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Florida Schools Application Thread (2008) part 2
- Thread starter greg1184
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I can confirm that there are still open seats at USF as of the committee meeting last Tuesday.
If you are interested in USF, I will give you a tour myself if I am available. (I'm a 4th year.)
And even if Mike can't John Schoppmann one of the official admissions office members is generally around campus giving tours to people and their parents on Tuesday or thursdays. I don't know if that's just accepted people.
I'm sure you can call the number I put on here before: (813)974-2229 to schedule something with him.
FSU also allows people who have not been accepted to do a tour and they even put a virtual tour online of their facilities. I don't know about UF or Miami or if they let you do this.
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thanks for the info! i have a lot of thinking to do...
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not to beat a dead horse, but my use of 'sensitive' wasn't accurate....taken aback might have been better or maybe annoyed with your false assumption that 'florida schools were not my first choice' and 'that i'm not theirs'.
with that said, i originally posted in this thread to empathize (something you can work on) with Ian1223's apparent frustration with his med school apps. now you have further assumed (incorrectly again) that the reason for my late submittal with my apps was my inability to quickly finish my secondaries. my amcas is what i submitted 'late' which caused me to receive my secondaries late (but quickly finished). you can bash me all you want for submitting my amcas late, but i have profound reasons for my timing (nothing to do with procrastination). congrats in your acceptance...i'm sure you'll make a fine physician. it's too bad that i did not submit my application as early as you did to show the committee that i cared about their school, and that i was sincere in my application.
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Believe me, I empathize with the essay writing. No matter how short they were it was still difficult to get the maximum point across in such a concise manner. It was like the shorter the more difficult but not really because after a while it was just like ahhhh ok what more can I say about it. In fact, I found FSU's to be really annoying not because of the amount of 500 word essays they were having me write, but rather they were asking about my personal family experiences and to be honest I don't have many per se. Not in the light they were asking for.
To that note, I actually felt my USF essay was the best. It really had me lay it out on the line and get personal. I felt it was my most personal essay.
Ok, however, and REL if you're out there could you elaborate on this a little. I have been told by countless people that the secondaries for the most part count for a lot less especially when the school asks for minimal additional information. I.e. Pitt has a ridiculously short essay and every insider there I know has stated the secondary is virtually pointless. Case in fact, I got an "automatic invite." Again, how important could it have been? On the exact opposite side of the spectrum Duke requires "the 6 page motherload" and their secondary is probably the sole reason why someone would receive an interview.
With that being said what do you all think? In all of my interviews I can not remember one single question from something I wrote in my secondary. Everything came from my primary application from AMCAS. It's like I believe they are uber important but to be honest I feel like all the hard work and energy I had put into them was sort of looked over a bit. I feel the primary by far was the most important.
P.S. something else about the interview process I felt was pretty interesting. EC's! I felt like they were not even significant. I wasn't really asked about them at all. Volunteering was the least thing I was asked about even though I had a ton of it. They did ask about shadowing and per se clinical experiences a bit but I thought I would have had much more engaging conversation about my EC's. I guess from what I have heard, if you don't have them then it is brought up but if you have it then it is just in passing. Again, what did you all think?
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I guess it depends on where you interview. At FSU they were pretty much the bulk of the conversations. When I previously interviewed at USF they weren't really as important. It may have to do with the interviewer as well. If they are more ethics and service based then EC questions will more than likely pop up, if you have a PhD who's research heavy then expect questions involving your research, how you study, are you driven, etc.
I've learned to expect pretty much everything. Speaking of interviews, I can't help but pout at my empty mailbox. Someday....
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USF doesn't focus on anything in your application. The only purpose of their interview is to test your ability to answer questions that you can find here on SDN. How they actually grade the answers is a little unclear but I know (b/c my interviewer explained it me) all of the q's come from a script. What do you guys think about that method? I have heard of another school doing this as well. I was also told that all of the facets of a students application are given a certain value including the interview. Don't get me wrong I love knowing the questions ahead of time, but I think it kinda takes away some of the luster of the interview process.
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I've gotten the impression from this thread that UM is attempting to fast track the overhaul of its national presence. It stands to reason that the quickest way to do that is to fill the majority of your seats with high GPA/MCAT applicants. Perhaps they aren't too worried about what ECs these candidates have.
