<p>OK, so this was mentioned on the decision thread by someone else but the idea got lost in the shuffle. I've personally found the decisions to be more scattered than I expected them to be, from my friends' experiences and the posts on this board. I know people who had stats that put them well above the average for UF in addition to a number of other factors in their favor, yet they still didn't get in.</p>
<p>So, for those accepted, what do you think got you in? What was your strongest section of your app?</p>
<p>For me, my SATs were high but not eye-popping, and my UF gpa wasn't outstanding either. My essay was definitely not the best thing I've written. What I think might've made me stand out was the fact that I was homeschooled and took the opportunity that being an untraditional student provided to get my AA. Maybe it made me look like I had drive? That in addition to my stats and decent ECs might've made the difference.</p>
<p>I was an exchange student last year, and therefore was very behind at the beginning of this year. But I ended up getting a job working 30+ hours a week, while managing a VERY rigourous senior schedule. I think that fact I went abroad at 16, and how I managed to send UF a mid year transcript with straight A’s in all AP’s and dual’s this year sealed it for me.
I think UF rewards hard workers and people who try to push their comfort zones.</p>
<p>In order of importance, these are the things that I believe helped me get admitted:</p>
<p>ACT - 30
Held a job throughout high school, while participating in several sports and clubs
600 hours of community service.
A GPA of 4.4…not sure about UF weighted GPA.
My essay was all about what I could do for the University of Florida.</p>
<p>ACT 32
4.2 GPA
very good essay
Varsity baseball</p>
<p>but honestly feel that i got accepted because I am out of state and my tuition is very attractive to UF. If I get a good merit scholarship I will feel differently</p>
<p>My SAT/ACT scores were decent, but, like lamentingalto, not eye-popping (1940 and 28). I would say my UW AND UF GPAs were definitely good (3.8, and a 4.2). I had very impressive ECs and Community Service, a great essay, and a very rigorous schedule throughout high school, including senior year, with 11 AP classes and 1 AICE total. If anything put me on to the right side of the table, it was probably that fact that I have double legacy. My father attended and my sister is there now.</p>
<p>Holistically, I felt like I was a good applicant, as nervous as I was. I am still extremely honored to have been accepted, though :)</p>
<p>I think I got in mainly because I was a National Merit Commended Scholar and attended the OHSS program at UF last summer.
I don’t think I would have gotten in with just my test scores because my SAT was a 1280/1930 and my ACT was a 28. However, my ACT Math was a 32 and my ACT English score was a 34, so if they look at individual scores, I think those may have made the overall scores not seem as bad.
The other thing that probably helped was that my class rank was 1 and I had an unweighted 4.0 GPA. I also attend a high school ranked numer 2 in the state of Florida so I think that made my class rank look even better.
I also had a few extracurriculars that I have been a part of for at least 6 years and 5 leadership positions.
That’s just what I think looked the best on my application, I’m not really sure which was what UF looked at the most and what made them decide to admit me.</p>
<p>I think my high GPA and the fact that my dad went to the school got me in. I heard legacy helps you significantly. My tests scores were SUPER low I was so surprised I got in. Very happy I did though!</p>
<p>I think being well-rounded… That I would probably be active at campus because I am active in my HS campus
GPA 3.93/4.42 6 AP classes and all other Honors if available </p>
<p>Test score low and really only weakness…did not submit SAT( math was very high but other 2 sections pretty bad)…in fact, many told me I probably would not be accepted for ACT was too low
Captain Varsity team…on non HS traveling sports team all over country
officer in honors society…many other clubs/honors societies…200 volunteer hours/no job</p>
<p>Also, take as many academic classes as you can. And take a level that you know you can probably get an A…I read it is a myth that an B in honors is the same as an A in a regular class…the Universities do not look at it that way. Of course, you prob do need to take some AP for UF.</p>
<p>I did not leave any area blank on my App:
For example, In area where put work experience I stated…none, and explained I had put the time into volunteering instead</p>
<p>So to give others hope, I think if you are weak in maybe just one area, you still have a shot…</p>
<p>I think my daughter got in partly due to her SAT score (1360/2050), which does seem higher than a lot of people’s (Her Verbal was well over the 75th percentile, 740), possibly making up for her UF GPA, which wasn’t as high as most.</p>
<p>But I think her activities helped a lot. Specifically, she has been in Girl Scouts for 13 years, volunteering at their summer camps, and is completing her Gold Award. Additionally, she has a large number of activities related to her major, which is agriculture. She’s been in a magnet for it for 4 years, has gotten several awards related to it and passed a state test to become a Certified Agricultural Technician (Only 5 people in her class of about 40 took and passed that test, and the other schools with ag programs did worse than that). She did a summer internship program through the USDA at the University of Arizona. Three people in her program got into UF, and two of them had done a USDA internship. I have a friend whose son was also a marginal candidate, numbers-wise, but he had a lot of activities related to his major (engineering), and he also got in.</p>
<p>I think a lot for daughter based on SAT scores as verbal 800 and 2160 overall and rigor of classes. Did not have a ton of EC or any sports but good amount of volunteer work.</p>
<p>Also agree with others that I think partially based on who processes your application as accepted at UVA, but deferred at UNC.</p>