Florida Schools Application Thread (2009) Part 3

[flmeddie]

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Accepted at USF and FIU.....wooooooot!!!!! Good luck everyone!

congrats mike! when did u interview at fiu?

 

[Tertbutyl]

congrats to everyone...enjoy your time before august, because you will really miss your old life/friends in undergrad/not having to study all the time.

 

[dkb86]

I believe I interviewed with you - I was one of five who interviewed on October 3rd. I know Dana said the end of the week, I was just really hoping that I would hear today and the waiting would be over. I will be religiously checking my email tomorrow and Friday. Good Luck to you as well! 😀

I interviewed with you (10/3)! I called Dana and she said that they would get to it next week, so don't hold your breath guys. One of the committee members had something come up so everything was postponed. Good luck though! I hope we all get in 👍

 

[MDean86]

I interviewed with you (10/3)! I called Dana and she said that they would get to it next week, so don't hold your breath guys. One of the committee members had something come up so everything was postponed. Good luck though! I hope we all get in 👍

Well aren't you just the bearer of bad news!! Oh well, just one more thing to stress about in this process! The 10/3 group was loaded with all-stars and I feel confident that we're all getting in! Good luck!

 

[MiketheAnimal]

congrats mike! when did u interview at fiu?

I interviewed at FIU in the 2nd week of September...fairly early on in the interview cycle. I think I was either the 2nd or 3rd scheduled interview day.

Of these 2, if you don't get in elsewhere, where are you leaning towards? I'm asking because FIU is a new school and doesn't have the scholarship adv. of UCF. So I'm curious on your thoughts when compared to an established school like USF. What did you think of FIU in comparison?

If I did not get in anywhere else, I would lean towards USF...student-tailored curriculum, excellent and very modern facilities, I was impressed with the faculty I spoke with. FIU is very, very ambitious and I really like what they are attempting to achieve on paper. I think their proposed curriculum is very progressive and if it is executed properly I think they will one day offer a great medical education. The only problem is there is nothing on campus as far as facilities, everything is either being built now or will be built in the future.

 

[vargant]

Well aren't you just the bearer of bad news!!

At least I see the bad news and this has alleviatiated some of my uncertainty. I would have worried if I hadn't recieved an email tomorrow.


MDean86 and dkb86, I wish the two of you good luck for next week's hopeful acceptance email! Hopefully we will all be in the FSU class of 2013!

 

[vargant]

👍😀👍 Good luck everyone!

 

[vargant]

dkb86, so what happen when you got back to the airport? 😀 Did you end up having enough gas to make it home?

 

[dkb86]

dkb86, so what happen when you got back to the airport? 😀 Did you end up having enough gas to make it home?

LOL!!!!!!!!!! ahhh which of the other 4 were you...hmmm...
I cannot believe it, but I somehow made it home. It was just a stroke of amazing luck after a crazy day I guess. But my car seriously JUST made it to the station. I didn't even have to push it 🙂 wooo hooo

 

[vargant]

I was the second one to arrive to the library after you. I was the other psych. major along with you.

 

[dkb86]

I was the second one to arrive to the library after you. I was the other psych. major along with you.

Yay! I know exactly who you are now - just as I suspected! 🙂

 

[gatorguy]

any other news from florida?

 

[dkb86]

FSU sent out their letters!!!! Accepted I'm so happy!

 

[MDean86]

Yay Congrats to you!! They just accepted me as well!! I'm super stoked, we're going to be doctors!!!

 

[Fp02c]

FSU acceptance also!!! MDean86 and dkb86, congratulations to you both!

 

[Fp02c]

congrats 😀

Thanks Gujudoc! How are things going with you?

I constantly read up on this forum (and the old ones) and you always have had great input for people 😀

 

[dkb86]

FSU acceptance also!!! MDean86 and dkb86, congratulations to you both!

