UF or FSU

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I have narrowed down my college choices to the two and my intended major is marketing. I am also interested in MIS but I definitely want to do marketing (maybe minor in Spanish) anyways, I am out of state. So should I choose FSU & study abroad in Spain my whole freshman year through a program that would then grant me in state tuition.. Or should I pay out of state costs at UF the better school for my major? I may be able to get in state after my first year either way but it is not certain. I've posted on here before so I may get some of the same responses about not being able to get on state tuition but some of my circumstances are rare ( I could easily get a Florida license and a lease and everything) so what does everyone think? Another option is to stay in state in pa and go to penn state. But I did not get into smeal I would have to transfer in and I really want to go to school in Florida so I don't want to do this..</p>

2

<p>well, then, narrow down your research by doing a search on this forum for this topic. It has been done a bunch of times and there’s no need to start another thread.</p>

3

<p>Well I’ll be, there is such a program:</p>

<p>First Year Abroad (FYA)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.international.fsu.edu/types/fya/fya.aspx”>http://www.international.fsu.edu/types/fya/fya.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

<p>If you’re excited about the program, then go ahead. Once you get in-state tuition (just a bit over $6K a year), the savings can be substantial. Of course, you have to deal with the additional cost of living in Spain…but then again, living in a dorm isn’t cheap!</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

4

<p>I’d go with the FSU/1st year in Spain program, especially since you want to minor in Spanish. You could probably do Marketing/ MIS plus Spanish minor fairly easily after a year in Spain!
(Note that MIS pays more than Marketing, if career outcomes are of interest).
That program is fantastic.
Do your parents agree on the costs?</p>

5

<p>My parents think either decision is great and just want me to choose. I don’t want to regret giving up UF because of UF’s better business school…</p>

6

<p>Outside of Florida, it won’t make a bit of difference whether you attended UF or FSU (most people confuse both) - however, that one year in Spain and fluency in Spanish may well help you bring something no one else with your major is bringing to the table. In-state, outside sports rivalry, most employers would acknowledge there’s no real difference between them - at the grad level, depending on subject, sure, but at the undergrad level, not really. As for stats of entering class, according to my chart, FSU 25-75 GPA is 3.8-4.1, vs 4.1-4.5 for UF (so there’s clearly a majority of 4.0+ contingent at UF) and SAT scores for the bottom 25% are exactly the same but once again are higher for the top 25%. 3.8 for the bottom 25% is quite respectable by the way :slight_smile: even if there are more high scorer at UF. Overall, not a big enough difference to pass up on the Spain year + instate tuition opportunity.</p>

7

<p>Is it stupid to miss out of my whole freshman year though? I know I am going to study abroad either way… I just do not want to miss out on the year that everyone meets friends/ the dorm life/ traditional first year experience… IF I can get in state tuition at UF after first year… Is that the better option?</p>

8

<p>Well, Warrington ain’t Wharton. Heck, it ain’t even Kelley at IU.</p>

<p>Apparently, however, Warrington is better enough than FSU that starting salaries are $50,000 per year compared to FSU’s $42,000. [ see this: <a href=“http://www.flcollegeguide.com/six-best-undergraduate-business-schools-in-florida/”>http://www.flcollegeguide.com/six-best-undergraduate-business-schools-in-florida/&lt;/a&gt; ] But given the tuition advantages of FSU, this looks like a draw. Go with your heart, or your pocketbook, but I recommend FSU.</p>

<p>Typically, the freshman year is more stress than fun. Don’t worry about that. You would not be missing out on much of anything. Actually, you would be expanding your horizons while studying in Spain. When you return to the states people will think you are very cool. Guaranteed. B-) </p>

9

<p>Haha thank you all so much. But I may be able to pay out of state at UF the first year while establishing my residency then pay in state the other three years & study abroad later on maybe sophomore year or a summer. Definitely a lot to think about. And my major concern is making money & finding a job so UF seems more appealing… </p>

