By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

Stephanie Cely-Guerrero chose the University of South Florida long before her graduation from Leto High School, drawn by academic opportunities and a sense of community.

Enhanced by Advanced Placement and Honors courses, her 7.4 GPA helped push USF's incoming class average to 4.25, tying the strongest in university history.

"I'm so excited to be at USF," said the business management major.

She's not alone.

Record-Breaking Incoming Class

The university received 71,737 applications - the most in its history - for summer and fall 2025. The academic profile of the fall class is record-setting for USF.

This fall's class of first-time-in-college (FTIC) students earned an average SAT score of 1321, the highest in USF history. ACT and CLT scores are also up from last year, from 28.15 to 28.49 and from 85.14 to 91.71, respectively.

Growth is also reflected in the newest class of more than 130 medical students in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, who carry an average MCAT score of 520 - among the top 3% nationwide. That builds on the momentum of USF's No. 1 medical school ranking in Florida and placement in the nation's top tier, according to U.S. News & World Report.

And USF is attracting students from across the country and around the world. This year's incoming group of 6,779 students represents 45 states and more than 70 countries.

New Faces, New Perspectives

Janhavi Gowaikar, one of USF's 60 FTIC National Merit Scholars - an 11% increase from last year - arrived from Saratoga, California.

"I wanted to leave California and get out of my comfort zone," said the biomedical science major. "I did a lot of research on universities and chose USF after speaking with advisors and faculty here and feeling confident this was a place that would support and work with me. Everyone here was reassuring."

Ryan Eppert wanted to escape cold and dreary weather.

"I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, and wanted to attend college somewhere in Florida," he said. "I toured other Florida colleges but came to USF because of its marine biology program."

Eppert chose to study in St. Petersburg to be close to the water and enjoy the small campus feel while still being part of the larger USF community.

"I feel like I already know everyone here in St. Pete," he said. "That's what I wanted."

Ariana Bruzon transferred from another university in Florida to USF's Sarasota-Manatee campus for the same reason.

"I was looking for a small campus with big academic opportunities," said the junior psychology major. "Here, I have more research opportunities while also feeling a strong sense of community. USF offers me everything I need to pursue my career as a licensed therapist."

Twins Find Their Fit

FTIC twins Kevin and Sean McCarthy of Naples were initially exploring universities outside the Tampa Bay area, but USF's academic offerings ultimately won them over.

"I'm studying health sciences and it's the No. 1 medical school in Florida," Sean McCarthy said. "It was a no-brainer."

The brothers are still living away from home - on the Tampa campus - and say extracurricular life also played a role in their decision.

"We can't wait for the new football stadium," said Kevin McCarthy, a global business major. "There are so many sports teams to root for and it's a big, beautiful campus. Yeah, it was definitely a no-brainer."

Longtime Connection

For Cely-Guerrero, USF has been her clear choice since her freshman year when she joined the university's Upward Bound program, which assists potential first-generation college students through academic support, mentoring and college-readiness activities.

"I was regularly on campus on Saturday mornings for tutoring and workshops, so USF already felt like home," Cely-Guerrero said. "They helped me build connections within my own community, and I appreciated the mentorship opportunities."

She also chose to live on the Tampa campus, despite being a local resident.

"Being here gives me more opportunities to connect with people," she said, "and allows me to experience so much more."

Campus Life and Opportunities

Like Cely-Guerrero, students across USF are making the most of campus life.

Approximately 2,300 attended the Week of Welcome Balloon Drop and more than 5,700 filled the stands at the first home football game - the most for a USF season opener since 2021. The students inside the stadium were energized by the Herd of Thunder marching band, which has grown from 245 members three years ago to 373 today.

A recent part-time job fair on the Tampa campus saw a 41% increase in employers and a 22% increase in student participation over fall 2024, drawing approximately 1,500 students and 41employers. A similar event on the Sarasota-Manatee campus also set an attendance record, while the St. Petersburg campus event saw an increase from last year.

This initiative reflects the university's commitment to connecting students with practical experiences, helping them build professional networks and gain skills that extend beyond the classroom.

Making Connections

Sarah Nolen is also living on the Tampa campus, despite her parents residing nearby.

"I wanted to be part of the community," said the biology major and Carrollwood Day School graduate, who is one of the 750 FTIC students making up the incoming class of the Judy Genshaft Honors College, an increase from 680 students last year. "I'm enjoying grabbing food with my roommates and friends, going to football games and doing things I might not experience if I was commuting."

USF was a popular choice among her classmates.

"I keep running into them," Nolen said, "and it's always exciting when that happens."

She and high school friend Maddux Hawkins recently met by chance at Juniper Hall.

"We've known each other for 15 years," Hawkins said, also a FTIC student. "That was exciting."

Hawkins originally applied to the exercise science program but changed paths after orientation.

"I fell in love with the business program," he said. "It's phenomenal and I realized that's what I wanted to do."

Back to the Beach

As for Bridgette Donohue, one of her biggest personal goals was to finally see a warm beach.

"I've never been to one before," said the FTIC chemical engineering major from Boise, Idaho.

And yes - the National Merit Scholar will be texting photos back home to rub it in.

But, while the weather was a factor in her decision to move across the country, it wasn't the top one.

"Academically, USF has everything," Donohue said. "USF is where I wanted to be."