Hey guys, I posted this on the UIUC forum but I’m looking for some advice. I recently was admitted into UF and the honors program as an out of state student, and so far I love the idea of UF. I know merit scholarships are rare (not expecting one besides the small one for honors) but money isn’t really an issue. Anyway, I also got into UIUC and the business honors program. I want to major in business (not sure what concentration) but I do not know a lot about UF business other than the fact that some classes have online lectures for the first two years and the class sizes appear way bigger than UIUC’s Gies college of business. My question is, is UF’s business school just as comparable as UIUC’s? I love the entire spirit of UF, which I kind of believe that UIUC lacks (and I love the weather in Florida!). I also have family in Florida and have wanted to “try something new” for college. However, I do not want to pass up an opportunity of business honors at UIUC. Does anyone have experience with the business honors program and can speak to its benefits? And can anyone help me with learning more about the benefits of UF honors and business as a whole?
Great choices. Super even academically.
UF overall is currently ranked bit higher nationally as an overall institution. But it doesn’t really matter.
—UF Number 8 public uni. UIUC is 13. Overall UF is 36 and UIUC is 48.
—Undergrad business schools using usnwr UIUC Gies is 15 and UF Heavener is 19.
—Gies is number 2 in accounting which is its strength.
—UF has several others ranked a bit higher head to head.
Schools are nearly indentically sized but 20 percent at Gies are in the business school and 14 percent at UF.
Poets and Quants says Gies isn’t sexy but it’s excellent. I agree.
UF has the better location and climate. It has a big Greek life component (not sure of greek life at uiuc). UF big sports are a large part of the student scene. I know uiuc has big time sports but it’s not the same impact on the school as UF, socially. IMHO.
Honors at UF is helpful for early class selection and some social events. Other than that I don’t think it adds much more than what Illinois will offer you. But perhaps a current student can update you on the benefits. It is certainly a nice recognition of your hard work.
One thing is you will have over 80 percent of your fellow students from Florida. FWIW.
Good luck.
@privatebanker thank you so much! I like both right now so its difficult to decide, but I am planning on going back and visiting both this next month.
Bump
Greek is huge at UIUC. Fortunately, my D thinks its ridiculuous and didn’t rush. She likes it, probably more liberal than UF.
anyone else?
What do you think? What do your own instincts tell you?
Lastly there’s the old tee shirt method. Get one from each school and wear them a couple of times for a couple of different days. See what that experiment says to questions one and two above. What feels right and puts a spring in your step. Maybe neither and it certainly isn’t scientific. :)>-
@privatebanker thanks so much I actually didn’t think of that method! That might help me figure out my gut instinct. I’m very indecisive but so far after thinking about it I feel that either way, I’ll be happy at either school and there isn’t really a “wrong” decision.
True. But one will feel right as they say. One will become part of your life story and a big part of your future. You’ll mention it a million times over the years and whichever one you choose you will be convinced it’s the best school in the world. Believe me it’s true. You’ll be a diehard lifelong fan of either one.
First, I wouldn’t go to UF for the sports scene. They will be losing to the University of Georgia at the WLOCP for hopefully the next 10 years. 
I like privatebanker’s tshirt method. That’s a great idea!
I think you need to decide if you really want to go to a school far from home and make all new connections. That’s a big step that can be very rewarding or it can lead to depression. Outside of that, both schools are great for business majors.
I suggest you contact both schools before you visit. Ask to be matched up with a current student so you can ask questions and get a feel for the university. Prepare a list of topics that are important to you…like study abroad, ECs, internships, etc. At UIUC I believe you can arrange to “shadow” a current student to a class. I know my kids have done it in the past…but I’m not sure if Gies still does it. It depends on what you want to learn from your campus visit and how much time you have.
What are your parents saying? Will they willingly pay the OOS costs for UF?
Yes, they said they would pay OOS for Florida
Have you looked into the Gator Nation scholarship at UF? They offer it to top out of state students. I would also look into residency in Florida. Gainesville has become a hip college town but its in a dense and interesting forest, no where near the beach. Its a bit hard to get to Gainesville by airplane. Are you going to fly to Jacksonville, and then
get a hopper airplane?
Florida is a fast growing state and business related jobs are in Orlando, Tampa and Miami for the most part.
Tourism is king in Florida. Atlanta Georgia offers a lot of business jobs to Florida grads ,but of course you could come back to Illinois and find a job.
Gainesville also offers top engineering programs, just like UIUC. The UF Swamp Hackathon gets a lot of Georgia Tech students busing the 8 hours from Atlanta in January. Gainesville is now the top hospital in the state for complex surgeries like heart transplants, and the top medical school in the region, aside from Emory U. up in Atlanta. Its a resource rich university, just like UIUC, including the agriculture and agribusiness studies.
UIUC may have more international student undergrads, at about 23%.
Central Illinois has stuff to do though. UIUC offers one of the best performing arts programs for any college campus.
There is sailing on central Illinois lakes, and a lively campus scene, so you can find your tribe at either school I think,
I am planning on going back down and visiting both schools for the admitted student day at UF and for the business honors reception at U of I. My concern is about the business classes at UF, since I have heard that a lot of them are online/large lectures the first few years. Does honors get rid of this at UF, or is honors just basically Hume hall housing and certain gen Eds in smaller classes? At UIUC I would have some larger classes my first year in business but I think the business honors and only being 1 of 40 basically makes the larger school feel smaller and provides me with a lot of opportunities. I know there are a lot of opportunities with UF and honors, but I am just not sure to the extent of these opportunities and I think UF requires a lot of hustle (which I am fine with but I would like to know more about). Going back down to visit should clarify some things for me
Write directly to the UF Honors staff and ask your questions. Each person has a link on the left.
http://www.honors.ufl.edu/about/honors-staff/
While they are trying to sell the program, pick one that seems to share your interests, and I bet you learn
more if you email that person.
@Coloradomama thank you so much! hopefully this helps clear up confusion for me. I like UF a lot, but I do not want to feel like “just a number” and I wonder if honors truly does make an impact with this. Hopefully I will get some helpful response back
UF just revamped its honors program because it was unsatisfactory wrt the level of students they wanted to attract with Benacquisto. Check it out as it’s been improved - I haven’t checked in a while but it’s worth requesting an honors tour.
I went to the UIUC business honors reception and I was very impressed…seems like the program has a strong network and many opportunities to get involved. I will be interested to see UF’s business program in comparison, and I am also visiting Ohio State’s business program and honors as well soon.
First…congratulations! UF isn’t easy to get into, especially out-of-state. Having said that, I live in FL (a transplant) and I know I’m supposed to be impressed with UF, but I’m just not. I know lots of parents of UF students and I hear a lot about large lecture classes, difficulty scheduling classes and taking classes online. Yes, they have high stats and are highly regarded down here. Do they compare to northern universities? I’m just not 100% sure. Part of your decision needs to be based on where you plan to settle after college - I have a feeling that if you want to up north anywhere, including the northeast, you’d be better off with the UIUC degree.
Yes, Greek life is a big thing at UF. I’m familiar with Greek life in the SEC and in the Big 10 schools and I can tell you that Greek life in the SEC schools is sort of a “bigger deal” than at Big 10 schools, in general. But, there are plenty of kids who don’t go that route at both options.
And keep in mind, 90% of the students at UF will be from FL…are you okay with “outsider” status?