Admissions Facts & Myths
Like many universities, UF publishes an admissions blog to help prospective students. This excellent post was written in Fall 2020 by Kat Webb, a freshman admissions officer at the University of Florida. You can find excerpts below, or follow this link UF Admissions Facts and Myths
1. “The number of people who apply to UF from your high school affects your chance of acceptance.”
False. UF does not have a quota or any special number of students required to be accepted from each high school. Team up with your pals; you’re not competing! Plus, if you are all accepted, you can go to college together.
2. “UF’s recalculated GPA is what really matters.”
Not quite. The recalculated GPA is an important part of our review process, but we have a holistic review process in order to learn about all aspects of a student. We understand that who you are is more than your GPA.
3. “Getting into UF is more difficult for out-of-state students.”
Nope. We have absolutely no preference for in-state vs. out-of-state students. The percentage of out-of-state students in the freshman class has been 15 to 17% over the last few years, which aligns with the rate of out-of-state applications received (vs. in-state).
4. “I can enroll in the PaCE program and then transfer out once I start at UF.”
Not really. It is very difficult and uncommon to change the program for which you were admitted. If you are not interested in the PaCE program when you’re accepted, you should explore other educational opportunities. There’s no reason to choose something you’re not interested in just because you believe you can get out of it.
5. “Since my family members are UF graduates, I have a better chance of being admitted.”
While we admire that you want to continue the Gator legacy in your family, UF does not consider alumni relations in the admissions process.
6. “UF prefers that you take the SAT over the ACT.”
Nope! We have no preference between the two. All we ask is that you send ALL scores. This is because we superscore both tests, meaning that we will take the highest of each of your subsection scores and combine them to create your highest possible composite score. And don’t worry – your highest scores are the only ones we’ll see when reviewing your application.
7. “It is easier to be accepted if you say you want to start in the summer term.”
Not true! There is no difference in the criteria for summer or fall terms. Summer term just allows us to phase in our admitted class so that they will be able to register for all of the classes they need. Many students love starting in the summer because the campus has fewer students and they are able to get adjusted to life at UF and make friends before the busier fall term.
8. “If my test scores are lower than the average, I will not get in.”
You can’t be certain. Testing is a required element of the application for all public universities in Florida, but UF has a holistic review process, meaning that we are evaluating much more than just your test scores. For academics, how you perform over your time in high school is more important than your test scores. This has been the case for years at UF, as was discussed in a 1999 article about the increasing number of women on campus. We also consider other aspects of a student’s application, including their essays and personal involvement, as well as taking into account the great variation among applicants’ personal circumstances, home communities, and high schools. This includes considering any impacts on your application due to the coronavirus pandemic. Our middle 50% test score information is also an average, not a threshold (and remember, 25% of accepted students were below this range). It is best to just apply with your best foot forward and see what happens.
9. “Once I get accepted, I don’t have to worry about studying the rest of the year.”
Completely false! All offers of admission are conditional and will not be finalized until we are able to view your final transcript. Admitted students are expected to continue performing at a level consistent with their academic history. Don’t slack off just because you got in. Your senior year still counts.
10. “If I choose a certain major on my application, I’ll have a better chance for admission.”
Nope! UF does not consider the major a student chooses when making admissions decisions. In fact, students are not required to choose a major until their sophomore year. So put whatever you think you want to study on your application or leave it undecided if you’re not sure.