Florida Schools Application thread (2008)

[SoFlaKnight]

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Hi. I am sure this has been done plenty of times before, but could someone highlight the strengths and weaknesses of USF, UF and UM's programs? Such as why one person would choose USF over UF and UM or UM over USF and UF, etc. If this question has been answered before could someone post a link? Thanks!

I know USF's 2007 Match Day was ridiculous...UM has access to high quality hospitals, is expensive but in SoFla so I'm partial to that...and UF is UF🙄...

 

[gujuDoc]

Hi. I am sure this has been done plenty of times before, but could someone highlight the strengths and weaknesses of USF, UF and UM's programs? Such as why one person would choose USF over UF and UM or UM over USF and UF, etc. If this question has been answered before could someone post a link? Thanks!

This is a tough question to answer because all the schools are very high quality schools and will give you a great education.


I won't say things in terms of drawbacks and high points but will highlight some major differences in terms of how classes are set up etc. to the best of what my knowledge and also some differences about their clinical facilities, etc. But before I do that I will say that people end up choosing the school they choose for a variety of reasons it is not about one being better then the other but a mix of different reasons. For those with multiple acceptances it might be due to the location (i.e. they have family in a particular area, they like a certain environment-rural vs. big city life.), it can be due to the class size (Boca has only 32 students at the moment compared to 165 at Miami, 135 roughly at UF, and 120-125 at USF, and 120 at FSU) so if you like that small class or big class size that will help sway decisions. For others it may be cheaper to go to one school vs. another. For some it may have to do with where their spouses will have best opportunities for their own career or educational goals. For yet others it has been the familiarity of already knowing the school intimately through its association with their undergrad institutions. These are just a few but there are more also in terms of differences in curricula and differences in patient care centers and general gut feeling of how the students were or wanting to go into rural medicine vs. research etc. Keep in mind I'm talking mostly from the standpoint of those who applied and got accepted to multiple schools. I'm not taking into acct the people who didnt' have a choice where they could go due to a single acceptance that was beyond their control.

now I'm going to make another post for the differences I've come to learn about regarding different schools.

 

[gujuDoc]

So to continue my post from above......

UF: UF has a curricula that is more traditional in many ways. White coat ceremonies not held til 2nd year when the real clinicals start and mostly you work with patient dummies in years 1 and 2 and with standardized patients so as to help you ease into examining students rather then throwing you in the deep end. some people feel more comfortable doing this because they feel that they'd be more nervous if their first time was with a real patient. Others would prefer schools where they get to learn with real life patients from the get go. Another thing about UF is that they are different from USF in that rather then having 10 weeks of biochem and then starting anatomy in the middle of the fall and going into spring, they have a more semester like system where they take a set of classes over the period of a full semester. They also only have a 1 week orientation and get right into it whereas USF will have you take a 3 week course called POM. UF has two options: just getting an MD or doing their research track. For people highly interested in research, UF is an awesome school in terms of the fact that it has an abundance of research opportunities. One of the things that i think I did like better when I was reading up on UF and UMiami was that their neuro research was more extensive in that it was not just mostly geared towards aging and movmt disorders but more towards things that interest me like Epilepsy. Another thing a lot of people like about UF is that its hospital is on campus so you don't necessarily need to take a 30 minute drive to the hospital. Although all schools in Fl have high board passing rates, I've heard that UF's averages are roughly 230-235 which is one of their key selling points at interviews from what a few past interviewees from last year told me. Typically UF will start you from the beginning with courses like biochem, gross anat, histology, and a few others right from the get go and together. Like I said it is more like a semester sort of set up rather then block set up. Although I don't know if this is throughout the year, I know right now that their classes start at 12 in the afternoon and go til 5pm so you can sleep in. I'm not sure if they do videostreaming for lectures like USF and Miami do but attendance is not a requirement. Another thing abou UF is that they will take tests on computers in a format similar to the boards.

Ok so that's UF as far as my knowledge goes. For more specific questions you will have to PM that guy walter that was on here a few pages back or some of the other UF students.

 

[SoFlaKnight]

whoops...you're quick 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

So to continue forward.....

FSU: Well at FSU you will have the opportunity to get into what you want to get into, but they will severely try to push you towards the Primary care field and shove down your throat the idea of geriatrics or other primary care fields. I've heard this from quite a few students both on and off SDN, including some former USF students.