Yay!!!! Vargant I hope you got in, too, we're all rooting for you 🙂

 

[vargant]

Thanks for the rooting dkb86 and gujudoc, but for some odd reason I didn't land it. I don't know what went wrong. I felt my interview went fine. I answered the questions, for the most part smoothly and made appropriate eye contact. I a was little nervous during the first 15 minutes of my first interview, but that is to be expected I would assume. I answered a few questions, which I read as, "interesting, that's a twist to an answer I've never heard before, but I like it." His facial response to two of my answer had both eyebrows slightly raised (but not related to an alarm), with a nod of his head indicating contemplation, and an expression of the mouth that indicates "interesting." I do know that my first interviewer didn't like my answer to "What is professionalism" cause he told me afterwards and re-worded the question again. But that is the only question that stood out that I didn't answer "correctly", but it is also only a single question.

My second interviewer wasn't really an interview, but consisted more of tangible discussions. She asked me a religious question, and earlier I saw a religious bookmark in a book next to her and thought to myself, "Well, I'm an atheist. Now what?" I took the "spiritual route" because I figured she would like that answer better. I talked about how things are interconnected, for example, you step on a nail, which affects the immediate sequential conversations between you and other people because you are in pain and unknowingly directing that pain outwards in your speech. Therefore, I interact with others to impede negative consequences, such as hard criticisms.

Overall though, I felt positive afterwards. I guess it had to do with other things, such as "not being a match for the school." For example, in my personal statement, I talked about how I originally wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience, but decided to look into neurology because of my interest in the brain, science, and interacting with patients, which I talked about during my interview. But I made it clear during my interview that volunteering at a free medical clinic has brought to my attention the need for more community physicians and how I was currently leaning towards preventive medicine (while keeping in mind neurology). I talked about how I wanted to work with the underprivileged and volunteer at a free medical clinic at least once a week. I guess the first interviewer may have seen myself trying too hard to appeal to their mission statement thereby, seeing myself as "selling myself out" to their mission, which wasn't the case. Maybe my first interviewer thought my meditation practice was aloof.

I don't know. What do you guys think? Sorry for the long winded release of anguish. But, I still have hope for all the remaining Florida schools I applied to.

 

[vargant]

I was very suprised to hear I was not even waitlisted. I felt so confident after the interviews. I can't seem to pinpoint what I did or said for them to flat out reject me. I am at a loss for words. 🙁

 

[Fiko18]

I was very suprised to hear I was not even waitlisted. I felt so confident after the interviews. I can't seem to pinpoint what I did or said for them to flat out reject me. I am at a loss for words. 🙁

Call them and ask for clarification or some reasons. It can't hurt.

 

[MDean86]

I was very suprised to hear I was not even waitlisted. I felt so confident after the interviews. I can't seem to pinpoint what I did or said for them to flat out reject me. I am at a loss for words. 🙁

I understand you must be exasperated as we all have been or will be at some point during the application process. We're the people who like to have the answer to everything and it's difficult to deal with this process when we have put in so much work and are denied so many answers. The last four years of our lives basically comes down to a yes, no, or maybe response from these schools. It's even more difficult when the response we get contradicts everything we felt while applying or interviewing.

I was rejected pre-interview from a school that I was certain was perfect for me. I knew they were going love my app and that I had an excellent shot of being accepted. Unfortunately it just didn't work out. It's a very subjective process; each school is going to view you differently and every one of your interviewers is going to come away with a somewhat different impression of you. Realize that this whole process is going to come with its ups and downs but that ultimately, if you keep pushing forward you will meet your goals. I'm sorry to hear about your rejection, it was apparent to me that you were a very genuine and caring person. The good thing is that the battle has just begun. Get back in the fight and keep working hard. Eventually you will be rewarded.

 

[dkb86]

Thanks for the rooting dkb86 and gujudoc, but for some odd reason I didn't land it. I don't know what went wrong. I felt my interview went fine. I answered the questions, for the most part smoothly and made appropriate eye contact. I a was little nervous during the first 15 minutes of my first interview, but that is to be expected I would assume. I answered a few questions, which I read as, "interesting, that's a twist to an answer I've never heard before, but I like it." His facial response to two of my answer had both eyebrows slightly raised (but not related to an alarm), with a nod of his head indicating contemplation, and an expression of the mouth that indicates "interesting." I do know that my first interviewer didn't like my answer to "What is professionalism" cause he told me afterwards and re-worded the question again. But that is the only question that stood out that I didn't answer "correctly", but it is also only a single question.

