To those attending UF

[fsupharmguy]

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I would like to know your thoughts on the program. I recently had my interview with Mercer. What impressed me about the school was that the faculty seemed to care about the students. Then again it was only a one day impression.
I am wondering if UF is accommodating to the students? I know from my experience at FSU, most of the chemistry faculty could care less about who we were and were more interested in their research. I don't want to enter another situation like that. Is a lot of the UF faculty more concerned with research?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[cdpiano27]

UF is definitely the same way as FSU. They are both big research schools.

I did my undergrad at UCF but I am in North Carolina now.

But you would save SO much money from going to UF, you are an in-state student in Florida, correct?

Hence, if you get into UF you should go there for sure.

But Mercer does have a great program.

The difference is:

Tuition: $25,000 living expenses at least $10,000 = $35,000 * 4 = $140,000 in debt!!
versus
UF

Tuition: $10,000 plus living expenses (around $8-10,000) = 18-20,000 = 72,000 to 80,000 in debt (you have almost half the debt-load if you get into UF)

 

[aboveliquidice]

I currently attend UF undergrad. I also work at Shands Teaching Hospital where the Pharm program is located. I know more then a few of the students - Yes, it is like that. The grad program is obviously different from undergrad - but its a big program, accepting nearly 300 students per year (not all at g-ville). If being big and slightly impersonal does not bother you, come here - as for me, I am applying here, but I dont really want to attend.

~above~

 

[fsupharmguy]

Thank you for replying. Now I guess I have to see if I do get admitted to both schools. Then I'll have a big decision between quality of teaching vs. practicality. I'm thinking I'll probably go with the school where I feel I'll receive the best quality of teaching.
I stayed in FL after high school for practical reasons, and I learned from that experience. I am willing to pay the expense if I receive better teaching. I will be studying for what I want to do with the rest of my life, so I don't feel the need to put a price tag on that.

 

[aboveliquidice]

Thank you for replying. Now I guess I have to see if I do get admitted to both schools. Then I'll have a big decision between quality of teaching vs. practicality. I'm thinking I'll probably go with the school where I feel I'll receive the best quality of teaching.
I stayed in FL after high school for practical reasons, and I learned from that experience. I am willing to pay the expense if I receive better teaching. I will be studying for what I want to do with the rest of my life, so I don't feel the need to put a price tag on that.

I know how you feel - I am willing to pay for the right environment. The culture at UF has definitely put me out - I am in the 3.5 + GPA crowd, but then again - so is everyone else here. It almost feels like people would kill if they thought it would make their GPA go higher. Very competitive, and from what I have seen - so is grad school. I am looking for something more than competition - I want education. Good luck to ya, and congrats on your acceptance to Mercer

 

[fsupharmguy]

Thanks, but I have not been accepted to Mercer. I'm hoping I do get accepted. I just had my interview yesterday--although I do think it went very well. I was just wondering if I am posed with the issue of having to choose Mercer or UF. I didn't mean to make it sound like I have been admitted to both.

 

[Caverject]

UF is biased against FSU students. Apply to FAMU or pray that UF beats the tar out of FSU in a few weeks

 

[cdpiano27]

What is funny is that I am familiar with some students at the UNC pharmacy school. And UNC seems alright. The students seem quite friendly and the atmosphere is quite laid back although very few people do make Rho Chi. So I guess, that it is not that difficult to pass the courses but it is hard to get an A which is alright.

However, the department at UNC in my current PhD major, is extremely competitive even though grades are not assigned, and it is H, P, L, and F and if you get two L's, you are out.

I go to a rival school with the same PhD major, and it is not that bad in terms of competition even though grades ARE assigned. However, in the real world, it is very cutthroat with my major. So I guess UNC helps prepare you for that.

So at least pharmacy is not cutthroat once you get out, that is unless you want to be a manager in the pharmaceutical industry, which actually would be a great job to have.

There is probably more comeptition among the students at UF pharmacy school than UNC but that is because UNC has less students and only two campuses. The main one in Chapel hill and a very small one in Elizabeth City, with only a few students.

But I do not think that it is that bad going to UF pharmacy school, and it will prepare you for clinical positions. And of course so will UNC.

 

[dgroulx]

It's not cut throat at UF once you get into the pharmacy program. I've met students from all campuses and everyone is laid back. There are only a couple of teachers who are poor, the other ones seem to love teaching. Even the profs doing research are very open to students.

Compared to students that I've met from other schools while on rotations, I feel that UF students have a better grasp on clinical pharmacy. So, if you're thinking about an eventual residency, don't discount UF.

 

[GatorRxGirl]

UF is biased against FSU students. Apply to FAMU or pray that UF beats the tar out of FSU in a few weeks

Somehow I don't think this will be a problem.

 

[Trancelucent1]

We have quite a few FSU undergrads in our class. This is a non-issue. Of course caverject was saying it just to be funny.

As far as competition goes, this is a complete non-issue at the distance campuses. I just got back from MRM with lots of UF students and I hung out with quite of few of them from St. Pete (I'm in Orlando). These are the same student leaders that I've seen at many of the games and other student leader events. We have a great relationship with them. As far as Gainesville's atmosphere, I'm not sure. We have a student that transferred from there and she says that she feels like the distance sites have a better relationship with each other and that they work together better. She also says that she feels like she's learning more. I don't know how true that is but I can tell you that I love our environment. We're pretty close with our campus faculty and there have been many phone calls that I've made to Gainesville faculty. They were always willing to answer questions and didn't seem "just interested in doing research." I think that it just depends.

 

[imperial frog]

UF is biased against FSU students. Apply to FAMU or pray that UF beats the tar out of FSU in a few weeks

That's not true. We have one guy in our class who admits to getting his undergrad from FSU and sometimes we even talk to him. Like when we need him to go get us food.