Hi, I'm currently debating between UF and UCF, and I'm having difficulty receiving an unbiased opinion. I'm also considering UM, but it's 20,000 more than the other two, so I'd need absolute confirmation that it's worth going to before going. Could any of you tell me precisely why you chose UF over others, disregarding any bias you might have attained over your enrollment?
Well, I am going to take a pre-med major, I want a strong program like UF, and basically at a university that would have -obviously- prestige and experience. Not like FIU, which just began with their College of Medicine. UM is really good with their Miller School of Medicine but their problem is money even though MD career is expensive. I don't even look at UCF because I feel it's -in some way- immature in terms of pre-med. I am not biased, I just use my common sense.
If money is the problem I'd go to UF, if not, I'd go to UM.
UCF can't compete with UF in terms of research opportunities, program prestige, or national brand recognition. I can't think of anything that UCF even comes close to UF in, academically speaking. Being a part of the gator nation will open doors for you that will never be available to UCF grads in terms of networking. The UF vs. UCF question is a no brainer. UF is far superior and will always be. UF is the state's flagship university while UCF is a regional school that hardly gets any respect in florida, much less on a national level
As for UM vs. UF, the programs might be equal. I would chose UF and save myself 80,000 dollars over four years.
You could go into a 7 year accelerated program at UCF/USF. You do three years undergrad at UCF (or USF) and then 4 years at USF Graduate college and get a medical degree that way in a faster time. You have to apply and be accepted to UCF honors program though, and you have to be accepted for your first year-you can't transfer into it your sophomore year (but there aren't any cutoff gpas so just write a good essay and resume and you should be fine). UCF just got their own medical school, but its not affiliated with the 7 year accelerated program yet. USF is supposed to have a very good med program, and if you want to pay Florida resident tuition and skip a year of costs it could be a good option for you. If you want a more prestigious program for your undergraduate or graduate degree, go with UF or UM like the rest of the people say, but its whatever you value more. I'm not premed or anything, I just know these things because a representative came from UCF to my school and explained it.
I would not consider the UCF med school simply because it is young and unproven
When it comes to medicine I would pick UM over UF because of the stronger program and more research opportunity at UM med over UF med
UM also offers more choices in what to study and the research being done is world class
if it's a matter of money UM has great financial aid, I my self got 38,000 to go not including any loans
in the end graduate schools will not care where you did your pre-med
only on what you actually achieved there either school can offer great opportunities it's what you make of them
"When it comes to medicine I would pick UM over UF because of the stronger program and more research opportunity at UM med over UF med"
What sources do you have to back up the claim that UM provides a stronger program and more research opportunity?
"in the end graduate schools will not care where you did your pre-med
only on what you actually achieved there either school can offer great opportunities it's what you make of them "
Untrue. Where you went IS important to graduate schools. UF makes an application look better than a UCF applicant with the same GPA. Aside from that there's the matter of grade inflation/deflation.
^They are mostly equivalent; though I think FSU offers better undergrad research support than UF.
For example, the last time I added up the med students at FSU they were about evenly split between FSU and UF grads, with a sprinkling of other schools.
If you view the member's list you will see that MANY students came from Harvard, Duke, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Princeton, Georgia Tech, Emory, Wake Forest, Columbia, Cornell, Tufts, Washington University, Johns Hopkins, UF, and one person from FSU. UF does an excellent job of recruiting the best students from the best universities from all over the country to form a strong, well diversified college of medicine class.
Last edited by goufgators; 09-21-2010 at 06:08 PM.