USF applicants are not intended to know the interview questions ahead of time. The fact that the questions are posted on SDN have nothing to do with USF obviously. We are not looking for you to be able to answer the questions only - we want to see how you interact with us as a person. I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether I will evaluate an applicant in an interview highly or poorly. So it's much more than how you answer the question itself. Don't underestimate the interview. It has caused many stellar applicants with 4.0 GPAs and 40MCATs to be rejected outright.
By standardizing the questions, it probably is trying to make it more fair because otherwise one applicant might have a fair interview while another stands no chance. It puts everyone on a playing field.
I agree with Mike that the purpose of an interview isn't just to see the answer itself but how you present yourself and how your personality meshes with the school.
I remember REL posting a few years ago about some guy who was coming off as kind of odd during the tour and hearing how that person didn't make it in at USF because of the vibe they got from him.
I also remember Dr. Nazien mentioning an applicant that looked great on paper but gave them a completely bad vibe when they met him in person. He was talking about this at an IMS info session last school year. So you see the interview if it goes well might just be another piece to figure out whether they want you right out or on high tier waitlist but if it goes terrible you may be a stellar applicant and still not get in.
Furthermore, the more you get closer to the class filling up i.e. spring interviews, as seats dwindle down the more the interview may help in making or breaking the decision to which applicant to choose if there are 2 applicants that are both equally stellar on paper.
USF has a close file interview and used to have more tell me about yourself but they've since changed their approach in the last couple of years.
I was wondering why it said gold earlier. for a min. there I thought you were referring to the school that defeated the Gators in the Capital One Bowl (UMich).
Now I realize it was a fluke. 😉 😛
good luck at UF. If you have specific questions any first years could answer you with let me know and I'll pass it onto my friend. She'll be glad to answer from what she told me. I'm going to see her this weekend.
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It has always been interesting to get the "inside info" on admission committees that you pass along to us here at SDN. Funny, it never occurred to me until now that you have the chance to report back to admission committees about us. Do they care that their interview questions are posted? Do they ever ask you about the "buzz" your school is receiving online? If so, have you ever noticed a policy change shortly after you reported some bad press? Just curious if the adcom is even remotely interested in this little electronic world that so many obsess over.
I'm sure Mike or REL will get back to you on this but I know that most schools don't mind students posting on the SDN interview feedback.
In effect, many schools including University of Miami actually tell you to go on there and post because it gives them anonymous feedback of what the day was like for you and helps future students.
I think what Mike means by not intended to know what the questions are is that just because questions are posted on there doesn't mean that it may always be the same questions. Its just there as a tool to help you know what kinds of questions can possibly come up. I also think what he means is that the point of the interview is not to have carefully pre-thought out answers but to see how you respond by thinking on your feet if a situation is presented to you or get a feel to see how you are naturally in a professional situation (the former referring to ethical questions and the latter referring to the tell me about yourself questions).
I was talking to the classmate of mine that was recently accepted to USF and he was telling me about a common friend who is a USF COM student. At her interview at another school they told her that she might not fit in due to the fact that she wasn't a heavy partier. The point I'm illustrating is that schools want to see how you mesh with them and their personality. Each school has its own personality and its own mission and they want to see that you genuinely fit in with that mission.
REL if you are out there, I invite you and Mike to comment more on this issue.
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Mike is on target and I appreciate him filling the void here for USF since I departed. Over the past few years, as some of you know (unfortunately), it has been my intention to help answer some of the process questions and provide solid information to applicants. Firstly committees are aware of the SDN site but dont depend on it too much. As most of you know you will always have some who are dissatisfied go on a rant, so be it, but the process isnt impacted. The process at each institution is (?well?) thought out and has a purpose per the goals of that institution. Many programs use open interviews where the interviewer will know your file and quiz you on it and also try to determine your knowledge about their own program -- kind of like a job interview. Fewer programs use the closed approach, with or without actual scripted questions. In the closed approach the interview has limited (sometimes essay and EC's) or no access to your file. The desire here is to determine how interactive you are, see if you have a positive or negative "presence," and can think through a simple situation. In the close file scripted situations often the purpose is to ask a question that doesnt have a "right" answer --- it doesnt matter what your answer is, but the program wants to see your ability to think through and support your answer. In the close file interviews you would logically have less questions regarding your EC's because they have that information in your AMCAS and secondary application. There is even one interview process by a Canadian school that I refer to as speed dating. In that process you rotate through a few rooms and are asked various scripted questions by various faculty, med students, and sometimes even community members. I concur that there are many highly numbered applicants that havent gotten in to programs because they did not have the "presence" during the interview or the interview day. Depending upon what that program is looking for in the total applicant, the interview can make you or kill you. But most often the interview complements the essay, LOR's, EC's, and academics already provided.
