<p>Today is the day that UF applicants find out their fate. I just wanted to share my story... I got into all the schools I applied to except for UF. I was OOS with great credentials, but apparently they only take a small percentage of OOS applicants (1-3%). At first, I was crushed. Now, I can't imagine being anywhere else! FSU is an awesome school. Everyone is so friendly. The campus is beautiful and very manageable. I've made great friends. So, if your heart was set on UF and you're regretfully visiting this FSU page, I understand. But, also know that you will come to LOVE FSU and feel pride in being a 'Nole!</p>
<p>This story is just about identical to my own, though I hate admitting that I ever supported the Gators (even if it was never in as diehard form as I support the 'Noles).</p>
<p>If I could go back and reverse the decision UF admissions made for me 3 years ago, I wouldn’t even consider it for a second. Like almost everyone else, I wanted to go to the school that was higher rated, and it didn’t help that the Gators were in the middle of the tear of national championships. I probably wouldn’t have given FSU a fair consideration for the superficial reasons mentioned above, which is unfortunate because I truly believe FSU is a better fit for me. I don’t believe things happen for a reason, but I do know it would be very difficult for UF to have topped the experience I’ve had at FSU. That’s why you still see me here three years after my own college decision, speaking so highly of the school and trying to help prospective students out.</p>
<p>My only regret is that I wish I was accepted into UF and chose FSU on my own, as I hate being part of the stereotype. They were right though; UF was not for me. And I’m perfectly fine with that.</p>
<p>Go 'Noles.
Expletive Miami.
Expletive the Gators.
…and Expletive Wake Forest. Seriously. How do we always lose to them?</p>
<p>What’s the difference between those who get accepted to UF and FSU? Everyone gets accepted to UF.</p>
<p>Goooo Florida State Gators! wait what…</p>
<p>My son was accepted to UF and chose to attend FSU. He loves being a Nole and has never once looked back.</p>
<p>From an in-state perspective, UF is more difficult to get in to - and I went there myself. However, my son will be a Music Major, applied to both. UF not only accepted him, they offered him a scholarship. He also received his general acceptance to FSU, and we’re waiting to find out what level Music scholarship they will offer - but they hinted he will get one. I will say that FSU is much, much stronger in the Arts, and their Music program is ranked 12th in the country - so in the end, my son wants FSU and I agree with him…and I’m a UF alumni. Both are great schools, you can’t go wrong with either, but don’t think UF is always the best choice - it really does depend.</p>
<p>UF is currently more difficult to enter. When I was an FSU student the joke was: </p>
<p>Q: What do all FSU students have in common?</p>
<p>A: They all got into UF.</p>
<p>Jokes aside, select your program area and then visit.</p>
<p>@parent2noles, then you must have attended in 1923. I went to UF in the 80’s, it was harder to get into then, and it’s harder to get in to now. Now, I’m not knocking FSU as my son is close to going there, they are that much stronger in the Arts than UF…for example, getting into the FSU School of Music is much tougher than UF’s school of music, so it really depends on your major/area of study.</p>
<p>UF & FSU weren’t that difficult to get into before. I remember when I was in grade school. Everyone I knew who was heading to Uni (in the early 90’) were getting in easily with decent GPA’s and barely any EC’s or leadership and extra spark on their transcripts and all that. </p>
<p>Sent from my iPod touch using CC</p>
<p>papertiger - welcome to the new reality. The combination of Bright Futures for Florida residents, the popularity of the Florida pre-paid college program, the fact the state of Florida has the first or second lowest public university tuition in the country, the sorry state government in Florida making major education cuts the past 5 years, a much higher percentage of people and especially females attending college, an increasing state population, and the impact of the economy forcing more students to stay in their home state is the perfect storm of huge application increases. </p>
<p>Trust me, UF was relatively easy to get in when I went back in the 80’s too - but take a look at the college-weighted GPA and test scores of the average freshman class at UF & FSU, and I think you’ll see how competitive it’s truly become even from 5 years ago.</p>
<p>I attended FSU in the mid to late 1970s then the early 80s. As late as 1996 FSU had a better graduation rate than UF as evidenced here: </p>
