I’m a graduating high school senior from tampa, fl. I have been accepted to both UCF and UF for the fall term. UCF has offered me admission to their honors college and a $30,000 scholarship (almost full ride). UF hasn’t offered me anything of the sort. I also have bright futures which covers my tuition.
My career goal is to go to law school, which means technically I can major in whatever I want. I’ve been thinking of criminology, criminal justice, philosophy, and political science. Basically finances isn’t a huge issue but it’s obviously hard to turn $30,000 down. I don’t intend to take out any loans getting my bachelors, but my mom says if i go to UCF she will definitely be able to help me out a lot more in law school, and i can obviously save up in the next 4 years as well.
I don’t really feel a strong pull towards either school. I thought UF campus gave off more of a college vibe. If i went to UF, it would be a completely fresh start, whereas UCF many of my friends are going. Another thing that bugged me was that UCF had a much higher student to teacher ratio, are most of the classes big? I love the prestige of UF, i feel like i would be so much prouder about saying where i go.
Basically I need any advice that would help! The main reason i’m doubting UCF is just because it’s not academically as good. In high school, i never felt challenged, i always felt like i was the smartest kid in the room and i don’t want to feel like that anymore. All my stats (GPA, test scores) are on the high end, if even included, in UCF stats. They mailed me the other day saying i’m in the top 10% of the accepted class. I do want to be challenged, but not so much to the point where i can’t handle it and i can’t have a social life.
any advice will definitely help, but some specific questions
will going to ucf lower my chances of getting into a good law school?
how will the prestige of UF really affect me because it is the main thing causing me to consider it?
what are the differences in the social scenes of each college?
is it better to just be a number at UF or to be one of the top at UCF (also in the honors college)?
how bad really is the traffic in orlando?
why did you choose UCF over UF (or vice versa) or why do you think UCF is better (or vice versa)?
I’d take the money and the honors college at UCF.
Did you apply to the honors program at UF? Merit at UF hasn’t been released yet so you might have more to think about if you get a merit award there.
As far as law school goes, your gpa and lsat scores will have more to do with admissions than which school you attend.
(Don’t major in criminology. Pick English or Spanish or history.)
I live in FL, about two miles from the UCF campus. I’m not a student and didn’t attend UCF. I just happen to live super close.
Listen, I’m confused. Bright Futures will cover your tuition to UF? If that’s the case, is UF still considerably more expensive than UCF? Would you be paying board at UF but not UCF? I believe that UF is one of the few schools in the U.S. that doesn’t require incoming freshman to live on campus for their first year. Still, would housing and expenses be more for you in Gainesville?
If there’s a significant price difference, the smart move is UCF, but you’re right. UCF is ginormous, and Gainesville is much more of a college town than Orlando. That said, UF is also quite large.
Yes, UF has some prestige, but both UCF and USF have become hot (pardon the pun) schools. All FL schools have become much more selective. Also, if your plans are law school, and if that is your main goal above all else, then you should choose the school where you will earn the highest GPA, secure the strongest letters of rec, do the most interesting things, and nail the LSAT. You don’t get bonus points for the name of your undergrad institution. Earning a perfect 4.0 at UCF with amazing letters of rec will get you further than earning a 3.3 at UF and securing very good (but not great) letters.
You still have time. Weigh what’s most important to you. If the college vibe of Gainesville and Gator Nation seem more important than the possibilities of UCF where you’ll be less happy, then go to UF if it’s cost-efficient. BTW, you can still get into law school with a B average from either school, but it depends on whether your goal is to just go to any law school or to attend a better-regarded one.
I go to UCF so I’m definitely biased but I considered many of the things you are wondering about last year before I decided, and I don’t regret it. Obviously I can’t speak to the culture at UF but UCF has a great student culture and campus. Overall, the feel on campus is relaxed but busy (except for on the weekends, its pretty dead). The honors college is great and I’ve met most of my close friends through my honors classes and honors events. I was the valedictorian of my high school class and I find myself to be plenty challenged with my courses. I think the courses are pretty comparable to what my friends at other colleges have experienced. I know people who live close to the school and stay with their high school friend group but I also know people in the same situation who have totally made a new friend group so I think it’s really what you make of it. Overall, it feels good to be valued as a student at UCF, especially in the honors college. Like the dean of the honors college takes the time to know us through random free food events, what other college does that? Also, saving money for grad school is a good move 
I think what will be more important is which school fits your personality more than the prestige because it matters more to grad schools what you do with your education than where you go. Hope this helps and good luck!