Hi New Gator,
Time management is the key. I considered year one to be only slightly more challenging than my last semester of undergrad when I took 21 credit hours of all science classes with a lab. If you work, you'll need to cut it down to around 10 hours a week. Once you get used to the pace, you'll be fine. The pace gets worse the second year. The 1PD classes aren't hard, there's just lots of material.
Surprises - Microbiology was much easier than my undergrad micro class. Biochem was harder because it was multiple-item-multiple choice where undergrad was essay format.
There's no sense suffering through biochem over the summer, then suffering through it again. The UF instructor is bad, everyone does poorly and there is a big curve. This is the only class with a big curve throughout your time at UF.
I think it is more difficult to do well at the satellite campuses. The campus directors and staff are very strict compared to Gainesville. Also, in Gainesville, you are done with lectures by 1pm. The rest of the day is free, except for a weekly lab session. The lectures are delayed by 3 hours for the satellite campuses. But, by the time they are available, we are on campus for classes. Sometimes, I'll get home at 8pm and I'll still have all the Gainesville lectures to watch. I get up early and watch the previous day's lectures in the AM. You'll also be assigned to a practicum site. In Gainesville, you'll be assigned somewhere in the city of Gainesville. I'm not sure about the other campuses, but in St. Pete we can get assigned anywhere in 5 different counties. Lots more driving = less time to study and get your projects done.
Exam taking is better at the satellite campuses. I took my therapeutics exam in Gainesville last Wednesday night. You are in a big auditorium with those little desk things that you fold down. I felt very cramped. In St. Pete, we have comfy office chairs and tables. We sit every other person, so there's lots of room to spread out. I like to keep my exam and my scantron not on top of each other.
Other things: They tell you to buy a laptop, but you'll never use it. They provide laptops for presentations. If you already have a computer, you're fine. Don't spend the extra $$. You can get by without buying textbooks. You may need to look up something once in a while for a presentation, but you can borrow someone elses for a day. 98% of the exam material will come from the power point slides that are posted on line.
