Anyone have any experience with Florida State University (FSU)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to decide between Florida State (ranked 53) v. University of Central Florida (ranked 125). Florida State is offering more money, but University of Central Florida offers better opportunities for the program my kid is interested in. Other things are that the dorms at UCF are better than FSU - but you are more likely to get on-campus housing beyond freshman year than at UCF.

What program and have you visited both? Mine goes to UCF; visited FSU and decided not to apply. UCF has been great so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to decide between Florida State (ranked 53) v. University of Central Florida (ranked 125). Florida State is offering more money, but University of Central Florida offers better opportunities for the program my kid is interested in. Other things are that the dorms at UCF are better than FSU - but you are more likely to get on-campus housing beyond freshman year than at UCF.

What program and have you visited both? Mine goes to UCF; visited FSU and decided not to apply. UCF has been great so far.

Mine is very interested in animation. We have not visited either, but plan to over spring break. FSU has a animation program, but they only accept 10 from the incoming class (and unfortunately, my daughter did not apply in part because she didn't seriously consider FSU as an option - so she did the bare minimum, which meant not submitting the separate application to the film school nor applying to the Honor's college). They do have other options though where you can major in art with a focus on electronic media or moving images. Also, I think the communication department also has some sort of digital media program. However, UCF has a much higher ranked animation program - and while it is competitive to get in (i.e. only 30 people accepted into the character animation program), there are other tracks that they offer (i.e. experimental animation). UCF also seems to be near more internship/work opportunities. We also like how the dorms are much nicer for first year students at UCF (i.e. at Towers they have a kitchen and private bedrooms). For UCF, my daughter applied to and got accepted to the Honor's college (which would be super helpful for getting into the classes that she needs/wants). In so many ways, UCF seems better for her - but there is almost a $20k difference over 4 years if she went to FSU v. UCF. Once we actually visit the schools, we should probably finalize things. What does your child like about UCF?

[Anonymous]

Quite a bit. The campus is well designed and easily walkable. The surrounding area has lots of restaurants and shops and feels safe. And yes, there are tons of tech companies surrounding UCF. There are many activities/events/sports happening on campus, more than you’d ever have time for, with a good variety. There are many active clubs; mine and their roommates have all found great ones for their majors and interests. The honors college is active with their programming and availability; the deans are super sweet. The early registration is a huge benefit. Towers is great and mine ended up with awesome roommates; cooking has saved a ton of money. The kids seem happy and friendly and we’ve met tons of nice families. So far all classes (except one web course) have been in person. But that could be due to the major as well. Always good to research because it does vary.

But tons of kids enjoy FSU too; it didn’t appeal to mine, but it does to many. And money does matter. She may or may not get housing sophomore year at UCF. Kids enter a lottery. Off campus housing is not cheap; or at least the nicer places aren’t. Orlando may be easier or cheaper to fly in/out of, or do the auto train, but I hear Tallahassee has direct flights to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quite a bit. The campus is well designed and easily walkable. The surrounding area has lots of restaurants and shops and feels safe. And yes, there are tons of tech companies surrounding UCF. There are many activities/events/sports happening on campus, more than you’d ever have time for, with a good variety. There are many active clubs; mine and their roommates have all found great ones for their majors and interests. The honors college is active with their programming and availability; the deans are super sweet. The early registration is a huge benefit. Towers is great and mine ended up with awesome roommates; cooking has saved a ton of money. The kids seem happy and friendly and we’ve met tons of nice families. So far all classes (except one web course) have been in person. But that could be due to the major as well. Always good to research because it does vary.

But tons of kids enjoy FSU too; it didn’t appeal to mine, but it does to many. And money does matter. She may or may not get housing sophomore year at UCF. Kids enter a lottery. Off campus housing is not cheap; or at least the nicer places aren’t. Orlando may be easier or cheaper to fly in/out of, or do the auto train, but I hear Tallahassee has direct flights to DC.

Has your child had any trouble fitting in/adjusting due to being out of state? I know the majority of people at UCF and FSU (and pretty much any Florida) are from Florida - so I wonder about what it's like on the weekends for out of state students? Also, what about FSU did not appeal to your child?

[Anonymous]

No, but dc is pretty casual and low-key and I don’t think anyone cares. The instate roommates rarely, if ever, go home except for breaks.
Basically just didn’t like the FSU campus and surrounding area. We didn’t end up doing a tour.

[Anonymous]

Does FSU have a solid reputation outside of the state of Florida? I realize it is competitive to be admitted, but is it well respected among employers, grad schools and those who aren't dialed in to USNWR rankings?

[Anonymous]

No, it does not. It is a school for kids who will stay in FL. I grew up in Tallahassee, so I know. I got the hell out as quickly as I could.
The order is UF by a wide margin, FSU, and the rest of the local schools (central, south, north, etc.). The best kids in the state go to UF. UF is the only school that has a non-FL reputation but it is a tier or two below the good state flagships. I'd rank UW-Madison, for example, far above it. To say nothing of the UMich, UNC, the UCs. FSU is not in the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it does not. It is a school for kids who will stay in FL. I grew up in Tallahassee, so I know. I got the hell out as quickly as I could.
The order is UF by a wide margin, FSU, and the rest of the local schools (central, south, north, etc.). The best kids in the state go to UF. UF is the only school that has a non-FL reputation but it is a tier or two below the good state flagships. I'd rank UW-Madison, for example, far above it. To say nothing of the UMich, UNC, the UCs. FSU is not in the discussion.

