Problem is, they really can't call it too early, because if they get it wrong, they could actually send people INTO harm's way.
So, your DD: Point one; hurricanes quickly lose strength over land, so it is unlikely to be more than a CAT1 by the time it gets that far; not great, but better than the odds at USF in Tampa (where my OOS DS went to school; he still lives in St. Pete.) UCF's dorms are mostly multi-story, I think? That allows what is called vertical evacuation; you can get off the ground floor and out of range of flooding, and flooding is the greatest danger in a storm. If she has a car she should park it on the highest ground available to her, but not under heavy tree limbs.
What your daughter will need most is cash, fresh water, food that does not need electricity to prepare, and batteries. Life is about to get very hot & boring if/once the power goes out. She should charge up any charging bricks she has, and also buy extra batteries for flashlights, etc. If she has an actual battery-powered broadcast-reception radio that is ideal; if power goes out the internet will go, too, and streaming news won't work. She should go get a few large trash bags to cover things in the event a window breaks, but it isn't likely, because the UCF dorms are newish, and have storm-rated windows. They will need ice to preserve perishable food and provide cooling drinks if the power goes out; ziploc freezer bags are the best way to store ice in a dorm. If all they have is a small fridge, a cooler would be useful, but by now many stores will be sold out of them. They should move their beds and any electronics away from the window before going to sleep, just in case, and if a window does break, they should shelter in the bathroom or in the hallway. The dorm residents are likely to end up hanging out in groups during the storm; there is comfort in numbers and they will be bored without internet access; storms are a time for conversation.
Oh, and if the power fails & the toilet won't flush, you pour out a gallon bag of water into the tank, which will allow for a gravity flush, so they need to store up enough water for that, too; not just enough for drinking/brushing teeth. Power may be out for 3-4 days after a major storm, though universities tend to get priority for restoration.