On a different note some programs and many applicants believe that numbers increases your national standing. And it very well may because few are very well educated on the process -- college presidents and deans want to see that GPA etc high in the rankings because they are quantifiable. Quantifiable makes it "good." Therefore higher GPA, MCAT, STEP 1, etc. means that program is better --- I am sure that those that really know do not agree with that. We are so hung up with numbers we need to quantify and compare to determine better and best. Within the state you have 4 established MD programs, plus 2 brand new programs. Like each applicant, each program is different; different focus, different facilities, different patient populations. Each program WILL give you a chance to become the doctor you strive to become if YOU select wisely. Each program will give you what YOU need to pass board exams. Each program is competitive for the same residencies -- I know that UF, USF, and UM graduates are considered very good for all residencies in most programs across the nation --- residencies have taken students from all programs in all areas and find a solid student ready to take on the next phase of their education. I know that FSU has a bit of a different focus for residencies, but their students too are know as "ready to go" once they hit their residencies. Each program is different as to actual interactions with real patients throughout your MD school, each has solid opportunities for research, but none in all areas -- so if you have a research interest one MD program would be better than the other. Individual student care and facilities are different at each program. Leisure activities are different in each MD program setting as are the abilities to "get away" quickly. Living costs and transportation are different. While costs for schooling are different, they should not be a factor in your program selection. In the end the class debt after graduation is similar over the long haul of 20 years of payback. For many of us to see a debt of $100K is daunting, but in the long run based on income and payback time, there is very little difference.
I have rambled long enuf. Hope that this is helpful. You are blessed to be in a state that has so many med programs that all provide you with a quality education to become the physician you desire to be.
Thanks for your comments REL. I enjoy helping make the application process to medical school as informed as possible as I was also a premed student once upon a time and know how hectic it can be.
For those of you who do not know, USF has a closed file interview approach. We as interviewers know absolutely nothing - nada, zilch - about you during your interview, other than what you tell us. This allows us to focus on you as a person. We evaluate both what you say, how you say it, and your general personality. The interviewer does not see you as an MCAT score or GPA. During Committee meetings we take the interviews very seriously, and as I and REL have said, the interviews can make or break you. Do not underestimate the importance of the interview at any medical school interview.
My general interview advice:
1) I generally give higher marks to applicants who seem relaxed, which makes the interview more pleasant for me. It's painful to talk to someone who is as stiff as a board. It's natural to be nervous, but try to relax and be yourself.
2) Don't make the interviewer drive the interview. Remember it's supposed to be a conversation. Conversations go 2 ways. I guarantee you that you will score poorly if you make the interviewer pry answers out of you.
3) Know yourself. Seems simple, but is hard to put into words. Interviewers will commonly ask you basic things about yourself such as your likes, dislikes, motivations, and goals. If you fumble around with your answers, it will come off poorly. You can't prepare for some of the weird or off-the-wall questions, but you definitely CAN prepare for the basic ones about yourself.
4) If you don't know the answer to a question, it's ok to say you don't know but make an educated guess. USF interviewers will generally not asked knowledge-based questions, but other schools might. I have been asked questions that I had no clue how to answer interviewing for both med school and residency - the key is to stay calm and give it your best shot. Many times the question isn't being asked to see how much you know, but rather how you respond.
5) Practice, practice, practice! Have a professor or premed advisor stage an interview. The more you practice the more natural the real thing will feel. Think about taping yourself during your mock interview. You'll pick up on things you never thought about correcting.
For those of you who do not know, USF has a closed file interview approach. We as interviewers know absolutely nothing - nada, zilch - about you during your interview, other than what you tell us. This allows us to focus on you as a person. We evaluate both what you say, how you say it, and your general personality. The interviewer does not see you as an MCAT score or GPA. During Committee meetings we take the interviews very seriously, and as I and REL have said, the interviews can make or break you. Do not underestimate the importance of the interview at any medical school interview.