Florida State is definitely well regarded outside of Florida - which is one reason why many OOS want to go there (this current cycle had only a 23% acceptance for OOS). They do have some very strong programs and will not have any issue with job placement outside of Florida. To say that Florida State is not well-regarded is to say that only UVA in Virginia matters and all of the other Virginia schools are nothing. There are many stellar kids who go to Florida State. In some cases, they might have been rejected by FSU but accepted at UF. In Florida, I think people definitely regard UF, FSU, UCF and U Miami very highly.

[Anonymous]

One thing that is nice about Florida public schools is that they do NOT have inflated SAT scores like most other schools since test optional is not an option. I hate the uncertainty that test optional has produced in the college admissions process. Also, Florida State has a beautiful campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it does not. It is a school for kids who will stay in FL. I grew up in Tallahassee, so I know. I got the hell out as quickly as I could.
The order is UF by a wide margin, FSU, and the rest of the local schools (central, south, north, etc.). The best kids in the state go to UF. UF is the only school that has a non-FL reputation but it is a tier or two below the good state flagships. I'd rank UW-Madison, for example, far above it. To say nothing of the UMich, UNC, the UCs. FSU is not in the discussion.

Florida State is definitely well regarded outside of Florida - which is one reason why many OOS want to go there (this current cycle had only a 23% acceptance for OOS). They do have some very strong programs and will not have any issue with job placement outside of Florida. To say that Florida State is not well-regarded is to say that only UVA in Virginia matters and all of the other Virginia schools are nothing. There are many stellar kids who go to Florida State. In some cases, they might have been rejected by FSU but accepted at UF. In Florida, I think people definitely regard UF, FSU, UCF and U Miami very highly.

Yes, but some flagships have a national reputation that matches their competitive admissions, like Michigan, UVA, etc. Schools like FSU and Tennessee or Clemson seem to generate surprise when people learn how low the acceptance rate is. Several have had a recent boom in rankings (in part because of popularity and record applications) but some can’t shake the “party school” reputation.

[Anonymous]

My kid was a music major and FSU was definitely better than UF for music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quite a bit. The campus is well designed and easily walkable. The surrounding area has lots of restaurants and shops and feels safe. And yes, there are tons of tech companies surrounding UCF. There are many activities/events/sports happening on campus, more than you’d ever have time for, with a good variety. There are many active clubs; mine and their roommates have all found great ones for their majors and interests. The honors college is active with their programming and availability; the deans are super sweet. The early registration is a huge benefit. Towers is great and mine ended up with awesome roommates; cooking has saved a ton of money. The kids seem happy and friendly and we’ve met tons of nice families. So far all classes (except one web course) have been in person. But that could be due to the major as well. Always good to research because it does vary.

But tons of kids enjoy FSU too; it didn’t appeal to mine, but it does to many. And money does matter. She may or may not get housing sophomore year at UCF. Kids enter a lottery. Off campus housing is not cheap; or at least the nicer places aren’t. Orlando may be easier or cheaper to fly in/out of, or do the auto train, but I hear Tallahassee has direct flights to DC.

Has your child had any trouble fitting in/adjusting due to being out of state? I know the majority of people at UCF and FSU (and pretty much any Florida) are from Florida - so I wonder about what it's like on the weekends for out of state students? Also, what about FSU did not appeal to your child?

DP. The thing about Florida is that many people are from different states anyway, so there are all different kinds of people with different backgrounds, and not as many people who go generations back as you might have in other states. The different parts of Florida are also culturally very different as well. And the campuses don’t clear out on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a music major and FSU was definitely better than UF for music.

Ok, great to know that the music dept is very strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it does not. It is a school for kids who will stay in FL. I grew up in Tallahassee, so I know. I got the hell out as quickly as I could.
The order is UF by a wide margin, FSU, and the rest of the local schools (central, south, north, etc.). The best kids in the state go to UF. UF is the only school that has a non-FL reputation but it is a tier or two below the good state flagships. I'd rank UW-Madison, for example, far above it. To say nothing of the UMich, UNC, the UCs. FSU is not in the discussion.

Florida State is definitely well regarded outside of Florida - which is one reason why many OOS want to go there (this current cycle had only a 23% acceptance for OOS). They do have some very strong programs and will not have any issue with job placement outside of Florida. To say that Florida State is not well-regarded is to say that only UVA in Virginia matters and all of the other Virginia schools are nothing. There are many stellar kids who go to Florida State. In some cases, they might have been rejected by FSU but accepted at UF. In Florida, I think people definitely regard UF, FSU, UCF and U Miami very highly.

There is no comparison between FSU and UVA on a national reputation. To even propose a comparison between those two schools is deeply clueless. Signed, guy from Tallahassee

Yes, but some flagships have a national reputation that matches their competitive admissions, like Michigan, UVA, etc. Schools like FSU and Tennessee or Clemson seem to generate surprise when people learn how low the acceptance rate is. Several have had a recent boom in rankings (in part because of popularity and record applications) but some can’t shake the “party school” reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a music major and FSU was definitely better than UF for music.

Ok, great to know that the music dept is very strong.

I think the poster was just relating an example from her personal experience where FSU is stronger than UF. No need to be snarky.