[lagoon7]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

Can anyone with experience in going to UF or Santa Fe and living in Gainesville tell me about how easy it is to be a student and find any kind of work ?

My wife and I are considering schools to transfer to after we get our current A.A. degrees and UF is on the list but we're a family with a young son and want to make sure that where we go atleast has stuff like food industry jobs.

It's going to be a year or so. So if you can base the info off of the area before the economy tanked that would be great.

I graduated from UF in May...they severely cut the numbers of transfer students they are taking in, so you may not be able to enroll.

As far as jobs, there are always places like restaurants and hotels that are hiring, but anything above that is pretty slim pickings. Gainesville has the same employment crunch as everywhere else right now.

[TNRyan23]

Well, Going or not going to UF isn't really a life or death issue with me. It's not like I'm a huge Gator or Florida fan to begin with. Just trying to get and know my options.

Personally, I'm just as fine with going to school in Knoxville, Baton Rouge, or Tuscaloosa.

Thanks to everyone that shared their thoughts and opinions !

[TNRyan23]

Let me ask this for anyone that may or may not know...

My wife and I will likley either go to school in TN, LA, or FL because these are states where we can claim residency.

We are taking our community college classes in Tennessee but have the resources ( family members ) that currently live in Louisiana and Florida and have agreed to let us use their addresses the year before we transfer schools to obtain our drivers licenses ( I have a FL & TN license and my wife has a LA & TN license already ), car license plates/registrations, and car insurance.

Do you think that would fly ?

[RMD3819]

Read this thread:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/flori...-resident.html

[TNRyan23]

Yeah thanks, I know residency laws, I just was asking in general if people thought our plan would work.

I did a quote today and our car insurance payments will go up by $170 a month just moving to FL.

[NSX1990]

I'm a student at UF. Most people go to Santa Fe either to get an AA because they want to be in something like law enforcement, or to transfer to UF after two years. My friend takes criminology classes at Santa Fe and he says everything is more laid-back there, but there's almost no community- students rush home after class and don't care about involvement or sports.

Santa Fe is far enough away from UF and the rest of Gainesville that it doesn't really feel like you're part of all of the college town culture. That may be a plus for you if you have a young family and don't plan to party. Gainesville has lots of cheap housing, but typically that's geared towards students in large 3-4 bedroom apartments.

Gainesville and the surrounding area are great for outdoor and nature lovers, if that's something you like. Great sports culture too, for both the participant and spectator.

Also, gas might be more expensive in Gainesville, but you're not seriously gonna drive 20+ miles to Lake City or Ocala to fill-er-up are you?

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by NSX1990

I'm a student at UF. Most people go to Santa Fe either to get an AA because they want to be in something like law enforcement, or to transfer to UF after two years. My friend takes criminology classes at Santa Fe and he says everything is more laid-back there, but there's almost no community- students rush home after class and don't care about involvement or sports.

Santa Fe is far enough away from UF and the rest of Gainesville that it doesn't really feel like you're part of all of the college town culture. That may be a plus for you if you have a young family and don't plan to party. Gainesville has lots of cheap housing, but typically that's geared towards students in large 3-4 bedroom apartments.

Gainesville and the surrounding area are great for outdoor and nature lovers, if that's something you like. Great sports culture too, for both the participant and spectator.

Also, gas might be more expensive in Gainesville, but you're not seriously gonna drive 20+ miles to Lake City or Ocala to fill-er-up are you?

Santa Fe is out because we're almost done with our A.A. degrees.

If I lived in Gainesville, I would never drive 20-30 miles for gas. When I'm traveling or coming in for vacation, I NEVER stop in Gainesville because of the gas prices..

I think I may end up looking at USF or UCF If I decide to come back because I feel I'll have more chances for work in Tampa or Orlando vs. Gainesville.

Thanks for the reply !

[Chrome Microphone]

If you went to UCF, you'd obviously live in Orlando, and I would advise against it personally. How about UNF or U of Jax if you are relocating to FL? Orlando is getting more and more crazy. I would look into either UT or UF, those are probably your best school academically and sports-wise. If you have a 3.8 GPA, why not go to the best school in LA/FL/TN you can?

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by Chrome Microphone

If you went to UCF, you'd obviously live in Orlando, and I would advise against it personally. How about UNF or U of Jax if you are relocating to FL? Orlando is getting more and more crazy. I would look into either UT or UF, those are probably your best school academically and sports-wise. If you have a 3.8 GPA, why not go to the best school in LA/FL/TN you can?

I actually have campus visits set up for Alabama and LSU.

I hate north florida.

[lagoon7]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

Let me ask this for anyone that may or may not know...

My wife and I will likley either go to school in TN, LA, or FL because these are states where we can claim residency.

We are taking our community college classes in Tennessee but have the resources ( family members ) that currently live in Louisiana and Florida and have agreed to let us use their addresses the year before we transfer schools to obtain our drivers licenses ( I have a FL & TN license and my wife has a LA & TN license already ), car license plates/registrations, and car insurance.

Do you think that would fly ?

No.