My general interview advice:
1) I generally give higher marks to applicants who seem relaxed, which makes the interview more pleasant for me. It's painful to talk to someone who is as stiff as a board. It's natural to be nervous, but try to relax and be yourself.
2) Don't make the interviewer drive the interview. Remember it's supposed to be a conversation. Conversations go 2 ways. I guarantee you that you will score poorly if you make the interviewer pry answers out of you.
3) Know yourself. Seems simple, but is hard to put into words. Interviewers will commonly ask you basic things about yourself such as your likes, dislikes, motivations, and goals. If you fumble around with your answers, it will come off poorly. You can't prepare for some of the weird or off-the-wall questions, but you definitely CAN prepare for the basic ones about yourself.
4) If you don't know the answer to a question, it's ok to say you don't know but make an educated guess. USF interviewers will generally not asked knowledge-based questions, but other schools might. I have been asked questions that I had no clue how to answer interviewing for both med school and residency - the key is to stay calm and give it your best shot. Many times the question isn't being asked to see how much you know, but rather how you respond.
5) Practice, practice, practice! Have a professor or premed advisor stage an interview. The more you practice the more natural the real thing will feel. Think about taping yourself during your mock interview. You'll pick up on things you never thought about correcting.
Thank you Mike. Good advice and your and Rel's posts have just confirmed what I had believed about the interview.
Anyhow, for people who want a good person to do a mock interview with, if you are near Tampa, I suggest Dr. Ted Williams. He's part of the USF med school though now his main office is on the main USF campus because of his roles over there.
ADM 172 if you want to know where to locate him. But he's awesome about scheduling mock interviews with people as well as looking over people's personal statements. Everyone I've suggested going to him has done so and spoken very positively about how helpful he was to them. If you are not near Tampa, I'd suggest a career center, premed committee advisor, or a trusted professor, boss, or volunteer coordinator if they have time do something like this.
Anyhow, for people who want a good person to do a mock interview with, if you are near Tampa, I suggest Dr. Ted Williams. He's part of the USF med school though now his main office is on the main USF campus because of his roles over there.
ADM 172 if you want to know where to locate him. But he's awesome about scheduling mock interviews with people as well as looking over people's personal statements. Everyone I've suggested going to him has done so and spoken very positively about how helpful he was to them. If you are not near Tampa, I'd suggest a career center, premed committee advisor, or a trusted professor, boss, or volunteer coordinator if they have time do something like this.
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I've struggled over and over with this decision, but when it comes down to it I find myself bleeding orange and green.
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You mean U.M. right? Because USF is gold and green right? or Like pewter and Green. Something like that. I ask because GUJU is saying "ahhh" but I don't believe that is what you were saying?
And if it is U.M. what campus is it for you.
I did. Look it up on my post history. If you have more specific questions then send me an PM and I'll send them to her as she's very awesome about answering those kind of things.
They just had parents day for the MS I's at UF yesterday where they went through with the parents what kind of hardships they will go through in medical school and the ups and downs that come with each year, etc.
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I need to decline an acceptance at FSU. For you guys who have already withdrawn from FSU, in what form did you do it (email, letter, etc.)?
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They said during the interview day that e-mailing them with a decision to withdraw is fine (this is from Jamie Callaway).
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I have a serious question for those who have the choice between UM and UF. Is a main part of your reasoning to choose UF because of its ranking? Meaning, it is ranked 49 so that is why you think it is your first choice.
Now, I ask you this question and please chime in to explain why or why not it is this way for you. If UF lost their ranking and became ranked 60, and at that point I wouldn't know why they would advertise that, and lets say Miami was ranked 35, would that have an impact on your decision currently? And or would it have an impact on your decision going forward if you had already matriculated and looked back the schools standing?
I ask this question because I really believe U.M. is going to bolt in the rankings. With 1.5 billion added to endowment. Building new facilities and medical centers and consolidating the hospital system down in Miami to be a major player. I think in 3 or 4 years U.M.s ranking is going to be up there.
