U.South Florida vs U.Florida Pre-Vet

[Hoxydude]

Hey guys!!

Ok, so I am looking at UF and USF for my pre-vet/undergraduate work and I have no clue which school to go to.

Here is the breakdown for the two

USF

• research school
• I was accepted to the honors college- so I would graduate with a honors degree in biology- cum laude
• less prestigious and ranked lower
• not a lot of animal oriented classes- from what little I could find
• less competitive, so I could make better grades
• I like the dorms, so I could live on campus- away from my mom lol

UF

• research school
• no way on earth I can get into the honors college
• prestigious and high ranking
• have a variety of animal classes
• UF has their own vet school, and from what ive heard half of the students at their vet school come from UF
• more competitive- harder classes
• I hate the dorms and my mom is going to school in gainesville too so she would always be around

I am just not sure what to do... any help?😕
Its been hard to find info on the Bio program at USF. Anyone have any imput???

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[luplodw]

Go where you think you'll be most happy. When you are happy, you are more likely to succeed. Don't worry about how hard the classes are, you can do well anywhere if you put your mind to it!

 

[THEOSU2012]

Hey There,

I would say go to where you feel most comfortable.

That being said, I would go to UF. Who cares about dorms? You can move out after a year.

I went to the University of Illinois and being there on campus with a veterinary school is invaluable. You get better exposure to the school, and in my case, I heard the head admissions officer talk over 6 times, almost once a semester.

It made me VERY prepared to apply to vet school, and I knew exactly what I was doing.

I personally wouldn't worry about the honors college, just get in, do your best while you are there, and get tons of experience and leadership. Coming from UF, their veterinary school will know that you are prepared to come to their school.

Also, you can even work for professors in the veterinary school and try to get really great recommendations. Again, all good reasons to go to UF.

I have several friends in veterinary school here at OSU and they all came from UF. They are REALLY great students and VERY well prepared. No one from USF.

In my humble opinion, don't sweat the living situation, you can deal with it for a year or two. Then just move to an apartment and live your life. The rigors of the academic institution will be well worth it.

Good luck!

 

[radio2020]

I am graduating from UF this spring and I can not tell you how much I adore this school. It really has a community feel, the town is amazing, and most of my biology classes have been awesome. However, UF is so loaded with pre vet, pre med, and pre dental students. All of your pre-professional science courses are highly competitive. We are told constantly that these classes are only meant to weed us out. After speaking to several pre-vet friends that went to USF it seems their program was slightly more encouraging, and yes I am saying it....EASIER. I wonder if graduating from UF will really help my application. Will they look at me and another person from USF the same? I would hope not, but the truth is most of the time they do! So, either school will be a great choice. Go with your gut and work hard. GO GATORS!!!

 

[THEOSU2012]

Hey There,

I'm just not sure I agree with this statement. I don't know the relationship of USF and UF, but I assume its similar to U of I and Southern Illinois University.

"I wonder if graduating from UF will really help my application. Will they look at me and another person from USF the same? I would hope not, but the truth is most of the time they do"

And honestly, I've had the head of admissions at major veterinary schools say that they give extra points for "rigor of curriculum" which they call appropriately "rigor points".

So if you go to a harder school, then you can benefit from that. It was explained to me that if you get a B in a Physics course, and someone from SIU got an A, then they would consider them almost equivalent grades because the Physics course I took was more demanding than the course from SIU.

Now that doesn't work with all veterinary schools, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

[Hoxydude]

Yeah, Ive heard about the rigor thing. When I was researching Cornell they gave 5 points out of 100 for course rigor on your application, but at the same time they gave bonus points for the amount of research you did at the school. They gave 25 points for GPA and 25 for GRE. So, to me it seemed like the"rigor" didnt matter that much as long as you had experience with research and a good GPA and GRE. I dont know if UF is like this but I am hoping so... 🙂

 

[luplodw]

Well I talked to people at admissions at Mississippi State and they said that the school makes no difference at all. GPA is the most important factor in your application (not saying that other parts of your application aren't also important, but GPA is looked at first and can be a deciding factor in whether you get in)

 

[THEOSU2012]

Hey There,

That may be at Michigan State. And honestly, that is how it is at a lot of schools. At Illinois you can't even move into the next round if you don't have the right GPA.

