University of Florida

The University of Florida, the flagship state university, is in Gainesville – right in the middle of the state. It’s a very nice but not stunningly beautiful campus that is nowhere near the beach, so for students seeking the Malibu Barbie environment, look elsewhere. UF has risen to #7 of Public Universities in the US News and World Report rankings, so the vibe here is high-academic students, strong school spirit, Greek life, and plenty of other things to do.

About 25% of the 36,000 undergraduate students come from out-of-state, and 20% participate in Greek life. Rushing is serious business here: incoming freshmen submit applications and videos the summer before first semester. There’s also spring rush for those who didn’t get that memo. About 80% of freshmen live on campus, and the numbers do drop off every year after that.  As with the other Florida publics, prospective students are advised to send in a non-refundable $25 housing deposit as soon as they apply. And students are never required to have a meal plan.

Some fun facts:
·      There are 7 libraries on campus
·      The men’s basketball team won the national championship last year
·      The university spends $1.3 billion on research each year
·      UF has a network of bat houses, home to a colony of half a million bats
·      Gatorade was invented here in 1965.

Some interesting majors include Dietetics, Meteorology, Forest Resources and Conservation, Agricultural Operations Management, Interior Design, Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, Construction Management, Materials Science and Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Music Business and Entrepreneurship, Entomology & Nematology, Botany, Landscape Architecture, Food Science, Food and Resource Economics, and my personal favorite, Great Books and Ideas.

Applying early action or early decision is advised, as most of the class is full by the time they get to the students who apply under rolling admissions. Merit aid is available, and there’s even a scholarship just for IB students. With the exception of nursing, architecture, and engineering, they do not admit by major. UF remains a great choice for students who want strong academics in a warm climate!