<p>Well said, th3vault.</p>
<p>Isn't th3vault the same person who is on the UF site asking how he can transfer there?
So much for all the reasons he just listed.</p>
<p>I was curious about transfer, not dead set on it. It had nothing to do with UCF being bad, it was a hypothetical. When I took a closer look at the schools, I determined that UCF was the better all around package and I have removed myself from the UF forums. This post is a response to what I thought about when considering a transfer, not what I thought about as a freshman.</p>
<p>lol, as a freshamn UF wasnt an option, this is just what I think about the two schools after looking at the two schools from a transfer perspective. The reasons stand.</p>
<p>I realize the previous post was a poor defense. So I'll give a bit longer explanation here as to why I'm saying UCF is a great school yet askin about transfer to UF. I know I sound like a hypocrite, and I apologize for that. There is a very long story about why I was asking about transfer but here is the short version.</p>
<p>When I made the posts on the UF forums, transfer was a hypothetical question based solely on academics. And it is true, UF is superior to UCF on academics. I thought UCF might be a bit too easy, and was considering going somewhere else where the academics wouldn't be as easy. But then I realized that maybe the academics at UCF are too easy beacause I was spending so much time on them, and neglecting everything else. Then I looked at both UF and UCF, and I believe that overall UCF is better in some aspects and UF in others. For me,UCF was preferable.</p>
<p>I understand that this will seem very hypocritical and my credibility is probably zilch, but consider the reasons I posted earlier as reasons why "someone" would choose UCF over UF/FSU and not why "I personally" would choose UCF over UF/FSU, since they are still good reasons.</p>
<p>Thanks for hearing me out, and good luck.</p>
<p>th3vault
One lesson that I have learned is that "where" got your degree from is only slightly important for your first job.
After that its all about "what have you done form me lately"</p>
<p>Individuals with strong internal drives to succeed will rise to the top no matter where they graduated from.</p>
<p>Employers surround themselves with people like that because it helps them succeed.</p>
<p>In the short term you need to concentrate on acquiring the tools for your future success at whatever school you happen to be in.</p>
<p>UCF vs. UF in the long term is irrelevant.
(except for football of course)</p>
<p>Thanks, xNYer.</p>
<p>The reasons you have listed are very true. The reason I was considering transfer was because I was thinking about going to law school. That profession is far more rankings based than almost any other profession. I have since decided that I am not cut out for that, and that public service is what I will do since I have a strong motivation for that and the only motivation I had for the legal profession was the pay. I have since realized that there is more to life than money.</p>
<p>UCF football..... man do I miss Kevin Smith.</p>
<p>I hope I can add some insight for those with wondering minds. I have attended the University of Florida, the Florida State University, and the University of Central Florida. I'll start off by stating that every school in Florida offers something special, some more obvious than others (i.e. geography). I'll start off with my first school, UF. Where do I begin? The University of Florida is considered by many to be the flagship school of the SU system of Florida. While that's true in many cases, it does not lead in every category. UF is in Gainesville, FL. For those of you that have been there, you probably know that Gainesville isn't exactly the most aesthetically pleasing place out there. It's a town that was literally built around the university and is pretty much all Orange and Blue. The recent success surrounding UF athletics has branded Gainesville the nickname "Titletown USA," with two National Championships (Football, Men's Basketball) coming within a year of each other. The campus is not as centralized as many may think but the fact that the school pretty much grew on itself allows it to be spread out and spacious. I truly did not see a difference in classes there than I did at the other two schools in terms of difficulty. After deciding that I did not feel comfortable with my major, I looked at transfer options. As a musician, I thought perhaps my future was with the arts. There's no better school for the arts in Florida than Florida State University, in my opinion. FSU has, by far, the most beautiful classic campus in the state. While other schools such as Rollins College and UT have that architectural attractiveness to them, they don't come near Florida State. The old brick