I forgot to mention that if you go to UF you start in mid August like you do at Miami and USF and that I'm not well acquainted with what their facilities are like so you'd have to ask someone more experienced. At FSU, they start in the summer at the end of May. So if you wanted a summer off that will not happen. They usually do the gross anat stuff in the summer. Attendance is mandatory since they like to try to do more interactive learning with students participating in lectures in small group sessions known as learning communities. Students in their first 2 years are assigned to a small groups which are their individual learning communities. Within the medical school building, each learning community has access to what they call the LC rooms which are basically like a mini apartment plus conference room with access to the big fax, copy, printer machines for use, access to a full conference room with white boards to discuss things or use to study to draw out diagrams and so forth. Like I said, they are like a full apt so you also have a full bath, kitchen, lounging area, etc. FSU does give students laptops and PDAs when they enter but the money for that is included in your tuition money so it isn't completely free. The LC rooms encompass two different floors of the medical school building, in which one floor is for the LC rooms for 1st years, and the other floor for 2nd years. Research in medical sciences isn't that strong yet at FSU since they are a newer school which has not been known for strength in these areas but with the med school there now they will go up at some point in the future. One of the things I've found about FSU is they like people who will work with underserved areas and disadvantaged people because of their aims and goals to increase healthcare in rural areas. This however does not mean that everyone who gets in will necessarily go into primary care or those areas. They have multiple clinical sites that are not necessarily near the school. Clinical sites include ORMC in Orlando, sites in Ft. Pierce, sarasota, Pensacola, southern georgia, etc. The drawback is that you don't get to choose where you go unless you have a family obligation due to a spouse or child etc. These are just some key points I've picked up about FSU. I'm sure Biscuit79 could give a better more comprhensive look. I'd also recommend you take the virtual tour on their website.

 

[gujuDoc]

Miami can be separated intwo two different campuses: The Boca Campus and the Main campus.

Both campuses have opportunities to the research opportunities and organizations etc. in the main Miami campus area of downtown Miami. However, the boca and main campus are about 45min to an hour away in distance and have very different feels to them.

Boca: Boca is a small 32 person program though they may increase seats at some point. At the moment their curricula focuses on using a problem based learning curricula in which there are small group sessions. Look up on wiki the exact definition of Problem based learning. Its hard to describe but involves less traditional lecture focus and more getting together and applying what you learn. It is similar to what LECOM bradenton DO school does. The board averages from what I understand are slightly higher at the Boca campus though this could be due to the smaller class size. Some speculate the PBL based schools often do very high on boards as well because of the learning style but I'm not too sure if that is the reason for the slight increase in scores. Their board scores are near what I said for UF. Umiami's main campus is closer to 224 or so as their average. They also have 5 times the students though that are present at the Boca campus. Boca does most of its clinicals in community hospitals around the boca campus. That is another difference between it and the main campus.

Main miami campus has the premier Jackson Memorial Hospital which is a pretty fast paced, highly busy teaching hospital. Lecture is more predominant over PBL although there are few sessions of PBL in second year. They use an organ based systems approach. Hence if you are taking pharm, pathology, and say immunology at some point, you will be focusing on the same system in all classes at the same time to help integrate things together. So They will have blocks like in second year for instance one of the blocks is called the Renal block so all classes you take at that time will do with only that system. One of the things they recently changed is that they put all of gross anat in year one whereas before they used to split it between two years. From my understanding, they do give year one and two students opportunities to do clinically related things through a preceptorship. I believe UF has some sort of preceptorship program as well. One of the benefits of UF or Miami main campus is their proximity to the hospital so you dont have to take a hike around town or across the state to do clinicals.

I forgot to mention regarding UF that they also have Shands Jacksonville which is where they do more of their high intensity rotations like EM. They also have had several students do away rotations at ORMC and a lot of students who stay in fl. match at ORMC the premier teaching hospital of Orlando that will soon be affiliated with UCFs new med school and that is currently affiliated with FSU's med school.

 

[gujuDoc]

USF:

Years 1 and 2 use a block system of courses rather then a traditional semester approach or PBL approach. I'd say the closest thing to USF's way of doing things is Miami's main campus approach. They both have lectures which are videostreamed and tend to use the systems based approach through a more block like system rather then a semester system. UF uses the systems based approach but they use a more traditional semester like system. Lectures are morning lectures usually and go til mid afternoon or til late afternoon depending on the day and the course. The first 3 weeks include a course called professions of medicine in which they learn some basic clinical applications and study skills. its an extended orientation basically but it actually requires tests. In the past it was graded but now it is just pass/fail in nature. The real stuff starts shortly before the last week of POM and going into 10 weeks after which is the Molecular Medicine course. this will include histology, cell bio, genetics, biochem, etc. all integrated together. There will also be a medical ethics and humanities course during this time. After those 10 weeks, around the beginning of November you will start Gross anat and physiology which both go for about 5 months. You will also start preceptorships which you will do on a Tues or Thursday so which ever day you don't do preceptorships you will have free as a study day.

