Hi everyone,
I hope someone can help me here. My daughter just got accepted to both UF and UCF as a transfer student. Her major will be Microbiology. We are trying to help her make the best decision for her and her future.
We currently live in Orlando and she will be able to commute to school by attending UCF. She will also finish her program completely debt free if she goes to UCF. There will also be more things for her to do in Orlando as opposed to Gainesville.
If she goes to UF yes she’ll get to graduate with the name and a longstanding reputation, but we’ll have to pay for housing and meal plans for her for her remaining two years. Which we have calculated to be around est $20,000.00. There also seems to be restrictions on changing majors at UF for transfers based on what we have read on their site. If anyone can help clarify this point, it will be appreciated.
So we are really debating which school is the better option for her? Please provide us with any input you may have.
For me part of the education, if it is an option that’s works for your family, is to live and interact socially with other students and learn to navigate life a bit. UF has great research opportunities as well and a very well defined gator nation in Florida. She can borrow a little more than half with student loan programs. Can you afford the 10k without jeopardizing your family or future. If the answer is no I say UCF 100%. It’s getting better every year it seems. Head to head. All things being equal UF is a top ten public and top 50 university.
If $ is not a concern, UF is the better option. UF offers more options, better recruiting, is better funded (it spends far more $ per student), lower student to faculty ratio, has far more research options, etc.
One example, UCF “Life Sciences” R&D funding was a bit less than $28 million in 2016. UF’s R&D funding in the life sciences was over $561 million. It’s easier to get involved in research at UF, and you’ll have more fields of research to choose from.
UF also offers the option of a Microbiology MS/BS (4+1) Combined Degree Program:
In general, yes, a transfer student can’t change majors. This is to stop students from applying to one major, and then trying to transfer into a much more selective/competitive major after they are accepted into UF.
They do make some exceptions, especially when the target major is within the same college and isn’t a limited access program. If you’re in CALS, it may be possible to switch to another CALS major. If you’re in CLAS, then maybe with another CLAS major. However, the policy is to set expectations that they will not allow transfers.
Ok thanks we are just stuck between UF and UCF. Yes UF has the name and the status but will she not be offered the same opportunities at UCF? Please let us know. We just want her to make the best decision for her future especially in the field she will be pursuing.
She can be successful at UCF. However, UF will give her a lot more opportunities. UF has smaller classes, better access to faculty, stronger peers, easier access to research, etc.
Don’t underestimate the value of having peers with similar career goals that will help push and support her in academics and career choices.
I think she has made a decision. She will be attending UF. My husband and her brother are sad because she will be leaving us. He works at UCF as well and just thought she would go there because its Orlando there’s more to do and she could finish her undergraduate degree debt free.
She said she is going to UF because of the many reasons everyone listed above, and it’s something she worked hard for.