buildings in a hilly, spacious campus make you feel like you're walking on the pathways of Harvard University. When it comes to tradition, nothing rivals FSU. It is the oldest school in Florida and has a rich history too long for me to list. Not to mention the Doak. Doak Campbell Stadium is home to Bobby Bowden field and is the home field of the Florida State Seminoles football team. When you walk in there, you can't help but feel the history of that place. The campus is a few blocks from Florida A&M University and there are points in Tallahassee where you can stand and see both campuses. With not much to do in the Tallahassee area other than go to bars and clubs, you have no choice but to eat, breathe, and sleep all things FSU. After completing all my GenEds at State, I was finally on track to start my music degree. Well, remember when I said there was no better school in Florida for the arts? Well, it bit me right in the behind. I saw myself taking unnecessary courses while awaiting my acceptance into the School of Music. After waiting and waiting to no avail, I considered yet another career choice. With a Real Estate minor already declared, I figured why not just major in Real Estate? Talking with my aunt about it, she told me to look into UCF. After doing some research, I found that UCF had a College of Business Administration which included the Dixon School of Accounting, the Dr. Phillips School of Real Estate, and the Rich DeVos Sport Business Management Program. The University of Central Florida is something else. The school is huge in terms of land size with over 1,400 acres, and huge in terms of enrollment with over 50,000 students!!! UCF is, by far, the SU system's best-kept secret. The same way that FSU has the most beautiful classic campus, UCF has the most beautiful contemporary campus. There are trees everywhere, which just add to the beauty of the school. The buildings are state-of-the-art, there are large green areas with art pieces everywhere, and the concentric circle design just adds to the overall organization of the campus. It reminded me a lot of UC Irvine for those of you from the West Coast. I can see why UCF has such a large enrollment: AMENITIES, AMENITIES, AMENITIES and LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! This school has everything going for it. In East Orlando, the school is in close proximity to the world's top tourist destination. Not to mention you can sit back and relax on the top of a parking garage and watch the space shuttles launching just 35 miles away. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that the dorms at UCF look like vacation resorts, complete with fountains and beautiful courtyards. There's a huge state-of-the-art gym called the Recreation & Wellness Center, there's a resort-style pool appropriately called The Leisure Pool, on the north end of campus there are four seven-story condos that are... you guessed it... student dorms! There's a town center type plaza with shops and restaurants... all of this ON CAMPUS. I'm telling you, you have to see this school for yourself. This whole time I pictured UCF to be a little commuter school tucked away in Central Florida. I looked to see what the classification was for UCF and it turns out that it is considered to have a large residential campus and not a commuter campus like other state schools such as FIU, FAU, and USF. The best part about it: UCF just celebrated its 40th anniversary!!! You read correctly... UCF is only 40 years old!!! The school has several nationally ranked graduate programs, all ranked ahead of some of the oldest institutions in the country. The university is 8th in the country in commercial research patents, ranked in the top 10 with schools such as MIT, Harvard, and Cal Tech. I think more people need to know about this school. Give this school a few more years and I don't see how it wouldn't rival some of the best schools in the nation. </p>
<p>For you National Merit Scholar buffs, the schools haven't released their 2008 enrollment figures but I'll list the 2007 ones.</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Florida (168)</li>
<li>University of Central Florida (42)</li>
<li>University of Miami (26)</li>
<li>Florida State University (15)</li>
<li>University of South Florida (12)</li>
</ol>
<p>Good post GradBoy. I will point out that FSU stopped "buying" National Merit Scholars a few years ago.</p>
<p>Thanks GradBoy, I appreciate your insight on the top schools in Florida. You have verified my instincts about UCF and I can not wait until the Summer of '09 so that I can enjoy UCF for myself.</p>
<p>Also, with the new Medical College opening up in the Fall I believe that UCF will make its way up in the national ranks.</p>
<p>Gradboy, your observations are very clear and objective. You provide an accurate picture of all three schools. Thanks.</p>