Other courses you will have to take in 1st year include coloquium, Phsyical Diagnosis I, clinical correlations class and diagnostic imaging classes which correspond with anatomy, and then after Anatomy and Physio block, you'll spend the last portion of year one in neuroscience and behavioral science.

During year 2 you will have 6 courses all at once and will include stuff like immuno, pathology, micro, pharm, etc. The basic idea is that year one you learn what the body is normally supposed to be like and during year two you learn what happens when things go wrong. You will also have a preceptorship and Physical diagnosis in this time. I also believe you have coloquium in year 2.

During the preceptorship you will have opportunity to learn clinical skills early on and interact with patients learning to take patient histories early on. You will also work with their new standardized patient center that they've gotten in the last few years to work with dummy patients or with actor patients.

During year 3 and 4 its your basic clinicals like elsehwere.

One of the things that is a slight drawback about USF is that it does not have as many good study spots and facilities in that sense as other schools like FSU, UF, or Miami from what I have seen and heard. However they are working on improving that. Recently in the last few years they've renovated their library to make more study areas in the library and more conference rooms available. Another thing they've done is make a new student lounge for the med students near the bookstore. They also have a new student gym so they don't have to go to main campus to work out. And I believe they have some study lounges near the grad school depts at the med school as well. And another thing they did to improve the school was create a new student computer lab near the IT office in which there is unlimited free printing as long as you bring your own paper. So those things that were drawbacks are slowly being improved. Another thing that I formerly saw as a drawback was their not having had an orthopedic or rad onco residency program but that has now been implemented. I think the new dean here is taking fast steps towards bringing a lot of good change to USF med in terms of adding new joint programs like the MD/MBA and official MD/PhD program or the IMS program implemented by the office of diversity affairs, or the new research buildings and facilities.

One thing a lot of people don't like about USF is the fact that the main teaching hospital is far away in that it is a 20-30 min drive to downtown tampa. Roughly it is 15 miles away from campus. Other facilities affiliated with clinicals at USF besides TGH include Shriners, Moffitt, the James A Haley VA, the USF medical clinic, the new South Tampa Center and 17 Davis, All Childrens, Bayfront care center, etc.


The board averages for USF are roughly 220-224 somewhere. Don't remember the exact number. But this is what I've read previously on SDN.

 

[gujuDoc]

Sorry the posts are long. USF is the longest only because I've done more extensive research into their program and know people here.

At the end which ever school you pick will be good.

one thing I will say is that people always say that the students are such and such at one school but such and such at another school. Don't listen to that because you can't predict who your classmates will be. One year a class might mostly have a bunch of gunners and another year they may be the most laid back people on earth. Its hard to predict who your classmates are so don't base your decisions on that. Also, I'd like to say go with your gut on what will be best for your goals and where you think you'll be most comfortable in terms of curricula, atmsophere, and other such factors.

Lastly, you can do well on the boards no matter where you go and if you really want it and do well you'll match into a good field though it might be harder to develop connections in certain schools within those fields. So just work hard no matter where you end up and at worst come to worse do away rotations if your school is not particularly strog in your desired field. Know that med school is what you make of it. So if you really want to do something then go after it in terms of research opportunities, clinical opportunities, and so forth.

 

[SoFlaKnight]

Hats off to you GujuDoc👍👍👍😍As someone pretty torn between these schools (mostly USF & UM) this is much appreciated...

 

[greg1184]

Hats off to you GujuDoc👍👍👍😍As someone pretty torn between these schools (mostly USF & UM) this is much appreciated...

Well regardless, apply to all of the big 3 and see which ones you get in. You just get into one, it makes your decision easy. If you get into 3, thats a very positive dilemma to be in.

 

[SoFlaKnight]

Well regardless, apply to all of the big 3 and see which ones you get in. You just get into one, it makes your decision easy. If you get into 3, thats a very positive dilemma to be in.

It would be stupid of me not to🙂...you're stats are nasty man, hopefully I'll see you in class next year...

 

[gujuDoc]

Hats off to you GujuDoc👍👍👍😍As someone pretty torn between these schools (mostly USF & UM) this is much appreciated...

No problema. If you get into both, I'm sure which ever way you end up you won't be able to go wrong between either. I think Miami and USF are my two fav. of the florida schools too. Miami downtown though, not boca. But I don't know how I'd survive in Miami traffic as I've never lived in that big of a city and always been kind of scared of doing such.

 

[DrZeke]

how are you diggin miami????

i cant wait to be in your shoes... soon enough i hope...

i have no particular questions just, how does it feel to finally be a med student...

oh and if you end up having a class with dr. brosco... just know that he is the man... i had him last semester for a history of medicine class and I just love the guy... hes great

Hey BallerinaDoc!!! Good to hear you're still around 🙂

It's pretty cool being a med student. Sometimes I feel like WTF am I doing here? Am I really in med school 🙂 LOL or stuff like I should study more, I'm lazy...