My second interviewer wasn't really an interview, but consisted more of tangible discussions. She asked me a religious question, and earlier I saw a religious bookmark in a book next to her and thought to myself, "Well, I'm an atheist. Now what?" I took the "spiritual route" because I figured she would like that answer better. I talked about how things are interconnected, for example, you step on a nail, which affects the immediate sequential conversations between you and other people because you are in pain and unknowingly directing that pain outwards in your speech. Therefore, I interact with others to impede negative consequences, such as hard criticisms.

Overall though, I felt positive afterwards. I guess it had to do with other things, such as "not being a match for the school." For example, in my personal statement, I talked about how I originally wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience, but decided to look into neurology because of my interest in the brain, science, and interacting with patients, which I talked about during my interview. But I made it clear during my interview that volunteering at a free medical clinic has brought to my attention the need for more community physicians and how I was currently leaning towards preventive medicine (while keeping in mind neurology). I talked about how I wanted to work with the underprivileged and volunteer at a free medical clinic at least once a week. I guess the first interviewer may have seen myself trying too hard to appeal to their mission statement thereby, seeing myself as "selling myself out" to their mission, which wasn't the case. Maybe my first interviewer thought my meditation practice was aloof.

I don't know. What do you guys think? Sorry for the long winded release of anguish. But, I still have hope for all the remaining Florida schools I applied to.

I'm so sorry to hear this 🙁 - it sounds like you did really well in the interviews, so don't get down on yourself. I know it might not seem like this now, but I think that these things usually have a way of working out for the best. Anyway, I agree that you should call and find out what their reasoning was, that could be helpful.
I wish you the best of luck at all the other schools you applied to - and for the record, I think they are definetely missing out on a great applicant! Their loss.

 

[dkb86]

haha yea I hope you're right. !

Hi again! I'm in the same boat as you - I think the best thing to do is just send updates and hang in there.

 

[RSAgator]

I was very suprised to hear I was not even waitlisted. I felt so confident after the interviews. I can't seem to pinpoint what I did or said for them to flat out reject me. I am at a loss for words. 🙁

unfortunately there is a lot of subjectivity to the process, and sometimes an interview that you think went well could have simply had the interviewer going "oh my..." If you think about what you could have or should have done you'll make yourself crazy, so really all you can do is move forward at this point. See if you can glean any info as to why you were rejected so you can use it to help yourself at other schools, and just keep rolling on with the process. Good luck

 

[pianola]

It is a very subjective process. Bear in mind that the interview probably doesn't have as much weight as people seem to think. So don't assume you have terrible interviewing skills, vargant. And definitely don't let it get you down.

I would call and find out what FSU's concerns were, though. It might be helpful in the future. They might tell you it had nothing to do with the interview. In any case, you will know what to address in your next interview.

 

[batman1983]

In my opinion, the med school interview process is pretty messed up. I think its more subjective and self-glorifying than job interviews. From my experiences being on both sides of job interviews, while there is some weight on behavioral questions(mostly for entry level jobs), most of the weight for interview performance and evaluation is based on correctly answering technical questions and having solid knowledge foundation.
As for med school interviews, its based on how much you can sell yourself. The interview can be totally random and will be mostly based upon your experiences with your interviewer(who can be a total dick).

Btw, whats the deal with med schools asking for applicant photos, whereas most law schools dont even do that? A buddy of mine made a joke and said it was to see how white you were(he is very cynical).

 

[Pewl]

I don't believe for a second that a 20 minute interview will root out the psychos. Some psychos are excellent at hiding it for 20 minutes. The interview is simply a formality. It's actually very easy to hide all personality flaws for a period of 20 minutes! =P

 

[Pewl]

guess it depends. I know a lot of people that got karma to them at the interview stage.