<p>DS just sent in his app to UF. He's been accepted to UCF, invited to the Honors College, and offered a Pegasus scholarship.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure he'll wait until the UF decision date to make his decision, but some major factors in UCF's favor:</p>
<p>Burnett Honors College
Towers Housing
$$$ (and in this economy, with three in school, that's not minor)
Vibe of UCF towards applicants ("we want you and we're going to work to make your experience a great one", vs. "you'll be $#%# lucky to get in, and if you don't come here there's plenty more where you came from")</p>
<p>I am hoping that by February he'll have a better idea of what he wants to study, so that will factor in as well.</p>
<p>He has a brother at each school. He may choose UF. There's a lot that factors into what I'm about to say, and YMMV, but I'm happier with UCF son's overall experience than UF son's. That said, if son#3 gets in and wants to be a Gator, that's where he'll go.</p>
<p>ive already applied to both and im pretty sure ill get into UCF.</p>
<p>I have asked around to some of last years seniors from my skool tat are attending both.</p>
<p>Not to put down UF, but i heat its honors college its crap compared to UCF's.</p>
<p>FSU MBA is right - FSU's provost decided that only NM scholars from in-state are worthy of continued investment. See: [url=<a href="http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/undergraduate/finances/scholprosFAQ.html%5DScholarships%5B/url">http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/undergraduate/finances/scholprosFAQ.html]Scholarships[/url</a>]</p>
<p>OK, DS#1, because of a snafu, ended up off campus as a UF freshman. He started out in the Honors program (college?) at UF. MANY things went wrong, and his grades dropped him out of the Honors program by the end of freshman year. As far as I know, there was no out-reach, no attempt on the part of the honors program to help...
OTOH, I still get a call from some sweet student EVERY SEMESTER asking for $$$$ for the Honors program at UF. Nice, huh? They apparently don't know he was kicked out.</p>
<p>DS #1 is still at UF, bleeds orange and blue, and thinks UF rocks. This is mom talking, but for me, not so much.</p>
<p>DS#2 was ON CAMPUS (no way we were making that mistake twice!) in the dorms that are so nice that the upperclassmen STAY ON CAMPUS! That is huge for me. DS#2 has been involved with on-campus activities from day 1, including being IN the homecoming skit and parade both freshman and sophomore years.
Oh, and Burnett Honors College has acted as his advocate on several occasions with regards to schedules and getting classes he needed etc.
And they haven't called here for money - yet.</p>
<p>It's an apples to oranges comparison. Two very different kids, two very different experiences. YMMV, as it should. But UCF has been a wonderful environment for DS#2, and UF has been a mixed bag for DS#1. (as their mom sees it.... :-) )</p>
<p>We're in a holding pattern with DS#3, but honestly, I'd feel more comfortable (wearing momma bear hat) with him at UCF than at UF. But it will be whatever he chooses.</p>
<p>Yeah, UF's record keeping isn't very good. I still get emails from them all the time assuming that I'm a student asking me to buy magazines. I even still have my UF e-mail address, which gets forwarded to my personal mail! So if I really wanted to, I could fake being a student on Facebook. LOL.</p>
<p>i see these posts are a lil dated but ucf is now tier 1 two years later which is pretty damn impressive if u ask me since it was tier 3 two years ago.</p>
<p>Way too many people underestimated UCF and still are. I find it a shame that people look so much into rankings when considering schools.</p>
<p>Well if you look at the academic qualifications needed for both schools UF wins by a long shot. This can be said the same for the athletic department. Additionally, UF has 2 Nobel Laureates and UCF has none. Also look at the UF alumni list of important people which is like 10 times longer than UCF’s. Don’t get me wrong UCF is a nice school and I like it more than UF but UF is obviously a lot more prestigious in every way.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go as far as saying that UF is more prestigious in EVERY way.</p>
<p>UF has a more impressive alumi list and the such because its prehistoric compared with UCF. As far as new schools, UCF’s reputation is pretty darn good. We need to get a little more credit than we have now. Plus our athletics are starting to come around. We are the only school in the state to boast both a Top 25 football and basketball team (which btw is 13-0 this season! And don’t forget to watch our football team take on the Bulldogs tomorrow at 3:30 in the Liberty Bowl!)</p>