Oh yeah...Dr. Brosco...let's not talk about that...

 

[medguy83]

Wow, Guju's been a writing machine. Really great stuff. I think if anyone has any questions about the application process, each school, etc. Guju is the one to ask. Just got back from my FSU interview. Everyone was really nice. We had pizza, pasta, and salad. The intro and financial aid info weren't drawn out processes like other schools. The majority of the day consisted of touring the facilities and the interviews themselves which can last well over 30 min. Both of mine lasted 40+ min. The facilities were amazing; reminded me of the traditional old school med schools you'd see up north. I was impressed with the fact that the facilities are always open and that you can stay as long as you want. You can study, take showers, cook dinner, you really feel at home; even though you are studying practically 24-7. I was wondering why many of the FSU Allo class threads dried up. Now I see why. You hit the ground running with gross anatomy/imaging and doctoring 101. Parking, like practically every school I've been to, is hard to come by. Although there is talk of the med school getting its own garage. Anyways, I really enjoyed myself and the interviews. Hopefully, I'll hear some good news from other schools as well. Good luck to all this interview season. Remember, breathe, calm down, and be yourself.

 

[fabu1ous]

Sorry, a little off the topic, but how 'bout those USF Bulls tonight! woo hoo!!! what a good game so far... (sorry WV fans 🙂)

 

[gujuDoc]

Wow, Guju's been a writing machine. Really great stuff. I think if anyone has any questions about the application process, each school, etc. Guju is the one to ask. Just got back from my FSU interview. Everyone was really nice. We had pizza, pasta, and salad. The intro and financial aid info weren't drawn out processes like other schools. The majority of the day consisted of touring the facilities and the interviews themselves which can last well over 30 min. Both of mine lasted 40+ min. The facilities were amazing; reminded me of the traditional old school med schools you'd see up north. I was impressed with the fact that the facilities are always open and that you can stay as long as you want. You can study, take showers, cook dinner, you really feel at home; even though you are studying practically 24-7. I was wondering why many of the FSU Allo class threads dried up. Now I see why. You hit the ground running with gross anatomy/imaging and doctoring 101. Parking, like practically every school I've been to, is hard to come by. Although there is talk of the med school getting its own garage. Anyways, I really enjoyed myself and the interviews. Hopefully, I'll hear some good news from other schools as well. Good luck to all this interview season. Remember, breathe, calm down, and be yourself.

Back in 2004 spring, when the building first opened up me and a few friends took a road trip to FSU for their version of a premed forum that they called Dean's Day. it was hosted by their AED chapter up there. Anyhow, we took an unofficial tour of the building and one of the med students (2nd year at the time) let us into one of the LC suites to see it.

They were pimped out like crazy. Those things are probably the sweetest part of FSU med school. They are practically like an apartment/business suite and I think one of their greater things was that they had more places to study and accomodations in that way then some other med schools.

 

[gujuDoc]

Wow, Guju's been a writing machine. Really great stuff. I think if anyone has any questions about the application process, each school, etc. Guju is the one to ask. Just got back from my FSU interview. Everyone was really nice. We had pizza, pasta, and salad. The intro and financial aid info weren't drawn out processes like other schools. The majority of the day consisted of touring the facilities and the interviews themselves which can last well over 30 min. Both of mine lasted 40+ min. The facilities were amazing; reminded me of the traditional old school med schools you'd see up north. I was impressed with the fact that the facilities are always open and that you can stay as long as you want. You can study, take showers, cook dinner, you really feel at home; even though you are studying practically 24-7. I was wondering why many of the FSU Allo class threads dried up. Now I see why. You hit the ground running with gross anatomy/imaging and doctoring 101. Parking, like practically every school I've been to, is hard to come by. Although there is talk of the med school getting its own garage. Anyways, I really enjoyed myself and the interviews. Hopefully, I'll hear some good news from other schools as well. Good luck to all this interview season. Remember, breathe, calm down, and be yourself.

Oh and in regards to the writing machine, hahaha yeah I should look up the post from last years thread about the differences. I think Zeke was the one who summed it up. But I'm lazy to look up that post. So I thought I'd give my best try at trying to sum up what I understand about the different schools from my friends who attend at each one and from what I've seen from USF and my visit to FSU back in 2004 spring.

 

[75969]

So to continue forward......

Just wanted to clarify a few things about FSU...no offense to guju 🙂

They DO try to include geriatrics, family med, rural health into EVERYTHING clinical you do...but a good majority of our class is interested in more competitive residency programs (but that doesnt change the schools mission).

