Tallahassee
Public four-year university

Admission difficulty: Harder than University of Central Florida, but easier than University of Florida.
Size: Nole-normous (40,000)
Tuition: $5,238 in-state; $19,682 out-of-state for one year, but there’s financial aid aplenty.

What you see on campus: All kinds of different people. Literally. In the popular Landis Green field, you’ll encounter everything from students engaged in medieval sword fights to Harry Potter role-players to the Flying High Circus club tightrope-walking from one tree to another. Deemed No. 11 party school by Princeton Review, it’s also no surprise that you’ll often see frat boys and sorority girls frolicking around campus in their Greek attire.

Pros: If you like long-standing traditions, you’ve come to the right place. Although FSU hasn’t produced a football national title in a while, every student comes out to tailgate and barbecue on game days. Despite the intimidating size of campus, all classes are within walking distance, so a set of wheels is a luxury, not a necessity. There is always something to do; you could never be bored.

Cons: You never know the true meaning of “Florida rain” until you live here. Investment in rain boots is a must. Likewise, investment in Clorox is a must for grimy dorms. Also, if you live in southern Florida, you have to trek through Gator Country to get home. Shudder.

Social scene: There’s a restaurant that offers free pizza in exchange for, um, certain kinds of indecent exposure. That about sums it up.

Athletics: Forget the football team — last year, the FSU baseball team took the Atlantic Coast Conference title and made its 20th appearance at the College World Series.
Scenery: FSU is probably the only Florida school that has hills as well as a relatively chilly winter season. The brick buildings give the campus a classic collegiate feel, too.

Allison Meyer is a 2009 graduate of Wharton High and a Florida State University sophomore.