The University of Florida-Gainesville, FL
UF’s Instagram
The Vibe
Exhilarating campus, small town
What it Feels Like to Go Here
At UF’s campus, students can’t find free time since campus always offers some entertainment. Good luck trying to cross Turlington Plaza—it gets more foot traffic than the Disney World gates. Students get involved with multiple campus organizations and take on internships while balancing a full class schedule, but their busy lifestyles don’t stop them from expressing southern hospitality. Classroom size at UF averages 30 students, making it all the easier to find lifelong friendships. Game days and tailgates bring out these bonds. Everyone rallies to support UF, wearing orange and blue and chanting, “I said it’s great to be a Florida gator!” Bright students and professors make up the gator community, who challenge and strengthen each other’s intellect. Don’t feel intimidated, though—compassionate professors foster an open environment for learning.
Awesome Alumni
Few college students can pull off college without a computer. Thank UF for that, since it graduated the inventor of the first electronic digital computer, John Atanasoff. The diverse group of UF alumni includes famous mystery and thriller novelist Michael Connelly and NASA’s first female director of the Langley Research Center Lesa Roe. Aside from the brainiacs and business people, UF also teaches famous athletes like Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Olympic women’s soccer gold medalist Abby Wambach and 11-time Olympic men’s swim medalist Ryan Lochte. Lucky for these athletes, Robert Cade (who joined UF faculty in 1961) invented Gatorade to keep them hydrated. He didn’t graduate from UF, but he made us a household name so he might as well be an honorary gator.
Where We Hang
Gators work hard, but we like to have fun along the way. After a long week of classes, students head to Grog or the Rowdy Reptile in midtown or to downtown’s clubs and bars like The Top, Boca Fiesta and The Midnight. Students love sticking around UF’s nature filled campus to jog through UF’s hidden-forest trails, and stay active with free access to UF’s state-of-the-art gyms (the Student Rec Center and Southwest) that offer fitness classes and tons of new equipment. After burning all those calories, grab something to eat at the Hub, a quick lunch pit stop for students with plenty of seating and computers. For studying, The Reitz Student Union provides plenty of study areas, a food court, a printing lab and even a bowling alley.
Q&A
1. How much are students partying?
“We’re party animals. It usually lasts until two because that’s when the clubs close in Gainesville, but you can go another one or two hours if you go to an after party at an off-campus house,” said senior Kevin Brown.
2. What will you get in trouble for at your school?
“Some bus drivers get mad when students don’t have their I.D. and they make them pay. I once showed my I.D., and I sat down in the back of a full bus. I guess the bus driver didn’t see me holding my I.D., but she made me walk all the way to the front of the bus to show her my I.D. before she moved the bus,” said sophomore Gaby Garza.
3. How much sex are students having?
“I think the number of students having sex is actually lower than people expect. Most (not all) people choose to come to universities to get an education so they can be successful,” said sophomore Hannah Gomez. “And while some people find that kind of activity to be enjoyable, others find it to be either a distraction or choose not to do it because it could end in consequence.”
4. What would you tell incoming freshman about your school?
“Your experience at UF is what you make of it. What you put in is what you get. Coming in I didn’t really know anything about the school it was kind of a wild card for me…you just have to surround yourself with a group of friends who care about you and have your back,” said junior Ashley Noel.
5. What have you experienced studying abroad this summer through UF?
“Studying abroad is a sublime experience. It’s almost on the brink of unreal how comfortable you get living in a totally different country with new experiences, new customs and most importantly a new language,” said junior Emily Kotulak. “Step out of your comfort zone, go study abroad you will never regret it!”
Overall Experience
“It’s been very difficult being part of the Innovation Academy. It’s a new program that offers students spring and summer semesters. It’s been a work in progress, but I also use the program to my benefit through the innovation minor…I’ve gained a lot of professional experience and it has also given me the courage to actually meet other professionals in my field.” –Heaibert Diamond, Class of 2016, Pre-Law
“I have loved it! I was a baby gator, so I was raised on campus. This has been like home. The biggest thing that has kept me going through college, through doubts, and everything bad that goes along with it, has been me knowing that once I graduate, I’ll be able to say I graduated from the University of Florida.” –Matthew Flanagan, Class of 2017, English
“Coming from a very small religious high school UF has been any amazing opportunity to meet so many new incredible people of entirely different backgrounds that I previously would’ve never been able to meet.” –Megan Logan, Class of 2019, Computer Science and Engineering
“Being a first generation student, UF did an incredible job at successfully transitioning and immersing me into college life. Before arriving at UF I did not have anyone to look up to or ask for advice on university or college related issues/questions. However, prior to arriving I was automatically paired up with a mentor who had shared a similar background and was invited to several events for students just like me.” –Maria Neris, Class of 2017, English
“I grew up a gator, so I love the gators, and coming here was surreal, it’s been a good time. My parents were here, but when I got here it was kind of underwhelming I guess, but I love it…Everyone talks about how big it is but it’s not, it’s still a small town.” –Kyle Phipps, Class of 2019, Political Science
Top 3 Majors
1. Engineering
2. Business
3. Social Sciences
Top 3 Most Popular Student Organizations
1. Greek Life
UF’s Greeks reflect the school’s close-knit community and passion for giving back, and create a supportive college experience for one another. “I was a Zeta Tau Alpha in my undergraduate years and have been given the opportunity to be involved in both the collegiate and alumni chapters here at UF,” said graduate student Lexi Varvares. “Zeta was a large part of my life in undergrad… I wanted to pass along the sisterhood and support that I had in my undergrad to others.”
2. Student Government
Calling all future politicians! Join UF’s Student Government and make a difference on campus. This org cares about the entire student body and works hard to ensure every gator is heard. “Student Government acts as a direct liaison between the university and UF students. We put on events for the students, advocate for student issues, and work with university administration to make UF a better place for all students,” said Jackie Phillips, junior and Information and Communication Chairwoman.
3. Ambassadors
ufl.edu
UF’s motto, every gator counts, begins before a student’s first semester. UF ambassadors are the friendliest and most energetic students on campus and feel passionate about making newbies feel at home. “Outreach Ambassador Program provided college tours to high school students of underrepresented students. Our aim was to increase diversity at UF. We’ll be merging with other organizations to create a new organization focused on their entire time at UF,” said Michael Ball, alumnus and former President of Outreach Ambassador Program.
Getting In
UF tops all the universities in Florida, with an acceptance rate under 50 percent, which means it’s among the nation’s most difficult public universities. According to UF’s stats from 2015, their incoming freshman class held an average 4.3 GPA and an average SAT score of 1918. Your book smarts won’t get you in, though. The admission staff seeks creative, innovative and passionate voices that will join UF’s Gator Good mission, which focuses on giving back to the community, striving for sustainability and solving global problems. Prospective freshies can apply for the traditional school system or the Innovative Academy (a great fit for students interested in entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary studies).
Stats
Location: Gainesville, FL
Tuition & Fees: $6,381
Total Cost on Campus: $20,590
Undergrads Enrolled: 34,000
Grads Enrolled: 16,000
International Students: 6,000
Total Enrolled: 56,000
Acceptance percentage: 47.1%
Percent Admitted Who Enroll: 50.6%
Enrollment: 7,204
Percentage of Male Students: 46%
Percentage of Female Students: 54%
Percentage Receiving Financial Aid: 99%
Percentage Receiving Federal Grants: 68%
Percentage Receiving Federal Loans: 32%
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