What you should consider when looking at two schools of similar reputation is the ancillary items related to the college or university.

For example: Syracuse is well in Syracuse. It is bitterly cold and although it is a good sized city, it is still a bit remote. The good news is that if you really love to ski, you’re in a good area. Now Florida, well it’s Florida. It’s muggy on the downside but it’s nearer to the beach if that’s what you like. Remember, you are going to be calling this home for the next 4 years, maybe more.

Lastly, where do you live now? If you live in Utica and really want to stay with your family then Syracuse is a good choice. But, if you can’t wait to get away, Syracuse is way to close. This obviously works in reverse as well.

Truly, there is not enough of a difference between the two programs to merit one over the other.

I wrestled with the same question back when I was choosing a college. My heart wanted the one that some, not all, would have considered to be slightly less impressive. My head said to pick the very best. Truth be know, there wasn’t really enough of a difference between the two to have used academics alone as a deciding factor. In hind sight, I know, for sure, that I made the wrong choice. I chose based on perceived reputation.

It’s like arguing over who makes a better bottle of water. Or which cell phone provider is best. They all have issues and they are all just fine.

Two years after you graduate no one will care what school, of the two, you attended. You are not talking about Stanford and Cal State Bakersfield. These two are too similar with academics. Look at the rest of the big picture.

Personally, I wouldn’t go to either.

I’ve lived in Central New York and well…I don’t live there now. Also, I’ve been to Florida many times and well…Florida is for people who have never been to California.

Best wishes and follow your heart on this one.

Mike

I can see the effects right now with a cut in my financial aid and an increase in tuition, fees and everything else UF can raise like now charging students $10 for each official transcript which can get very expensive if you are sending out applications for scholarships which most require you to send an official copy of your transcripts. They are shutting down computer labs and study areas, there are larger class sizes and there are fewer TA’s to help students, etc. My friend has one class of over 300 students and there are only 2 TA’s to help all of them and of course the professor only has 1 hour a week office hours to help students. It will get worse in the next few semesters, since a lot of the budgets cutting hasn’t gone into effect yet.

Also there will be a 40% tuition increase over the next couple of years.