Question for FSU and UF students: Forum

[curiousnole]

I talked today with a guy I knew who is a very successful 2L at FSU and he was telling me something I'd always heard the opposite of on TLS and I was wondering if you guys could give your opinions. I basically asked him if he was doing anything special to earn his place in the top 5% of the class and he told me, "I read everything and go to every class. That can be a daunting task for some people." To which I responded, "It's weird everyone says you can't work your way to the top of your class. Like the lore is that every student works incredibly hard and goes to every class?" then he said, "Wrong. 80% of the class is on facebook. That's the beauty of FSU. To be at the tippy top, you do have to work your ass off, but your work pays off." He then basically told me that it's not like that at UF. And I personally have heard many stories of UF being very competitive and EVERYONE working really hard. Can any one who goes to either UF or FSU shed some light on this?
I've been accepted at both, UF has more prestige but if a very disciplined hard worker can work their way to the top quarter at FSU and that same amount of work won't get me as far at UF, I'd like to know just so I can properly weight the two.

[MissMock]

I'm interested in knowing the answer to this question too. With ten days left to make a decision between UF and FSU, any bit of extra information helps.

[curiousnole]

same boat. lets keep bumping it haha

[Mitch McDeere]

I can almost guarantee you that the number of people on facebook during class is exactly the same at UF and FSU (and pretty much every other school for that matter) so I wouldn't let this influence your decision much. The general notion on TLS that you can't work your way to the top of the class is still true--just ask about 20 of my friends who worked at least as hard as I did and weren't nearly as lucky as I was. It's true that most of the people at the top of the class worked hard for their grades, but so did a majority of the people at the bottom of the class.

Is it a good idea to stay off the internet and pay attention in class? Sure. Will doing so be enough to get you into the top 5%? Probably not. Maybe it was enough for whoever you spoke to, but I'd bet the real secret to his success is that he's a kickass test taker. When I look around the classroom, there is an even mix of people at the top and bottom of the class on facebook.

[rad lulz]

.

[leefair123]

in my section people that rarely showed up did really well, as well as those that supplemented and did not read... others read a lot and did well too... don't believe that hype everyone does there own thing tons of friends at UF and they are on fb as well all the time, depends on your study habits

[curiousnole]

so there are people who don't show up? as in missing more than one or two classes per semester? The concept of someone paying that much for a professional school and then not showing up to every class is baffling to me, but I feel the same way about undergrad, so maybe it's a lot more common than I think. What percent of the class would you say routinely misses class? More than undergrad right?

[leefair123]

depends on the class ABA mandates you be in 80% classes, but not all professors hand in the sign in sheets or even bring them to class. One girl took a week off for vacation after SB and another had an emergency and the admin let her miss as many as she needed or wanted. Only one professor ever said anything about the classes to her. people will skip if they need to study, interview, write a brief, or don't want to be there, or sign in and then leave to do other things. It is not the whole class but you would be surprised how many do. But a lot of times certain professors are terrible and we aren't learning so can't blame them, one just got let go or "he would not be returning" because he reads off slides that he got from a website. Others are teaching the class for the first time. And some professors are enthusiastic and great but terrible to follow for note taking and understanding. I so far have had only one straight forward professor for my first year, the rest have not been straight forward, some have been not even on topic. They expect you to learn it on your own a bit or innately know it. But when finals hit and people had briefs handed in and trying to study as well as moot court, people def stop caring that much about absences. Personally I go to every class but learn more outside of class from supplements and practice problems, and old exams, and the barbri review lectures have been a life saver, but that is just me

[curiousnole]

very interesting perspective, thank you. Why are the professors so bad? I realize that might be an impossible question to answer, but I'd seen that listed as one of the few things (direct numbers wise) that FSU has over UF; quality of faculty. So I really want to know why

[FeelTheHeat]

As a general PA for people making this decision:

1. Where do you feel more comfortable living?
2. Which school could you see yourself at more?
3. How important is the opportunity to work in south Florida?

These should be far and away the three most important considerations. The general consensus is UF is a notch above FSU (much of this has to do with undergrad quality and the Gator's incredible alumni base, the latter of which is extremely important ITE), but if you can't stand Gainesville, go noles.

[LSATmakesMeNeurotic]

very interesting perspective, thank you. Why are the professors so bad? I realize that might be an impossible question to answer, but I'd seen that listed as one of the few things (direct numbers wise) that FSU has over UF; quality of faculty. So I really want to know why

UF has brilliant professors that are all experts in their field. Often, it is difficult for them to convey that information to the students. I have only had one professor so far that I absolutely loathed (and she was a visiting prof from a shitty school) and one that I don't like because I can't follow her train of thought. So I don't think it's necessarily the quality of the faculty in terms of intelligence or scholarship, but more likely that FSU has professors that can get the information across without making the students want to slam their heads against a brick wall.

[curiousnole]

So is the choice of uf over fsu also a very regional thing? Is that kind of what you are implying? UF has a slight edge everywhere in FL but a dramatic edge for south florida?

