University of Florida vs. Florida State University

<p>I'm definetly going through a major crisis over this.</p>

<p>I'm a junior in the IB program at a Florida high school. I'm in the upper portion of our IB class as far as grades [4.486 weighted GPA, 3.75 unweighted]. I take the SATs for the first time on March 10th [I definitely should've been more on top of that], and I'm nervous about the math portion because I haven't had those topics in a long time [I'm trying to review] and I tend to have anxiety issues. I ran cross-country and track freshman and sophomore year, but due to injury switched to marching band this year and will continue that next year, as well as track if I'm recovered. I will have participated in concert band for all four years, as well as Key Club. I'm in NHS and I'm considering Tri-M [Nat. Music Honor Society]. I also participate in science club. I will have a good number of community service hours, primarily from working to save sea turtles in the summer.</p>

<p>Since the beginning of the year, I've been doing my research and was pretty strongly set on going to UF. I recently learned about their Natural Resource Conservation major with it's track in Pre-Environmental Law. It sounds perfect. UF is starting to get incredibly competitive, however, and I'm not confident in getting accepted.</p>

<p>Then again, all of my friends are planning on heading to FSU. At FSU, I would major in Environmental Studies. I know you shouldn't choose a college based on where your friends are going, but I can't imagine going to UF completely alone.</p>

<p>I'm honestly struggling to find any resources on whether UF or FSU is better for an environmental career [I'm leaning towards law], and although UF seems somehow to be the obvious winner, I hesitate to go on assumptions.</p>

<p>Thanks for any advice you can give!!!</p>

<p>I am also in florida and I am a senior. I have been pretty shocked by UF this year. Some people that I expected to get in didn't and some that I didn't think had much of a chance did get in...so I looked into it a little and realized that the difference was GPA. So with a high gpa and ok test scores people have gotten in!! One girl even had under a 1200 on the SAT and got in BC of being in the top 2%. I applied to UF, but will find out in a month. I do not plan on going there, because I applied to a ton of schools out of state. Do not let the fact that you aren't going to know anyone affect your decision. I am going to go to a different state and know NOBODY!! Everyone is in the same boat and it is all part of the college experience. Go visit both schools and continue to do your research. Continue to do well in school GPA and grades are the most imprtant thing!!! But, I think UF is clearly the better university.</p>

<p>I don't think that UF is "clearly" the better university. Overall, UF is ranked higher than FSU in some areas, but it all depends on what you plan on studying. Evironmental Law at FSU is ranked 14th in the U.S., I don't think UF's evironmental law is ranked in the top 20. FSU is ranked 6th on law schools for hispanics, UF is ranked 7th. Clearly, both schools are good choices. UF does have an excellent tax law program, while FSU is excellent in other areas. It all depends on what you want to study, and where you feel more comfortable. </p>

<p>Here's some links for you:
<a href="http://www.law.fsu.edu/prospective_students/rankings.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.law.fsu.edu/prospective_students/rankings.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.law.fsu.edu/academic_programs/environmental/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.law.fsu.edu/academic_programs/environmental/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>all those links are graduate programs (Law Schools) which mean little in evaluating where to go for pre-law. In any case I would go to UF</p>

<p>definetely apply to both. from what you've said, i vote UF. i go to a school where i knew no one, and i think it helped because you can start over, and its easier to meet new people because you aren't already hooked to hanging with your own friends. and for you it isn't a 6 hour plane ride from where most of you friends are</p>

<p>Well, the professors who teach the grad courses can also teach or greatly influence the overall subject matter area, including directing associates, adjuncts or TAs who may teach the undergrads. I would not dismiss a school due to such a difference. I would suggest this indicates a good program, even if USNews may miss it.</p>

<p>Between these two schools look to the subject matter quality. Some differences are slight, like business; some are huge like engineering (UF) or meteorology (FSU).</p>

<p>For law - FSU has the higher rated enviro law program, but that is law school. The law schools are very close in ratings, go where you get in; both are the best in Florida. </p>

<p>FSU does have a direct-entry Honors program for law school:<br>
<a href="http://www.honors.fsu.edu/prospective/main/legalHonors.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.honors.fsu.edu/prospective/main/legalHonors.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>i know about FSU's meteorology program, i actually nearly applied to it (does UF even have one?), but my point was that the Law School is completely separate from the pre-law curriculum, so I would think it is better to choose the better overall school, which most would agree is UF.</p>

<p>Also, I have heard that UF loves IB kids, they usually give tons of credit for IB..definitely look into that. I went to an IB school and I always heard about UF being among the best for IB credits.</p>

<p>FSU rewards IB kids as well - assuming they have the grades and scores.</p>

<p>UF does not have meteorology.</p>

<p>"all those links are graduate programs (Law Schools) which mean little in evaluating where to go for pre-law. In any case I would go to UF"</p>

<p>The original poster said he was interested in an environmental career leaning towards law, I was trying to give him some helpfull info based on that. I linked to some resources on why FSU is a better choice for evironmental law.</p>

<p>His actual qoute was:
"I'm honestly struggling to find any resources on whether UF or FSU is better for an environmental career [I'm leaning towards law], and although UF seems somehow to be the obvious winner, I hesitate to go on assumptions."</p>

<p><em>cough</em> I'm a girl. <em>cough</em></p>

<p>Starting over doesn't appeal to me. I'm not a fan of change; I like routine, I like ritual. But maybe I'm just giving myself excuses to go with my friends.</p>

<p>I did know about FSU's law school being superior in the nation for env. law. Would going to FSU give me a leg up in getting in? My mom also brought up that FSU is in Tallahassee, the political center of the state, so if I want to go into politics it'd be a great location for that.</p>

<p>So I guess my early decision plans are being thrown out the window...</p>

<p>It's funny that UF is so hard to get into now that many overachieving kids at my school that did alot of community service and extracurriculars are going to FSU. I got into FSU and didn't do hardly any community service or extracurriculars, and had a 2.9 cum</p>

<p>Sorry, I typed "he" as a force of habit. Anyway, I'm not sure if attending FSU for undergrad would give you any advantage for FSU Law School. FSU being in Tallahassee does give you a big advantage if you want to get into politics. Many government agencies give internships to FSU students. You could also work at the capitol, with the house and senate, or even the governor.</p>

<p>Be careful about choosing the school based on your friends because you don't want to resent them later on if you drift apart at FSU. Choose the school that's the best social and academic fit for you. There are so many people at both schools that I don't think you need to worry about making friends :)</p>

<p>^^^^^^ Very good advice. Choose the school that feels right for you. That's the main reason why I picked FSU over UF. When I visited FSU, it just felt like home.</p>

<p>I'm also worried about marching band at FSU. I figure that UF doesn't get many of the insanely amazing musicians, so I'll have a chance at getting in. FSU will be more competitive and everything. I guess that's really not a major priority, just something I'd like to do.</p>

<p>Yeah, I've heard that out of like 40 IB kids, only 2 got in UF. Insane.</p>

<p>FSU's band is pretty intense. My wife was a Chief and she went through heck competing to join. Good luck!</p>

<p>Political science is a real plus at FSU.</p>

<p>Yeah, there's no way I'd get in. I play the flute. Everyone plays the flute.</p>

<p>Ughhhhhh.</p>

<p>You never know unless you try!</p>

<p>from the way you talk it sonds like you gotta get away and meet new people lol. Get away from your friends and meet new people, if you are just around your friends you will just talk to the same people. go where no one else does, you wont regret it</p>