2019 Updates from UF, FSU, UCF, USF and Other Florida Colleges

Last week the college advisors at International College Counselors attended the 2019 State University System (SUS) of Florida Admissions Tour. At this invitation-only event, our team met with officials from all 12 of the Florida public colleges: UF, FSU, UCF, USF, New College, UNF, FAMU, FAU, FGCU, FIU, UWF, and Florida Poly, in addition to representatives from the companies that administer the ACT and the SAT.

Below are some event highlights:

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (UF)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 4.3-4.6; ACT: 30-33; SAT: 1340-1470
Overview: This year UF was ranked the #7 National Public School according to US News and the #2 Best Value College according to Kiplinger. This past year, UF had 42,000 applications. They admitted 14,000 to fall or summer and 6,575 enrolled for freshman class; a 33% acceptance rate. UF has 16 colleges, over 2,700 intramural teams and club sports, and has won 41 national championships. Students choosing to be a part of the Honors College must self-select that they want to be considered. The application process for the Honors College is holistic and takes into account academics, two required essays, activities and leadership roles. Last year 3,000 students were offered admission to UF’s PaCE program and 700 enrolled into this program. An additional 250 students enrolled through the Innovation Academy.
New this year: UF is superscoring both the SAT AND the ACT (previously UF did not superscore the ACT).

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (FSU)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 4.1-4.5; ACT: 28-32; SAT: 1270-1390
Overview: FSU continues to boast a high retention rate for freshmen at 93% and has the #1 four-year grad rate among Florida universities. This year, FSU moved up to #18 ranking as a National Public School according to US News. Last year FSU had 60,555 applications: 33% fall acceptance rate and 43% summer acceptance rate. The school offers 287 academic and professional degrees and received more than $1 billion in research dollars over the last five years. Fifty percent of FSU’s classes have fewer than 20 students per class.
New this year: FSU only has one Priority Deadline: November 1, and students will be notified by January 30.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (UCF)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.99-4.47; ACT: 27-31; SAT: 1280-1390
Overview: With more than 68,500 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the U.S. This year, UCF welcomed its most academically talented class, including 90 national merit scholars. UCF’s Cyber Defense Team won the National Championship this past year and the school is ranked as a top supplier of engineers and computer scientists to the aerospace and defense industries. UCF’s Top 10 Knight program continues to provide guaranteed admission to the top 10% of Florida’s graduating classes, and for schools that don’t rank, students may submit their GPA and test scores that meet the Top 10 Knights minimum requirements. UCF has rolling admissions and has already offered acceptances to students.
New this year: UCF Downtown, a 15-acre fully contained campus, opened up this fall in downtown Orlando. The 21^stcentury campus brings more than 7,000 students together to live, learn and work. UCF also opened a new Lockheed Martin Cyber Innovation Lab to serve as a learning hub and classroom for cybersecurity students.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (USF)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 4.1-4.3; ACT: 27-30; SAT: 1260-1325
Overview: USF has three campuses: Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota/Manatee. Each of these campuses is very unique from one another and each boasts its own advantages. Students take advantage of the approximately 200 undergraduate majors and almost 700 clubs and organizations. USF climbed up to #44 among National Public Schools this year according to US News and has a 73% graduation rate. The school recently received a $20 million gift from the former president of USF, Judy Genshaft, and her husband. The donation will go towards opening up a permanent home for UCF’s Judy Genshaft Honors College. Additionally, USF and Stetson University offer an Accelerated 3+3 Bachelor’s/ J.D. Program where high performing students can reduce the time it takes to earn both a bachelor’s and juris doctor degree.
New this Year: USF welcomed a Publix Super Market on campus to make shopping more convenient for students.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY (FAU)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.58-4.18; ACT: 24-29; SAT: 1120-1260
Overview:FAU boasts six locations: Boca Raton, Dania Beach, Davie, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Pierce, and Jupiter. The Wilkes Honors College is located on the Jupiter campus and welcomed 176 freshmen this year. The expanded Schmidt Family Complex for academic and athletic excellence is due to open this December, the Student Union is expanding, and two new state-of-the art residence halls are under construction.
New this Year: Students can now earn an MS in Artificial Intelligence.

NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA (NCF)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.68-4.34; ACT: 25-31; SAT: 1160-1350
Overview: Located in Sarasota, New College of Florida is a public liberal arts honors college. The school has about 40 undergraduate majors in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary studies and students are also encouraged to develop their own special concentrations. The curriculum is highly flexible. “If you’re a weird kid, you should check out this school,” said Sonia Wu, Director of Admissions.

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY (FGCU)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.84; ACT: 23; SAT: 1150
Overview: FGCU offers students 59 majors and 52 minors within its five colleges. Unique to FGCU is its internship component that is built into several of its majors. Students participate in a 16 month paid internship program that is a part of their graduation requirements. As a result, the school is in the top three in job placement out of the Florida schools. Construction projects are underway for a new Student and Community Counseling Center due to open in October 2019, and a new Rec and Wellness Center scheduled to open in fall 2020.
New this Year: Students can now earn a BS in Supply Chain Management and a BA in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Studies

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY (FLPOLY)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.5-4.2; ACT: 27-31; SAT: 1240-1390
Overview: Florida Poly is all STEM. The school offers 31 programs of study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The small 18:1 student:faculty ratio provides students with one-on-one attention. Approximately 99% of students completed internships before they graduated at companies including Amazon, Motorola, Disney, NASA, and the FBI. Within 90 days of graduation, 75% of the graduates were hired in a tech job. To succeed at Florida Poly, students should take calculus, and physics is also important.
New this Year: The school opened state-of-the-art residence halls and is offering three new degrees: Environmental Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, and Engineering Physics

FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY (FAMU)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.67; ACT: 22-27; SAT: 1100
Overview: Located in Tallahassee, FAMU offers 54 bachelor’s degrees. The most popular undergraduate programs are business administration, biology, criminal justice, and allied health. The school is considered one of the nation’s top producers of African Americans at the bachelor degree level. Construction is almost complete for the new Center for Access and Student Success (CASS), a multipurpose building that will house student recruitment, admissions, financial aid and student accounts as well as space for computer labs, student meeting areas and study areas.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (FIU)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 4.0-4.6; ACT: 26-31; SAT: 1240-1360
Overview: FIU is a public research university with more than 190 degree options. FIU has a unique Hospitality at Sea program where students in the School of Hospitality earn credits while cruising to different countries. Students can enjoy food trucks on campus and an ice cream bicycle, and a Panera will be opening up soon.
New this Year: FIU is offering new majors including a BS in Internet of Things; BA in Disaster Management; BS in Crime Science; BFA in Digital Arts; a new certificate program for Cruise Ship and Yacht Design; and a new EMT/Paramedic program.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA (UNF)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 4.0-4.5; ACT: 25-28; SAT: 1200-1320
Overview: UNF welcomed its largest freshmen class this past year: 2,700 new freshmen, 200 of whom are studying in the Hicks Honors College. For students interested in engineering, UNF now only requires 120 credits to complete a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
New this Year: UNF is offering a new Executive Masters in Health Administration (EMHA) within its Graduate School.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA (UWF)
Middle 50% Accepted Fall 2019: GPA: 3.9; ACT: 25; SAT: 1173
Overview: With 1,600 acres but only 12,850 students, UWF is a big campus, but a small school. The average class size is 28 students and 82% of the classes hold less than 60 students. UWF continues to be the top in the nation for the first time pass rate on the CPA exam. The school has 70 degree programs within its five colleges. Construction is underway for a new Lab Sciences Annex that will house the teaching facilities for the biology and chemistry programs.
New this Year: UWF opened a new state-of-the-art Center for Cybersecurity to conduct teaching, research, and training for students and professionals. UWF developed a new Ph.D. program in Intelligent Systems and Robotics, the first of its kind in the state of Florida.

Questions about Florida universities or other colleges? Contact us at [email protected]or 954 414-9986.