Univ of Florida - Reach School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So much hate for UF. I graduated from there about 15 years ago and had a great experience. Like most big schools there are so many different scenes that you can really find anything you’re looking for. My friends have really run the spectrum on where they end up. I just made partner in big law and my best friend is a lobbyist. Another friend is an advertising exec and another is a doctor. We have all done very well and didn’t spend a fortune on undergrad. Good luck to OP’s daughter.

Adding that a friend’s sister is a senior that had SATs below the average. She had a very strong extracurricular and was a legacy. She also went down to visit and took a tour and met with admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from UF. It's a fine school and I had a great time there. What I did was I went to Sante Fe community college, got my AA and transferred in. I never even took the SATs. Also, I worked while down there, established residency and paid 1/3 of what I would have paid coming in from out of state.

OP, this path is a real possibility if she is determined to graduate from Florida. Does she want that enough to do two years at a community college and do well enough to transfer? More students do this now, CC followed by a transfer to a four-year college, mostly to save money on tuition. I know several families in your situation who are doing this -- smart kids whose HS GPAs werent stellar but who get the academics done solidly at CCs and who will end up with degrees from the same colleges that many of their classmates sweated over getting into as freshmen.

If she wants the full four-year college experience at Florida, yes, absolutely get test prep classes or tutoring. It will be pricey but can help. But at the same time ensure she does apply to some other schools. Did she actually visit other colleges yet? Seeing a college in person makes a big difference; if she has only visited Florida, or loves it because she has some other association with it (a parent attended, or its near where she's vacationed, or she went to an event there and has a good impression)--she needs to see other options too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from UF. It's a fine school and I had a great time there. What I did was I went to Sante Fe community college, got my AA and transferred in. I never even took the SATs. Also, I worked while down there, established residency and paid 1/3 of what I would have paid coming in from out of state.

OP, this path is a real possibility if she is determined to graduate from Florida. Does she want that enough to do two years at a community college and do well enough to transfer? More students do this now, CC followed by a transfer to a four-year college, mostly to save money on tuition. I know several families in your situation who are doing this -- smart kids whose HS GPAs werent stellar but who get the academics done solidly at CCs and who will end up with degrees from the same colleges that many of their classmates sweated over getting into as freshmen.

If she wants the full four-year college experience at Florida, yes, absolutely get test prep classes or tutoring. It will be pricey but can help. But at the same time ensure she does apply to some other schools. Did she actually visit other colleges yet? Seeing a college in person makes a big difference; if she has only visited Florida, or loves it because she has some other association with it (a parent attended, or its near where she's vacationed, or she went to an event there and has a good impression)--she needs to see other options too.

Thanks for this and yes she has visited several other colleges of varying sizes and types (Georgia, College of Charleston, Delaware, Towson, UMBC). We have been trying to sell the CC angle but she only sees it as being a failure and not smart enough to get into college.

[Anonymous]

DOes she know what school/major she’s interested in? Depending on the answer, I may have some suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from UF. It's a fine school and I had a great time there. What I did was I went to Sante Fe community college, got my AA and transferred in. I never even took the SATs. Also, I worked while down there, established residency and paid 1/3 of what I would have paid coming in from out of state.

OP, this path is a real possibility if she is determined to graduate from Florida. Does she want that enough to do two years at a community college and do well enough to transfer? More students do this now, CC followed by a transfer to a four-year college, mostly to save money on tuition. I know several families in your situation who are doing this -- smart kids whose HS GPAs werent stellar but who get the academics done solidly at CCs and who will end up with degrees from the same colleges that many of their classmates sweated over getting into as freshmen.

If she wants the full four-year college experience at Florida, yes, absolutely get test prep classes or tutoring. It will be pricey but can help. But at the same time ensure she does apply to some other schools. Did she actually visit other colleges yet? Seeing a college in person makes a big difference; if she has only visited Florida, or loves it because she has some other association with it (a parent attended, or its near where she's vacationed, or she went to an event there and has a good impression)--she needs to see other options too.

Thanks for this and yes she has visited several other colleges of varying sizes and types (Georgia, College of Charleston, Delaware, Towson, UMBC). We have been trying to sell the CC angle but she only sees it as being a failure and not smart enough to get into college.

I see Georgia and Delaware as pretty similar, at least in broad brush strokes, to Florida. What is it that set UF apart for your DD?

[Anonymous]

Take English in the Summer, graduate from HS in August, go to MC her "senior year" and apply as a transfer student.

Apply for the Spring.'

UF is immensely better academically than any other big southern Division 1 school except UNC.

It's a great school.

