We have visited both and my daughter loves the FSU campus so much more than UF. Would love to hear from people that chose FSU over UF and why. And also, how you feel looking back if you already graduated.
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Everyone I know.
A big reason would be getting into the Honors college at FSU and not at UF. The Honors College cuts down all downsides associated with big Florida public universities and offers great perks.
The music school is much better at FSU. Beyond that, I think FSU does a great job of making personal connections to each student and creating a smaller university.
The few people that I have known to chose FSU over UF either did so for FSU’s performing arts program (as mentioned above) or had very strong family ties to FSU. You can’t go wrong with either school (despite my obvious bias).
Me, I am one of few students in my grade/school to be admitted to UF. Never been a huge fan of UF, only applied because everyone else was. Don’t like the campus or the environment very much. FSU gave me much more merit scholarship money, and I feel way more at home in Tallahassee than I do in Gainesville. Thanks for the offer, UF, but GO NOLES!
My son got accepted to both schools. For his intended major (pre-med), I believe both schools will be good for him. I actually preferred FSU over UF because of the campus (and I am a UF alum). Also when we did the college visit, I felt like FSU did a better job of selling their school. FSU seems more personable. However, it’s not my decision. He’s leaning towards UF because he felt more comfortable with UF.
As a current Gator Mom, and Mom of a future Nole, I found the tour at FSU to be superior to what UF does. The FSU tour was a better experience from start to finish, and I went in to the tour biased towards UF in general. From the friendliness of everyone we encountered to handing out bottles of water (it was really hot), having a bus to return to welcome center, and greater details about research opportunities, etc., it was a pleasant surprise. It seemed like a much more welcoming place than UF.
UF is much more selective and competitive than FSU. If that is not your cup of tea, go to FSU.
@miliochie the OP asked to hear opinions from those who chose FSU over UF and the determining reasons for doing so. Did you or your child choose FSU over UF?
@Miliochie The average ACT score at FSU is 30 and at UF it’s 31. Also, if anyone wants an easy way to get into UF and a UF degree, they can apply to UF Online. The average ACT score for UF Online is 26.
Thank you @FLBeachBaby. Yes my post is looking to find out why people chose FSU over UF assuming they were accepted into both schools.
The previous poster summed up the impression both schools left on my son. UF made him feel “you would be lucky to be here”. His experience at FSU was expressly different - “we would be honored to have you”. For him that feeling was the difference.
I think the hs can have a lot to do with it too. My nephew wouldn’t even apply to FSU. He applied to UF, USF, UCF but wouldn’t even consider FSU. I know he hadn’t spent a lot of time there either (although close to his home), he just got the impression that it was bad.
Kids at my kids’ hs seem to split the big three equally Some were UF all the way, but those going to FSU were only interested in FSU. Quite a few went to FIU too.
@twoinanddone, I think you are correct about high school peer perception having a lot to do with it. My kids’ school is split almost evenly between UF and FSU. We’re in Tampa so there are plenty of alumni families on both sides. There were quite a few students who applied to FSU but did not apply to UF (whether it be because they didn’t think they could get in or because they just didn’t like UF) and likewise quite a few students who applied to UF but did not apply to FSU. Roughly 70 students from their high school went to FSU and roughly 55 went to UF last year. Several of the kids who were accepted to UF chose to attend FSU instead because their friends were going there, they grew up FSU fans, their parents were big FSU fans/boosters, or they liked a particular program at FSU better.
Regarding the comment about UF being more selective, that is probably true overall (based on the numbers). As for it being more competitive, I’m not sure about that. It all depends on your major or field of study. As my late father once said, “You can be an incredible success, or an incredible failure, at almost any university. It is up to you to decide which one you want to be.”
When comparing the two schools, keep in mind that it’s the same group of kids that attend both schools. They all attended the same (in-state) high schools, did the same EC’s, and had about the same grades. My daughter (from a Gator family) attended UF, while her best friend (from an FSU family) attended FSU. Neither bothered to apply to the other school.
UF is more selective as it has a much lower acceptance rate*** as well as a much higher enrollment rate (yield). Also, 77% of UF’s enrolled freshman are in the top 10% of their class, while it’s 38% at FSU. However, the academic difference between the two groups of students is fairly small.
***note, with this year’s FSU’s crazy applications numbers, who knows what the acceptance rate will be.
Here’s a link to a website that lets you compare colleges by cross admits (students accepted to each college, which one did they pick?).
While fascinating data, OP is not asking to compare and contrast the two schools. She is asking why those who chose FSU over UF did so.
Seems to me that “how” many choose FSU over UF, is on subject. Not that I would bet the house on these numbers, but they are pertinent and interesting. It’s a valid data point that kids ARE picking FSU over UF.
I think having honors college at FSU would be a strong tipping point for someone who doesn’t want an all-large-lectures/anonymous huge university experience but something more personalized and interactive, with the opportunity to know professors.
@MYOS1634 How many honors classes are there in reality that make this a tipping point and how many of these classes are not needed if entering students have IB/AP to cover many of the general classes?
Also, I wonder what this thread would look like in the UF section of those choosing UF over FSU?
FWIW, I have yet to commit to either institution but was not accepted to Honors at UF and was at FSU.