***What is the point of this thread? I do not know but I am intrigued by it and tired of studying physiology.
Now, I ask you this question and please chime in to explain why or why not it is this way for you. If UF lost their ranking and became ranked 60, and at that point I wouldn't know why they would advertise that, and lets say Miami was ranked 35, would that have an impact on your decision currently? And or would it have an impact on your decision going forward if you had already matriculated and looked back the schools standing?
I ask this question because I really believe U.M. is going to bolt in the rankings. With 1.5 billion added to endowment. Building new facilities and medical centers and consolidating the hospital system down in Miami to be a major player. I think in 3 or 4 years U.M.s ranking is going to be up there.
***What is the point of this thread? I do not know but I am intrigued by it and tired of studying physiology.
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I have a serious question for those who have the choice between UM and UF. Is a main part of your reasoning to choose UF because of its ranking? Meaning, it is ranked 49 so that is why you think it is your first choice.
Now, I ask you this question and please chime in to explain why or why not it is this way for you. If UF lost their ranking and became ranked 60, and at that point I wouldn't know why they would advertise that, and lets say Miami was ranked 35, would that have an impact on your decision currently? And or would it have an impact on your decision going forward if you had already matriculated and looked back the schools standing?
I ask this question because I really believe U.M. is going to bolt in the rankings. With 1.5 billion added to endowment. Building new facilities and medical centers and consolidating the hospital system down in Miami to be a major player. I think in 3 or 4 years U.M.s ranking is going to be up there.
***What is the point of this thread? I do not know but I am intrigued by it and tired of studying physiology.
I don't know if this helps since I haven't even been invited to interview by my alma mater, but I am bored as well.
But even if they did interview and I got accepted to UF, I still think I would go to UM, but that is just me speculating at 11:45 on a sunday night after sleeping only 3 hours last night. It actually has nothing to do with rankings or name recognition, but it is just that after going to UF and literally living within an hours distance my entire life, I want to have a different educational experience. And I really like the opportunities UM and especially Boca have to offer. I will admit that In-state tuition would be nice, but the difference in cost (especially if I can nail a UM diversity scholarship) is not bad. Regardless of the school, it will be a lot of money after four years.
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If this helps at all. March 15 = you can only have one school held up. May ??? you have to have your school selected and the others withdrawn from.
Am I wrong about this?
In anyevent, when all this happens there is so much shifting that the waitlist opens up like a sea of water and all people who applied get in. :LOL: in theory. But seriously, a lot of people move around.
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May 15 is the deadline for cutting down to one school if you are accepted to multiple programs if the school begins in July or later. Most Florida schools cease interviewing in late March or early April and if they dont fill their class they will immediately take from the waiting list. If the class is full schools wont go to the wait list until an opening occurs. In mid-April there will be a trickle of wait list movement and it increases to a torrent in mid-May through the end of June --- it begins to slow in July and trudges to a trickle in late July and early August.
The May 15 deadline is for applicants to drop all except one acceptance if multiply accepted. As you would imagine all schools suffer losses around this time and they really begin to use the wait lists. So for example: You interviewed at 6 schools, accepted by 3, wait listed by 3. By May 15 you have to drop two schools. You are still alive on the wait lists at the 3 other schools who will contact you as your turn comes up. You then have 2 weeks to decide whether you keep the first school or go with the newer offer. This merry-go-round continues until you begin class or withdraw from wait lists.
One last thought, you can go to orientations but not be committed to a program unless that orientation is "attached" to the first day of class. For example: You go to a May orientation for a school that begins in mid June; you are not committed. If you go to a Friday orientation and class begins that Monday you are committed. Once you begin class in a program other MD schools are prohibited from making an offer to you.
Hope that this helps.
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I have a serious question for those who have the choice between UM and UF. Is a main part of your reasoning to choose UF because of its ranking? Meaning, it is ranked 49 so that is why you think it is your first choice.
Now, I ask you this question and please chime in to explain why or why not it is this way for you. If UF lost their ranking and became ranked 60, and at that point I wouldn't know why they would advertise that, and lets say Miami was ranked 35, would that have an impact on your decision currently? And or would it have an impact on your decision going forward if you had already matriculated and looked back the schools standing?
I ask this question because I really believe U.M. is going to bolt in the rankings. With 1.5 billion added to endowment. Building new facilities and medical centers and consolidating the hospital system down in Miami to be a major player. I think in 3 or 4 years U.M.s ranking is going to be up there.
