FAMU or UF

[cdames92]

I have recently been accepted to both UF and FAMU's pre-pharmacy program... I'm having a tough time deciding which school I should attend.

Can anyone provide me with their opinion and/or the pros and cons of each school?

Any information will be greatly appreciated. (I have done some research myself but its always nice to hear from people with experience).

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[Tinkerbell22]

FAMU:

Pros:

It's a 0-6 school I believe... so you're pretty much guaranteed 'acceptance' to the PharmD program if you keep your GPA above a certain level.

It's in Tallahassee, which IMO is a larger,busier city than Gainseville... they're both nice college towns though.

Cons:

It is debatable how much this matters, but UF is really prestigious and their graduates are known for being highly competent, which = easier residency match, or more jobs.


UF:

Pros:

It's UF. lol

From what I hear they give a slight preference to their own undergrads because they are familiar with their curriculum and know it is rigorous and you will be prepared.

Their pharmacy school is really affordable (not sure if FAMU is similar) but it is also highly ranked and prestigious.

Cons:

You will have to apply once you finish your pre-reqs just like everyone else. It's not a 0-6 school so you will be competeing with applicants from other schools in Florida and some out of state applicants as well.


So, if I were you I would go to UF because even if you don't get accepted after you complete your first two years you can always continue working towards your bachelor's degree and then re-apply with a better chance of getting accepted.

 

[LilMACPrincess]

Well Im from Tallahassee (or Tally as we call it), and I am very familiar with FAMU's pharmacy program...
If youre looking for a HBCU with campus tradition and a 0+6 program that only requires a 2.75 to enter pharmacy school directly after your 2nd year then FAMU is for you. Although, FAMU has a reputation for being slightly unorganized- they are known for producing the greatest number of African-American pharmacists. If youre from FL both of these schools are very affordable, but if you recieved the Presidential Scholarship then everything is free for your stay....

Honestly, its what you prefer and HBCU full of tradition or an SEC school rich with Football and more diversity... both are great schools 🙂

 

[PharmTech8241]

Seriously? Go with UF!!!!...they're a top 10 school...it will be better for you in the long run

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Well Im from Tallahassee (or Tally as we call it), and I am very familiar with FAMU's pharmacy program...
If youre looking for a HBCU with campus tradition and a 0+6 program that only requires a 2.75 to enter pharmacy school directly after your 2nd year then FAMU is for you. Although, FAMU has a reputation for being slightly unorganized- they are known for producing the greatest number of African-American pharmacists. If youre from FL both of these schools are very affordable, but if you recieved the Presidential Scholarship then everything is free for your stay....

Honestly, its what you prefer and HBCU full of tradition or an SEC school rich with Football and more diversity... both are great schools 🙂

You really remind me of one of my old roommates. She's from Madison/Tallahassee area. She was a cheerleader for UM and then transferred to cheer at FSU as well. Plus I think she is going into pharmacy as well, and she's really into make-up and cute stuff like that.

 

[cdames92]

That's why this is a tough decision for me,

I can go to UF which is known for its academics, but I might not be admitted into their pharmacy program after completing the pre-reqs and taking the PCAT.

OR
​

I can go to FAMU and receive alot of financial Aid and have "guarenteed" admissions if I meet the GPA requirements. But is the education there?

I mean in the end I will still have to take the NAPLEX so what I put into my education is what I will get out of it when it comes down to it.

This wouldn't be so tough for me if money wasn't an issue, but it is..

 

[Tinkerbell22]

That's why this is a tough decision for me,

I can go to UF which is known for its academics, but I might not be admitted into their pharmacy program after completing the pre-reqs and taking the PCAT.

OR
​

I can go to FAMU and receive alot of financial Aid and have "guarenteed" admissions if I meet the GPA requirements. But is the education there?

I mean in the end I will still have to take the NAPLEX so what I put into my education is what I will get out of it when it comes down to it.

This wouldn't be so tough for me if money wasn't an issue, but it is..

Do you have a Florida Bright Futures scholarship? I'm assuming you probably do if you have the grades/SAT/ACT to get accepted to both programs. Have you also applied for any aide through FAFSA? If you have any need for assistance you might qualify for additional grants.

This would almost surely cover tuition and maybe even books at UF.

I wouldn't overly worry about getting accepted to UF's COP if you keep a decent GPA... like at least 3.2+ and have a lot of community service and extra curricular activities, even stuff like sports, etc. They seem to really like that... research too. Then once you are accepted to pharmacy school, you just apply for loans again through FAFSA. UF is affordable so you would hardly be in any debt upon graduation, and you would most likely have a sweet job if you do well in school.

 

[SouthernRxGirl]

Famu has one of the cheapest pharmacy schools. They are known to be a minority school, so if you are not a minority you are able to receive scholarships to go there. If you are a minority it sounds like you already have some scholarships anyway.
They still have a high passing rate for the NAPLEX, dont worry about education being inferior, because it is not.
I believe the answer to this depends on what you want to do with your PharmD. If you want to work retail then I would go with FAMU (cheap price, good education, just not as highly ranked).
If you want to do a residency, fellowship, become a clinical pharmacist, go into research, get PhD or MBA, or professions like this, then I would go with UF. I believe you would have more doors opened for you in those departments going with a ranked school.
ps. If you cant keep your gpa up then you might want to think about another field. To go into pharmacy you need to strive to learn everything you can and make the highest grades that you can. We will have peoples lives in our hands.

