Hi everyone. My senior son was not accepted to UF, his first choice school. He was accepted to FSU and is prepared to attend, but is saying he will transfer to UF as soon as he is eligible to. We are a Gator family, so attending FSU will take a little getting used to for all of us. We know FSU is a good school; however, we just don’t think it’s in his heart to try to assimilate once he’s there.
So, assuming he sticks to his decision to transfer, my question is what is the better option for him, FSU or Santa Fe.
I know UF requires transfer students to have earned their AA degree, so it will be two years before he will be at UF. I also know his likely major, Marketing, is a very competitive major and that he may be admitted into the BA Business program and not the traditional BS in Business.
I know a large part of this answer is a personal choice that can only be answered by him, with our support. So what I am hoping to hear from the forum are stories from people who faced a similar situation. All advice and info will be greatly appreciated. I know in the big picture everything will work out, but right now we feel a little lost.
Is Santa Fe a community college in Florida ? If so, then it would be a better option for one wishing to transfer into the state flagship university.
Yes, Santa Fe is a community college in Gainesville, where UF is located. FSU is a major Florida university located in Tallahassee.
Yes, I am familiar with FSU & UF. My confusion was with respect to “Santa Fe” as there is a Santa Fe College in New Mexico.
Typically, state flagship universities have an obligation, whether legally binding or just moral, to give priority consideration to junior college & community college–essentially 2 year college–transfer applicants.
This same obligation or commitment would not apply to transfer applications from another major in-state university.
Graduating from FSU’s business school is better than graduating from what Floridians know is not-Warrington, and Warrington can’t be accessed from Santa Fe college. Not sure it’s accessible from FSU either though.
I’m sure your son is devastated. That’s why having a dream college is risky… So now you need to help him feel better.
Did he get a freshman scholarship? If so, he’s eligible for FSU honors. He should try for that - application is due tomorrow so he should get that done. He may feel better about FSU with the perks and advantages of honors.
Has he had other acceptances which would not make him feel that he has to transfer?
@gatordad5 First, I am sorry to hear your son did not get in UF. As a member of a “Gator family” myself, it can be tough to consider sending someone to that “northern school”, as Coach Spurrier used to refer to FSU.
If your son’s goal is to graduate from UF his best bet is to begin at Santa Fe College and pursue an Associate of Arts (AA) degree. SF sends more juniors to UF that the other 27 state colleges and all the state universities combined. SF alumni enrolled at UF graduate at the same rate as “native” students – that is, students who begin at UF as freshmen.
Living here in Gainesville, he will be a part of the greater UF community and will be able to participate in the activities that make Gainesville so special. SF offers its students tremendous support and has countless connections to UF, which will make his transition from SF to UF as seamless as possible.
Learn more about the SF-UF connection at http://www.sfcollege.edu/gators/ifUFthenSF/true-story/christian-keen
He did not get a freshman scholarship to FSU. He has some great out of state opportunities, but as the decision time is getting closer he is leaning toward staying in state. This is on UF’s web site (http://warrington.ufl.edu/undergraduate/academics/admissions/transfer.asp):
"The Heavener School of Business admits transfer students to the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) – General Studies major which pairs a UF business degree with an outside area of specialization offered by another UF department. Transfer applicants interested in an on campus business major are encouraged to consider this major.
There is limited capacity for transfer students in other majors within the School. Those who meet the minimum requirements are eligible to apply, but admission is not guaranteed and the selection process is extremely competitive."
So I think it is possible to transfer in, but it is competitive.