<p>Hello there. I am a H.S. senior trying to decide between UF or UCF. I plan on going to school for engineering of some sort, possibly mechanical, civil, or aerospace. My clear cut favorite from the beginning has always been UF. However, money is the issue. My family cannot afford to help me out too much financially, just to help cover any interest that accumulates while I'm in college on a Parent Plus Loan. I'm going to try to use my 11 AP classes (around 60 credits) to finish college in 3 years. All I got from UF was B.F., so I'm looking at around 17k a year at UF, and with interest rates and 3 years of school factored in I'm looking at having around $55,000-$60,000 of debt after UF. But, UCF is offering me a 7k/ year scholarship, along with B.F. this would bring the cost down to around 10k/year, so if I went there in 3 years I could graduate with $30,000 of debt give or take. Anyway, my question is, do I go with my gut and the clear better school (UF), or do I go with the free money?</p>
<p>UCF. At some point, you have to realize that prestige isn’t everything and YOU must pay that money back. $55k is A LOT of money. You especially shouldn’t be putting your family in that kind of risk situation if your parents can’t afford it.</p>
<p>P/S - I also had a situation very similar to yours with UF and another school similar to UCF, and chose to matriculate at the cheaper one because of money problems. Good luck with your decision. I hope you believe you made the right one in the end.</p>
<p>UCF, after your first job, where you got your degree will not be as critical, while that debt will follow you around for years.</p>
<p>If you do choose engineering, focus on getting into a co-op program or landing summer internships jobs, as early as possible. These will go a long way to ensure an engineering job after you matriculate, and the money is far better than any summer jobs….which will reduce your debt further.</p>
<p>UCF may also be willing to let you take greater advantage of the AP classes; you may want to discuss this both schools. UF for example will not want you to bypass Calc 2 (and will be reluctant to let you skip calc 1…), even if your AP grade would normally allow you to skip Calc 2. The core engineering courses (at least at UF, I would think this is standard across most schools) are Calc 1, 2 and 3; Physics 1 and 2 (with calc), Chemistry and differential equations. These are the course you may not be able to skip using AP classes (at either school). Chemistry is an exception, unless you plan on being a ChemE, you really, really, want to AP the chemistry requirement; even UF will recommend it……</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>A Maximum of 45 credit hours can be applied for AP IB ect. [University</a> of Florida - Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/ugrad/frapib.html]University”>Transfer Course Credit - University of Florida)</p>
<p>I believe it is approx the same for UCF</p>
<p>On Monday (4/22/2013) Rick Scott signed a new Education Bill. Lots of changes, but one that impacts AP courses.</p>
<p>UF and FSU are now given the new “preeminent” designation. One of the things that come with that designation is that both schools are given the authority to mandate that incoming freshmen take up to 12 hours of course that could not be bypassed by taking AP course in high school.</p>
<p>I’m sure both schools will need some time to work out what course those will be, but I expect it could be in place by 2014(so it’s not likely to impact the OP…but you never know). </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Less debt is probably better in the long run. My mom got her BSIE from UCF and dad got his MSIE there (BSEE at UF). It was many years ago, of course, but UCF’s Engineering school has an excellent reputation. UCF also has great relationships (and internship/coop opportunities) with large companies in the greater Orlando area - Mom interned at both Martin Marietta and Disney while getting her degree, and Dad did his thesis working on space shuttle project with Nasa in Melbourne.</p>
<p>I think that the debt you would accumulate at UF would offset the benefits of attending. I don’t think attending UCF vs UF would hurt your chances at getting a good job.</p>
<p>From what i have heard, UCF is the way to go right now. Its really in a booming economic area, students probably have more internship and job opportunities available since its in Orlando (although, UF probably has better ones due to name recognition). UCF has a way nicer campus, and people don’t seem as stuck up. UF seems like a pompous school for rich white suburban kids, stuck up nerds, and hillbilly redneck fans.</p>
<p>"…rich white suburban kids, stuck up nerds, and hillbilly redneck fans."</p>
<p>That’s funny :)</p>
