UF Innovation Academy vs. FSU honors

<p>So I was accepted into FSU honors but was put in the innovation academy at UF</p>

<p>After reviewing the innovation academy I decided that it just wasn't for me. Now I'm considering going to Santa Fe for a year (IB and AP credits) and just switch into the regular UF schedule. I'm going to lose a lot of pride if I go to Santa Fe but it might be worth it.</p>

<p>Is it worth going to Santa Fe for UF, or should I just go straight to FSU honors? Or should I just do innovation academy? I have no idea what I want to study yet and I still have to visit both campuses. I just want to know what you guys think.</p>

<p>I should also mention that all of my friends from school are going to UF or Santa Fe. And I've never really gotten along too well with the FSU people at my school. However I do realize that this is just representative of my school and not the people of FSU and UF, it's just a minor factor that I'm considering.</p>

<p>I don’t believe you can transfer into UF without an AA. You should call and find out before making a decision.</p>

<p>Yeah I know, but since I have IB and AP credits I should be able to get it within 2 semesters at Santa Fe.</p>

<p>Aside from your AA degree, you also need to have the prerequisites for your major finished and then from the point of transfer you should be finishing UF in 4 semesters - something else to ponder.</p>

<p>If you really have no desire to do the Innovation Academy, I would go to FSU for you may love it there. You can always attempt to transfer to UF after you have 60 credits.</p>

<p>I would not pick Santa Fe for you are not guaranteed an admit to UF.</p>

<p>Tough decision… But you can’t go wrong. If you feel comfortable with IA and not having a fall term, go there. However, I would go to FSU Honors over Santa Fe - I got accepted to FSU honors as well, and I seriously considered it because I loved Tallahassee and FSU seemed like a good school.</p>

<p>Do what your heart tells you - there is no wrong decision.</p>

<p>Getting into UF with an AA is nowhere near as difficult as it is for a freshman. If you have an AA, and you have completed the perquisites for your major with a decent GPA (say 3.0+) and the major is not a super-limited access major, you should have no problem – especially since you were already capable of getting in as a freshman.</p>

<p>That being said, Honors is nice. You get to register for classes before anyone else does, which is a BIG DEAL. It means that you can possibly graduate faster because you won’t have semesters where you can only take 2-3 classes because the a class that you needed was filled up and now you have to wait until next year to take it, which is a common problem at big state schools.</p>

<p>Now that I’ve had some time to think, I realize that the innovation academy really isn’t bad of an option. The only cons I can think of are starting late and having a narrower range of majors.
However I’ve concluded that innovation academy is a better option than Santa Fe. But is it better than FSU honors?
What have you guys heard about innovation academy from others or from personal experience? </p>

<p>By the way I’d like to thank you guys for your feedback on this post. You’ve all been very helpful in helping me decide where I will spend the next 4 years and I truly appreciate it.</p>

<p>So, what did u choose?</p>

<p>Oh I haven’t made a choice yet, I realized my last post made it seem like I did. I’m leaning toward FSU though.</p>

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<p>Here is what my thought process would be …</p>

<p>FSU is a great school. My opinion is that honors isn’t really that valuable in the long run. SweetheartCroc’s comment about being able to register early really isn’t vital. You can’t choose a school based on when you are able to register, that’s just absurd…</p>

<p>I have always wanted to go to UF even as a kid, but I wouldn’t go for Innovation Academy. It doesn’t matter what they say, it truly is NOT the traditional college experience. So it may be better or worse depending on how you look at it. In my eyes, I look at it unfavorably. </p>

<p>At that point I would consider either FSU or Santa Fe. I don’t see how you would “lose a lot of pride” by going there. It’s where you end up that matters. By going to Santa Fe you are saving money and still getting the feel of Gainesville. Better yet, if for some reason you don’t like the town you’ll have the option of going to FSU.</p>

<p>These are just the thoughts that are popping in my head, and I’m sharing them with you. That’s a tough decision to make… Good luck :)</p>

<p>Innovation Academy is a different experience, but not necessarily all bad for the freshman.</p>

<p>You can still visit friends at UF during Fall for partying and football games, and then start in the spring at IA. That way, the freshman partying can still happen, but you do not have the classes to report to. Spring semester is slightly longer, so you have more time to take the freshman classes.</p>

<p>Since IA at UF is still in its infancy, UF is workiing towards making it work. That means they work closer with you in tracking majors. If you want to something difficult, that works out better because they make sure you get in those classes (have spaces reserved). </p>

<p>FSU is a great school, and if you want the traditional fall experience, you should go there. </p>

<p>If it is worth anything, my son chose UF Innovation Academy over Florida State and he is happy with the decision.</p>