That being said, if you have TWO identical applicants, in every way, for example applying for Illinois and one from Illinois and one from SIU, with the same interview score, the rigor from Illinois would give the Illinois student the spot.

Now that was two years ago, when I applied, but I assume it hasn't changed that much. So it can matter on you application to veterinary school so I wouldn't discount it that much.

 

[Bearby]

I am graduating from UF this spring and I can not tell you how much I adore this school. It really has a community feel, the town is amazing, and most of my biology classes have been awesome. However, UF is so loaded with pre vet, pre med, and pre dental students. All of your pre-professional science courses are highly competitive. We are told constantly that these classes are only meant to weed us out. After speaking to several pre-vet friends that went to USF it seems their program was slightly more encouraging, and yes I am saying it....EASIER. I wonder if graduating from UF will really help my application. Will they look at me and another person from USF the same? I would hope not, but the truth is most of the time they do! So, either school will be a great choice. Go with your gut and work hard. GO GATORS!!!

I went to UF for a year before I withdrew. I absolutely hated it there. From the people I've met who have gone there, there is no middle ground. You either love it or you hate it. Period. End of story. Every class is huge, I didn't feel like it was meant to actually teach me anything or that my teachers wanted me to succeed, it was just a way to get money out of me and make me memorize without understanding. I didn't meet anyone while I was there except the people I worked with. I enjoyed the football, but that was about all that I felt like I had in common with the people at school. It was an experience that I will not be repeating. The UF vet school is my in-state but I will not be applying there because I know that the community feel was not for me. I don't want to dissuade you from UF because it is a great school and has an awesome reputation, but don't go somewhere just because of its prestige. Visit both schools if you can (without your mom if possible) so you can see what it's like.

 

[that70sfan11]

One problem with going to UF is that you would have to call yourself a Gator...eww.

<3 A gator hater! 😀😉

p.s. but in all seriousness, as a person who does not attend a school that has a vet program, I do agree that it would make it a little easier on you completing pre-vet if you went there.

and maybe you can get a picture of tebow crying again! okay, I'm done for real, sorry!

 

[Hoxydude]

Thanks for the imput guys!!!! I appreciate it sooo much! Keep it coming plz!!

 

[JuniorJumper]

I just graduated from UF yesterday (with Tim Tebow who was also in the College of Ag 🙂 ) and I am SO sad to not be a student here anymore. I have loved it. Having a vet school here is invaluable for networking, research, and future recommendation letters and honestly, if you already have the credentials to get into UF (it definitely sounds like you do!), USF would not even cross my mind as a pre-vet. Our animal science program is strong and you get some great hands-on experience. For example, at my OSU tour through the large animal barns, the tour guide kept saying "Now you small animal people have probably never seen [insert something pertaining to cows]", but the whole time I kept thinking "I know exactly what this is all about, Go UF AnSci!" Basically, you get to see a lot here, especially concerning food animals which gives you a much broader knowledge base.

You don't have to be in the honors college to graduate with honors at UF. I graduated cum laude and never took one honors course. The honors college is really something that freshman get all excited about while they're applying and choosing schools, then realize they have to take a bunch of additional honors credits in subjects that don't interest them. The core classes for your major are hard enough! You can graduate summa/magna/cum laude from any of the colleges depending on your GPA and whether or not you've written a thesis (summa and magna require a thesis in the College of Ag, I can send you the website where it lists the requirements for each college).

