<p>My son wants to visit both this summer. I think they both seem the same and we should just visit one. He is an undecided major. Both schools are huge and love football. Is there any difference other than location?</p>
<p>When you say UT, are you referring to The University of Tennessee? If so, I think there is quite a bit of difference between it and UF.</p>
<p>I'm actually a student in Florida who is going to UT over any of the Florida schools including UF. Reasons - Location, Atmosphere, etc.</p>
<p>I love Knoxville. It's a really cool city with lots of things to do and see. It has a varying temperature, so it can be really warm in the summer, then cold and possibly snowing in the winter. The atmosphere is UT can be summed up as very warm and welcoming. Everything there is about tradition and what UT stands for. The students who go there are proud to go there and the surrounding city and state respect the school, for it gives back to the community. The amount of school spirit is insane. It's the most fun you will ever have at a sporting event. Honestly. If you really submerge yourself into it, it's fantastic.</p>
<p>I'm sure there will be people who will come on here and say that UF's academics are better than UT's, but it's all a matter of opinion. I'm majoring in political science and I don't find anything wrong with their program. Next year the Baker Center for Public Policy will be done and then the political science program will really have a boost. </p>
<p>As for Dorms, the ones at UF are HORRIBLE. Many kids I know going to UF are living off campus because the dorms are so bad. UT's dorms are actually quite nice. Many have been completly remodled and if they haven't been, they are on the agenda.</p>
<p>I'd really recommend going and taking a tour of UT. It's led by a student ambassador who is really knowledgable about UT and can answer any question that you or your son might have. Don't let people knock UT without seeing for yourself first hand. That really makes a difference.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'd be more than happy to answer them for you. :)</p>
<p>I'm sorry.. University of Florida-Gainseville and University of Texas-Austin.</p>
<p>But University of Tennessee sounds nice.</p>
<p>University of Texas really needs to be called something other than UT. Tennessee had that title long before.</p>
<p>Sorry...but thanks for your reply!</p>
<p>My S is a freshman at UF, after turning down UTexas to attend. He chose it for the scholarship that he was offered, not because he really liked one over the other. Many of his friends were going to UT, and I think he kind of wanted to make new ones while keeping the old (he has flown to Austin a couple of times to visit his buddies from hs). He has fallen in love with Florida. He loves the beaches and goes 2 to 3 times a week (as my gas bills attest to). He has been in Hume, the honors dorm, and has enjoyed it for the most part. Next year, he is renting a house in the student "ghetto" with 3 others. He is really looking forward to the space. Most of his friends in Austin live in apts. a few are in dorms, but it can be hard to get a dorm room unless you sign up really early. Last year, they opened apps for that after Sept. 1. I signed my S up just in case and ended up losing my deposit, but Oh well, better safe than sorry. You are right that both are major sports schools and it has been alot of fun for my s to go to games in the Swamp and when UF won the basketball championship. I think he would be just as happy at UT, but he is really the kind of guy who gets along and has fun wherever he is and whoever he is with.</p>
<p>As for location - Austin has become a pretty big city. It used to be more of a college town, but the city around it has grown. It is an awesome place to be a young adult. There is a huge music scene and alot to do. There are really nice parks and rivers and lakes. It is in the hill country of Texas and it has pretty temperate weather. Gainesville is a small college town. A huge part of the population is college students so alot of the town is centered around them. There are fun restaurants and clubs and my s has found alot to do. It is hot and humid there in August (like Houston, so he was used to it), but the rest of the year has been pretty comfortable. </p>
<p>Academics are probably pretty comparable - both large student populations with large entry level classes that get smaller as you progress through your major. My s is in the honors program, so he gets some classes that are really small. He also gets the benefit of registering before the rest of the student population, so he has had no problems getting classes he wants.</p>
<p>The population of UT is probably 95% (guesstimate) Texan and UF is probably 95% Floridian. The rest are oos. It depends on who you want to live with!! My s is a born and bred Texan who has fit in wonderfully with Floridians. They must be pretty nice!</p>
<p>Anyway, I hope I answered some of your questions. If I can help in any other way, pm me.</p>