[holysombrero]

First post! I'm currently a high school senior living in the Northeast and I decided at the end of last year that Florida is really the place where I want to go to college for a whole list of reasons. This past summer I went down to look at schools in Florida and I looked at UF, UMiami, Rollins, UTampa, Stetson, Flagler, and Florida State. I ended up applying to Stetson, Florida State, Flagler, and Rollins.

I have searched the forums for topics about opinions on the schools, but I feel like I didn't gain a whole lot of information by doing it. So, I was wondering if I could get some input from the residents of Florida.

What kind of reputations within the state do the schools I have applied to have? Do people who attend the schools enjoy them? I'm really just looking for any basic opinions and stories. Thanks a lot for your help.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Try a Search in this forum.
There has been a lot of discussion about colleges.
FWIW:
My younger kid applied to Rollins (we've heard very good things) but ended up at Florida State and is very happy.
His friend went to Flagler but at the end of the year will transfer to University of Florida, he said the Flagler kids were all rich and snobby and he was uncomfortable there.
Obviously these are just second-hand opinions to you and do not take the place of visiting the campuses yourself.

[ready2move]

I think it depends on what you are looking for in a school and what your studies will be.

Like Cil, my now sophmore son goes to FSU and loves it. That was the one and only school he applied to. I can tell you that FSU is a party school.

DM if you have specific questions.

Good luck!

[SoFLGal]

I noticed New College of Florida wasn't on your list. It is in Sarasota and rated one of the least expensive schools for what they offer. Here are some stats from The Princeton Review :
Enrollment: 746, Average GPA 3.94, Student to faculty ratio:10:1
Rankings & Lists: Students happy with financial aid, Best in the Southwest, Best Value College, gay community accepted, dorms like palaces

[mg83]

What do you want to go to school for? What experience do you want? All of those, save FSU, are really small schools. Rollins being the closest to a "big city" (Orlando).

[holysombrero]

Sorry I probably should have mentioned that. I want to go to a smaller school near a somewhat large city. I really only applied to FSU because I've heard good things about it, but I haven't heard much about the others. I'm interested in both business and psychology.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by holysombrero

Sorry I probably should have mentioned that. I want to go to a smaller school near a somewhat large city. I really only applied to FSU because I've heard good things about it, but I haven't heard much about the others. I'm interested in both business and psychology.

What is your current location?

[NowInGreenville]

Originally Posted by holysombrero

Sorry I probably should have mentioned that. I want to go to a smaller school near a somewhat large city. I really only applied to FSU because I've heard good things about it, but I haven't heard much about the others. I'm interested in both business and psychology.

It sounds like Rollins should be your choice. The campus is located in downtown Winter Park, and you can be on Orange ave in downtown Orlando in less than 10 minutes without getting on I-4.

Rollins has a beautiful campus, I've visited there numerous times. I never took classes there, but a grew up in Winter Park and went to UCF. If you can afford to go to Rollins from out of state, then I'm sure you will be comfortable with the scene there, but the fact is you can find any scene you want because you will be right in the heart of central florida.

FSU is a much different campus. My sister went there and liked it, but there is not much else around. The school is it. When the semester is over, the town closes up shop for the most part. You do get the big time football and party feel there, but there are no cities close by to Tallahassee, not to mention enrollment of about 40,000 people. Not much of a small school.

[TKramar]

Embry Riddle, Webber, Stetson are all good colleges.

I don't remember is Webber is in Babson Park, or if that was another small college. I would say that private colleges are better than state-sponsored universities.

[mg83]

Well, being a UF homer, I'd completely and 100% disagree. However, for the poster, I think Rollins would be your best bet. Stetson undergrad is just way too isolated. I mean... it's in DeLand. I'm sure people enjoy it, but the closest "big city" would be Daytona... gross.