With that said, the core science classes your first two years will be HARD. They are designed not only to teach, but to weed out all of the pre-health kids that aren't truly committed to wading through the classes needed for the profession. You will see a lot of people drop these classes your first two years, but if you really want to be a veterinarian/MD/dentist/pharmacist/etc, you'll get through it and make it work. You don't need to get straight A's in your core science classes and you may need to drop organic chemistry 🙂 but if you can get great grades in your animal science classes, it will even itself out because they are both considered for your Science GPA when applying to vet school!

If you have any specific questions about the school, you can PM me. Im a lonely graduate wasting time on SDN and Farmville until I can go home for Christmas on Tuesday!

 

[Hoxydude]

I just graduated from UF yesterday (with Tim Tebow who was also in the College of Ag 🙂 )

You don't have to be in the honors college to graduate with honors at UF. I graduated cum laude and never took one honors course. The honors college is really something that freshman get all excited about while they're applying and choosing schools, then realize they have to take a bunch of additional honors credits in subjects that don't interest them. The core classes for your major are hard enough! You can graduate summa/magna/cum laude from any of the colleges depending on your GPA and whether or not you've written a thesis (summa and magna require a thesis in the College of Ag, I can send you the website where it lists the requirements for each college).


If you have any specific questions about the school, you can PM me. Im a lonely graduate wasting time on SDN and Farmville until I can go home for Christmas on Tuesday!

I'm so sad that Tebow is leaving!!! 🙁He was the reason I watched the Gators... Guys always make fun of him for crying and all but i love him anyways 😍 lol

I didnt know about graduating with honors like that... thats cool 😀
Hope you have a great christmas!!! Tuesday is only 2 days away, so you wont be lonely for long!!!😎

 

[cerealrhapsody]

One thing to keep in mind is that, just because UF is more competitive and more difficult to get into doesn't necessarily guarantee that the classes are any harder. They might be, might not be (and it might vary from class to class and professor to professor). I've heard people say their community college was harder than their state university, so I wouldn't really base my decision off the perceived difficulty of classes.

Also, as someone already said, the UF honors program is kind of meaningless and has nothing to do with graduating cum laude. You can still graduate magna cum laude as long as you have the GPA and do the senior thesis.

Another thing - I don't know about USF, but UF doesn't require you to live in the dorms, not even during your freshman year. So you're free to live off-campus all 4 years if you wish.

Finally - UF is close to Ocala, and you know what that means - horse country. I've never been to USF or Tampa, but I would imagine that UF/Gainesville has more opportunities for large animal experience (because of the vet school if nothing else). Since I'm assuming you're a Florida residence, UF will undoubtedly be one of the vet schools you apply to (cheaper to stay in-state, more likely to get accepted in-state). It might be invaluable to you to be able to see the vet school, and maybe even network or get a job or volunteer gig there.

So, in conclusion, I would say UF hands down! I might be a little biased, though...😀

 

[cerealrhapsody]

Another thing I forgot to add...

Yes, some of the class sizes at UF are enormous. This particularly applies to the science pre-reqs, most of which will be huge and filled to the brim with pre-meds and other pre-health students. But not every class at UF is like this, it really depends on your major.

I've had many classes at UF that were only 30 people, some as few as 10. My smallest class had only 4 people.

So if you decide to go to UF, yes you will have to accept the fact that you will have some enormous, impersonal classes. But not all of your classes will be like this, especially as you get into upper division classes for your major.

 

[oilidigigoat]

😀 You should go to UF. I graduated in 2006 and loved every minute of being there. Gainesville may be one of the greatest places on earth! There is a sense of community that is absolutely amazing to experience. Networking with other UF grads is easy so no matter where you go you'll always have a connection with another Gator alumni. Yes the classes are generally larger and super competitive but if you got in then you are qualified to be there and should challange yourself. You will be better prepared for Vet School.

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

UF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😀😀😀
I received my MS in Forensic Science from UF last year and would highly recommend it. However, I did not always have this passion for UF (in fact I got my undergrad in zoology at UGA 😀) I feel that you will be much better prepared for vet school with UF's program than USF.

