There is a quiet question admissions officers ask about every Florida applicant: "Did they actually do the work?" Every year, the "AI Research" category on applications gets more crowded. Students list impressive-sounding programs at UF or Miami, but when asked to explain their work, they crumble. They have certificates, but no skills. This is why capable students get rejected. Differentiation today doesn't come from where  you went for the summer. It comes from what you buil