<p>[9604</a> Inst Research Report](<a href=“http://web.archive.org/web/19970427090346/www.fsu.edu/~rsect/muppets/mup9604.html]9604”>9604 Inst Research Report)</p>
<p>Typically graduation rates mirror the strength on the incoming freshman class. Online records I can find are scant from this pre-Internet time, but this record supports my point. UF’s surge ahead of Florida State occurred in the early-mid 2000s and appears to be rebalancing. Honestly, I think success of sports teams plays a significant role in which school secures stronger freshman classes.</p>
<p>@StoneMagic
Yeah it has definitely become way competitive over the years. By the time I was graduating my peers were going above and beyond with their EC’s, AP’s and joining any club and Honor Society they could to better their chances. The few battling it out for Valedictorian was pretty intense and insane from what I remember. It takes a whole lot more than a 3.6-4.0 GPA to get noticed.</p>
<p>@papertiger, I hear you! Florida pre-paid just hit $49K and the legislature keeps raising standards for Bright Futures…I have no idea how people are going to be able to afford college or get their kids in in another 5 years, what does it say about the US staying competitive if nobody can get in?</p>
<p>The government is to blame, especially Rick Scott, for the recent tuition hikes because he had many massive spending cuts to education, including funding to public universities.</p>
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<p>You mean everyone gets accepted to UF and FSU except the two people who posted before you did??? hahaha</p>
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<p>One thing for sure that hasn’t changed since your college days is your daily toking habits apparently! ;)</p>
<p>Gov. Scott and the legislature aren’t the only ones responsible for tuition hikes. Thursday, FSU president Barron and UF president Machen were at a state senate Higher Education committee meeting to get a bill passed that includes the “Pre-eminent Universities Act.” The act, if it does become law, will allow only FSU and UF now of the 11 state universities to increase tuition even higher than the now allowed 15% per year. Lucky us!</p>
<p>[Bill</a> filed to allow University of Florida to raise tuition more than other state schools | Gainesville.com](<a href=“http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120216/ARTICLES/120219620?tc=cr&tc=ar]Bill”>http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120216/ARTICLES/120219620?tc=cr&tc=ar)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/1752/Amendment/276536/HTML[/url]”>http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/1752/Amendment/276536/HTML</a></p>
<p>Maybe I’m not getting everything clearly, but that really just sounds like the bill that was proposed recently (last couple of years) by one of the state legislators that basically would allow “flagship” schools in the state or charge like 40% more (maybe I’m misusing the terms) than non flagship schools, and that with the criteria suggested it was solely FSU and UF that would be “flagships” although I think there was some debate about whether USF was close to the requirements too.</p>
<p>Even if the proposal allowing just FSU and UF to increase tuition even more than the currently allowed 15% is approved by the full legislature, I doubt it will make it past Gov. Scott vetoing it. Scott said before the legislative session he doesn’t want university tuition increasing this year. Right or wrong, Scott doesn’t budge once he draws a line in the sand. He can’t stop the up to 15% increase that is already law, but he can draw a line through the “Pre-eminent University” act increases with his veto.</p>
<p>The fact that it only affects UF and FSU might be enough to get him to sign it. It leaves enough political wiggle room for Gov. Scott to spin it however he needs. He could easily say that “the kids who go to UF/FSU are demanding more so they should be willing to pay more out of their own pockets. This doesn’t immediately impact the other schools, etc.”</p>
<p>I haven’t heard any outcry by students demanding higher tuition. I think this proposal is wrong for right now when the state senate is also proposing reducing funding this year to Florida universities another $400 million. Allowing laws like the “Pre-eminent Universities” Act will just give the state legislature another “out” to keep reducing state funding to universities and shifting financial burden more on to the backs of students and their families. University leaders should be pushing legislators more to stop reducing funding, and doing more to have state increase revenue for funding universities by closing loopholes such as not collecting internet sales taxes. University leaders like FSU’s Barron and UF’s Machen shouldn’t keep asking for higher tuition from students.</p>