Your USF College Admissions Questions Answered
At the University of South Florida, we receive a lot of questions about the college admissions process. We enjoy hearing from you and answering your questions. I’ll help you better understand the process and get your USF college admissions questions answered.
What is my USF University ID Number/U Number/UID and where can I find it?
Your USF University ID Number, sometimes referred to as your U Number or your UID, is a 9-character number starting with the letter “U” that identifies you and your student record. You will need this number to interact with various campus offices.
It’s sent to you in an email 24-48 hours after you're admitted to USF, but if you forget your UID number, you can find it by logging in to Student Self-Service.
Please note: If you've just applied to USF, you won't have a University ID number yet. You'll only receive that after you're admitted. All applicants will have an Applicant ID number that we'll use to track your applications to the university.
I’m a senior in high school, and I’ll be graduating with college credit hours. Do I apply as an FTIC (first-time-in-college student) or as a transfer student?
If you completed all your college coursework at the same time as your high school work, apply as an FTIC student.
If you completed at least 12 credits of college coursework after your high school graduation, apply as a transfer student.
What’s the difference between the application and materials deadlines?
The Application Deadline is the deadline to complete and submit the online application. We recommend you apply a few days before the deadline just in case you run into any technology issues!
The Materials Deadline is the deadline to turn in all supporting and requested documentation (high school transcripts/STARS, SAT/ACT/CLT scores, etc.). Check out exactly what's needed for a complete USF application on our How to Apply page.
Please note: These deadlines are the dates by which all required paperwork must be received in our office and not “on their way.”
Are essays and letters of recommendation required? Do they make my application stronger?
Neither is required nor recommended to send in when applying to USF. We will not view or consider any letters of recommendation or essays for general admissions consideration. When we review your application for admission, we will reward you for each academic success predictor that you demonstrate based on your GPA, test scores, and other academic criteria.
If you choose to pursue Honors at USF, our Judy Genshaft Honors College application does require a personal essay. Here are some tips that will help you write a standout college essay.
Does USF use my weighted or unweighted GPA to make a decision?
We recalculate your GPA. This means that we create a new GPA for you based on your high school grades in core academic subject areas, as well as specified AP and IB courses in fine and performing arts. We will add the quality points outlined below for approved AP, IB, Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), honors, and dual enrollment courses, provided you earn a "C" or better.
- Advanced Placement = 1 Quality Point
- International Baccalaureate = 1 Quality Point
- Dual Enrollment = 1 Quality Point
- AICE = 1 Quality Point
- Honors = 0.5 Quality Point
Here’s an example: “B” grade earned in AP Spanish course = 3.0 unweighted GPA; 3.0 unweighted plus 1 Quality Point (AP) = 4.0 GPA for AP Spanish course.
These courses may also help you earn college credit before you even step on campus! Learn more about credit-by-exam equivalents here.
What test scores do I need to submit?
As part of the application process, USF requires official test scores from at least one standardized test (SAT, ACT, or CLT). Your scores must come directly from your testing organization. USF does not accept scores from applicants or their counselors. Don’t submit a screenshot, PDF document, or textual reproduction, and don’t send your scores through Common App.
While you are only required to submit scores from one standardized test, we recommend submitting at least one score from each test. You may submit scores from the same test over multiple test dates, but we recommend making repeated attempts on just one test (and only up to three times). USF superscores: Only your highest submitted section scores across all test dates will be considered in our final admissions decision.
Learn more about sending test scores and minimum acceptable scores on our Academic Requirements page.
How long will it take for me to get a decision, and how will I find out?
If you're applying as a first-time-in-college/freshman student, you'll find out during one of our allotted decision days or windows. For instance, if you've applied and submitted all materials by our Early Action deadlines, you'll find out on Early Action Decision Release Day. If you've waited until rolling admission, you'll find out typically 6-8 weeks after you complete your application.