We DO have mandatory attendance (which also means no video streaming, no transcription services, and things from the professors mouth will end up on the test more often than not...) however, we only have to 'sign in' for doctoring...other courses have the expectation that you will attend (and there is a faculty member whose job it is to memorize faces and notice when you are not there...but this person is only there at the start of the lecture block..so if you leave after that, nobody would technically know--and they dont really care too much except for w/ doctoring)

The LC's are mainly for our own use (to study, eat, sleep, play...haha), and we are not limited to staying in our 'assigned' LC...but they are really nice for getting to know 30 people really well 🙂 We do have small group pbl type things a couple times a week (held in one of the 4 conference rooms available in each LC) but they do change every couple months, so you are not stuck with the same group of people if you end up with a 'bad' group. the AWESOME thing about the LC's is that if you ask nicely for the university to purchase something for your LC and it can somehow facilitate learning, they will get it for you....and unlimited printing is nice too 🙂

The ability to choose with the clinical year sites is NO LONGER based on family responsibilities, etc...and from our class on...the ability to have a choice in where you go for clinicals is determined by the CLASS as a whole...this is really nice, since the class is 'younger' than previous years, and we dont have anyone with kids and only a couple married students..so we obviously have different motives for site choice. It is based on a lotto system and those who choose lower numbers gets the first pick, then so on and so forth until the slots are all filled up. One thing I didnt realize until I went here is that you WILL NOT be sent to Marianna or Thomasville unless you want to go there and sign up for the rural track...if you dont want rural, you will not be forced to go there!

I BIG thing that I like about FSU is that we start clinical SP (standardized patient) stuff in the Summer alongside gross and by the time other school have started in Aug we have already been through the entire history and head/neck/eye/ear exams....and it keeps moving at a pretty quick clip...for example, we have done pulm, cardio, abdomen in the month of Sept. By the end of first year, every student will know the entire head to toe exam (including genital and prostate exams). In second year, while taking path, you are able to use what you are learning in our SP exams because you walk into the exam room and have to determine where to take the exam (which systems, which tests, etc..)...then try to come up with a basic diagnosis (and learn SOAP notes...so you know what you are doing in 3rd year) We also have preceptorships starting in the spring, where we will be taking what we learn with the SP's into clinics in the area with real PT's. This is probably the best thing about FSU and something that I had no clue about until I went here!

Research IS here (the research building it larger than the COM...lol) and students have every opportunity to do research in the summer (paid) like at any other school...also because 2nd years are out of class in the summer when anatomy is beginning, there is an added opportunity of being a TA for the summer. You can also do research during the school year...but not a lot of people do it because of lack of time becomes a big issue.

Just like other schools, there is a lot going on socially here as well...our class is involved in university wide intermurral (spelling?) sports, play sports with each other just for the heck of it a few times a week (between classes, etc) and go out as a group every couple weekends and have post test parties. There is definately a close-ness within the group 🙂

Another thing, our class is REALLY trying to be proactive to make things more like the other schools in the state and the school is actually listening to our input...they want to make this school one of the best possible and I see how in a few years we are going to be matching right up there with the other state schools.

haha...I think im finished with my essay now...sorry its so long 🙂

 

[75969]

.

 

[AKN]

Back in 2004 spring, when the building first opened up me and a few friends took a road trip to FSU for their version of a premed forum that they called Dean's Day. it was hosted by their AED chapter up there. Anyhow, we took an unofficial tour of the building and one of the med students (2nd year at the time) let us into one of the LC suites to see it.

Hi. When I was in my professor's office the other day, he showed me a flier about FSU having a pre-med day. Perhaps it is called Dean's Day, like mentioned above? Well, the professor said he'd post the flier, so I didn't write anything down. Naturally, he didn't post it and I can't find anything online. I do remember it starts early on October 13 (well, early for those of us who live 3 hours away). Can any FSU students tell me a bit more info? I'll be driving in for it.

Thanks much.

 

[lucybug]

Hi AKN,

Dean's Day is on October 13, and AED is in charge of running the show. I will be tabling in the atrium of the College of Medicine on Dean's Day to recruit more volunteer for Gadsden Community Healthy Start Coalition. Come and check out my booth we really need volunteers. 🙂

 

[nlax30]

Yeah, Oct. 13th. http://www.aedfsu.org/events.php

When I was undergrad there I helped out with Dean's Day (and made the website, haha) and it was usually pretty helpful as you could actually sit through presentations and get to ask questions from reps from each of FL's med schools in one place during one day. So if you get the chance it'd probably be worth it to go, especially if you have questions/concerns to ask about from some of the schools.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

USF:
The real stuff starts shortly before the last week of POM and going into 10 weeks after which is the Molecular Medicine course. this will include histology, cell bio, genetics, biochem, etc. all integrated together.

