<p>We are Russian and live in Tallahassee, FL. As many of you already know, FSU is in Tallahassee and my mom is over protective, she really wants me to go to FSU and not out of state. I'm only a sophomore but I already know that I'm definitely not staying here because in my opinion (heard from other people) FL colleges suck. A lot of people say FSU is a party school and Florida colleges in general are just not something I should make my first choice, but everyone in Tallahassee is obsessed with getting into FSU and then those people spend the rest of their lives here. I don't like the South, thats one of the main reasons why I don't wanna go to FSU.</p>
<p>Now I get very good grades and I know I can get accepted into a better school than FSU. I have a 3.8 gpa and am in lots of clubs. </p>
<p>In your opinion, is FSU a school I should even consider or is it on the low scale? Advice please?</p>
<p>Jesus dude, YOU’RE A SOPHOMORE.</p>
<p>Also I would like to add that it is pretty cheap to go to FSU in-state, which is also a bonus. Thats one of the main issues with going away for college is that its expensive. The question is, is FSU worth it even for the low money? Or should I risk it and go to a different school thats a lot better? </p>
<p>Just planning</p>
<p>Your mom views you as being too young because right now you are too young.</p>
<p>That said, Florida has some very good schools, so don’t just write them off.</p>
<p>because in my opinion (heard from other people) FL colleges suck</p>
<p>As for “your opinion” about Florida schools, you just said that you’ve “heard” these things. Are you saying that you form opinions based on just chatter from friends? That’s not a wise thing to do.</p>
<p>Anyway, much will depend on how much YOUR PARENTS will pay. If they refuse to pay much because you’d get Bright Futures for a Florida public, then you may not have any choice. </p>
<p>Ask your parents how much they’ll pay each year for college.</p>
<p>In the meantime, get the best grades and the best ACT and SAT scores.</p>
<p>Are you in Honors/AP/IB classes? Developing one skill, passion, or EC?
Where do you see yourself- a large school with a big football stadium, large lecture halls that you can sometimes skip? Smaller school where you can continue your sport, live on campus with 90% students, be in small, interactive classes that no one would think to skip?
You can start applying for post-sophomore year summer camps that take place on college campuses - start investigating, especially if you need financial aid.
Visit a few colleges: you know FSU (which is a decent school for academics, you could do worse than get in 
) what about Rollins? NCF? UMiami? Barry? See if they have visit/tour days for sophomores and juniors, apply and go.
If you ever go visit relatives outside of Florida, ask them if there’s a college nearby and go visit. Figure out what it is you’re looking for.
Borrow one (or all) of these guides from your school library: Princeton Review’s Best Colleges, Fiske Guide, Insider’s Guide to the Colleges. Start reading, placing post its next to the schools you like.
Start looking at the Colleges that Change Lives website.
Start reading The College Solution and DIY College Rankings websites.
Prepare the ACT or the SAT and take a practice run in June 2014. See what you need to work on.
Pick three colleges you like and run the Net Price Calculators for them, then discuss cost of attendance with your parents. IF you get into a better school than FSU, can they pay? Are they willing to pay? What if you get a scholarship somewhere else?</p>
<p>FSU isn’t a bad school, but if you want a small school, or a religious school, or a liberal arts college, it wouldn’t be a very good fit.</p>
<p>Finally, if you just want to go “up North”, look at the MidAtlantic region (NYState and PA have literally hundreds of colleges, not to mention OH), the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest. Read up on these regions and see which ones seem attractive to you.
You have 18 months to decide where you’re going to apply to college, and in all likelihood you would have 2 safeties (schools you’re sure you can get into, like, and can afford), 3-5 matches (You’re above the median GPA/SAT scores), and as many reaches as you can afford, so, 6-10 schools. Start looking, start thinking, start exploring. :)</p>
<p>The statement Florida colleges suck is baseless and many, many colleges have a reputation for partying, true or not - it’s called the USA. Since you or your family seem influenced by media and others, I suggest you check out national rankings from US News, Princeton Review, and Kiplingers for so-called objective opinions. There you can see how the Florida colleges stack up…</p>