***What is the point of this thread? I do not know but I am intrigued by it and tired of studying physiology.
At the end you need to go where you'll feel comfortable. Rankings wouldn't matter to me. Rankings are in constant flux- schools are going up and down all the time. I can see ourselves in the future when we're in our 50's:
Me: "Who me? Oh...I graduated from Bob School of Medicine in 2012"
Premed volunteer: "That's cool. Yeah...I want to go to UCF COM, their in the top 20. But FIU COM accepted me too and well, they just got a huge endowment so I predict they'll be in the top 10 in a few years"
Me: (In my head: 🙄How can this premed know that?) "Well, my school was in the top 50 back in my days."
Premed: (Thinking in his/her head- "Sure...sure... Where the heck is Bob U again?") "Great!"
Plus, rankings are related to research! Has anyone checked out the rankings for primary care? Some top ranking primary care schools are D.O., yet we tend to ignore that fact when picking our M.D. school. I can see where most people use rankings to help their decision (when they seemingly have nothing else to compare)- but at the end... if you hate living in the inner-city Bronx, would you really choose Albert Einstein? ...Or the isolation of a rural school in North Dakota?
I think that most of us have become adapted to where we've spent the last few years of our lives- and although alot of us may find the urge to move forward and try something new, I also think it's important to look back and find the things you actually do like and enjoy about your current home. You may find that this sort of atmosphere is what helped you become so successful in the first place. If it ain't broke...why fix it? If you're a champ in your college town...stick it out- you'll be well grounded and acclimated. You'll only have to adapt to the rigors of school- nothing else. Your energy will be invested in school. 👍
I use to live in Miami for many years- and I respect it as a school tremendously. But the biggest challenge I think someone will have going there is simply living in downtown Miami. I'm not making a judgement call at all- but I would recommend that before you sign your name and drop your other choices- try to live in Miami for a week. This spring break- rent a hotel near the civic center (jackson memorial) and live in it for good several days. Wake up early, drive around town, get groceries and try to immerse yourself in the culture. If after that you see yourself living the city life- then hey- you've made progress, and you'll free someone else's spot at USF,FSU or UF. I would say the same thing for Tampa, or the small town schools (FSU/UF). One thing that I like about UF is that it's situated on an actual college campus- and since being a medical student means being a library slave...I'm happy that the campus has all the resources, outlets and facilities I'll need to get the job done. The other schools have the same thing...but with Miami it has a different flavor since you're thrown into the hospital compound with no other young people except your classmates. It seems romantic at first... but try it out before you committ. Some see this as one of UM's strengths. It may or may not be. I just want to continue the lifestyle I know already works for me (personally). That's my 2 cents, but at the end... ignore all the creds, stats, and rankings...all of FL's schools are great...just pick a place you can call home...that'll let you become the best student you can be.
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😕 Hi all! I am new to posting but Ive been reading all of your stories for quite some time now! I need some help, basically, I need people to break it all down for me. I have closed my applications at out of state schools, interviewed all over the state and have been accepted to some, waiting at some....I don't want to bias anyone by naming where...but please we have 5 quality programs and Im struggling to decide. I also live in one of the cities and currently go to school in one of the others....so....whats the word?
OHHHH and more info on march 15/may holding spot dates??!!
OHHHH and more info on march 15/may holding spot dates??!!
Did you write this when you were intoxicated?? i am not really following you on this.
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okokok, you're right. I sound like a mess, forgive me! Im just looking for some guidance, from all of you who have been there and all of you who are there now. Does anyone have a pro/con list for all the FLA schools? B/c that would be great...I haven't been accepted to all of the schools yet, but I know I should start thinking in what ifs. I don't know why, but I feel as though I am having a harder time than most in deciding which program is right for me. I hope I sound less under the influence here....
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How much is a diversity scholarship worth? Or is it variable?
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I asked Dr. Hinkley at interview, I believe he said in increments of $5000 to $20000.
in the words of will ferrell "great odens raven"
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I totally understand you, and agree with you. It would help in many ways for a student to go somewhere they are familiar with or where they went to undergrad. But for me personally, after living in Putnam county my whole life and going to UF, I really want *need* to go somewhere else. I am working in Putnam and in St. Augustine right now, and I can honestly say that the thought of another four years in this area is really painful.