 

[cdames92]

Tinkerbell22,
Right now I qualify for 75% bright futures.. I plan on taking the ACT and SAT over again.. hopefully I will qualify for 100% with my new scores. I am in a difficult position right now, I will not be 18 until the summer so I am considered dependent and my parents have discontinued any financial aid that they have provided for me. With their income on my FAFSA my EFC is 31,000 so the only thing can obtain are loans.

SouthernRxGirl,
I am a minority and most scholarships take financial need into consideration. One of the University Scholarships at FAMU will give me $4000 a year for four years. If I increase my SAT score by 60 points I will qualify for a scholarship that pays for tuition and fees, double occupancy room rate, and board. So with that and bright futures Id really only have to pay for books and food. Im not exactly sure if I want to do retail or clinical yet.. I want to interact with people though.. And keeping my GPA wont be an issue I am a hard worker.

 

[LilMACPrincess]

Tinkerbell22,
Right now I qualify for 75% bright futures.. I plan on taking the ACT and SAT over again.. hopefully I will qualify for 100% with my new scores. I am in a difficult position right now, I will not be 18 until the summer so I am considered dependent and my parents have discontinued any financial aid that they have provided for me. With their income on my FAFSA my EFC is 31,000 so the only thing can obtain are loans.

SouthernRxGirl,
I am a minority and most scholarships take financial need into consideration. One of the University Scholarships at FAMU will give me $4000 a year for four years. If I increase my SAT score by 60 points I will qualify for a scholarship that pays for tuition and fees, double occupancy room rate, and board. So with that and bright futures Id really only have to pay for books and food. Im not exactly sure if I want to do retail or clinical yet.. I want to interact with people though.. And keeping my GPA wont be an issue I am a hard worker.

I def understand why you're looking into FAMU. Their education isnt sub-par as others may assume it just isnt ranked in the top 10 (which i sometimes feel is unfair that they arent listed at all)... well my advice is take the ACT again, if your scores go up by alot try UF if not FAMU---and try to get the Presidential Scholarship and use Bright Futures and you will be debt free...
i dont really recommend accumulating debt if you dont have to. Stay strong youll be okay 🙂

 

[LilMACPrincess]

You really remind me of one of my old roommates. She's from Madison/Tallahassee area. She was a cheerleader for UM and then transferred to cheer at FSU as well. Plus I think she is going into pharmacy as well, and she's really into make-up and cute stuff like that.

haha thats awesome... sounds very much like me

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Tinkerbell22,
Right now I qualify for 75% bright futures.. I plan on taking the ACT and SAT over again.. hopefully I will qualify for 100% with my new scores. I am in a difficult position right now, I will not be 18 until the summer so I am considered dependent and my parents have discontinued any financial aid that they have provided for me. With their income on my FAFSA my EFC is 31,000 so the only thing can obtain are loans.

I wouldn't stress too much about age, being 18 won't qualify you as an independent just yet because you will still be considered a dependent until you are 24 or in your second year of professional school I believe. BUT I don't think you will have an issue getting loans once you figure out a way to pay for undergrad (hopefully with the full Bright Futures, etc).

I never studied for the SAT or ACT and somehow just by retaking the SAT a second time I raised my score. You will almost ALWAYS do better... even more so if you get a Kaplan study book, etc.

 

[cdames92]

I wouldn't stress too much about age, being 18 won't qualify you as an independent just yet because you will still be considered a dependent until you are 24 or in your second year of professional school I believe. BUT I don't think you will have an issue getting loans once you figure out a way to pay for undergrad (hopefully with the full Bright Futures, etc).

I never studied for the SAT or ACT and somehow just by retaking the SAT a second time I raised my score. You will almost ALWAYS do better... even more so if you get a Kaplan study book, etc.

Eh, I should be considered independent since I pay for rent, food, ect. I just need to improve on not skipping some of the reading sections (I know its terrible and my scores show it) But math Im fine with. I guess Ill see in a couple of months..

 

[cdames92]

I def understand why you're looking into FAMU. Their education isnt sub-par as others may assume it just isnt ranked in the top 10 (which i sometimes feel is unfair that they arent listed at all)... well my advice is take the ACT again, if your scores go up by alot try UF if not FAMU---and try to get the Presidential Scholarship and use Bright Futures and you will be debt free...
i dont really recommend accumulating debt if you dont have to. Stay strong youll be okay 🙂

I just need my ACT up 2 points and my SAT 60 points.. Which isn't too bad. The presidential Scholarship doesn't work with pharmacy majors but they have the Distinguished Scholars Award which is just as good.. And yeah Ill get it together..

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Eh, I should be considered independent since I pay for rent, food, ect. I just need to improve on not skipping some of the reading sections (I know its terrible and my scores show it) But math Im fine with. I guess Ill see in a couple of months..

Yeah I agree... that really stinks that your EFC is so high but you are still taking care of yourself. I suppose it is a good thing that FAMU and UF are both affordable schools down here though. I'm sure you will find a way to get it done if your scores are already close.

 

[cdames92]

Yeah I agree... that really stinks that your EFC is so high but you are still taking care of yourself. I suppose it is a good thing that FAMU and UF are both affordable schools down here though. I'm sure you will find a way to get it done if your scores are already close.

Yeah, Ill find a way.. thanks.