I'm seriously considering Florida State, guys. Mostly for their STEM programs. Anyone know the acceptance rate over there and the general competitiveness?
Florida State University, or FSU, is a reputable institution, particularly known for its strong programs in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. As of the recent admissions cycle, Florida State has an acceptance rate around 25%, which makes it a fairly selective institution.
In terms of the competitiveness of its STEM programs, FSU doesn't officially release acceptance rates for particular majors or departments, but since FSU is generally well-regarded in STEM fields, the acceptance rates for STEM-related programs are likely lower than the school's overall rate. Additionally, since FSU is a public university committed to educating Florida residents, the admissions process is also generally more competitive for out-of-state applicants.
However, acceptance rate isn't the only thing that matters when determining how competitive you personally will be at a particular school. Your high school GPA, test scores, extracurricular involvement, and the quality of your application essays will all be much more important for determining your personal odds of acceptance than the school's overall rate.
If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at FSU, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including GPA, course rigor, test scores, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at FSU and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator
This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, for example by raising your GPA slightly, or earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars.
Or, if you want tips on how to strengthen the more intangible aspects of your application, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle the personal statement required by Florida State: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays/. This essay is a great opportunity to set yourself apart even in a competitive applicant pool, by showing what you have to offer beyond the numbers.
Good luck with your application to Florida State!
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