area better as well. As others pointed out, they seemed to really make an effort to make students comfortable and help them transition to college. Both UF and UCF were lacking in that area.
I personally liked UF as I thought it had a better program for her major (Physical Therapy) and she was happy to have been accepted as the requirements were a bit higher, but she never seriously considered UF once she was accepted at FSU. I do think she might be interested in UF for her Master’s and Doctorate as FSU does not offer that in her field. She is loving it so far!