The University of Florida

Gainesville is a beautiful and interesting small town in a state that is otherwise a cultural wasteland - the surrounding natural attractions are a real plus (the natural springs especially).

If you go to this University expect to be treated as a number and in no way an individual. Expect to get bad advise as far as course planning and career counseling (in my case, this bad advice was devastating as far as course planning).

If you plan to study philosophy, be forwarned (and they won't warn you), that you will be expected to study and be interested only in the narrow areas of philosophy that are of interest to the faculty - no continental philosophy, philosophy of religion or existentialism.

The Greek system is quite large and if you're like me you will find it quite annoying, at times nauseating. One last complaint - during football season (and i'm a fan), expect the University and community to bend over backwards to accommodate fat drunk stupid wealthy alumni who will disrespect the presence and property of locals and current students. The University spends MILLIONS accommodating its sports boosters.

If it weren't free, I wouldn't have gone. In hindsight I wish I had gone somewhere else. You may have a different experience if you intend to study agriculture, engineering or journalism.A happy ending for me however - now on scholarship to law school at a much better university in Indiana (mostly because of post-grad work experience, not academic record at UF.)