<p>I'm having a difficult time deciding between UM and UF. When I didn't get into my top choices, I was pretty much set on being a gator. But this weekend I went to a UM scholarship competition and it was pretty convincing...</p>
<p>I'm majoring in some business route (but math based; economics, accounting, or finance) but am not POSITIVE this is what I want to do. What's the advising like at UF vs UM that'd help me make this decision?</p>
<p>I feel like in my field, UM has a lot more opportunities, what with being in Miami and all, and especially if I go into an international concentration (which I am considering), I think UM might be a better fit.</p>
<p>But to be honest, I want to be a Gator!! I love the big school/ social aspect of it, but i don't know if it's the right thing for my career path. Someone talk me into it! </p>
<p>Thanks for any and all feedback.</p>
<p>i suggest go where you will be the most HAPPY.</p>
<p>University of Florida - Undergraduate rankings</p>
<p>27th overall by the U.S. News & World Report, 2008
18th for Finance
20th for Management
8th for Marketing
8th for Real Estate
10th for Quantitative Analysis/Methods
15th for Production/Operations Management
15th for Accounting </p>
<ul>
<li>Oh ya - UF is the 2nd best value in all of higher education according to Kiplinger.com</li>
</ul>
<p>UM offers a great business education with small classes (no more than 50 in a class), excellent advising (they personally know your name and your situation), and great academics. The rankings between UF and UM are very close, but Business Week (the premier business ranking) in 2009 ranked only UM in the top 50 undergraduate business programs, not UF. I do not think you should choose based on rankings because they are asinine. You should choose based on what fits you. Miami does have more business opportunities than Gainesville and the international environment is much better at UM, but I do not knock UF. UF has a great program, is cheaper, and is larger. If you can pay for UM or received a scholarship (like me), I would advise attending UM.</p>
<p>P.S. Post this in both the Miami and UF threads. You will get both sides. Most opinions here will be pro-UF.</p>
<p>miaton2009-- I was going to post this in the UM board but there was already one just like it… thanks for your feedback though! I’m actually in t he running for a full ride scholarship so if i get that UM will be hard to turn down…</p>
<p>Any other opinions?</p>
<p>Most people have the misconception that you need to graduate from a school in “city x” to get a job in “city x”. Many of the best schools in the US are located in suburban areas. Do you think they could get jobs outside of their respective college towns?</p>
<p>If you get a degree from UF, you will be able to get a business related job in South Florida without a problem. Think of it this way: there are 50,000 students at UF. Practically all of them move out from Gainesville to other cities around the US to get jobs. Therefore, it’s not necessary to go to UM to get a job in Miami.</p>
<p>In my opinion, I think your decision should come down to where you want to be for 4 years. I’m guessing you live in Miami so you’ll commute to UM, which isn’t the funnest thing, unless your scholarship will cover a dorm too, in which case you’ll have to worry about your parents dropping in unexpetedly every once in a while. Miami’s nice but a change of scenery is always welcome, you should go to UF</p>
<p>My daughter is in the Business School at UM and she loves it. She has been very pleased with the level of advising [one advisor all four years], the mentoring program and other opportunities she has received for internships, career counseling, etc. I don’t know how UF handles these kinds of things but they would worth inquiring about to help you make a decision. [I stumbled on this post because my other child is deciding between UF and UM as well!.]</p>
<p>Why go to UM when you can go to UF for a fraction of the price? UF is such a better deal… And if you’re seriously considering to pursue an MBA, save your money for business school. If your gut tells you to be a Gator, follow it. Trust me, being part of the Gator Nation is something special and indescribable…</p>
<p>if graduate school is in the game plan, the cheapest option is best.
what you do as an undergraduate is far more important than where you go in the long run.</p>
<p>sja1202, I agree that cheaper is best… but I’m currently in the running for a full ride scholarship and if I get it, it’d really level the playing field. However, if i don’t get it, i’m probably going to UF.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Any other opinions?</p>
<p>what you do as an undergraduate is more important than what you do in the long run???</p>
<p>Not sure what the social/size environment is like at UM, but UF is probably more known, more prestigious, etc. You will probably have the same level of academic opportunities at either, but UM is insanely expensive and UF is, like someone said, the 2nd best value school.
I’ve been to UF and I"m going there this fall. It’s awesome.</p>
<p>All I can contribute is that my daughter and I were down for that same Singer Scholarship Weekend event. After spending Friday night at dinner and Saturday going to lecture and listening to all UM had to offer she decided that UF was a better fit for her.</p>
<p>I think you have to go with what FEELS right. She did not feel comfortable on that UM campus. I have to tell you… as a parent I found Miami a difficult place to drive (granted Freshman cannot have cars) still it was rough. Too many different driving styles on the road at one time (and I am one who drives around Orlando so I thought I had seen it all).</p>
<p>The UM campus is pretty - very tropical - and the classes are smaller but it just didn’t feel right to us. So, I think when all is said and done … you need to go where you will feel comfortable (all things being equal in educational opportunites). </p>
<p>The closest second choice for her was Auburn which has a beautiful campus and absolutely wonderful people. Of course, she has parents who are both UF Alumni but we tried not to sway her. Really, we looked wherever she wished to look. She applied to 7 universities and got accepted into 6 of them. We feel we did a good job in looking at other options.</p>