I have heard plenty of stories of people getting caught lying about things on their application. These forums had a thread full of stories a few years ago. A few years ago a guy I know told me he got rejected from a school post interview because he got caught lying. I also know tons of peple who got screwed in the interview because they couldn't answer basic questions about what they did in different activities. At USF I think they purposely match you up with peoplewho have similar exp. to you for this reason.

But you are right. A lot of people are capable of hiding their true nature.

You've upgraded your avatar. It used to be plain black. Now it's golden an glowing!

 

[vargant]

I would like to thank Fiko18, MDean86, dkb86, RSAgator, pianola, and gujuDoc for all of your support and advice.

I've called FSU, and talked with lady in charge of admissions and the chairperson in charge of the acceptances, and both were not informative. However, pianola may be right

It is a very subjective process. Bear in mind that the interview probably doesn't have as much weight as people seem to think.

I was able to get a hold of the second interviewer, and she told me she rated me with high marks and was surprised at my rejection. She told me the protocol of what follows next. After the interviews are conducted, the committee (at FSU, there are 10) meets and the two interviewer presents their "scores" and information learned from the applicant during the interview. The committee re-evaluates the applicant based on the entire application package, including the interview, and then they turn in their individual scores to the person in charge of acceptances. He then looks over all the information, and decides himself based on the 10 committee members’s individual scores.

My second interviewer told me an applicant may not get accepted to FSU if they perceive the person as not being a good candidate to follow through with their mission statement. Since FSU is a non-traditional school, they will reject those with high MCAT scores and GPA’s if they believe they are not an excellent match to their mission statement.

I’m just glad the second interviewer told me she rated me high. It clears my uncertainty over my interview skills. I’m just curious about my first interviewer. I’m going to keep trying him so I can know what it was exactly: a hole in my application (if so, why was I granted an interview?), poor interview, or a misperceived match for their school’s mission statement.

 

[locus000]

vargant: from what i gather from your post. I too think its very ODD for FSU to give you an interview and the reject you immediately. If they didnt like you then why interview you in the first place and waste your time.

Good luck on the next one

 

[DomFowler]

I would like to thank Fiko18, MDean86, dkb86, RSAgator, pianola, and gujuDoc for all of your support and advice.

I've called FSU, and talked with lady in charge of admissions and the chairperson in charge of the acceptances, and both were not informative. However, pianola may be right



I was able to get a hold of the second interviewer, and she told me she rated me with high marks and was surprised at my rejection. She told me the protocol of what follows next. After the interviews are conducted, the committee (at FSU, there are 10) meets and the two interviewer presents their "scores" and information learned from the applicant during the interview. The committee re-evaluates the applicant based on the entire application package, including the interview, and then they turn in their individual scores to the person in charge of acceptances. He then looks over all the information, and decides himself based on the 10 committee members’s individual scores.

My second interviewer told me an applicant may not get accepted to FSU if they perceive the person as not being a good candidate to follow through with their mission statement. Since FSU is a non-traditional school, they will reject those with high MCAT scores and GPA’s if they believe they are not an excellent match to their mission statement.

I’m just glad the second interviewer told me she rated me high. It clears my uncertainty over my interview skills. I’m just curious about my first interviewer. I’m going to keep trying him so I can know what it was exactly: a hole in my application (if so, why was I granted an interview?), poor interview, or a misperceived match for their school’s mission statement.

Sorry to hear this. I've been on the receiving end of this type of situation also, so I can empathize with you. I know how much its stings. You seem like you have a great head on your shoulders, and I think you will do great things when you are in medical school.

Also, does anyone know if other schools in FL follow a similar admissions process? Does the chairperson also make the decision of acceptance in schools like UF, UM, USF? Thanks

-DOM

 

[pianola]

^Yeah, I think most schools re-evaluate the whole app after you've interviewed. I'm absolutely refusing to take either waitlists or hold statuses personally because I really don't think it's a reflection of my ability to interview.

I had some great interviews resulting in a hold and some average interviews resulting in acceptance. Go figure. There's just no way to predict in this process.