 

[sofficat]

I graduated from USF with a bachelors in science degree. I loved it. I really liked the school, I really liked Tampa and the area the school was in (kind of on the outskirts of Tampa, but close enough to the city life). I also loved the local parks, biking trails and kayaking right outside of Tampa (but UF also has beautiful springs and parks nearby too).

I am not fond of Gainesville. I don't really like the area and (people are going to get mad here) but 90% of the people I know that go to/have gone to UF are stuck up and arrogant (the "UF classes are harder than USF" helps me prove that point- seriously, if you personally haven't taken the same classes from both schools you can't compare, and what would make one state funded school have a different curriculum and level of education than the other?)

BUT- when I applied to UF I didn't get in.... so maybe if I would have gone to UF for my undergrad I would have had a better chance? Who knows. Honestly, my GRE sucked and UF looks pretty heavily on that so I probably wouldn't have gotten in anyways.

Look at what you think is important. If you did get into UF and did go there for undergrad, would you really want to live in Gainesville for EIGHT years? I would not- but that is just me. Plus it sounds like there are other factors involved. Don't let anyone decide for you- this is totally up to you!

 

[Hoxydude]

Thanks for all of the input guys!! It is so nice to hear info from people that arent the admissions directors/coordinators!!! I appreciate it soo much!! Keep it up 😀

 

[MonieBalonie]

When I was considering undergrad schools in high school I really didn’t want to go to UF because I thought it was going to be a school full Abercrombie-wearing, boat-shoe-prancing classmates and red neck locals. After graduating last spring I can say I was very, very wrong. There really is something for everyone in Gainesville. I loved the insanely good local music scene, yummy eateries, and huge oak trees with fern-covered branches. Also, unlike Tampa, Gainesville is a true college town where the passion, talent, and liveliness of all 50,000 students are really palpable. I’ve painted my body orange and blue at football games and also organized letter drives for human rights.

Like other people have said, if you are interested in honors you absolutely do not have to be a part of the honors college. I had my own research project within the vet school that allowed me to graduate magna cum laude. Being near the vet school was one of the best parts of my undergrad. I worked around amazing faculty members and graduate students who remain both invaluable resources and great friends even now that I’m graduated and not living there.

As for living, the dorms do suck at UF. They are old, tiny, and a few don’t even have AC. BUT you don’t have to live on campus. The campus is surrounded by affordable student housing with a pretty efficient (and free) bus system. And it’s not intimidating if you’ve never lived alone- most of the apartments are filled only with students, come completely furnished, and will even roommate match for you. The only good thing about dorms is that they tend to be a lot more social than an apartment complex and you’ll probably meet your really good friends there.

If you have any other questions about Gainesville, research, classes (from a zoology dept viewpoint) feel free to PM me.

 

[philomycus]

Almost 50% of the entering class every year went to UF as an undergrad. Just a thought.

 

[OnceBitten]

Another thing I forgot to add...

Yes, some of the class sizes at UF are enormous. This particularly applies to the science pre-reqs, most of which will be huge and filled to the brim with pre-meds and other pre-health students. But not every class at UF is like this, it really depends on your major.

I've had many classes at UF that were only 30 people, some as few as 10. My smallest class had only 4 people.

So if you decide to go to UF, yes you will have to accept the fact that you will have some enormous, impersonal classes. But not all of your classes will be like this, especially as you get into upper division classes for your major.

As a USF alumnus, I think it only fair to mention that USF has equally large class sizes outside of the honors college, numbering in the hundreds. The honors college courses may have 25 or less. One of mine had 8 students total. This isn't something I would use as a deciding factor, as a result.

