University of Central Florida

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any thoughts about UCF? I heard that they give good merit, great Honors College, and have many opportunities for internships given its location. One negative is that housing is tough after freshman year. Anyone have any experience with UCF?

[Anonymous]

My freshman goes here. The Honors College deans are very active and involved. Honors kids get to register for a classes a year at a time (a huge perk at a large state school). Yes, UCF gives fantastic merit. Campus is super walkable and well designed. Nice kids. Meal plan is not required. Tons of activities always going on. An entire tech business complex surrounds the school. On campus housing unlikely after freshman year. But there is a lot of off campus housing, including quite a few complexes right across the street, but the affiliated apartments sell out fast. And prices are high. Typically over $1000/month per student in a 4br/4ba apartment. The more amenities, the higher the price.
Historically it was often the safety school for those aiming for UF or FSU, but that has been changing. Many more kids, like mine, preferred UCF to the other two. Acceptance rate overall is somewhere in the 30’s. About 500 kids accepted into Honors each year. Rolling admissions- high stats get accepted quickly. Lower stats can go into waiting limbo until they see how much room they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My freshman goes here. The Honors College deans are very active and involved. Honors kids get to register for a classes a year at a time (a huge perk at a large state school). Yes, UCF gives fantastic merit. Campus is super walkable and well designed. Nice kids. Meal plan is not required. Tons of activities always going on. An entire tech business complex surrounds the school. On campus housing unlikely after freshman year. But there is a lot of off campus housing, including quite a few complexes right across the street, but the affiliated apartments sell out fast. And prices are high. Typically over $1000/month per student in a 4br/4ba apartment. The more amenities, the higher the price.
Historically it was often the safety school for those aiming for UF or FSU, but that has been changing. Many more kids, like mine, preferred UCF to the other two. Acceptance rate overall is somewhere in the 30’s. About 500 kids accepted into Honors each year. Rolling admissions- high stats get accepted quickly. Lower stats can go into waiting limbo until they see how much room they have.

Out of curiosity - what made your child choose UCF over UF and FSU. One person told me that they chose UCF over UF bc UF gives hardly any merit.

[Anonymous]

Large, factory school where you’re just a number. Good luck getting personal attention from your professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My freshman goes here. The Honors College deans are very active and involved. Honors kids get to register for a classes a year at a time (a huge perk at a large state school). Yes, UCF gives fantastic merit. Campus is super walkable and well designed. Nice kids. Meal plan is not required. Tons of activities always going on. An entire tech business complex surrounds the school. On campus housing unlikely after freshman year. But there is a lot of off campus housing, including quite a few complexes right across the street, but the affiliated apartments sell out fast. And prices are high. Typically over $1000/month per student in a 4br/4ba apartment. The more amenities, the higher the price.
Historically it was often the safety school for those aiming for UF or FSU, but that has been changing. Many more kids, like mine, preferred UCF to the other two. Acceptance rate overall is somewhere in the 30’s. About 500 kids accepted into Honors each year. Rolling admissions- high stats get accepted quickly. Lower stats can go into waiting limbo until they see how much room they have.

Out of curiosity - what made your child choose UCF over UF and FSU. One person told me that they chose UCF over UF bc UF gives hardly any merit.

Mine had a full ride to all three, so it wasn’t the money, but disliked both UF and FSU when we went to visit and couldn’t picture himself there for 4 years. The UCF campus was more inviting, the neighborhood was way nicer, the dorms were better, they clicked with the kids they met, and the school went out of their way more to make them feel welcome. Lots of friends go to UF/FSU and like it, but most also joined fraternities/sororities which is not what my kid wanted. UF and FSU are both bigger party schools. UCF is not.

It is a huge school. I think the experience of the kids in Honors or those with early registration is better.

[Anonymous]

UCF is supposed to be one of the best schools in Florida for computer science and engineering and one of the best nationally for game design, animation and hospitality. Compared to other schools, it is close to the the airport in Orlando so easy to get to for out of staters.

