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Home > Forums > Interest Groups > Educational Issues & Concerns Edit Settings  |  Search Forums University of Florida becomes more selective Posted on 12-05-2008 klg14 Hawthorne, CA sun-sentinel.com/news/schools/sfl-flpadmit1205pndec05,0,5770861.story University of Florida becomes more selective; parents, students left outside looking in By Scott Travis South Florida Sun-Sentinel December 5, 2008 Many see the University of Florida as a school that has it all: top-notch academics, winning sports teams and great parties, all for a low price. But as the school's popularity soars, a growing number of well-qualified Florida students are feeling shut out. UF once was a school most good students in the state could attend. But in recent years, even those with high grade-point averages and SAT scores routinely are denied admission. As high school seniors now wait for that letter from Gainesville, many are wondering why it's so hard to get into the state's flagship university. "Everyone thinks, if I had good grades and good test scores, I should get in," said Marlene Sanders, guidance director at **** High School in ****. "Unfortunately, that's not always the case." The reasons are many: The number of applications is soaring, while the number of open seats is staying the same, allowing UF to be more selective; UF is ranked the top university in the state and one of the top 20 public universities nationally by U.S. News & World Reports; and low tuition is prompting top students to choose in-state schools over the Ivy Leagues. Add UF's status as a fun sports school, and you've got more students than ever lining up to get in. "I've been trying to do more community service and take [advanced placement] classes so I can get in," said Tashawn Huggins, 17, a senior at Boca Raton High. This year, 28,000 students applied for about 6,600 freshman seats. About 10,800 were accepted, or 39 percent, and 6,460 enrolled. In the early 1990s, UF got half as many applications and accepted about 75 percent of them. The average high school GPA for entering freshman this year is 4.18, up from 3.6 in 1996. The average SAT score has risen from 1218 to 1269 during that period. Regardless of the grade point average a high school uses, UF calculates GPAs based on its own formula. Also influencing the surge of applications is the state's poor economy, said Naomi Steinberg, owner of Apply Yourself Educational Consulting in Boca Raton. "I have clients that nine months or a year ago only wanted to go out of state, but now they're putting state universities on the list," she said. In-state tuition at UF, about $3,788 this year, and at other Florida universities already are among the nation's lowest. And for 92 percent of students, it's even cheaper. The Bright Futures scholarship, for students who perform well in high school, pays most of their tuition and fees. Combine that with the abundance of prepaid plans, and many students who attend UF end up getting refund checks. Lisa Maccarone, 19, graduated in 2007 from ****. She had a 4.0 grade point average and participated in extracurricular activities and community service. She was denied admissision to UF and attends Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. "My sister goes to UF, and my family wanted me to get in," she said. "I felt like I belonged there." But so did many others. "The vast majority of students are talented. They've taken rigorous course work, challenged themselves, gotten good grades and good test scores," said Zina Evans, an associate provost at UF. "We wind up with far more students that could do well here than we have room for." Grades and test scores, she said, "are no longer the be-all and end-all" for admittance. Instead, the university takes a holistic approach, looking at a student's essay, activities and life experiences. "We're interested in who the student is, what their interests are. What are their passions?" she said. Sanders, the **** counselor, said she encourages students to focus on their essays, noting any hardships they may have overcome. By state law, UF is not allowed to use race as a factor, Evans said. But the university is able to look at factors such as income and geography, which helps increase the diversity, she said. That could be a disadvantage to South Florida students, putting them in a large pool of high-achieving students from which UF can pick. Typically students in the top 5 percent of their high school graduating class are given consideration, although there's no guarantee, Evans said. About a third of blacks, whites and Hispanics who apply are accepted, UF data show. The school does give preference to legacies, or children of alumni. Of the 6,859 legacy applicants this year, 3,280 were admitted, about 48 percent. "If that's all you're bringing to the table, it's not necessarily going to help you," Evans said. "We know that our alumni are very excited and passionate about this place, and we're looking for students who are excited and passionate." Dawn Toimil hopes UF will accept her son, Ryan, 16. He's a junior at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton. Toimil graduated from UF in 1979 and her husband did in 1981. "He's gotten good grades and is in sports and clubs," she said. "But it's still going to be a challenge. There's a lot more competition than there was when I went there." Scott Travis can be reached at stravis@SunSentinel.com or 561-243-6637. Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel   [Reply] Page 1 of 1 1 klg14 from Hawthorne, CA replied on 12-05-2008 03:53PM [Reply] Tips for getting into the University of Florida -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com Tips for getting into the University of Florida December 5, 2008 Tips for getting into the University of Florida University of Florida officials say there is no magic formula for getting into the school. But here are some tips that can improve your chances. • Take rigorous coursework, including advanced placement and International Baccalaureate classes. Also consider dual enrollment classes, where students take college or university classes while still in high school. • Graduate in the top 5 percent of your high school class. • Work for the highest GPA and SAT scores possible. The average UF-adjusted GPA is 4.18 and the average SAT is 1269. • Write an essay that makes you stand out from others, emphasizing passions, special talents, obstacles you've overcome or ways you've made a difference in your community. • Perform community service. Florida's Bright Futures scholarship, which pays for tuition at UF and other state schools, requires 75 hours. • You will get extra consideration if you're a legacy, or child of a UF alumnus. Sources: University of Florida and college counselors   [Report Abuse] [Quote] klg14 from Hawthorne, CA replied on 12-05-2008 03:57PM [Reply] UF application, admission numbers UF application, admission numbers -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com   [Report Abuse] [Quote] Reply To Topic In order to post a response to this topic, please login below or click here to signup. Email Address: Password: Page 1 of 1 1 Home > Forums > Interest Groups > Educational Issues & Concerns Edit Profile Post Content Sponsored Content Create an Ad Follow Us! 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