<p>Nothing worse than white kids, nerds and hillbilly redneck fans (with 4.4 GPAs…)…got to hate brainy rednecks…very annoying…always talking about Friedrich Nietzsche and neutering wild boars…</p>
<p>that necrobump…why. </p>
<p>Both schools are good for engineering, in terms of prestige…as long as you’re a good student and work hard then you can succeed at any college. There are weak and strong students at any college on the prestige totem pole.</p>
<p>It is a little early to know exactly what financial aid you will have. I am a freshman at UF this year, and at this point last year I thought I would be going to UCF because they were offering me more money. However, UF ended up offering me two different grants, Bright Futures, and I got a private scholarship for UF students. Almost all of my school expenses are covered, including housing and food. I am paying a little more at UF than I would have paid at UCF but to me it is completely worth it because I absolutely love this school and the opportunities on and around campus are endless. I’m not an engineering student, so I can’t give you an opinion on which school is better from that point of view. But to address the posts about stereotypes of students at each school, just ignore things people say like that because both schools have huge student populations. I know UF is extremely diverse and I expect you would find the same at UCF.</p>
<p>7k per year is nice, but don’t be surprised if it takes you longer to graduate at UCF than it does at UF, effectively negating the reason why you picked UCF. Compare the 4 year graduation rates between the schools before making a decision. UCF is known as “U Can’t Finish” for a reason.</p>
<p>Just realized how old this thread was 
I’m sure the OP made up his or her mind months ago.</p>
<p>I have three friends that work at ExxonMobile. DOW Chemical. and Monsanto. When my son was applying as a freshman I asked them to ask their corporate recruiters which school in the SE they recruited the most.</p>
<p>Hands down Ga Tech was #1. UF was #2 and UNC right behind UF. Some careers UNC was #2.</p>
<p>One of them insisted that my son go to UF if he stayed in state.</p>
<p>By the way my son just started his Jr year he has just completed a summer internship this past summer. And is working on another one for next summer. The companies that are recruiting him do not go to any of the other state schools.</p>
<p>A major Fortune 500 company just showed up on campus today and are looking for engineering interns. So UF has an advantage over other schools in Florida.</p>
<p>So consider this while making your decision.</p>
<p>^^^ That Fortune 500 company is likely in town for the Career Showcase (career fair), that’s running from Tuesday to Wednesday. </p>
<p>[Career</a> Showcase | UF Career Resource Center](<a href=“http://www.crc.ufl.edu/students/studentCareerShowcase.html]Career”>http://www.crc.ufl.edu/students/studentCareerShowcase.html)</p>
<p>“Career Showcase is the largest event of its kind in the Southeastern US” No clue how they define “event of it’s kind”…but it is big :)</p>
<p>My daughter works for Dow Chemical as does my brother. I agree certain companies do recruit from certain schools, however keep in mind just because they do not recruit from your school does not mean you are not a good candidate and cannot apply on your own or do things that would make you stand out. What Dow really cares about is a decent under grade, but a GOOD to excellent grad. degree. My brother went to MSU for undergrad and DePaul for grad. degree.</p>
<p>^^^Yep, clearly recruiters would take into account your grad school, and not care too much about your undergrad program. The assumption is that the grad school has already vetted your undergrad program/performance.</p>
<p>It’s for this reason, if you plan on grad school, it sometimes makes more sense to go to an in-state school for your BS, to keep your cost down (avoid loans), so $$ is available when you go to grad school (often out of state).</p>
<p>For example, someone may want to go to UCF for the BS, to take advantage of the merit aid, and then transfer to UF (or Georgia Tech, MIT, whatever) for grad school. I know several kids who passed on UF, for the merit offered at other in-state schools (UCF, USF and UNF). </p>
<p>Sometimes an OOS school can also be affordable with merit aid, etc. (especially if you are in one of those states with crazy high public university tuition rates; in-state UF 6,200 a year vs. in-state Rutgers at 13,500 a year).</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who commented on this thread! As it turns out, I ended up at UF. I feel like I really made the right choice. UCF wouldn’t have felt right and it was always my dream to be a Gator, not to mention receive a first class education and have (fingers crossed) multiple job prospects out of school.</p>
<p>Welcome to the Gator Nation!</p>
<p>Go Gators! :)</p>