<p>So much to respond too… </p>
<p>Saving money is GOOD. As a rule, apartments are usually cheaper than dorms. The advantage of living in dorms for at least the first year is making friends. It will be much harder, once you’re in an apartment. If you do choose an apartment, make sure you join a few clubs on campus and get engaged. Make it a point to build your circle of friends, you’ll need them later.
UF program is much more prestigious, and will make it easier to get a (paid) grad position outside the state. FSU awarded 55 masters and 15 Phd’s in engineering, in 2012-13, while UF awarded 1,000 masters and 192 PhDs. UF has more “connections” with other engineering grad schools, which helps once you start searching for a position. </p>
<p>UF’s prestige helps with landing that first job (engineer recruiters, out of state, are familiar with UFs program; UF and FSU will not be viewed as the “same thing” by these recruiters), but the nice thing about engineering, is as your career moves forward, the skills you develop are more important than where you got your degree. It’s also possible to go to a lesser ranked engineering skill, but separate yourself out by excelling at school, doing internships/co-ops and developing skills that the recruiters need.</p>
<p>Finally, you do have the options of trying FSU for two years, and if you don’t like it, transferring to UF. UF engineering is competitive, but it’s an option. Transferring is never easy, but sometimes it’s the best option. </p>
<p>You have a lot to think about! However, few students are selecting FSU over UF for engineering, without a scholarship being offered by FSU. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>It won’t matter if you are living 10 minutes from home or 10 hours - you’ll never go! In fact, if you live closer you can go home for a meal but then get back to school, whereas if you go to FSU or UF, if you go home for a meal you’ll stay for the weekend.</p>
<p>Look at the other factors more than the location of USF.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input! I’ve decided to go with UF. I was talking to one of my guidance counselors and she asked me if finances weren’t an issue, where would I go, and I knew automatically UF is where I really want to go. All I have been doing lately is making and remaking budgets and I have it down to where I would be taking only about $4,000 in loans out per year. $16,000 total undergrad debt is not a lot for my major and once I start making money it shouldn’t be too hard to pay off. Plus, I will continue to apply for scholarships and I plan to work to continue cutting that debt down while in college. I think I have made the best decision for myself and I am very optimistic about college. Once again, thank you all for your help! I’m officially a Gator! :)</p>
<p>Wowwww
My situation is identical to yours, no lie. But im still trying to decide! Do you have a prepaid program? Im facing major pressure from my parents to go to USF, but i feel that if i go there i would be “settling” … i love UF but it would be so nice to be financially independent (i wouldnt even need my prepaid at USF). This is such a big decision. Cant even handle it…</p>
<p>First, congratulations on being accepted to all of engineering programs. I have a question for you. In order of importance, what were the top three factors that enabled your achievement? Be specific in details ie. Leadership - type, quality, rigor, hours, recognition. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>@ilaughinghouse I actually don’t have prepaid. I will be taking out some loans, but I have been applying to scholarships and I plan to work in college to pay them off while there. I’m not going to wait until I graduate to start doing that. And my mom was really supportive. She kept telling me to go to the college I want to go to. She wanted me to go where I’ll be happy. Why pay to go somewhere that you are gonna be miserable at and probably transfer anyways? I know USF gave me a lot of money and I am grateful for that opportunity, but that just is not where I wanted to be. I feel like I would have ended up transferring anyways. The debt I will have after graduating from UF (which is also the best school for my major) will not be much for an engineering major. It’s not much at all compared to how much the school should cost. I know your parents are pressuring you to go to USF, but I think you should go where you feel is best for YOU. The fact UF is the best for engineering majors was a big factor for me, but also I just felt most comfortable at UF when I visited. I feel like I made the best choice for myself. As the others mentioned, you can definitely still be successful at both FSU and USF. I advise visiting all of the schools, see which you like best. At the end of the day, it is your future, and your parents are going to have to be okay with whatever decision you decide. If you choose UF let me know, you’ll have a new friend your first day! 
good luck!</p>
<p>@Sohoist Thank you! And all are pretty important, but I can’t say exactly which ones were most important to the schools. I would guess that academics would be the first one for them, but academics also aren’t everything. They also take into consideration your test scores and community service/clubs. On top of that, you have to write a good essay to show them who you are. I guess I can just tell you about my highschool career.
Rank: 12/450
GPA: 3.9 unw and 4.68 weighted
SAT: 1910 ACT: 30
Passed 3 AP exams, taking another 3 next month
Volunteering: 110 hours at a Health and Rehab center, building an oyster reef along the beach, relay for life
I played soccer in 10th grade (not associated with my school), I am a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, I was a Peer Connector this year, I have received awards for academic excellence every year since middle school, I received the AP scholar award for passing at least 3 AP exams.</p>
<p>Something I would definitely say is to always challenge yourself. Take rigorous courses in high school to show colleges that you are not just slacking off. What happens to some people is they do really well throughout their freshman to Junior years, and then their senior year they think they can just take all easy classes. Sometimes, this can cost you an admission into a university. They literally LOOK for that. They ask for your senior year classes on the applications. That’s why I took 3 AP this year because I knew they would be looking at that. Another thing is to participate in your school and community. Honestly, that is something I wish I had done more of. You don’t have to be athletic, not everyone is. I’m definitely not. I hated soccer, that’s why I stopped playing. But that is usually a plus on an application. The more diverse you are, the better. They like to see students that are very involved, but at the same time can keep a high GPA. If you can do that, then there is nothing to worry about :)</p>