[Anonymous]

Maybe OP is from Florida. It's perfectly reasonable to go to a state school if you're paying in-state tuition. In-state tuition at most Florida state schools is cheap compared to the rest of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take English in the Summer, graduate from HS in August, go to MC her "senior year" and apply as a transfer student.

Apply for the Spring.'

UF is immensely better academically than any other big southern Division 1 school except UNC.

It's a great school.

It's a perfectly good school, but don't overdo it with the hyperbole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UF is immensely better academically than any other big southern Division 1 school except UNC.

I guess it depends on how you define "big" and "southern," but I wouldn't call UF "immensely better academically" than UVA, Georgia Tech, or UT-Austin. I wouldn't even call UF "on par academically" with any of those schools. (Which isn't meant as a dig at UF, just as a reality-check.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So much hate for UF. I graduated from there about 15 years ago and had a great experience. Like most big schools there are so many different scenes that you can really find anything you’re looking for. My friends have really run the spectrum on where they end up. I just made partner in big law and my best friend is a lobbyist. Another friend is an advertising exec and another is a doctor. We have all done very well and didn’t spend a fortune on undergrad. Good luck to OP’s daughter.

The good outcomes you describe are probably more about family of origin socioeconomic status than anything about UF

As a state school UF is great and offers a true college experience, and has a diverse academic and social options

But it is pretty southern, albeit liberal, and alligators are everywhere (Im the Floridian from above).

But paying out of state tuition? That is what I consider is a bad deal unless there is something truly special about UF for her (which OP has not identified, and maybe be even more nebulous than gator wrestling curriculum.)

What are your in-state options?

If I had an academically challenged child, and was paying full freight at UF, I would look hard for a small private colllege that would nurture and help them succeed for about the same price. UF is pretty immense and they can get lost in a lot of ways...

[Anonymous]

If she is really set on a Florida school, there are other great options. Both UNF (University of North Florida) and UCF (University of Central Florida) are very good schools. Both have become more competitive, but may offer scholarships to offset out of state tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plan on paying full price and make that clear on the application.

This. She has a good chance of getting in simply because she is out of state.
Not a great school....but it’s a school.

Actually UF is a very good school. Not sure why you would think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So much hate for UF. I graduated from there about 15 years ago and had a great experience. Like most big schools there are so many different scenes that you can really find anything you’re looking for. My friends have really run the spectrum on where they end up. I just made partner in big law and my best friend is a lobbyist. Another friend is an advertising exec and another is a doctor. We have all done very well and didn’t spend a fortune on undergrad. Good luck to OP’s daughter.

The good outcomes you describe are probably more about family of origin socioeconomic status than anything about UF

As a state school UF is great and offers a true college experience, and has a diverse academic and social options

But it is pretty southern, albeit liberal, and alligators are everywhere (Im the Floridian from above).

But paying out of state tuition? That is what I consider is a bad deal unless there is something truly special about UF for her (which OP has not identified, and maybe be even more nebulous than gator wrestling curriculum.)

What are your in-state options?

If I had an academically challenged child, and was paying full freight at UF, I would look hard for a small private colllege that would nurture and help them succeed for about the same price. UF is pretty immense and they can get lost in a lot of ways...

Do you mean this, literally? Like, actual alligators are everywhere in Gainesville? This is an odd comment from a Floridian. Gators are found in various Florida lakes. It's not specific to Gainesville, and it's not like gators are just walking down the street everywhere. Unless you plan to spend lots of time in or near freshwater lakes, this should not factor in your choice of college.

And while Gainesville, the town, is southern, most of the big state schools in Florida are not particularly southern in culture. Florida itself isn't really all that southern anymore, unless you way out in a rural area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take English in the Summer, graduate from HS in August, go to MC her "senior year" and apply as a transfer student.

Apply for the Spring.'

UF is immensely better academically than any other big southern Division 1 school except UNC.

It's a great school.

It's a perfectly good school, but don't overdo it with the hyperbole.

Yawn.

It's a great school for kids that have parents that don't have a pole up thrir ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take English in the Summer, graduate from HS in August, go to MC her "senior year" and apply as a transfer student.

Apply for the Spring.'

UF is immensely better academically than any other big southern Division 1 school except UNC.

It's a great school.

It's a perfectly good school, but don't overdo it with the hyperbole.

Yawn.

It's a great school for kids that have parents that don't have a pole up thrir ass.

Yes. But it's not "immensely better academically than any other big southern Division 1 school except UNC."

I am a UF alum. UF is a good school, but UF supporters are notorious for getting carried away with how prestigious UF actually is.