I loved attending USF, but I know plenty of UF students who love it in Gainesville, as well. I was accepted to both for undergrad and decided to go to USF because they gave me a full ride, plus some. UF gave me the full ride, but wasn't willing to cover living expenses, textbooks, etc. That's what made my decision for me, and I don't regret it for a second. However, if you want a curriculum that gives you better access to pre-vet counselors, pre-vet courses, and veterinary experiences within an actual vet school, UF is probably the smarter choice. I was the only pre-vet student who graduated in my class this past May, and no one at USF truly knows how to handle the process of applying successfully to vet school because they just aren't focused on that as much as they are on the pre-med and research students. It was a lonely pre-vet life lol. Still, attending it didn't hurt me any.

In the end, I don't honestly think you can go wrong with either school, so go with your gut and see where it leads you. 🙂

 

[SailToTheMoon]

I went to both UF and USF so perhaps I can offer some advice. I was at UF for my undergrad and at USF Health for my master's.
I'm not sure what program and college you would be in at UF but the animal bio program in CALS is VERY farm animal orientated. If that is your thing then i'd say go for it. Otherwise you might want to choose something else and choose wisely.
UF is a huge school and very competitive as you stated. With that comes a lack of community and quality interaction with professors. Yes, the vet school does take mainly in-state students, after all it is a state school, but if your grades are good and you are in-state you have a chance no matter what school you went to. The idea that UF grads are given preference because UF is a more highly ranked school is not true at all. Orgo, physics and biochem are notoriously hard classes at UF. But I have heard from students at other FL schools who said it wasn't that bad. Could be the professors, could be the curriculum, could be a lot of different variables. In the end your GPA is what matters and it isn't adjusted because you went to a more selective, more competitive or more prestigious school. UF is very, very far from MIT, Stanford, Harvard and Yale. Also, Gainesville is pretty damn boring (I know that comment will get many angered responses from the die-hard Gators and G'ville fans on this site but oh well, that is my opinion) and it is far removed from a culturally diverse and stimulating metro area.
Tampa is a great city to live in with tons of stuff to do. It has the college town feel around campus coupled with all the great and sometimes crazy qualities of a large city. Also, you don't have to see the same people day after day because it is not mainly college students as it is in G'ville. During break G'ville is like a ghost town (actually kind of nice). Tampa is always full of life no matter what.
I was in USF Health for my masters so I can not give advice on the undergrad program at USF. I did meet quite a few people while there who did go to USF undergrad and they all seemed happy, smart, well prepared for med/vet and had good GPAs. I'm not sure that they offer an animal bio program like UF does but that program is agriculture based anyhow. If you want to be a food production vet, involved in agriculture or the equine industry then go to UF and apply to CALS. If that is not your thing then you might want to consider USF for the other opportunities it offers.
Hope this helps. I'd be happy to answer any other questions, just send me a PM!

 

[Nexx]

... However, if you want a curriculum that gives you better access to pre-vet counselors, pre-vet courses, and veterinary experiences within an actual vet school, UF is probably the smarter choice...

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO....

Not unless something has drastically changed in the last several years. "Prev vet" counseling... academic counseling in general was complete crap for me and involved some REALLY bad advice that pretty much wasted 3 yrs of my life. Pre vet courses... meh... can get everything you need at any Florida Uni pretty much. Vet experiences within the vet school... meh... again lot of opportunities in tampa with Bush Gardens, aquariums in sarasota, etc...

I love gainesville, would probably move back there in a heartbeat. Really don't care for the undergrad life at UF. (Vet school is another matter...) Stick with USF, you could always transfer if you aren't happy there. In all reality one state school should be as good as another, hence why you there is that universal course numbering for the state schools. I've known PLENTY of UF undergrads who still applied to UF 3,4, 5 times for vet school before getting in -- going to UF really isn't going to increase your chances (except maybe getting some good contacts so your names is a bit known--which is still possible outside of Gainesville)

 

[Nexx]

double post...

 

[Hoxydude]

Thank you guys SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!!! You will have no idea how much this has helped me!!! you guys are great!!