Anybody got kids at UCF?

[JimMIA]

DD17 will be entering the University of Central Florida, in Orlando, in the Fall. We took a tour this week and were very impressed, and so was she -- to the point that she's not even waiting for a decision from UF (already accepted to FSU and FIU)!

Anybody got kids at UCF, or reecently graduated?

We'd appreciate your thoughts. TIA!

 

[VandVsmama]

You should check out collegeconfidential.com. There are message boards there by region, university, major, etc. I'm pretty sure I saw a board there just for UCF awhile ago. Go take a look just in case you don't find anybody here who has a kid at UCF. Congrats to your DD!

 

[pxidst119]

And check the Niche site under colleges. Lots of reviews.

 

[dish rag]

No, mine went to other Univs in Fla , many of their friends went there. I'm on the campus often. Have several friends who are Profs there.

 

[ucf_knight]

DD17 will be entering the University of Central Florida, in Orlando, in the Fall. We took a tour this week and were very impressed, and so was she -- to the point that she's not even waiting for a decision from UF (already accepted to FSU and FIU)!

Anybody got kids at UCF, or reecently graduated?

We'd appreciate your thoughts. TIA!

UCF is a fantastic choice for a college. As a business major I had several choices in paid internships while going to school there. With Orlando being a larger city than the cities that surround UF and FSU there was a lot more opportunity for part time jobs and internships. This is something that gets overlooked in the decision making process of picking a school. Every friend I had that went to UCF all had jobs lined up before they even graduated. My friends that graduated from FSU and UF struggled to get employment post college. My wife who was an education major had no problem doing her internship at a local Orlando public school and actually had students from UF in her internship program because there were not enough spots in Gainesville for education major internships. Go Knights! Charge On!

 

[JimMIA]

UCF is a fantastic choice for a college. As a business major I had several choices in paid internships while going to school there. With Orlando being a larger city than the cities that surround UF and FSU there was a lot more opportunity for part time jobs and internships. This is something that gets overlooked in the decision making process of picking a school. Every friend I had that went to UCF all had jobs lined up before they even graduated. My friends that graduated from FSU and UF struggled to get employment post college. My wife who was an education major had no problem doing her internship at a local Orlando public school and actually had students from UF in her internship program because there were not enough spots in Gainesville for education major internships. Go Knights! Charge On!

Yeah, we're very happy with her choice.

UCF has so many resources because of being so big (68,000+ students now), but it doesn't seem intimidating or the least bit impersonal. In fact, it seems to be the opposite -- everybody is very willing to help and there seems to be a lot of emphasis on individual students.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son is finishing up grad school at FIU in April.

 

[JimMIA]

My son is finishing up grad school at FIU in April.

Hi Deb!

FIU is another one of Florida's universities that has come a LONG way in the last 5-10 years...as has the University of South Florida. My daughter did a biomedical research internship at FIU last summer (as a high school student) and it was simply amazing.

 

[Feralpeg]

UCF is an amazing school. Their engineering program is incredible!

My daughter went to FSU for her undergraduate degree, but has just enrolled in a master's program at UCF.

 

[bcla]

I had a friend who went to UCF. My understanding is that it's currently the largest school in the US by total enrollment. At least if large for-profit private schools (with multiple locations) like the University of Phoenix aren't included.

 

[JimMIA]

I had a friend who went to UCF. My understanding is that it's currently the largest school in the US by total enrollment. At least if large for-profit private schools (with multiple locations) like the University of Phoenix aren't included.

I'm not sure if it's THE largest, but it's certainly big -- 69,000+ total students, but the main campus doesn't feel crowded.

The odd thing is that their football stadium only holds 45,000 -- and they have a very strong football program. Last year they finished 10-3, ranked 24th in the country, just ahead of the U of Texas.

They offer 99 bachelors programs, 89 masters, 34 doctoral, and 3 certificate programs. They have 15,000+ graduates per year and both their first-year retention and graduation rates are high.

In addition to the main campus, they have three other large campuses in Orlando (the College of Medicine at Medical City in the Lake Nona area, Rosen School of Hospitality on I-Drive, and the new Downtown campus). They also have 11 satellite UCF Connect campuses across Central Florida.

 

[JaxDad]

They offer 99 bachelors programs,

They should go for an even 100.

 

[dish rag]

I had a friend who went to UCF. My understanding is that it's currently the largest school in the US by total enrollment. At least if large for-profit private schools (with multiple locations) like the University of Phoenix aren't included.

It was the second. USF in Tampa was 9th. Might have changed last year, not sure.

 

[JimMIA]

It depends on which ranking you look at and what their criteria are. Whatever the rank, it's BIG.

In fact, "This is BIG!" is a common UCF slogan seen on their campus buses and other marketing materials.

 

[bcla]

I'm not sure if it's THE largest, but it's certainly big -- 69,000+ total students, but the main campus doesn't feel crowded.

Maybe a lot of part time students?

 

[JimMIA]

Maybe a lot of part time students?

I don't know. Can't be a huge amount of part-timers if they're graduating 15,000 per year.

We did our tour on a Monday morning, which you would think would be a busy class time. There were a lot of students around, especially when we were leaving around Noon, but I guess things are spread out enough that it just didn't seem bad.

 

[JimMIA]

You should check out collegeconfidential.com. There are message boards there by region, university, major, etc. I'm pretty sure I saw a board there just for UCF awhile ago. Go take a look just in case you don't find anybody here who has a kid at UCF. Congrats to your DD!

Thanks. I did sign up over there, but the UCF forum has very little activity -- looks like only 1-2 posts per week, sometimes none.

It's tough being so spoiled by the DIS!

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I graduated from UCF in 2014. I was a commuter student so I never felt totally enmeshed in the school (and I split my time between the main campus and Rosen campus), but I really loved going to school there! The campus is huge and feels like a small town in itself, with stores and restaurants operating right in the campus. I definitely enjoyed my classes and really loved some of my professors. I miss being in school!

 

[Julie's Haircut]

My stepdaughter graduated from UCF in 2011. She loved it.

She never actually lived on campus. There are hundreds of apartments nearby catering to students. I think she moved from one place to another each year.

 

[JimMIA]

Here's some critically important (football) info on UCF

https://www.wesh.com/article/ucf-2020-football-schedule/30984927
https://www.wesh.com/article/ucf-lazy-river-outside-football-stadium/29148048