By Amelia Rogers-Neubarth
In Florida there are two of the most competitive universities. Many students strive to get into the University of Florida (UF) or Florida State University (FSU). With UF having an acceptance rate of 23 percent and FSU being 25 percent, students have slight chances. This is why the community college programs appeal to many Florida students especially wanting to stay in the state.
Either going to Santa Fe to transfer into UF or going to Tallahassee State College for FSU are both great options to consider. Another option is attending the Florida Community College of Jacksonville to transfer. There are many requirements that must be met to transfer. Completing these requirements early on provides leverage to transfer quicker. The timing can differ from student to student based on how quickly this process can be completed.
To transfer into the University of Florida at least 60 semester credits of academic work exclusive of occupational courses, as well as an approved general education program of at least 36 semester credits are required. Plus, a minimum 2.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), however this isn’t a guarantee. A higher GPA is preferable and more likely for an efficient transfer. on all college level academic courses and a completion of two sequential years of a foreign language taken in high school years according to ufl.edu. There are also specific requirements intended for each major in order to transfer. UF accepts 42 percent of transfer applicants, which is considered competitive. UF maintains partnerships with Santa Fe College and the State College of Florida in Bradenton Florida to offer guaranteed transfer pathways to students within select majors. The transfer decision process usually starts around 8-12 weeks after the application deadline.
Another thing to consider is the UF online program also known as PACE. This offers over 24 majors online for undergraduate students. The acceptance rate is 65 percent, which is nearly three times higher than the standard acceptance rate.
The Gator Engineering program at Sante Fe is also an option. It is a collaboration between the University of Florida and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and Sante Fe College. The goal is to create an invite only program that would provide deserving and committed students with an alternate, guided pathway for eventual admission to UF. As requirements they must adhere to an organized and timely schedule for courses for their respective majors. They also must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA or higher and a 2.5 GPA or higher for certain critical tracking courses. Lastly, they must earn their AA degrees from Sante Fe college. Through successful completion of these requirements, students from Gator Engineering at Sante Fe have a direct route into an engineering degree program at UF.
All transfer applicants applying to Florida State University must be in good academic standing, with a cumulative GPA, as well as the last attended institution attended, GPA being a 2.0 or higher. ASPIRE-TSC2FSU is a partnership between Tallahassee State College and Florida State University designed to create a seamless transfer experience for students who plan to earn an AA degree from TSC then transfer to FSU to pursue a bachelor’s degree according to campusreels.org. There is also the FSU Next Program which is a first-year admission offer that provides an opportunity for students to start their pathway to FSU by taking 12-15 credit hours at TSC. The transfer acceptance rate is 30.7 percent while the on-campus rate is 25 percent. To transfer from TSC to FSU students GPA must include no grades below a C. Transfer decision are released on a rolling basis and are generally available about 6-8 weeks from the date the student’s application becomes complete and ready to view.
Advanced placement credits earned from high school courses can be used to help transfer. Some AP scores get credited directly as hours. Others allow you to place out of certain course requirements based on the class. Using AP credits count toward 60 hours of courses completed in advance.
Florida State University and the University of Florida are both extremely well-regarded public universities, but their acceptance rates vary. As of the most recent data FSU has a rate of 25 percent acceptance. The increase in number of applicants and prestige has these two schools as top tier especially for Florida students.
Graphic done by Ryder Navarra
