Florida State University

Florida State University in Tallahassee plays second fiddle to the University of Florida in terms of rankings, but it’s a great academic institution that is also extremely selective, and it’s the real gem of the Florida publics in terms of the beauty of the campus - it’s really gorgeous. With 32,000 undergraduates, the campus is still compact enough to walk from one end to the other in 20 or 25 minutes. Freshmen are permitted to bring a car, though I’m not sure you’d need one.

There’s plenty to do here. 20% of students are involved in Greek life, though there’s no one spot on campus that serves as a “Greek Row.” Formal rush happens in the fall; when incoming students sign up for housing, it’s important to request arrival a week early for that. Spring rush is less formal. School spirit is huge here with lots of support for the athletic teams. In fact, the women’s soccer team won the national championship this year, their fifth national title, and the beach volleyball team were runners up in their national championship a few years ago. Fun fact: FSU sent 16 athletes to the Paris Olympics! If Greek life and big sports aren’t your thing, not to worry; FSU’s Flying High Circus is a professional-level circus students can audition for. FSU also owns a 73-acre lakefront park four miles from campus where students can kayak, paddleboard, swim, and have fun.

Academics here are top-notch. The College of Engineering has a joint program with Florida A&M University at Innovation Park, two miles away – which houses the strongest magnet in the world! Buses bring students back and forth. There’s a College of Entrepreneurship with three concentrations: Commercial, STEM, and Retail. The College of Music and The College of Fine Arts both have national reputations, and the College of Nursing boasts a 97% NCLEX pass rate. The College of Business has a brand new building, now the largest academic building on campus.

FSU is extremely selective in its admissions process, with the early action pathway only offered to in-state students. As with all Florida public institutions, test scores are required. With an admit rate of 24%, FSU has the luxury of picking top students. For those who don’t quite meet the mark, you might want to opt into summer start. Another great option is to spend your first year abroad at one of four FSU centers: Florence, London, Panama City, and Valencia. Students and parents rave about the sense of community with their cohort as well as the support in the transition back to Tallahassee. The bonus for out-of-state students is that you’re guaranteed in-state tuition afterwards. How great is that?