<p>I had originally crossed UF off my list after getting into schools closer to home+some scholarship money, but i was recently offered the blue & orange scholarship and have started looking into gainesville and from what ive seen online, i actually really really REALLY like it, but my dad doesnt feel comfortable sending me that far away without a compelling reason (i am from maryland)
i do have an aunt and a ton of cousins in clearwater, which is like 2.5 hours away, so i could have someone there in a pinch if i really needed them...i am trying to organize a weekend trip down there to visit w my cousin who is a junior in highschool but my dad was saying that "campus feel" isnt a compelling reason to send me somewhere for college that far away</p>
<p>just so everyone knows, the other schools that i think im down to considering are Univ of Maryland-College Park (CP scholars program), University of South Carolina-Columbia (capstone scholars program), and Ohio State University (honors college), so what about UF would make it a better option than any of them?</p>
<p>I know where you’re coming from, I’m an NJ student and I’m in the process of trying to convince my parents to let me attend UF. I’ve visited about 8 schools so far, and I totally disagree with your dad about the importance of the campus feel. I had several schools that were on the top of my list drop to the bottom because I hated the campus, and vice versa. If you don’t like the campus, then you won’t be happy during your time there, and you may wind up transferring. While the campus shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor in your decision, there is definitely importance to it. I managed to convince my parents to visit UF in February, and my dad loved it so much that he’s actually <em>partially</em> on my side (but they’re both pulling for TCNJ, haha). It also helped that there was close to 4 feet of snow on the ground at the time back in NJ… But besides the academic excellence of Florida, which is comparable to most public schools in the nation, they have some of the strongest school spirit of any school that I’ve seen, PLUS the ever-important 70-degree winters! There are many other things that UF has that might draw you in, but those were some of the things that I really loved about the school. Hope this helped!</p>
<p>As someone who lives in Gainesville already - I have to warn you, the winters are NOT 70 degrees! We experience a lot of extreme highs and lows here. Obviously it doesn’t snow, but it is in the northern part of Florida so weather in the 20s-30s is not unheard of… we have weather in the 30s in the winter quite often. And sometimes it will reach the teens, but that’s not as often. I am sure it is not as cold as New Jersey or Maryland or even South Carolina (since you are considering USC), but just warning you, it is not always nice weather! It kind of sucks too, because for a few days it will be REALLY cold, then it warms up for a day or 2, and then right after that it goes back to being really cold again. I spend a lot of time sick because of the crazy weather changes. It will go from 70 degrees to the 30s-40s within a day or two. And the summers are REALLY hot because Gainesville is far inland. And I feel like it rains a lot here… but other than that…</p>
<p>Gainesville and UF are amazing! But the weather is not the best. If you want “Florida” weather, I really recommend going far down south, like Miami.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more with ufhopeful24. I lived in New York until I was 16 and moved down to Florida. The weather in Florida is terrible. It is a different type of cold in Florida. It gets extremely windy, and even though it might only be 50 degrees outside, it’s impossible to get warm. In New York, 10 degree weather was fine to go out in with a heavy jacket and pants. In Florida, with the wind, and the wet cold, winter can be miserable. And then on top of that you have weather that will go from 30 degrees in the morning to 80 degrees by noon and then drop back down to 30 at night fall. Expect to be sick during the winter, the temperature fluctuation is extreme. </p>
<p>But hey, let’s not be so negative eh? The winter is short, and there is never snow. It is already beach weather down here in Florida. The summers can be really really hot but I find that comfortable so it was never a problem for me.</p>
<p>thanks for the input guys! weather isnt the hugest issue for me…i think ill do fine in whatever kind of weather…lived in michigan so i did lake effect 20 inches of snow at a time, then md so did really cold and dry winters (last winter being a bit of an exception to the dry bit…), so i figure how bad can gainesville winters really be haha…i do fine in cold anyway</p>
<p>anywho…majoring in spanish/international studies. as far as i can tell, usc isnt quite on the same level overall academically as the other 3 but it has the number 1 international business school in the nation for like the past 2 decades running or something crazy like that and I am assuming that there will be a decent amount of spillover into my studies with rankings like that.</p>
<p>oh and also, i do not qualify for uf honors college and, while that isnt a deal breaker for me, im just wondering how the regular college of arts and sciences would compare to scholars at umd/usc or honors at osu</p>
<p>goopmyband - im in the exact opposite situation as you lol. I’m from NJ but my parents are pushing me to go to UF because I received the Blue & Orange Scholarship so its cheaper than Rutgers for me. It’s a pretty attractive deal, but I also go into UIUC which has a much better ChemE program so I’m on the fence right now between them. Does anyone know how UF’s ChemE program is?</p>
<p>Guru…Ive got to side with your parents on this one. You are being given the opportunity to go to a top ~25 program for very little expense. That is an opportunity that not many people are ever given, and I think youd be foolish to turn it down. If you intend to go to grad school, go on to eventually get your MBA, or intend to directly work for a major national corporation, UF will provide the all the foundation you need to be successful. In fairness, I do think UIUC will have a recruitment advantage for your expressed desire of working in the SF/bay area for a bio-tech firm. But I am concerned that you are chasing a red-herring here. If you are targeting cutting-edge R&D work, as opposed to some administrative, sales, or junior manager position, it doesnt matter what undergraduate school you attend, you are simply are not going to get those opportunities with just an undergraduate degree. You are going to need an advanced degree .most likely a PhD. So, before you need to decide, you really to stop, take a deep breath, and decide want where you want to head in life and with your education. I really think UF is a clear choice here, but it really depends on the answers that only you know the answers to…</p>
<p>Should I go to UF with my tuition covered and 5000 for room and board plus books, or go to USF, where i can live at home ,and have 12000 dollars per year for just books and the rest going in my pocket?</p>
<p>Definitely USF, the money that goes back to you makes sense. You will be saving a ton of money in the long run. UF is great and all, but the school you go to for undergrad doesnt really matter that much. I’d have to say UF is a bit hyped up to be honest, you’re better off saving the money for graduate school.</p>
<p>You can do a lot at USF, but it’s really up to you. If I were you I would be going to USF hands down with an offer like that.</p>