 

[DomFowler]

^
I see..but i was actually wondering whether the chairperson of the committee makes the final decision in the other florida schools also.

 

[pianola]

^
I see..but i was actually wondering whether the chairperson of the committee makes the final decision in the other florida schools also.

Sorry, I was responding to vargant. In general (aside from FSU, I guess), I doubt the chairperson of any committee has the one and only final decision...Maybe the chairperson has veto power, but I think in general, it takes the entire committee to agree that the applicant should be admitted. Right?

 

[AligBorat]

Vargant, FSU also rejected me post-interview. I felt that my first interview went very well. It was completely conversational, nothing to do with my AMCAS. The second interview was basically questions about my AMCAS. I didn't feel that the second interview went as well as the first, but I definitely didn't think that I bombed it, and I still don't.

In hindsight, I may have tried to sell myself too much to their mission of being patient centered. Perhaps they didn't believe I was sincere, even though I was.

When the interview day was over, I didn't feel that I would have enjoyed being at the school. I felt that the school, i.e. the students and faculty were really laid back. I have nothing against that, but that is not me.

As others have mentioned, it all comes down to fitting the school. Once you get an interview, you obviously have the grades and MCAT scores, but when it comes to making a decision after the interview, the school wants to accept people who WANT to be at the school. The committee probably felt that a. I wouldn't fit in with the other students and faculty, or b. That I wouldn't likely attend.

I understand you being upset, but I think they might have done you a favor.

 

[mikedc813]

I would like to thank Fiko18, MDean86, dkb86, RSAgator, pianola, and gujuDoc for all of your support and advice.

I've called FSU, and talked with lady in charge of admissions and the chairperson in charge of the acceptances, and both were not informative. However, pianola may be right



I was able to get a hold of the second interviewer, and she told me she rated me with high marks and was surprised at my rejection. She told me the protocol of what follows next. After the interviews are conducted, the committee (at FSU, there are 10) meets and the two interviewer presents their "scores" and information learned from the applicant during the interview. The committee re-evaluates the applicant based on the entire application package, including the interview, and then they turn in their individual scores to the person in charge of acceptances. He then looks over all the information, and decides himself based on the 10 committee members’s individual scores.

My second interviewer told me an applicant may not get accepted to FSU if they perceive the person as not being a good candidate to follow through with their mission statement. Since FSU is a non-traditional school, they will reject those with high MCAT scores and GPA’s if they believe they are not an excellent match to their mission statement.

I’m just glad the second interviewer told me she rated me high. It clears my uncertainty over my interview skills. I’m just curious about my first interviewer. I’m going to keep trying him so I can know what it was exactly: a hole in my application (if so, why was I granted an interview?), poor interview, or a misperceived match for their school’s mission statement.

The admissions process has a huge subjective component, as much as we'd like to make it as objective as possible. Keep in mind finding great future clinicians and not only great test-takers is the goal of medical schools. Interviews can have a big impact, particularly if the interviewer either thought you did very very well or very very poorly. Otherwise they don't usually change the outcome of the decision making process very much. A rejection despite strong interviews means there were significant deficiencies elsewhere.

 

[Fiko18]

I would like to thank Fiko18, MDean86, dkb86, RSAgator, pianola, and gujuDoc for all of your support and advice.

I've called FSU, and talked with lady in charge of admissions and the chairperson in charge of the acceptances, and both were not informative. However, pianola may be right



I was able to get a hold of the second interviewer, and she told me she rated me with high marks and was surprised at my rejection. She told me the protocol of what follows next. After the interviews are conducted, the committee (at FSU, there are 10) meets and the two interviewer presents their "scores" and information learned from the applicant during the interview. The committee re-evaluates the applicant based on the entire application package, including the interview, and then they turn in their individual scores to the person in charge of acceptances. He then looks over all the information, and decides himself based on the 10 committee members’s individual scores.

My second interviewer told me an applicant may not get accepted to FSU if they perceive the person as not being a good candidate to follow through with their mission statement. Since FSU is a non-traditional school, they will reject those with high MCAT scores and GPA’s if they believe they are not an excellent match to their mission statement.