I mean, Gainesville is probably a great place to settle down and such. Most of the people I know who stayed there after graduation got married a few months later and are working there. But I have the same sentiment as many UF students, that the city has little to offer other than football games on the weekends in the fall.
Anyways, I am very happy that I got into Miami and especially Boca. I feel like I am not making any compromises going to Boca; however, I feel I would be making them if I stayed here. And I sincerely can't wait to get down there and start in the fall.
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I was actually reading his last post and about to write something very similar to this, when I saw your post. Actually, UFgrad, on second thought, please leave it. It makes my 12 hour shift at work just a little bit brighter when I'm on SDN for hours at the time when I should be working!
Oh, and I'll gladly take your spot at UF if you want to go to Miami. But you have to convince them to interview me first, despite my lateness.
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I should win the award for most distracting avatar. Anyways, I figure I'll just put another one up there, like Ana Beatriz Barros or Alessandra Ambrosia..So hot... Seriously, whats going on in Brazil?
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I know what you mean... Brazil has got it made.
I couldn't agree more. Forget all of the numbers, average scores, rankings, etc. In the end it doesn't matter. FL has great schools. There are top notch physicians being produced at all of them.
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I totally understand- and it's great that you have this opportunity. With you there is no doubt you want to leave the small town atmosphere and experience a bigger scene. It sounds like you're not hesitating and so your heart is definitely in the right place. But for the applicants who are losing sleep because they can't decided between the two environments I would ask them to simply try living there (without strings attached) before making the committment. I think it'll open their eyes to what they want- no matter what they choose at the end.
Good luck at UM!
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Seriously. I've been accepted to UM, and am one of those infamous UF undergrads hanging out on UF's hold list. I think every day about what my decision will be if I come off the hold list and have to choose between UF and UM. I loved both schools. But ... if UM were to pay my way (20-large) with one of these scholarships, the decision would become one of the easier ones I've ever made.
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I have a serious question for those who have the choice between UM and UF. Is a main part of your reasoning to choose UF because of its ranking? Meaning, it is ranked 49 so that is why you think it is your first choice.
Now, I ask you this question and please chime in to explain why or why not it is this way for you. If UF lost their ranking and became ranked 60, and at that point I wouldn't know why they would advertise that, and lets say Miami was ranked 35, would that have an impact on your decision currently? And or would it have an impact on your decision going forward if you had already matriculated and looked back the schools standing?
I ask this question because I really believe U.M. is going to bolt in the rankings. With 1.5 billion added to endowment. Building new facilities and medical centers and consolidating the hospital system down in Miami to be a major player. I think in 3 or 4 years U.M.s ranking is going to be up there.
***What is the point of this thread? I do not know but I am intrigued by it and tired of studying physiology.
Some people have said that rankings don't mean anything, but I do think they carry some weight. It gives some indication of the caliber of student at the school, the funding, recognition, etc. Personally, I don't think UF could fall in rankings, at worst they would remain the same, but likely their rankings will continue to improve with the research boom going on (Three new, medically-related research buildings have been or are in the process of being constructed, along with one new hospital). It has already been discussed that many of us think that UM will begin/continue to rise, with the new staff from Duke U/additional research funding/ invigoration that has swept across the med-campus since its renaming as Miller School of Medicine. Honestly though, using the above example that UF was ranked 60 and UM 30, I don't think there would be much difference in the education obtained; both are exceptional. Rankings are largely based on funding, which is out of the student's control. Personally, I think what really matters are the graduates' competitiveness for competitive residencies. Some have said that pre-meds shouldn't be concerned with residencies yet. However, I've had the privilege of observing surgery, and think this is the direction I'd like to go (the idea being that the majority of surgical residencies are harder to obtain, numbers wise, than non-surgical). [I would like to premise this next statement by saying that Step 1 scores are highly dependent on the individual]. If you look at the match lists for UM and UF, graduates of both schools appear to be competitive even for the difficult-to-obtain specialties, with maybe a slight edge to UF, possibly attributed to the (currently) slightly higher Step 1 scores. This is just my opinion on the issue; I think that both schools are basically equivalent in terms of allowing you to pursue the medical specialty of your choosing, irregardless of ranking.
