<p>The UF decision is in just 5 days, I can't believe it's finally here! I'm super nervous!</p>
<p>I’m not even the one applying (my son is) and I am beyond nervous. I should not torture myself by looking at previous year’s Accepted/Denied threads but I do anyway to waste time. It really does seem very random. My son has a 4.1 unweighted GPA, a 30 ACT, NHS and HOSA member, 100+ volunteer hours and that does not seem like enough compared to last year’s accepted students. Damn bunch of over-achievers! LOL</p>
<p>^^^
Is your son in the top 10 percent of his school? Chances are … with those stats he’s probably in if he’s top 10 percent of YOUR school. When D was admitted in 2009, we noticed that the problem for a lot of students with really good stats is if they attend a school where a ton of kids are applying, and they all have great stats … then a lot of times it’ll be the top 10 percent that get in (not considering special “softs”). If you have another school where less students apply, you might find those admitted go further down … doesn’t just have to be top 10 percent. So, you’ll be seeing kids w/ potentially lower stats being admitted from that school, and the kids w/ higher stats from the other school who got turned down are like, “whoa! what happened there?” So, you really want to rank well within your own school of those applying. (again, this doesn’t take into account special circumstances: i.e. first generation, or athlete, or another thing which makes that student “different.”)</p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>Yes he is in the top 10% of his class and has been all 4 years. Thanks for your response. He has already beeen admitted to FSU honors but UF is his first choice. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed.</p>
<p>JenaS62: your son sounds like a top candidate! his academic success is a sure thing, however does he have more ec’s?</p>
<p>No, no more ECs. That’s what I am worried about. I’m a single parent (divorced) with 3 teenage sons and 1 car so the past couple years have been a challenge. He is doing consistent volunteer work though. I sure hope that helps his chances.</p>
<p>Jena, I dont think you have anything to worry about. I am also a parent and I know how you feel.</p>
<p>All of life, my Mom has allways told me a little saying that is so true it is scary. Whenever something didnt go my way and I would share it with her. She would say: “everything happens for a reason”.</p>
<p>I am now 52 years old and this little saying has been dead on my entire life.</p>
<p>So if your son or my son or anyone elses son or daughter doesnt get into UF. Just remember everything happens for reason.</p>
<p>Good Luck to him and Go Gators!!!</p>
<p>He’ll be fine! Especially if he explained that in the section that asks “have family responsiblities affected your ability to be involved in ec’s”</p>
<p>Thank you and you’re absolutely correct! I also believe that everything happens for a reason.</p>
<p>I was ok up until a few days ago. I thought that if my son did not get into UF that he would go to FSU in the honors program. Now he is talking about UCF because they have a better engineering program, however, he never applied there. He started the application and never finished it. So instead of knowing his future on Feb 11th (FSU or UF), he will complete his UCF application and the wait will begin all over again. Ugh.</p>
<p>Do not go to FSU for engineering. This may sound arrogant but I have heard terrible things about it. I visited the engineering building and hated how it was shared with FAMU and 2 miles off campus. I am in the same situation but I did not even apply to FSU because I knew it was garbage comparred to UF or even UCF</p>
<p>did you apply to UCF as your backup? </p>
<p>I’ve heard the same thing about FSU engineering. Of couse way back in the fall when he was doing his applications - he was not considering engineering - he was considering biological sciences. He’s driving me crazy.</p>
<p>jena I agree with wolfoot UCF is the way to go. My son did get accepted to UCF, he was offered a very nice scholarship to UM in Miami and was accepted to Ga Tech. But UF is his dream school.</p>
<p>I have done alot of research on engineering colleges and in Florida it is UF #1, UCF #2 and that is about it. Unless he wants to study Ocean Engineering (it actually is a degree) then UM miami is the best.</p>
<p>So dont worry what is the worst that could happen? Maybe start in June or Jan? No big deal.</p>
<p>But he will get into to UF. and if for reason he doesnt? remember what Mom always says.</p>
<p>Yes I did apply to UCF and was accepted for Fall 2011. Although UCF may not be look highly upon by people because it is very young, their engineering school is much better than FSU’s. Friends of mine that are in engineering careers say that their companies usually pick graduates to hire in this order:
- UF
- UCF
- FSU & USF
(This being only in FL)</p>
<p>Ok I am going to stop worrying about it. Everything will look much clearer on Friday. Either he will be completing an application for UCF on Saturday or he won’t. </p>
<p>You guys are great! I feel better.</p>
<p>Those of us who went to high school in the 70’s can recall the day when being accepted to UF was a simple matter of sending in an application and a deposit. I believe that UF as a top level school took off when the State of Florida initiated its pre-paid college program and the lottery related Bright Futures Scholarships. This also coincided with a period of dramatic increases in private university tuition. For example, tuition only at the University of Miami is approximately $34,000 a year. At one of our state schools it is about $3500 or about 10%!
Few people have the discretionary dollars to spend over $250,000 (tuition, room & board, etc) on a four year degree that is becoming less and less meaningful. Today it seems you need a Masters degree for just about any job.
Yes, UF is a fantastic university and its rise has led to more research dollars flowing their way. Nonetheless, its claim to fame is as much about the economics of higher learning as it is about academics.</p>