I am going into my senior year of high school and UF is my #1 choice.
In-state, white, female, not applying with financial aid.
UW GPA: 3.63 (Expected to increase due to taking summer honors courses)
My unweighted GPA is also low because I got a C and a few B’s my freshman year but I’ve received straight As ever since.
Weighted GPA: 4.5
I think I am currently ranked 169/695 in my class.
SAT: 1340 - first time taking it, superscore of 1350. Retaking the SAT in August.
I have 100+ hours, some of which align with my intended major (psychology.)
By the time I graduate I will have taken 11 APs:
AP Human Geo, AP Psychology, APES, AP Biology, AP Art History, AP Macro / AP Gov, AP Physics 1, AP Statistics, AP Lang, and AP Lit.
I’m also currently enrolled in a 2 week non-credit summer program through UF that aligns with my intended major.
Any input is appreciated! Thank you!
Hi! I had a son who was accepted this past admissions cycle to the UF Honors College, so I have followed UF admissions closely for a while now. Let me preface this by saying Covid-19 made everything weird, so it is entirely possible that my opinions could be completely wrong in a (maybe) post-covid world.
First off, with your SAT score and double digit AP courses, you will definitely go to a great university. For UF, I am concerned about your class rank. UF says they don’t consider class rank, however, that turned out to be the best indicator of admissions this past year for UF. If you had a good SAT score and were in the top 5%, you were pretty much a lock. Good SAT score and top 10%, your chances were very good. I didn’t see many people get in to UF that were outside of the top 20% of their class. Since it is your #1 choice, I sincerely hope I am wrong. However, I would encourage you to apply to many schools, just in case.
UF doesn’t admit by major, so having courses and volunteer work that aligns with your major may not matter. It will show dedication and focus, but not necessarily help with admissions.
Most students in Florida have 100 hours of community service to qualify for Bright Futures. More and more have 10+ APs because so many are available online. UF is so competitive to get into.
I agree with @fladadK4Q that it might depend on how many students from your high school ranked above you also want to go to UF. UF tries to have good distribution from all high schools and areas of the state. I have a friend whose daughter was at a Gainesville HS and had really good grades and scores, but unfortunately for her, too many kids from her hs also wanted UF. It’s not all about rank or stats, but a lot of it is.
Rank is something you can’t change (much) now so focus on the things you can. Write great essays. Get good recommendations. Show a lot of interest. Talk your classmates into NOT going to UF! (kidding)
Also agree with @fladadK4Q that there are many good options for you instate. Give the other schools a chance too. Many students find they love UCF or USF (near the ocean!). Some like the honors college at FIU.
You also might look at some of the private schools. Florida Tech is known for engineering, but has a very good program in psychology, especial autism studies. With merit money, BF, the resident grant, the cost comes down quite a bit.
UF is going to be a reach. but definitely apply.
Your Weighted GPA how does your school weight AP’s plus 1 or plus 2 points? Some Florida counties add 2 points. UF will recalculate
As stated earlier class rank will hurt. You will be competing against them for UF admission.
100 plus service hours is light for UF. (many UF admits S21 school had service hours graduation cord, 200 or 250 hours don’t remember exact number} but due to Covid may not be that bad of hit.
Test Scores are good.
AP’s are good, again over 20% of your class had higher weighted GPA (rigor)and you will be competing against them for admission
Apply to other Florida schools FSU, USF, UCF.
Good Luck and you will find an excellent school with your numbers
Thank you for your input! I know I am just outside of the top 20% and that my school will update class ranks near the end of September. Should I wait to apply once the class ranks update? I am hoping that when they update I am closer, if not within, the top 20%.
Obviously, you don’t want to miss the main application deadline, but if you think your class rank could go inside the top 20%, I would wait.
I hope you come back and update this thread and tell us you got in to UF!
Do not wait to after the main November deadline. Almost impossible after that
Thank you so much! I’ve heard that applying through Summer B is easier than for fall term too because not as many people apply through Summer B, is this true? I know you said you have been following UF admissions for a while so I was wondering if you would know anything about this. Thank you again.
Summer B is not any easier than fall - The Office of Admissions chooses who they want to admit and then where to place them. Your admission term is only a preference. Also your class rank as your school calculates it isn’t used so you do not have to wait until September to apply if your application is finished earlier.
Could you please rate my S chances for UF. We are OOS but he like UF.
SAT: 1490, 3.86(UW) 4.76 (Weighted), 5 APs, Magnet HS school 20 plus Honors classes .Applied on the Nov Timeline
It sounds like your son has been working very hard. I can’t chance the application since our admission review is holistic - as an office we have to go through all the applications before we can select who will be offered admission.
First off, your son’s background is terrific, and he will definitely end up at a great university. OOS applicants at UF are hard to evaluate. Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen OOS applicants with better stats than your son get rejected, and I’ve seen applicants with lesser stats get accepted. It is really a coin flip.