[FeelTheHeat]

very interesting perspective, thank you. Why are the professors so bad? I realize that might be an impossible question to answer, but I'd seen that listed as one of the few things (direct numbers wise) that FSU has over UF; quality of faculty. So I really want to know why

UF has brilliant professors that are all experts in their field. Often, it is difficult for them to convey that information to the students. I have only had one professor so far that I absolutely loathed (and she was a visiting prof from a shitty school) and one that I don't like because I can't follow her train of thought. So I don't think it's necessarily the quality of the faculty in terms of intelligence or scholarship, but more likely that FSU has professors that can get the information across without making the students want to slam their heads against a brick wall.

I'll cosign this

I've been very pleased with my professors. Out of the 7 substantive classes I've taken, there are two where I feel I didn't get much out of the class, which is fine by me.

And honestly, this is a silly thing to even consider.

[LSATmakesMeNeurotic]

So is the choice of uf over fsu also a very regional thing? Is that kind of what you are implying? UF has a slight edge everywhere in FL but a dramatic edge for south florida?

I don't think he was really implying it. Yes, that is what the consensus is.

[curiousnole]

interesting, interesting. thank you guys very much. LSATmakesmeneurotic: what is your perspective on the competition/student body at UF? cutthroat, relaxed? somewhere in between (basically what the others have said)?

[leefair123]

some of the smartest professors are the worst at teaching it to the students, but its a mix you might get some better ones than others. FSU gets a lot of new professors b/c professors always want to teach at a T14 school and leave which sometimes is great and sometimes is terrible. SO far the new professors I have had one was OK, one was terrible, one was pretty bad. So there is that. And I had a LWR professor who hadn't taught that before and that was terrible. But other professors were better, sucks to lose good professors when they were direct, outlines are out there of theirs, practice exams, and you can ask other students about their classes. But overall its a good school so just do the best you can and hopefully when you get to pick classes you get professors you want.

[curiousnole]

hmm so basically, the professor difference is overhyped (and much like all other law rankings, bs haha) and they both have good and bad teachers haha? seems like there appears to be a SLIGHT consensus that fsu is a bit more relaxed though (i've pmed a few people too)?

[FeelTheHeat]

hmm so basically, the professor difference is overhyped (and much like all other law rankings, bs haha) and they both have good and bad teachers haha? seems like there appears to be a SLIGHT consensus that fsu is a bit more relaxed though (i've pmed a few people too)?

Flip a coin. Whatever side you want it land on the second it's in the air, that's your choice. Stop fretting over trivial shit.

[LSATmakesMeNeurotic]

interesting, interesting. thank you guys very much. LSATmakesmeneurotic: what is your perspective on the competition/student body at UF? cutthroat, relaxed? somewhere in between (basically what the others have said)?

I've found it to be pretty relaxed. No one hides books, hoards outlines or does any of that other bullshit you hear about. You could ask FeelTheHeat for his opinion on our section, but I think we're a pretty friendly group of people. But yeah, as was mentioned earlier, it really just comes down to where you're more comfortable and where you want to practice.

[curiousnole]

perhaps I should do that haha. I mean I'm leaning UF, and I have the asw next friday, so yeah... I just wanted to see people's opinions on my friend's statement, because if FSU gives me a significantly better chance at top 20%, then i'd be stupid not to go there haha.

[Geaux12]

I enjoyed ASW at FSU, but Gainesville felt more comfortable to me (coming from an SEC undergrad) and I like the new facilities at UF and the fact that it's the best school in Florida. Fortunately I had equal scholarship offers from both schools. Other than $, it truly is a matter of opinion.

[LSATmakesMeNeurotic]

perhaps I should do that haha. I mean I'm leaning UF, and I have the asw next friday, so yeah... I just wanted to see people's opinions on my friend's statement, because if FSU gives me a significantly better chance at top 20%, then i'd be stupid not to go there haha.

Yeah, I think that's bullshit. Plenty of people work really hard only to get B's and plenty of people work an average amount and do well (I'll include myself in that category). The other variable you have to worry about is even if what your friend said is true, it might not be true next year. You could be in a gunner section. You could have a class full of people that don't use facebook (not likely, but there is at least one person in my section that doesn't have FB). You could have a bunch of law school savants in your class. It's not something you want to base your decision off of.

[curiousnole]

True. I mean it doesn't have a huge effect on my decision at all. waaaay down my list. I'm gonna hope the asw feels comfortable ( I've been to gainesville 1000 times and don't like it, but I don't like tally either haha, and maybe i'll like the law school).

[LSATmakesMeNeurotic]

True. I mean it doesn't have a huge effect on my decision at all. waaaay down my list. I'm gonna hope the asw feels comfortable ( I've been to gainesville 1000 times and don't like it, but I don't like tally either haha, and maybe i'll like the law school).

Though UF students know how to have fun as well, I think that FSU's party mentality would have made me fail out. I have no self control lol. Hopefully the ASD isn't too hot/humid/disgusting.

[Br3v]

I don't get how your friend has any expertise on what goes on at Uf when he doesn't attend? But idk which school is better, but I don't think I would let Facebook usage effect my decesission