I’m just glad the second interviewer told me she rated me high. It clears my uncertainty over my interview skills. I’m just curious about my first interviewer. I’m going to keep trying him so I can know what it was exactly: a hole in my application (if so, why was I granted an interview?), poor interview, or a misperceived match for their school’s mission statement.

I don't think you should look into your interview that much, you probably did fine. You can't nitpick about every answer you gave, If i told u couple of the answers I gave in my interviews you would feel a lot better 😉

Plus I think people underestimate how much FSU focuses on primary care in rural areas. FSU is very weird with who they pick (I'm not saying that the people they pick are weird), I am well above their MCAT average and GPA, with a every kind of EC you can imagine and I still haven't gotten an interview request (and I did a 1 year shadowing externship in a primary care office); but I have absolutely no rural experience. Just be thankful that they liked you enough to give you an interview, they probably didn't feel like you were going to be a good fit like some of the other ppl said, that doesn't mean that your not a perfect fit for another medical school 😀 Just be laid back in your next interview and some lucky school will accept you.

 

[dkb86]

Don't worry vargant, there are other schools - don't dwell on this too much, it sounds like you did a good job in the interviews, and like pianola said, sometimes this stuff is just really complicated - don't beat yourself up!!! I know it's easier said than done, but for what it's worth, I think things will end up well for you.

 

[medguy83]

Just thought I'd pop in to say hi. Haven't been on here in quite some time. Congrats to all those accepted and good luck to all those still waiting for that cell phone to buzz with good news. Glad to hear the good news from FSU to MDean86, dkb86, and the rest. It really is a fantastic program and I have been enjoying it immensely. Looking back even now as a first year at what I know now compared to when I first started I'm amazed at how far I've come, and obviously a bit nervous about the amount still left before me. One pearl of wisdom I could drop you is to do your celebrating now because when you start here you hit the ground running. After a few days of orientation and "welcome to medical school" luncheons you open up your netter's, Grant's, cadaver and start climbing up a pretty steep mountain that only gets higher as the semesters progress. Hopefully, even though things go insanely fast, you will eventually adapt and learn how to study at their required pace.
Sorry to hear about the concerns regarding the admissions process and bad news being handed out. I think there are a few people still on here (Guju and Mikedc813 notably) who know my story, so take it from me when I say that the admissions process for medical school in general is a very complex process and is in many ways difficult to decipher. You scrutinize your application and you think you've done everything they've wanted and yet you many times still wind up with bad news. The only advice I could possibly offer is to just hang in there, keep sending letters if applicable, and pray that somehow a slot opens up.
Believe me, medical schools don't have any qualms about letting you sweat it out until they're good and ready to let you know their final decision, so for those on waiting lists of any sort, I share in your pain.
For those of you planning on attending FSU feel free to drop me a line about places to live, classes, or the admissions process in general. Good luck to everyone hoping for good news this year, and don't let anyone prevent you from doing what you love so keep at it!👍

 

[216397]

To those of you who have been accepted to UF: did you get your snail mail package yet, and if so, what was in it? I'm concerned because I got mine a few days ago, and it looked as though it had been previously opened and only a single page was in it. 🙂

 

[MossPoh]

I interviewed at FSU the other day and had a nice time. I'm so involved and talk to so many med students there that nothing was really a "surprise". I did leave feeling a bit disheartened though. I don't think my interviews were horrendous but it was suggested to me by my second interviewer to "not be surprised" if I am waitlisted because of my grades and that they may want to reevaluate me after this semester, which is bad for me since I've been on cruise control and haven't been able to keep up with a class because of the traveling. As soon as I got home (I live in Tally), I went on interfolio and sent at least one more recommendation in. I'm also going to do some volunteer stuff to show my commitment to Tallahassee and the area.

I'm honestly going to be surprised if I'm accepted. Part of it is also me trying to negate any crushing feelings if it happens.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience and both of my interviewers are great people and just doing their job. I felt fortunate to be given an opportunity because of my grades, especially early on but felt the primary reason I was given a chance was due to my residency in a very rural county in the area. I don't think I could've talked more about returning to one of the surrounding counties though...!

