I think UCF is a great school and I think its rise to the tier one rankings (along with USF) in 2011 is much deserved. Over time, I think UCF will continue to strengthen programs and attract high caliber students.
I know these are year old posts, but I just cannot understand why schools in Florida and their students feel the need to denigrate each other. Healthy competition is great, as is showing pride in one's school, but why piss on everyone else? The state of Florida itself has been panned for having "sub-par" education and I don't think such hateful internal divisions within the state are improving matters. We should band together- as much as possible- so that the quality of the state system continues to improve.
I have friends at all the major publics in Florida and I have no doubt that if you seek the right classes/professors, engage yourself in ECs, internships and other ways to enrich your experience, you'll get a great education and job prospects.
I believe our state university system would, in the long run, benefit from decreasing infighting (and more importantly- overhauls in the education system and appropriate allocation of funds, etc. obviously) and recognizing every schools have different programs of study that they are outstanding in. I think we could definitely fashion out a more solid, cohesive and respected state system, a la the University of California system, if changes were implemented.
I think all four of the "major" public institutions in Florida - UF, FSU, UCF and USF- will continue to rise in not only the rankings but in the quality of education provided and the quality of students attracted. IMO, we should simply be happy that our state (represent!) is attracting more recognition for academics overall.
The point? Let's maintain health competition. It is exciting and necessary to build team spirt. However we could go a little bit easier on another's university and celebrate the fact that our once panned state-wide academic system is getting more recognition.
And have to point out- as a gator- that while partying does occur at UF (and heck, where doesn't this occur in any Florida university or large public university in general?), it is no where near as pervasive as its detractors portray it. UF students spend a lot of time studying. Also, just want to point out that having a nationally ranked football team and tons of school pride and balancing a challenging workload are NOT mutually exclusive.
Whew, that's the end of my mini-rant. I do realize there are a-holes at UF and FSU (and everywhere!) that act like they are the bee's knees, but this a minority of the population. I also understand schools like UCF and USF, which are quite young, being on the defensive in order to point out their schools are great too. However, I just don't believe the "in-fighting" (the malicious sort) is constructive. <Rodney King> Can't we all just get a long?? </Rodney King>
TheDoctorof FL3:25PM September 17, 2010
Public schools in Florida are strange, and UCF is maybe the strangest. This is mainly advice for Florida kids. If you’re not from FL, its not worth it. Debt is killer.
First off, its CHEAP. In-state tuition is the best bang-for-buck in the nation, and Orlando is OK priced. 3-5 friends renting a near-foreclosure house is cheap luxury.
Second, our Engineering program is excellent, we are a world leader in Optics, and if you’re into Space, its a feeder school for Cape Canaveral.
Same for hospitality/tourism, so many students work at the theme parks. Orlando is the tourism internship Mecca.
We also have the only other public uni. Film School in FL other than FSU, whose is tiny and impossible to get into (though excellent). I’m in the Film School. Ehh, its ok, its mostly what you make of it, and its the only decent one where I’m not going to leave with 80k debt.
And who cares about our teams? Florida needs to get its mind right. I love watching sports, but I’m not going to bet my future on it.
The campus is incredibly easy to get around and conveniently designed (though the architecture is UGLY, if you care). Parking, while bad, is tolerable, and you will never walk more than a mile to class, unlike UF and FSU. And oh yea, its sweltering most of the year, but that’s Central Florida.
Yes, there is almost NONE of what you would call traditional school spirit, other than the Greeks, but there are a thousand clubs, niches and cliques to get in where you fit in. And if you really care about school spirit, you’re going to go Greek anyways.
Now the really weird part… notice how we have ~43,000 undergrads and ~5,000 freshman. Yea, that’s because FL farmed out the first two years of college to a massive community college system, and UCF is where they come to finish their major. That and a love of transfers makes us the ultimate commuter school. Most of us live near campus but very few ever lived in the dorms. So a campus of 50,000 can seem more like an office park. Also, the library is noisy and mostly a place for the Greeks to hang out.
The other problem with this… LOTS of dumb students who will never graduate. You’ll meet many very smart kids(I'm 800 Verbal 780 Math, trust me) but you’ll meet a ton more cretins who will drop out with 20k debt. Make smart friends, engage your professors, and the sky’s the limit, as long as you aren’t driven insane by those classmates who still can’t write a 5-paragraph essay.
