Best Florida Program

[Cain]

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I am having a hard time finding a reputable website that shows what the best school in Florida is to take pre-med classes. Anyone know where I could find this out?

 

[zinjanthropus]

what would define the 'best' school in florida for taking pre-reqs? i don't think it really matters very much which program you pick for those courses. if you are asking, which college is the best place in general for a premed student, that's a whole different question

 

[Cain]

Yes, that's what I am asking. What college in general is best for a pre-med student?

 

[Cain]

It would be helpful if someone from Florida or someone that just has a huge knowledge of Florida colleges could help me.

 

[mlw03]

ok... i go to uf. i'd say uf or usf would be fine, since both are large schools with fine science departments. i can't speak to profs are other schools, but here at uf they're pretty good. chem depart profs... good. bio profs... good. physics profs... good, but the dept insists on a bell curve, so getting an A is tough, but doable. i'd stay away from unf and uwf - they're just too small. fsu or ucf would be ok, but it's pretty accepted that uf is the best school in the state.

 

[zinjanthropus]

UF and USF would also give you great opportunites to become involved in research and the community. Plus, they are relatively cheap.

 

[Minimal5]

A Director of Admissions told us that if the COM ranks applicants on a point system, then UF and UM are at the same level. The only school that is ranked higher is New College, which I find difficult to believe because it is really small... but that's what he said. Hope it helps! 🙂

 

[Cain]

What about private universities? Do they not compare to the public universities?

 

[zinjanthropus]

it just depends on what you are looking for

i would have been very unhappy at Florida's private universities because of their location and lack of research opportunities/faculty conducting active research. In addition, the private universities are more expensive and I really don't think you get as much bang for your buck.



I have had friends at Eckerd and New College who were very positive about their experiences and are both in Medical school now. University of Miami is a little different of course, since it is basically a large private research university. I think you would have a similar experience at UM compared to USF/UF, but just end up paying more for it.

 

[americanangel]

Originally posted by zinjanthropus
it just depends on what you are looking for

i would have been very unhappy at Florida's private universities because of their location and lack of research opportunities/faculty conducting active research. In addition, the private universities are more expensive and I really don't think you get as much bang for your buck.



I have had friends at Eckerd and New College who were very positive about their experiences and are both in Medical school now. University of Miami is a little different of course, since it is basically a large private research university. I think you would have a similar experience at UM compared to USF/UF, but just end up paying more for it.

hiya...im actually a freshman in Eckerd now!!! how did they do with the admissions and all!!!

 

[luckyzero]

UF ALL THE WAY

 

[Blitzkrieg]

UF blows..most any other school should be fine except florida international U or fl atlantic U

 

[DrQuinn]

Although it is not impossible to land a spot in a medical school at the smaller colleges, it would be best to go with a school that has somewhat of a decent reputation. USF, UF, FSU, Miami you cannot go wrong with.

Q, DO

 

[drlexygoat]

I'll add my two cents about UCF in Orlando. I'm a senior there and am completely thrilled with the education I've gotten here. We're one of the largest schools size-wise (44,000 this year - third only to FSU and UF). The most common majors are Molec & Microbiology and regular Bio for pre-med students. I was very prepared for the MCAT this year and am sure I won't have too much of a problem during application time.

We've got an upper hand on some other schools in the state in that we still have plenty of land to grow on and have more research money for life sciences than USF and FSU combined! The faculty is great here and more than willing to give an undergrad a chance to pitch in.

we've also got one of the best pre-professional packets I've ever seen (and I've seen a few). It's VERY lengthy but our director knows how to make your app look great.

UCF has a great track record with med schools EXCEPT UF. We've never really ahd much luck with gettign graduates there. Recent classmates are in Dartmouth, Boston, Harvard, USF , Miami, Northwestern, Mayo, and Emory just to name a few.

Plus, you CAN'T beat Orlando. I HATE the theme parks but love all there is to do around the area . Lots of clubs, good bars, restaurants, parks, etc. Unlike Gainesville or Tally, we're not just a college town.