If you're applying as a transfer student, we use rolling admission. This means that you'll typically find out 6-8 weeks after you complete your application.
We release all decisions through the USF Applicant Portal. Your results will not be given via email. First-time-in-college students will also receive an acceptance packet through the mail after their decision has been provided in the portal.
Please note: We cannot share your decision with you over the telephone for identity protection purposes.
Who has access to retrieve information on my application?
Per FERPA (the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974), we are only allowed to disclose student record information to the applicant. General information not directly related to the applicant may be given to parents, but if the applicant wants third parties (including parents and guidance counselors) to acquire additional information regarding their account, they must submit a Third Party Authorization Form through their Applicant Portal and wait until it is processed.
How can I apply for scholarships?
The Office of Admissions offers a series of merit-based scholarships. If you apply on or before the designated Scholarship Consideration Deadline, you will automatically be considered for these scholarships. There are no separate applications to complete for merit-based scholarships. Here are the requirements and timeline.
USF has additional scholarships available. Some of these scholarships may require additional documents.
What is the FAFSA and why does it matter?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows you to be automatically considered for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. For most people, completing the FAFSA will take 20 minutes or less.
If you’re admitted to USF, your FAFSA will help determine the financial aid package you receive. Every student should complete the FAFSA and resubmit annually to maximize their chances of receiving the most aid possible.
Which USF campus should I apply to?
USF has two beautiful campuses within the greater Tampa Bay area. Each campus has its own personality, from the excitement and energy of USF Tampa to the amazing waterfront vibes of USF St. Petersburg. A great way to find your best campus fit is to schedule a tour. To explore from home, try one of our virtual tours with 360° views of important campus facilities.
What if I want to change my student status (freshman/lower-level transfer/upper-level transfer), term of entry, major, campus, contact information, or new class information?
To update any of the above information, submit an Application Update Form via the Applicant Portal. You must complete this process by the Application Deadline of the term you wish to enroll.
How do I change my residency status from Non-FL Resident to FL Resident?
If you are currently considered a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes but believe you qualify for Florida residency, you need to submit additional validating documentation. We always prefer you submit your documentation at the same time you apply to USF. This ensures faster and more accurate processing.
The precise steps to verify Florida residency vary depending on your status as a dependent/independent student and whether you are an incoming undergraduate, incoming graduate, non-degree seeker, or current student. For best results, please follow the instructions on our Residency for Tuition Purposes page for your student type.
Please note: All validating documentation you provide must be valid, legible and established with a date that is at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes of your first term at USF. For example, Fall 2026 classes begin August 24, 2026. In that case, all documents used for residency must have been ISSUED on or before August 23, 2025.
I’m a first-time-in-college student, and I just got accepted to USF! What are my next steps?
Congratulations on your admission! Begin the process of becoming a USF Bull by visiting Admitted Student Next Steps. It’s packed with information on how to apply for financial aid, reserve your spot in the class, apply for housing, and much more.
The Onboarding Checklist section of your USF Applicant Portal is a to-do list of the items you'll need to complete prior to enrollment.
What is myBullsPath and how do I use it?
If you’ve just been accepted to USF, you will have some remaining admissions tasks you need to finish. myBullsPath is the name of your USF Onboarding Checklist. It will guide you through this process and make it easier for you to complete your remaining tasks.
- Use your NetID and password to log directly into the myBullsPath portal. Otherwise, you can access the myBullsPath Onboarding Checklist through the USF Applicant Portal.
- You will see a series of “cards.” Each card represents a task or series of tasks that you need to complete. They are color-coded so you know which to pay attention to:
- Green means you’ve completed the task.
- Red means you need to complete the task.
- Yellow means the task is in progress.
- Gray means you will need to complete the task in the future, but not now.
3. Follow the steps in the portal to complete all necessary tasks.
If you have more questions or would like to learn more about USF, feel free to contact us online or call 813-974-3350. Thanks for reading and, as always, Go Bulls!