 

[pianola]

To those of you who have been accepted to UF: did you get your snail mail package yet, and if so, what was in it? I'm concerned because I got mine a few days ago, and it looked as though it had been previously opened and only a single page was in it. 🙂

Yeah, there's only one page in it...at least for in-staters. I don't know if OOSers need extra forms 😕. G'luck!

 

[ankit999]

do you guys mind posting the mcat averages/gpa for all of the florida schools that is listed on the latest MSAR.. im just curious. let me know if you guys have any questions about USF COM. goodluck!

 

[MossPoh]

I just interviewed at FIU yesterday. It was quite an enjoyable and low stress time. They seem to have their stuff together. I do feel like a few things were missing. We didn't get to see the anatomy lab or any of those real areas. In addition, I found it odd how many OOS students were interviewing. I'd say out of the 15-20 people there that day, less than a quarter were florida residents. I saw the oos tuition and began to understand why. There is a great energy with the place and the curriculum is pretty neat. They do have a lot of things to iron out, but overall I think you'd get a great education there.

You can pm me if you have any questions. I don't feel like writing an entire essay on here.

 

[MossPoh]

Are you sure they were not people from OOS that were in state residents but went to different schools for ugrad out of state??

At any rate, just because one interviews doesn't mean they'll take 50% OOS people.

I'm sure. I talked to every single one. They had home state on our name tags when I was there and not the school. I actually found it kind of encouraging. The tuition for OOS is SO ridiculous that I know many of them would choose other places over it. The OOS tuition is about 50k a year and they estimate that you'll need to take around 79k out per year. That is a lot of debt.

 

[MossPoh]

Yea. I understand how the tuition for residency purposes works. 😉 That being said, I just scanned over the paper and it looked like they might want you to be here a full year BEFORE attending courses to be considered for instate now. It wouldn't surprise me if they changed the guidelines due to money woes.

 

[Leejwwc]

someone correct me if i'm wrong but i believe FL has pretty lax residency rules. you just need to be residing in the state for a year and hold a voter's registration, driver's license, and a FL address. other states require this and in addition that you are there for non-education purposes, i.e. full-time employment.

 

[pianola]

That's what I thought but someone else would have to confirm.

That's what I thought, too. But maybe we should get a fourth person to confirm because I'm not sure either 😛.

 

[PseudomonasPAO1]

Yea. I understand how the tuition for residency purposes works. 😉 That being said, I just scanned over the paper and it looked like they might want you to be here a full year BEFORE attending courses to be considered for instate now. It wouldn't surprise me if they changed the guidelines due to money woes.

I'm a lifelong FL resident, so I'm not sure how it used to be. I could've sworn you just had to live here for a year to gain residency. But when I saw the presentation at FIU, someone specifically asked this question. Apparently you can no longer attain residency after one year IF you are attending a school of higher education. Basically, you have to live here for a year before the first day of class.

If you download this pdf, scroll to page 6 and read the residency section. They gave us a copy of this during the presentation.

http://www.fiu.edu/~register/catalog/undergraduate/Rules & Regulations.pdf

 

[MossPoh]

Yea. People have to check by individual school and not by state law. Every school I've been to (quite a few) has their own definition of "residency for tuition purposes". I know where I did the bulk of my undergrad, I could technically become a state resident but I wouldn't be able to get instate tuition the next year since I started as an OOS. Schools change policies all the time though...check out University of Colorado. They used to have insanely high tuition but you could become a resident after a year. They changed that and the tuition is still really high, but it ends up being about the same amount as before (1 year OOS + 3 IS) but spread out differently.

It used to be in Florida that you could simply rent out an apartment for a while and get your license. I think they are trying to shift away from that lately. The tax laws are bizarre here. I know that in Florida, compared to Indiana, we still end up paying a lot more because they shafted us on homestead exemption and then raised our property taxes to be about 15,000 more per year.