[Anonymous]

The dorms are supposed to be one of the nicest - only drawback is that it is difficult to get housing after freshman year. But there are many off campus housing close by that are on the shuttle route. Also, many kids who get into higher ranked Florida schools like FSU or UF will choose to go to UCF due to specific programs like computer science. Also, not the reason to choose UCF - but as a bonus perk, you can get discounted tickets to Universal and Disney as a UCF student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dorms are supposed to be one of the nicest - only drawback is that it is difficult to get housing after freshman year. But there are many off campus housing close by that are on the shuttle route. Also, many kids who get into higher ranked Florida schools like FSU or UF will choose to go to UCF due to specific programs like computer science. Also, not the reason to choose UCF - but as a bonus perk, you can get discounted tickets to Universal and Disney as a UCF student.

UF is ranked quite a bit higher for CS, so I don't understand why someone accepted there would opt for UCF, particularly since UF overall is much more well known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dorms are supposed to be one of the nicest - only drawback is that it is difficult to get housing after freshman year. But there are many off campus housing close by that are on the shuttle route. Also, many kids who get into higher ranked Florida schools like FSU or UF will choose to go to UCF due to specific programs like computer science. Also, not the reason to choose UCF - but as a bonus perk, you can get discounted tickets to Universal and Disney as a UCF student.

UF is ranked quite a bit higher for CS, so I don't understand why someone accepted there would opt for UCF, particularly since UF overall is much more well known.

It could be balancing a good computer science program with decent merit money.

[Anonymous]

It’s a dump. Dorms are newer than UF and Fl. state bec this school was the safety for dummies until 2018 ish. It is still the dummies school as Florida allows anyone with a B or better to get into four year colleges. It’s guaranteed from lottery monies.

Unless you are instate total waste of money.

Not yo mention Florida colleges are headed to unaccredited

If you don’t know why you are stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a dump.

You have no idea what you are talking about. I’m from Florida and know first hand UCF is the real deal though we are a UF family. It will likely surpass FSU in the next 5 years for academics.

There is no guaranteed admission for first year students in Florida at any state school. This is just untrue.

The lottery money funds the bright futures scholarships only. You either live under a rock or have not grown up and lived in Florida.


Dorms are newer than UF and Fl. state bec this school was the safety for dummies until 2018 ish. It is still the dummies school as Florida allows anyone with a B or better to get into four year colleges. It’s guaranteed from lottery monies.

Unless you are instate total waste of money.

Not yo mention Florida colleges are headed to unaccredited

If you don’t know why you are stupid.

[Anonymous]

You have no idea what you are talking about. I’m from Florida and know first hand UCF is the real deal though we are a UF family. It will likely surpass FSU in the next 5 years for academics.

There is no guaranteed admission for first year students in Florida at any state school. This is just untrue.

The lottery money funds the bright futures scholarships only. You either live under a rock or have not grown up and lived in Florida.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a dump. Dorms are newer than UF and Fl. state bec this school was the safety for dummies until 2018 ish. It is still the dummies school as Florida allows anyone with a B or better to get into four year colleges. It’s guaranteed from lottery monies.

Unless you are instate total waste of money.

Not yo mention Florida colleges are headed to unaccredited

If you don’t know why you are stupid.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, not taking college advice from someone who writes like that. Yikes!

Anonymous wrote:It’s a dump. Dorms are newer than UF and Fl. state bec this school was the safety for dummies until 2018 ish. It is still the dummies school as Florida allows anyone with a B or better to get into four year colleges. It’s guaranteed from lottery monies.

Unless you are instate total waste of money.

Not yo mention Florida colleges are headed to unaccredited

If you don’t know why you are stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCF is supposed to be one of the best schools in Florida for computer science and engineering and one of the best nationally for game design, animation and hospitality. Compared to other schools, it is close to the the airport in Orlando so easy to get to for out of staters.

+1 The merit is excellent and the computer science program is well regarded. And that's a good point about the ability to fly in and out easily. Neither UF or FSU are close to major airports.

[Anonymous]

Average Sat score is 1332 and average gpa 4.25 for last years freshman class. Honors average stats are much higher. Lots of National Merit Scholars.

Yes, UF is better known and higher ranked, but there are a lot of top kids who prefer UCF for various reasons.