Hope this helps shed some good light on UCF!

 

[FutureM.D.]

Originally posted by mlw03
ok... i go to uf. i'd say uf or usf would be fine, since both are large schools with fine science departments. i can't speak to profs are other schools, but here at uf they're pretty good. chem depart profs... good. bio profs... good. physics profs... good, but the dept insists on a bell curve, so getting an A is tough, but doable. i'd stay away from unf and uwf - they're just too small. fsu or ucf would be ok, but it's pretty accepted that uf is the best school in the state.

Um, i go to UF too. Be careful when talking about how good the chem profs are. Chem at UF is very challenging! I would make sure to avoid Dr.Horvath for CHM2046! Get Dr.Martin, he is the best!

Anyway, overall, UF is a good school. It is just competitive and most of the kids who start out as pre-med won't be pre-med by the time they finish CHM2045.....if they ever do!😱 😱

 

[FutureM.D.]

Originally posted by drlexygoat
[B}
Plus, you CAN'T beat Orlando. I HATE the theme parks but love all there is to do around the area . Lots of clubs, good bars, restaurants, parks, etc. Unlike Gainesville or Tally, we're not just a college town.

Hope this helps shed some good light on UCF! [/B]

Yeah, Gainesville gets really boring really really fast. That's why a lot of students don't stay here very long-there isn't much to do. Just the same old things. I've always thought Orlando was exciting though.😀

 

[lady bug]

Originally posted by drlexygoat
I'll add my two cents about UCF in Orlando. I'm a senior there and am completely thrilled with the education I've gotten here. We're one of the largest schools size-wise (44,000 this year - third only to FSU and UF). The most common majors are Molec & Microbiology and regular Bio for pre-med students. I was very prepared for the MCAT this year and am sure I won't have too much of a problem during application time.

We've got an upper hand on some other schools in the state in that we still have plenty of land to grow on and have more research money for life sciences than USF and FSU combined! The faculty is great here and more than willing to give an undergrad a chance to pitch in.

we've also got one of the best pre-professional packets I've ever seen (and I've seen a few). It's VERY lengthy but our director knows how to make your app look great.

UCF has a great track record with med schools EXCEPT UF. We've never really ahd much luck with gettign graduates there. Recent classmates are in Dartmouth, Boston, Harvard, USF , Miami, Northwestern, Mayo, and Emory just to name a few.

Plus, you CAN'T beat Orlando. I HATE the theme parks but love all there is to do around the area . Lots of clubs, good bars, restaurants, parks, etc. Unlike Gainesville or Tally, we're not just a college town.

Hope this helps shed some good light on UCF!

Ditto on UCF! I received an outstanding education there. 🙂

 

[SolidGold]

Apparently, UCF has a great pre-med advisor as well. The UCF premed advisor has a great rep here at USFCOM with the folks on the admissons committee.

Having experienced Miami's premed advisor, I can say that she was horrible.

 

[pathdr2b]

Originally posted by FutureM.D.
Um, i go to UF too. Be careful when talking about how good the chem profs are.

I see nothing much has changed since I was there in the late 80's.

I'd say as a UF graduate, avoid UF at all costs for premed!!! And if your a URM, run like hell AWAY from UF !!

UCF, FAMU and FSU have a better all around atmospheres from what I here and see.

 

[boomuntilnoon]

New College of Florida, hands-down.... Eckerd College a (very) distant second.

 

[rose123]

I am also a UF graduate and I personally do not recommend taking the premed curricula there. It's a really large research school, 45,000 or something, and with most professors ( especially chem, from my experience) are too busy doing research to help out students. If you like more individual attention, I definitely would not go there. It is true that Shands and the VA are outstanding hospitals, and that there are many volunteering and research opportunities in Gainesville though. I think that it doesn't matter what 4 year school you take your courses at, as long as the grades that you receive in them are high and you have a good MCAT score. My brother goes to UM and the tuition is absurd!!! Good luck with that!!! Where in FL are you from?