<p>S accepted into FSU, UNF and Florida Southern. Decision is very difficult for him as all 3 have positives and negatives and he is not sure what size school he wants to go to. CC has lots of conversation about FSU, a little about UNF, but virtually none on Florida Southern. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge they care to share??</p>
<p>FSU is hands down the best school. It will have better faculty, smarter students, and definitely more prestige. It also has the best campus life. Lots of parties, lots of school spirit.</p>
<p>And I don’t know anything about Florida Southern, but UNF is considered to be a really bad school. It is everyone’s safety-safety-safety last resort school. It is a commuter school. Not a good campus life. No prestige at all.</p>
<p>I’ll disagree completely with gecko on UNF. Regardless of what high school students think is a good school, UNF has been ranked a top value and a “Best Southeastern College” by the Princeton Review. Average admitted GPA of 3.6 and 1191 SAT is far from elite rated, but it’s not terrible. However, it is largely a commuter school. Many of it’s students may live right off campus in apartments, but it’s still not going to have the same strong social atmosphere as some others. However, FSU only offers about 6,000 on campus residence slots for 40,000 students, so there’s no way it can be considered a largely residential college either. Florida Southern, on the other hand, is much smaller and has a 70% on-campus residency rate. </p>
<p>As far as prestige goes, (although I think this issue is largely overrated, and pretty pointless when comparing all but the very top schools), USF does have a much more established record than UNF. It is a top 100 American University, and a Top Value. Florida Southern is a small private school, so it’s hard to compare that, but by traditional thought, research activity, etc, USF is likely the superior academic institution when compared to UNF. Florida Southern has a good reputation, it’s been ranked as a best Southeastern College, and was included in Princeton Reviews list of the best 366 colleges. </p>
<p>These schools are going to be so different in atmosphere though, it’s hard for me to imagine your son liking all three equally. You need to tour each one, see residence halls at each one, and talk to some faculty/students at each one. If I were looking for a school strong in the sciences and research, but didn’t mind a massive school, I’d go to FSU. If I were looking for a good liberal arts/fine arts school and wanted personal attention, I’d go to Florida Southern. I don’t see a situation where I personally would want to go to UNF, particularly if I were cross shopping the other two, but I’m not your son so I don’t know what he’s looking for.</p>
<p>FSU for sure. I don’t really care for UNF and I don’t know why you’d attend FL Southern.</p>
<p>^ The above statement is of no help to the original poster. Asking for insights and advice does not mean “Where would you go?”. It is also statements like “I don’t know why you’d attend FL Southern” that make your opinion of little value. Just because you don’t like a certain school or wouldn’t attend there personally has nothing to do with whether or not it is a good school for their son. If it wasn’t the right school for anyone, it wouldn’t still be open and ranked as well as it is.</p>
<p>Fine mmcnell, allow me to elaborate a bit. </p>
<p>FSU- Pros: nationally ranked and relatively well known, beautiful campus, active student body, inexpensive, Tallahassee, etc.
Cons: Tallahassee </p>
<p>UNF- Pros: Inexpensive
Cons: Jacksonville (I personally don’t care for Jacksonville, although you might.), commuter school, relatively unknown…</p>
<p>FSC: Pros: apparently a lot of people live on campus
Cons: expensive, Lakeland, unknown (to most Floridians even)</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Mmcnell, I do appreciate your thoughts especially. We are in the process of our second round of trips to each of the schools. Florida Southern actually lets accepted students spend the night in the dorms. They roll out the red carpet and the dog and pony for these students. What’s not to like! He does realize the individual attention they say they provide is a plus for him. He is an A/B student but pretty introverted until he feels comfortable with a group of friends. His older brother attends FSU, so he spent 2 nights with him. They are very close and he is probably one of the main draws to FSU. He does realize it is large and on the impersonal side and his classes, at least initially, might be quite large. He attended a lecture class in his intended major and liked it very much, however. Florida Southern has 2 full time profs in his major and many adjuncts from the field come in. He wasn’t able to visit a class, but did meet a prof and representative from the department. I think UNF is on his list because it is in between the other two in population. We visit there in 2 more weeks but just for another tour given by a peppy student!
I know the schools are very different, but my son’s response is that he has never been to college so how should he know what he really wants for the next 4 years. I feel his pain, because I, too am torn mainly between Florida Southern and FSU. At least we have until May 1!!!</p>
<p>We are somewhat in the same quandry. My D has been accepted to both FSU and Florida Southern. FSC is a best college value and on all the top lists ranking its size. D went last weekend for a Scholars weekend and really came away with the feeling that FSC “fits” her. Smaller classes, professors that know your name, residential college where many students live on campus all four years. For the entering class of 2014 they are guaranteeing a travel-study experience for junior/senior year. Many personal touches that Florida State cannot provide. We are going to visit Florida State again in two weeks for a preview day and will probably make decision after that visit.</p>
<p>S was at the same Scholars Weekend. And yes, he feels the “fit” as well. But he also wonders if he will miss the large school spirit (Go Noles! etc) Florida Southern also “guarantees” an internship which could be a potential job offer at some point. But when looking for a job, does FSU on a resume carry more weight than Florida Southern? I don’t know. But S really likes Florida Southern and its Southern charm and hospitality. Let me know what y’all decide!</p>
<p>My son spent a year at UNF. He did find it largely a commuter school and many of the kids were local and seemed to know each other from high schools in the area. He was an unmotivated high school student and got mainly B’s and C’s at a good prep school. He was a B+, A student at UNF. There was little school spirit and not much going on during the weekends. He did make some good friends while he was there but did transfer as a sophomore. It turned out to bed a good year for him (in retrospect). He needed to grow up. This was 2006 -2007 so things may have changed but I agree that your son should spend some time there to see for himself.</p>