Hi all! Current MS1 right now at UF (I'm not sure if there is a verification process for this claim and it still feels weird saying this). I've been a long time lurker on SDN the past few years. We've only just finished our first week of class but if y'all have any questions, I'll try my best to answer. I completed my application really early on in the cycle, but didn't get an II until near the end of the year, so the process does take a while.
Soverign0 has made a great post earlier and knows much more than I do, so I'll just speak of my personal experience so far.
We had our orientation last week and I think everyone I met was just incredibly talented and kind. I interviewed all over Florida but the people found here are honestly quite amazing and is a big reason why I chose UF.
This first week has been an incredible and scary time. What has impressed me the most currently is that UF truly does care about student well-being (it's not just a checkmark on a laundry list of good things to do). Everyone is assigned into a collaborative learning group which meets frequently and even though we've only met once so far, it has really become a family within a new family for me. It will be a place where we come together and reflect, review each other's clinical skills practice runs, and find study groups to... well study together.
Lectures have been plentiful but each instructor just seems so real and someone we could connect to. The lectures were scary (we had 8 on Monday); however, it calms down a lot after the first few days and I actually have a bit more free time than I expected for the first week (hence why I am here) and slightly procrastinating on studying genetics.
Finally, I did not attend UF for undergrad and coming into this year, I was extremely nervous about meeting and making new friends, a worry that has long since disappeared.
Good luck to everyone this cycle!