UF or USF?

State Forums
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So I was accepted into UF, which was both a blessing and a curse. Before I got in, I was pretty set on USF; they offered me a pretty sweet deal. But now with UF’s acceptance, I’m seriously torn.

It breaks down like this:
At UF, I would be a very small, average fish in a large, very well known pond.
At USF, I would be a pretty large fish in a small, semi-known pond.

UF would mean a lot out of pocket (I have FBF and FPP but I still have room + board costs) and potentially only getting a B.A. (I want to pursue Environmental Law/Policy and their B.A. in Environmental Science seems to be the best fit), and I would be a pretty average student. Not to mention the whole campus culture is not really my thing - not a big drinker or partier or football fan. And I feel unwelcome among the students who have been waiting their whole life to be a gator and seem to know no life outside of UF. I’m planning on applying to their honors college but I’m slightly doubtful of getting in.

But…their name does hold some value at #47 in the country and I’m hoping for an ivy law/grad school after my bachelors - my eye is on Stanford, who has the best Environmental Law/Policy option (M.S. in environmental science and J.D.). I know LSATs and GPA matter too, but I’m wondering if undergrad name is meaningful for the ivies.

USF offered me lots of money that with FBF and FPP, I end up debt-free. And I’m in their honors college and in a program within their honors college, called the Provost Scholars Program - I’m required to graduate in 3 years, write a thesis, study abroad, and partake in a leadership project. And I would get a B.S. (which law schools prefer actually!) in Environmental Science and Policy, taking the policy track within the major. Not to mention I feel more comfortable with the people and the atmosphere of USF - I’ve already made a few friends on the facebook group, the town seems nice, and no one seems to be stuck up really.

BUT, they’re around 150 in the country. And while I may be well known there with references (the interviewers for the Provost Scholars Program loved me), I’m concerned that their lower ranking may impede on my chances of getting into an ivy.

Thoughts?

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Law schools don’t care if you have a B.S or a B.A., and I’d guess many more have BAs since more law school students come from the humanities. They don’t care where your undergrad is from (for the most part), and are looking for a high gpa and high test scores. Law school admissions offices don’t spend nearly as much time worrying about the rank of schools as people on CC do.

Sounds like USF is a better fit and better financial option for you. Your chances of getting into an Ivy law school is low anyway, but I don’t think attending USF will be the difference in your being admitted.

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Nobody cares if you have a BS or BA. In fact, I bet people who work in universities can’t tell you what the differences are in their own university. BS/BA vs PhD-yeah.