Actually, the overlap of POM and Molecular Medicine was a scheduling error. You aren't supposed to start the real block of classes until after POM. That resulted in us having 4 weeks of material on the first test instead of 3 weeks to get back on track. We started school one week later than we should have, so we were behind by one week and had to cram it in.

And another thing they did to improve the school was create a new student computer lab near the IT office in which there is unlimited free printing as long as you bring your own paper.

Yeah, the Nickel's Computer Lounge is really nice with big screens and printing. But...the printing isn't unlimited free printing. They are actually going to start charging for printing. Originally, the free printing was supposed to be for you to print out a few things as you needed them...like a couple of pages of an article or from a presentation. People abused that, and started printing out hundreds of sheets per day of paper in full color per person, and drained the budget for the printing in no time flat. You are expected, and it's included in your student loan budget, to print the majority of your slides at home.

I'm working on finding a way for the students to print for themselves at a low cost, but it'll still be like $0.06 for full-color/laser print.

 

[gujuDoc]

Actually, the overlap of POM and Molecular Medicine was a scheduling error. You aren't supposed to start the real block of classes until after POM. That resulted in us having 4 weeks of material on the first test instead of 3 weeks to get back on track. We started school one week later than we should have, so we were behind by one week and had to cram it in.


Yeah, the Nickel's Computer Lounge is really nice with big screens and printing. But...the printing isn't unlimited free printing. They are actually going to start charging for printing. Originally, the free printing was supposed to be for you to print out a few things as you needed them...like a couple of pages of an article or from a presentation. People abused that, and started printing out hundreds of sheets per day of paper in full color per person, and drained the budget for the printing in no time flat. You are expected, and it's included in your student loan budget, to print the majority of your slides at home.

I'm working on finding a way for the students to print for themselves at a low cost, but it'll still be like $0.06 for full-color/laser print.

Ok thanks for the clarifications. I did initially wonder why you guys were starting MM stuff before the end of POM as I remember last year everything being done first and then starting POM. I also did get the impression that you started a week later this year because last year I recall the white coat ceremony being the weekend before school started for the regular USF undergrads and non IMS students. I also recall the first week of classes for the regular classes being first week for med students when the class of 2010 started and the second years had started the first week of August right at the end of July. So I don't know what happened this year that the schedule became messed. Your post did answer something that I had been wondering about for a while though.

That sucks that they are going to take away free printing from Nickels just when I find out we grad students have access to it to, granted that I don't print much since I like typing directly onto my laptop and seeing the colored slides on my 15 inch screen better then as part of a bunch of papers which get disorganized easily.

The big reason that sucks in my opinion is because they had gotten rid of free printing in the library as well. I think what they need to do is what the student government labs do and say that you can have up to a certain number of black and white free and up to a certain number of color printing free per student. Then if you wish to print more pay a certain amount per page.

Are they also going to take away the free copying privleges in the library second floor?? Before like 2 years back when I used to go to the med library a lot they used to make you pay by putting money on your card or a HSC library vending card or by directly putting change in. That was the only way to make copies. now currently it is free but I don't know if this will change. Do you know anything about that?

The library also used to cost money 2 years ago when I went to the HSC library and they made it free and again I think they are going back to charging. I can see why they charge as it isn't free to supply for ink and paper etc. but having at least one lab where they can get even a certain limited number of free prints would be nice.

I do know one thing, you guys are able to go to the SG lab if you have a USF id card and U# and all and get 30black and white free prints or 10 color prints and 20 black and white free prints.

A lot of us in the grad program still use that lab though I rarely print anything from anywhere as I prefer to have it on my computer and if i put it on paper it is only when I recopy notes if I choose to do that.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hi AKN,

Dean's Day is on October 13, and AED is in charge of running the show. I will be tabling in the atrium of the College of Medicine on Dean's Day to recruit more volunteer for Gadsden Community Healthy Start Coalition. Come and check out my booth we really need volunteers. 🙂

Wow its being held at the med school now. When I went to Deans Day might have been fall 03 or spring 04. I think it was spring 04 but i don't recall the exact date it was back in that school year. But when I went, the new med school building had opened for the first time and library had also just opened at that time. They didn't even have that copier/fax/printer machines in the LCs yet at that time.

But i was really impressed with the LC rooms and new facilities. Just not too sure I like their lottery system for clinicals.

 

[mikedc813]

Originally, the free printing was supposed to be for you to print out a few things as you needed them...like a couple of pages of an article or from a presentation. People abused that, and started printing out hundreds of sheets per day of paper in full color per person, and drained the budget for the printing in no time flat.