In summary: If partying is in your top 3 priorities, go to UF or FSU (if you can get in anymore, haha), and come out an alcoholic/addict/frat-rape victim. If you want a quality overall liberal arts education, go somewhere else. But if you want one of the programs UCF’s good in, and you like Orlando, and you are self-motivated, and looking to find your own path and not be pressured through the normal college kid cycle, and want to save A LOT of money, come to UCF. As far as public universities go, we’re pretty excellent in our own freaky way.
Ramblin' Manof FL11:51PM December 27, 2009
MIT, Stanford,...., UF are established before 1900. It is like comparing a professor who works, with a student who works (universities established before 1900 and still deliver poor performance are like professors who doesn't work or have other goals apart from contributing to improving the ranking criteria). UCF, established in 1963, is already the 5th best and upcoming university in the nation. The College of Engineering and Computer Science is consistently ranked in the Top 100 in both U.S. and world rankings for such a short history. Going to UCF is exciting and it is a large school with beautiful campus.
Joseof GA3:10PM October 23, 2009
To the second poster it is "Could HAVE" not "Of"!!! And you have a college degree???
shiloof FL10:53AM October 18, 2009
Proud Graduate, Class of 1991
TCof FL9:52PM August 24, 2009
I am PROUD to be a Golden Knight! I graduated two years ago and I still miss it! UCF has an amazing Greek system, Student Government Association, and many other clubs and activities that make a big school seem much smaller.
Anneof FL2:15PM August 21, 2009
About three years ago I was dead set on following a friend to Gainsville and being a Gator, but with my major being Hospitality and Tourism I ended up Transfering to UCF. I have to say that it was the best choice I could of made! The Rosen College is hands down one of the best facilities I have seen for the function of learning, and the staff of Professors are just as comparable. Great school, great students, great times!
Currently I work in Bloomington, IN and I have no problem telling those IU Hoosiers that I am a Knight!
Branodn Leyof IN10:01PM August 20, 2009
UCF Knights do not have an inferiority complex. Other schools have a cockiness epidemic that desperately needs to be cured. People assume those who go to UCF went there only because they couldn't get into another school. I graduated high school with a 4.7 GPA and as valedictorian of my class with lots of extra curricular activities and volunteer hours. Getting into UF was no problem, nor was rejecting UF. UCF is an amazing school and was my first choice - and a choice I will never regret. I love being a knight. I am sad that I am graduating there soon, and hope to go to graduate school there. Who cares if the football team isn't amazing. Unless you're a football player, that doesn't really impact your college career a whole lot. Games are still fun. The campus is beautiful, the staff is so nice and helpful, they host awesome free events for students monthly, not to mention Orlando is a better city with better opportunities.
Bof FL4:34PM August 20, 2009
Your a joke, sir. Talk about inferiority complex. LOL! Why even read this or post a comment then?
LOL @ Mattof FL10:29AM August 20, 2009
"Matt" is probably one of the uneducated in Florida that keeps the wage average low. College is more than football. No thanks...to a better future? Way to go Matt.
UCF has grown a lot since I went in the early-90's. With a new Medical School and research hub, Burnett Honors College, Rosen Hospitality School, Center of Research in Electro-Optics and Lasers, Institute for Simulation and Training, Digital Media and Film program, Engineering and Computer Science, Education, Nursing, and more, there is much to be excited about UCF's academic programs. True, UCF's reputation cannot compete against the likes of MIT, Stanford and other Tier 1 colleges (yet!), but look up the UCF Computer Programming Team or the DARPA Urban Challenge and you'll see that UCF actually does compete and well! We have talented students in a public university setting.
And the proximity of UCF to Orlando and Daytona Beach, it is hard not to be tempted to "skip a class" for some waves. Orlando, like UCF, is growing too and with the new Arts Complex downtown. Hopefully, the arts will grow and Orlando will be known more than for Disney. And all this talk about UCF and USF hating each other is nonsense. The organizations I was with at UCF met up many times with USF and UF students and we had great times (but hats off to UF, you guys throw a great party!).
Bottom line, apologies to my UF friends, It is Great to Be a UCF KNIGHT!
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TheDoctor of FL 3:25PM September 17, 2010
Ramblin' Man of FL 11:51PM December 27, 2009
Jose of GA 3:10PM October 23, 2009
shilo of FL 10:53AM October 18, 2009
TC of FL 9:52PM August 24, 2009
Anne of FL 2:15PM August 21, 2009
Branodn Ley of IN 10:01PM August 20, 2009
B of FL 4:34PM August 20, 2009
LOL @ Matt of FL 10:29AM August 20, 2009
Warren of SC 8:10AM August 20, 2009