So in a couple of weeks now, UF decisions will be posted and I’m going to have to make that decision I’ve been putting off my whole entire senior year: UF or UCF. I mean, I know I’m pretty much a shoe in for UF but if they don’t accept me then hey, my decision is made for me right?
While I want to choose UF because of its academics, UCF is giving me a 14,000$ scholarship and admission into their Burnett Honors College. Also, because I am a dual enrollment student, all of my credits will transfer pretty smoothly to UCF (through the direct connect to UCF program) while UF has been known to be a little picky with accepting these credits AS prerequisites, or so I’ve heard. UCF is also only an hour from home but quite honestly, I really hate Orlando because of all the traffic and tourism. Both colleges have a lot of pro’s and cons.
In a nutshell, I’ve come to the UCF forms to see if anyone else has chosen UCF over UF, or can give me a good reason why I should. My family/peers said I would be crazy to pick UCF over UF but I really don’t feel that way at all.
If it helps, I’m on the pre-medicine track at my local state college with around 87 credits currently (Calculus 1, Chem 1, Chem 2, Microbio, Bio 1, Bio 2, etc.) I plan to live off campus.
@JPGator98
Well, like I said in the post, if they don’t accept me then I’ll have my decision made for me. That wasn’t really the point of this post though. I only feel as if I am a “shoe-in” because I have a personal friend/family connection with someone in pharmacy program that I’ve been emailing back and forth with for years who told me that, because my stats are in the right place, she’d “see what she can do” as far as if my application doesn’t make it through freshman rounds and, because I’m DE, then goes to be reviewed as a transfer. I also participated in some UF volunteer events that my father (gator alumni) said admissions likes to see just to reassure things even more. But you’re right, I still don’t know, and I won’t, as I said, for a few more weeks.
But ANYWAYS, the point of this post is to see and make sure people (who are deciding between the two colleges) get a good understanding of what both colleges have to offer. I have already heard a lot about UF, but yet I’m undecided.
You people are giving me a Cobbler Attack, it’s shoo-in, not shoe-in.
You have to decide what matters to you. Pros of UF: Very strong academics, tons of other pre-meds, strong health connection with their hospital etc, fantastic school spirit, football if you like football. Cons of UF: Kind of give the vibe that they don’t care if you pick them. Perhaps that’s the reason they’re so picky about everything and won’t work with you if you need a break. Very spread out campus (lots of bikes/scooters to compensate). Nice college town but not that big if you’re tired of it. Competitive – will you be able to keep your GPA up? (all-important for med school admissions!) Dorms are older.
Pros of UCF: Facilties seem a lot newer, up-and-coming school that gets harder to get into every year. Give off the vibe of wanting to help you achieve your goals. More centrally located, near a large city if you want a break from campus. Might be easier to keep your GPA up at UCF. Also fewer pre-meds, so it might be easier to get professor recommendations when it’s time to apply to med school. (you won’t be competing with a gazillion other pre-meds) Some really nice dorms. Cons of UCF: Less school spirit. Football is okay, not fantastic. Nice area but not a “college town” per se. More people seem to go home on weekends.
Both schools have a hospital connection and good advising for pre-med.
UF is in the middle of nowhere, UCF is in the middle of everywhere.
I always thought it had been “shoe-in” as in a shoe in the door haha! But anyways, I do agree that I kind of get the feeling UF doesn’t care whether you pick them or not but I think I’ve been looking towards them because of their reputation (which I’ll need for applying to medical schools). But really, I love UF’s campus and even the small college town atmosphere of it. I know I would be happy at either college.
I feel like I’ll be missing out either way no matter what but, what gets me about UCF is that I’ll likely have many more opportunities given that, I mean, its Orlando… However, I think I’ll still have quite a bit of competition at UCF pre-med wise. Just getting into the Medical Scholars division of the Burnett Honors College REQUIRES a 33 ACT score. So I know the competition will be tough at both schools. But there’s always going to be competition in pre-med.
What I’m more curious about are the resources each school has to offer. I love taking advantage of stuff like free printing, 24/7 libraries, etc. I know that’s a little weird, but that’s what my current DE State College offers and I’ve gotten pretty used to it. Also, I can’t really afford a mo-ped for getting around UF and I’ve heard the buses aren’t all that great. Are the buses and transportation systems at UCF any better? Also, I’ve heard the Burnett Honors College has good advising and I was trying to see if that’s true.
Don’t worry about “reputation” for when you apply to medical schools. If you have a 3.77 at Podunk U., and a 3.4 at Harvard, you will have a better chance of getting into Med School with the 3.77 from Podunk.
On the other hand if you want to go to UF’s medical school, obviously that connection can be valuable. But you still want a higher GPA than 3.4.
The Florida medical schools (state ones) do tend to favor applicants from Florida over out-of-staters. I don’t think it matters which one you graduated from though.
Both my kids live in towers…burnett llc. It has its own study room and lounge with free printing. Burnett has its own building with a reading/study area and a separate computer lab. Super nuce!!! Across from towers is “all-knight study” where you can use printers or even reserve an individual room with technology…dunkin donuts is next door…lol.
Visit burnett asap and get them to sell it to you…best way to find out. They could/would/should hook you up with a BMS student to give you a tour and answer all your questions. If they hesitate…force the issue…it’s their job.
Both my kids opted for ucf over uf…much to the amazement of everybody they know…neither regrets it.
Hey I’m a freshman at UCF. As far as resources go UCF is great. There’s so many places around campus to get anything and everything printed (for free of course). The library is open until 1AM but All Knight Study is open every day, 24/7, and these study areas also have free printing.
The shuttle system is super easy to figure out. I don’t have a car so for getting off campus I’ve utilized them. They go to every off campus housing place and there is also a shuttle specifically for grocery shopping which is pretty sweet. The shuttles also go around campus as well which is convenient but I haven’t used those yet because the campus is pretty easy to get around just by walking.
I know I don’t go to UF but it just gives off a “we’re better than you” kind of vibe. Here I have so many different circles of friends and I meet new people every day and every one is honestly so nice. There is always something to do on campus (last week there was free tie-dyeing at the Student Union and today there was a free 3 course lunch and rent-a-puppy on Memory Mall), you will never be bored. The night life is pretty great too.
Hi MadisonSkipper, did you make your decision between UCF and UF yet? My oldest daughter is finishing her freshman year in the UCF Burnett Honors College and absolutely loves it. She lives in the Towers (Honors Housing) and chose UCF over UF, FSU, Rollins and Stetson. Everyone thought she was crazy for turning down admission to UF. For her, UCF has been a great choice. Her largest class the first semester had just 19 students. My youngest is graduating high school this year and has the same dilemma as you…she has been accepted to UF, University of Miami, FSU and to the Burnett Honors College and Burnett Medical Scholars programs at UCF. She is having a tough time making a choice just like you, but needs to start finding a roommate at the school of her choice soon. Please let me know what you decided to do, and also feel free to ask me any questions my daughter at UCF may be able to answer for you. Best of luck with your decision!