I can't believe how dumb people can be. Why abuse something as nice as free printing??? Now it's ruined for the rest of us. Also, people were taking the supplied coffee home. So now that's a limit on that too. What a shame. I don't get it. 😕

 

[AKN]

Yeah, Oct. 13th. http://www.aedfsu.org/events.php

Thanks for the help. Can someone please help me out with the start time? Is there anything else I need to know about the location? I've only been to Tallahassee once... Thanks.

Lucybug, I'll try to find you 🙂

 

[AKN]

guju & daisy,

Thanks for all the info on the schools. It's very informative to see how they compare to each other.

 

[nlax30]

guju & daisy,

Thanks for all the info on the schools. It's very informative to see how they compare to each other.

Just send them an email there on the contact form, or email them at their address (on the contacts page) and ask about specifics. In years past we'd try and send out info to pre-health advisors at some of the major FL universities so you could also ask your advisor if they have any details.

 

[gujuDoc]

I can't believe how dumb people can be. Why abuse something as nice as free printing??? Now it's ruined for the rest of us. Also, people were taking the supplied coffee home. So now that's a limit on that too. What a shame. I don't get it. 😕

Yeah I never even got to use those labs yet since my ID card was not activated for it. Kinda sucks. But whatever. Thank god for outlets in the classroom for laptops.

 

[AKN]

Just send them an email there on the contact form, or email them at their address (on the contacts page) and ask about specifics. In years past we'd try and send out info to pre-health advisors at some of the major FL universities so you could also ask your advisor if they have any details.

I'm a non-trad just picking up prereqs. Thus, I have no advisor and am not at a major FL university... I'll try contacting via the web site, but thought someone here might have details (and that I'm probably not the only one interested in attending).

Thanks.

 

[lucybug]

Hi AKN,

I am also a non-traditional student finishing some post-bac courses at FSU. The only information that I have on Dean's Day is from Caitlin (AED contact person) and her email address is [email protected]. I know that to help set-up I have to arrive at 7:30 am on October 13, but I am not exactly sure when the event starts. Also I think the event is over at 3 pm, but Caitlin should be able to advise you more. Best of luck.

 

[Pewl]

I'm sure you will. USF and most other Fl. schools don't start giving interview invites this early. They wait til September. WIth USF, they first square away all the EDP applicants and only after they've interviewed do they start extending interview invites for the rest of the season and regular applicants. Then even if you are one of the first interviewees post EDP people you still have to wait til Oct. 15th to find out whether or not you get in. However all applicants after the Oct 15th date only have to wait 10 days post interview for decisions at USF.

Your avatar gets fancier every time I see it. 😀

 

[pandulce321]

I have my first interview at USF tomorrow! Will anyone be there as well?

 

[mc4435]

I keep emailing Miami Miller about a status update (per their suggestion in the application directions) and they keep ignoring me....I've had everything in for a very very long time. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[greg1184]

I keep emailing Miami Miller about a status update (per their suggestion in the application directions) and they keep ignoring me....I've had everything in for a very very long time. Anyone else have this issue?

No, because you are supposed to call them to check the status of your application.

 

[mc4435]

No, because you are supposed to call them to check the status of your application.

https://www.applyweb.com/apply/mgrmedphd/instruct_mgrmed02.html

bottom of the page

Status Checks

You may check the status of your application by sending an email message to the Office of Admissions at: [email protected]. Status checks are performed between 2-4PM (Eastern Time), Tuesday through Thursday. Status checks are not done on Mondays or Fridays.

 

[greg1184]

Will I be informed if anything is missing from my file? Not unless you call the Office of Admissions (305-243-6791). We do status checks Monday-Thursday between 2-5PM. Call us during those hours and we will tell you what you need to send us to make your file complete. Most applicants forget that a recent passport sized photograph is required. Next year you will be able to check on-line for any items missing from your file.

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;14190-2;47735-3,00.html

 

[mc4435]

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;14190-2;47735-3,00.html

So which one is it? lol I'll call them too I guess

 

[greg1184]

So which one is it? lol I'll call them too I guess

Follow their website. It contains the most up to date information. Their application is handled by a 3rd party company. The application says you can send the picture by email, but you can't. It has to be mailed.

 

[mc4435]

Follow their website. It contains the most up to date information. Their application is handled by a 3rd party company.

That makes sense. I'm gonna be pissed though if I've been incomplete (for what reason I have no idea) this whole time and they haven't said anything to me at all. Just been deleting my emails ...

 

[QofQuimica]

I'm a non-trad just picking up prereqs. Thus, I have no advisor and am not at a major FL university... I'll try contacting via the web site, but thought someone here might have details (and that I'm probably not the only one interested in attending).

Thanks.

