So with May 1st approaching I still have not made up my mind. I want to go to med school after and also I hope to graduate with my bachelor’s in 2 years (I am getting my high school diploma and my associates). I have a full ride to FIU honors including books and will actually be getting back money to attend. At UF I can use Florida pre paid which my parents have paid plus I can use the money from bright futures for food and books. I am afraid to mess up my gpa and not get into a good med school. At the same time I realize that UF has more “prestige.” Which would be better?
Go to Fiu. UF isn’t the type of school that gives someone instant credibility…in other words there is no practical payoff to its prestige because it isn’t a high level of prestige, and the admissions aren’t so restrictive that u HAVE to be smart if u went there
The “prestige” value for UF is much greater as compared to FIU in the southeast (much less outside of this part of the country). It’s the flagship university.
However, prestige isn’t that important for med school. FIU (and honors) is fine for getting into med school. I’m sure you’ll do great at FIU. 
Good Luck!
Thank you guys!
Prestige does not matter for med school, HOWEVER you cannot complete your med school preparation in just 2 years - some elements would be missing, either tangible or intangible that both make your application ‘med-school worthy’ (check with FIU if advanced Honors students can take graduate courses during junior/senior year). I would also advise against “getting your AA” as it’ll make you ineligible to (re)take some introductory classes you’ll need for med schools.
For example, med schools frown on the premed core being achieved in community college. That is: English composition 1&2 (taking the Honors First Year seminars at FIU would be more “valuable”, even if you can skip them), Biology1&2, Chemistry 1&2, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Calculus, