Senior Class of 2018, this February 9th will decide the next four years of some of your lives. The University of Florida is arguably the hardest public school in the state of Florida to get into, and now that it's a Top Ten Public University, the stakes are even higher. #It'sGreatUF
But once decisions come out, what do you do next?
If you get in:
Congrats! You did it! After years of hard work, you made it into an amazing university! But, you're not done yet. Consider your options. UF is an amazing school that provides so many amazing opportunities for its students. With that said, weigh your options! If you're not sure where to go, take another tour! You want to make sure you love where you go. You'll be spending four years here, and if you don't absolutely love it, you won't make the most of it.
If UF is absolutely it for you, that's amazing! You've made it this far, but now you need to sign up for orientation, figure out housing and load up on Gator gear!
While living on campus definitely contributes to the typical "college experience," it isn't the only option. Off-campus housing is not only sometimes a more affordable option, but a worthwhile one for some students. UF has databases for both on-campus and off-campus housing that serve as great aids in the housing decision process. Whatever you decide, do your research because you will be living here for a year and housing goes quickly.
If you know your major, look into on-campus clubs and organizations you can get involved in related to your major! It'll not only look amazing on your resumé, but it's a great way to meet people with similar interests.
If Greek life is something you're interested in, look into rushing! Research the rush process, and if you decide it's for you, sign up and get those recommendations!
Just remember, the more you put into your time at UF, the more you'll get out of it. You'll be an amazing addition to the Gator Nation, and we can't wait to have you!
If you don't:
It will be okay. There are many alternatives. First thing's first, remember to make sure to read through your entire decision letter. If you applied under Architecture or Engineering, you may have gotten into a select program that looks a lot like a rejection letter, but really isn't if you actually read it all the way through.
If I hadn't re-read my decision letter a week after being disappointed, I wouldn't be a Gator writing this article that you're reading right now. This is not reflective on you as a student, but there are a lot of factors involved that have absolutely nothing to do with your grades or test scores when they put you in these programs.
Many students will also be accepted into the PACE program, an online alternative where you take online classes for two years and join on-campus students for your last two years.
If this is not the case for you, you do have other options. There is an appellate process for students who have new information regarding their applications. If you submit information in the hopes of appealing your decision that was on your original application, they will not even consider your appeal. If you left something out on your application that you feel can change your decision status, it doesn't hurt to try! They've already reviewed your application many, many times, and unless you have new compelling information, you're wasting your time and theirs.
If you're a die-hard Gator fan who can't imagine a world where you're not a baby Gator, you could always transfer in just two years! Once you get your Associates Degree or its equivalent of, you're eligible to transfer into the University of Florida as a junior! It won't be easy, and according to UF it is actually harder to get in as a transfer than as a freshman, but this doesn't mean it's impossible. At the end of the day, it really just depends on what college and major you're trying to transfer into. If this is something you're interested in, Santa Fe College is a great option.
At Santa Fe, UF advisors from each college come to meet with you at a building literally called, "UF @ SF Center." There are many UF on-campus organizations that are open to include Santa Fe students, and as a Santa Fe student you can even join the Gator Marching Band and get a UF ID! Santa Fe is a definitely a viable option that you should consider!
**If you did get into GDC or GE and have any questions, feel free to email me with any questions you have; I'd be more than happy to help. (Email is on my profile page.)
Regardless of what happens, you know how hard you've worked the last four years, and no acceptance from any school can change or take away from that. There are so many great schools that are great options. UF is not the end all, be all. At the end of the day, it is just one of many schools, and there are other ways to get a quality degree. Good luck, and go gators!