10

<p>Also people keep saying that UF will take me further in the long run especially if I look for jobs outside of florida</p>

11

<p>Make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you can establish in-state residency for UF, before you make this decision. This is normally very difficult to near impossible. Some states determine your residency based on your parent’s residency, not yours. I do not know the policy at UF, but make sure that you do!</p>

<p>Seriously, the “first year experience” is often quite painful, which is precisely why more and more colleges are paying additional attention to their freshman – too many of them quit; especially at state universities. You would miss out on next to nothing by going to Spain for a year.</p>

<p>Your job prospects depend far more on you than on your college. Colleges do not get you jobs. They definitely do not “take you further.” After your first job, your work experience and performance is all that matters. Period. It is almost entirely up to you and your own initiative. Plus, most people outside of Florida do not even know the difference between FSU and UF. They don’t.</p>

12

<p>There’s no difference between UF and FSU for people outside of Florida, as most don’t know the difference and confuse the two a lot. :slight_smile: It’s not like, for instance, UAlabama and Alabama State, you know? There’s really not much of a difference.
Will a parent establish residency in FL in 2014-2015? Because that’s typically how you could get considered a reisdent after your first year. Some FL universities (like Wilkes Honors College) will waive OOS tuition for some admitted students, but neither UF nor FSU will. </p>

<p>Those are the rules:</p>

<p>

So it doesn’t seem possible to establish residency for tuition purpose very easily, unless a parent has severed legal ties with PA.</p>

13

<p>MYOS1634 has got the goods. It looks really hard. Sure, it can be done, but it obviously takes time and is complicated. If you want to try to establish residency in Florida, then I recommend talking to a lawyer in Florida. Anything short of that will be very risky.</p>

<p>Also, it is not clear that your FSU study abroad will establish you as permanent resident. Make sure you understand that issue too.</p>

<p>Seriously, talk to a lawyer if Florida. It will be money well spent. It could save you – what? – $100,000 or so.</p>

14

<p>That first year program however comes with a guarantee that the students who do well will get in-state tuition for 3 years, that’s an amazing bargain (but win-win since FSU gets to manage 1st year enrollment and when some not-disciplined-enough freshmen have dropped out, they get those proven-solid, bilingual students!)</p>

15

<p>As a student in Florida, I can tell you that there is a clear distinction in the state between Florida and Florida State. All students know that Florida is the better school academically. However, I agree that the difference is completely irrelevant as soon as you leave the state. If you want to work in Florida in the future, consider that Florida MIGHT be for “prestigious”. If not, just pick whichever one you prefer - which seems to be FSU.</p>

16

<p>No doubt that UF is the better school. But FLstudent2014 is correct, only people in Florida know that. Many years ago, I lived in Alabama which actually borders on Florida. Nobody could tell you which school is better. Neither could they tell you which one was the Gators and which one was the Seminoles, or which was Gainesville or Tallahassee. </p>

<p>People should almost never consider reputation when choosing a college. There are plenty of fantastic schools which nobody has ever heard of (Williams College?), and the ones that they have heard of they know almost nothing about. Financial cost, personal preference, and academic major are the best reasons for choosing a college.</p>

17

<p>My aunt has talked to multiple lawyers in Florida and has figured everything out. I am still a little bit apprehensive, though because who knows something could go wrong along the way and then I’m stuck paying out of state costs at UF. I do love FSU & the first year abroad program, but it just doesn’t feel right giving up the better school …</p>

18

<p>also, I can’t plan the future… I have no clue where I will be working after graduation, but I will be doing internships in Florida most likely… If I do stay in Florida after college will it make much of a difference if I have an FSU business degree when I got into UF’s ranked one?</p>

19

<p>Thank you everyone for the input it’s really making me consider FSU and Spain more than before </p>

20

<p>“I do love FSU & the first year abroad program, but…”</p>

<p>But your heart does not sound like it is at UF. Don’t go to UF then. This should not be a rational choice, except when it comes to cost. Otherwise, enthusiasm is more important.</p>