By Kristen Botica - WUFT-FM
The University of Florida knows how to party.
That's what a new ranking by the website Unigo said about the school that has a reputation for being among the top party schools in the country.
Although the ranking named Florida as the No. 1 party school in the country, UF students differ in their opinions about the ranking.
UF student Dan Justiniano is excited about the new report.
"I think it's awesome that that record came out," Justiniano said." Because really nothing says college more than partying and having fun."
Justiniano, who studies mechanical engineering at UF, is a self-proclaimed partier and supporter of this ranking.
"The main thing is it's a college town -- a lot of young, attractive people everywhere you look. That has to be the key element."
But other students are not sure that this title is appropriate for the university that prides itself on top-notch academics.
Caitlin Kennedy, a UF student, said the No. 1 ranking may be a bit of an exaggeration.
"But I think that there's definitely a party culture around Gainesville," Kennedy said. "I grew up here, so I've been around it my whole life. I think it's fairly accurate."
Others agree that this ranking may not be a fair judgment of the university as a whole, even though partying is popular.
Steve Orlando, director of the University of Florida News Bureau, said the site actually lists other opinions from students about the environment at UF.
"They quote one student as saying one thing I like about UF is that people here like learning," Orlando said. "Another one talks about the fact that there is good opportunities for post-graduate education and finding employment. It's kind of a mixed bag. You take a little bit of both sides."
While high school seniors are filling out applications, these rankings may affect some applicants and their views of the university. But Kennedy said that if they come visit, they will understand what UF is truly like.
"I think if they came to Gainesville, they would see it's not all partying," she said. "If they took a tour of the college they want to go to, they'd see that it's more than that."
And for the people that believe being a party school is a bad thing, Kennedy said that it makes UF a more well-rounded institution.
"I dont' think being a party school is necessarily a bad thing," she said. "I think there are some schools where they don't really have a social life, and that's not really ideal for a college student because you have to experience all kinds of things in order to be well-rounded."
Students at the UF are intelligent and usually find a healthy balance between their social lives and academic endeavors, she said.
"I don't think that their partying affects their academics too much," she said. "There's like a small part of the population that might be affected, but I think overall it doesn't really affect daily life."
Hana Engroff edited this story online.