Although we shouldn’t, UNF often compares itself to the larger and much older schools in the state—there’s those gators, those Seminoles and those knights. While age and prestige are all fine and good, here are some reasons why UNF shouldn’t only be the most obvious choice, but really the only choice.
You might have heard that if you go to UNF, “yoU Never Finish,” and as clever as that is, you just might not want to zip out of here.
Harder to Get into UNF than FSU
Yes, its true. According to both admission websites, UNF’s acceptance rate is 53.4 percent, while FSU is at 56.8 percent. Additionally, UNF’s smaller class sizes, cheaper tuition and higher salary throughout an alum’s career make UNF an obvious better option when selecting schools.
Oh, and if you don’t have a map—we also have a beach.
UNF is Both Young and Good Looking
Of course, I wouldn’t advocate that you should choose a girl—err, a school based on looks, but have you seen our campus? Built on a nature preserve, our campus has 12 LEED buildings that are certified for excellence in energy efficiency and environmental design.
From our Bamboo garden, Lake Oneida, the nature trails, the dozens of art installations throughout the campus and our top ranked Osprey Fountains residence hall, we have it going on. For 40 years old, we surely don’t look it.
You’re a Big Fish in a Small Pond
With roughly 16,000 students, UNF is an extremely small campus compared to the big three (UF, FSU and UCF), who average at 50,000 students. While small class sizes are great, we also have more resources for students every-single-day.
Not only do we have a smaller school population, we have more job opportunities being in the largest U.S. city—Jacksonville.
Ranking for one of the best online nursing schools, online overall bachelor’s programs, best physical therapy school in the country, excellence in study abroad participation nationwide and best value for public colleges, UNF has ranked consistently high.
And all this nonsense about no football team can end—now. We don’t need your damn football, we have athletes in nearly every sport ranked nationally, with a basketball team that made it to March Madness last spring and is a strong contender again this year.
And lets not forget Ozzie.
A while ago the university’s campus life office released a set of “UNF Traditions” to perhaps help us understand what we’re supposed to do here, and what gives us a sense of Osprey pride—#swooplife.
Underwhelming as that list was, what was even more disappointing was the Spinnaker’s—our student news media—giving their take on it.
While, don’t get me wrong some of what they said is true—some are not traditions but complaints, and some are just wrong, see numbers eight and 12.
Perhaps our “tradition” as UNF is that we don’t have traditions. We’re not old, as stated above, and we’re still growing and changing. There doesn’t need to be a strong desire and push to become a school like UF and FSU that has tradition passed down from alumni to freshman.
We have our own identity, and if that is the lack of a firm, set in stone living, breathing personality, then so be it.
Love being an Osprey.