IMHO, even better than going to these premed days would be for you to contact REL Larkin, who is now at UCF, and get personalized pre-app counseling if you haven't already applied. REL gives excellent advice on how to make your app as strong as possible. I'm not saying that it isn't worth going to take a look at the schools and finding out about the programs, but thinking about how to make your app as strong as possible should be a major priority also. Any of the programs in FL is good, you'll see them all when you go interview, and all of them will take nontrads with the proper qualifications. So my advice is that it's best to focus more on getting yourself accepted first and foremost, and then worry about which FL school to choose after you're in the enviable position of having multiple acceptances. Good luck to everyone applying this year. 🙂

 

[Team Zissou]

does this mean i wwas skipped over initially?


Dear Applicant,

You have been notified that your file is complete. We have received all secondary materials requested. The Medical Selection Committee is still considering your application for interview. You may hear from us shortly or you may not hear a decision from us for (literally) months. Please remember that our interviews continue throughout March and we also continue to accept students at each interview. So although you may be selected to interview later in the cycle, your chances of acceptance are still the same as for those interviewing earlier. Please note that interview invitations are made by telephone.

The best action you can take in this position is to keep us updated. Send (e-mail, fax, snail-mail) short, to the point correspondence informing our committee of things that are not already on your AMCAS application or in secondary materials. Examples: fall grades, new volunteer activities, new research endeavors, etc.

Each month I will send you this reminder to let you know that we are still considering you. You will be notified immediately when a decision is made regarding your application. If you decide at any time to remove your application from our consideration you may reply to this email to withdraw your application.


Robyn Sheppard

 

[CGuy07]

does this mean i wwas skipped over initially?


Dear Applicant,

You have been notified that your file is complete. We have received all secondary materials requested. The Medical Selection Committee is still considering your application for interview. You may hear from us shortly or you may not hear a decision from us for (literally) months. Please remember that our interviews continue throughout March and we also continue to accept students at each interview. So although you may be selected to interview later in the cycle, your chances of acceptance are still the same as for those interviewing earlier. Please note that interview invitations are made by telephone.

The best action you can take in this position is to keep us updated. Send (e-mail, fax, snail-mail) short, to the point correspondence informing our committee of things that are not already on your AMCAS application or in secondary materials. Examples: fall grades, new volunteer activities, new research endeavors, etc.

Each month I will send you this reminder to let you know that we are still considering you. You will be notified immediately when a decision is made regarding your application. If you decide at any time to remove your application from our consideration you may reply to this email to withdraw your application.


Robyn Sheppard

I don't think so. I got the same message, and was only complete the middle of last week. So I doubt they've even reviewed my application yet. I think it's just a standard beginning of the month message if your file is complete.

 

[Team Zissou]

yea thats what i thought.. just being paranoid i guess

 

[jmurphy2005]

Follow their website. It contains the most up to date information. Their application is handled by a 3rd party company. The application says you can send the picture by email, but you can't. It has to be mailed.

are you positive about this? I emailed mine in and Hinkley wrote back instantly saying thanks. although...I'm not complete there either and my stuff has been in for about a month...

 

[greg1184]

does this mean i wwas skipped over initially?


Dear Applicant,

You have been notified that your file is complete. We have received all secondary materials requested. The Medical Selection Committee is still considering your application for interview. You may hear from us shortly or you may not hear a decision from us for (literally) months. Please remember that our interviews continue throughout March and we also continue to accept students at each interview. So although you may be selected to interview later in the cycle, your chances of acceptance are still the same as for those interviewing earlier. Please note that interview invitations are made by telephone.

The best action you can take in this position is to keep us updated. Send (e-mail, fax, snail-mail) short, to the point correspondence informing our committee of things that are not already on your AMCAS application or in secondary materials. Examples: fall grades, new volunteer activities, new research endeavors, etc.

Each month I will send you this reminder to let you know that we are still considering you. You will be notified immediately when a decision is made regarding your application. If you decide at any time to remove your application from our consideration you may reply to this email to withdraw your application.


Robyn Sheppard

No. It is an automatic message that is sent every month to tell you they havent forgotten about you and that you may not find out until March.

 

[Team Zissou]

thanks for the quick responses.. i really should calm down.. i thought waiting for my mcat score was bad.. waiting for rejections/interviews might be worse.😱

 

[ballerinadoctor]

Hey BallerinaDoc!!! Good to hear you're still around 🙂

It's pretty cool being a med student. Sometimes I feel like WTF am I doing here? Am I really in med school 🙂 LOL or stuff like I should study more, I'm lazy...

Oh yeah...Dr. Brosco...let's not talk about that...

ohh no dont tell me you dont like brosco??? lol
well im glad someone else is lazy because Im sure I will be also...

well good to hear that youre enjoying being a MED STUDENT!!! 😀

 

[Avenger9]

How appropriate (or inappropriate) would it be to have your peer letter written by your spouse? Any thoughts on either side of the coin? Thanks in advance.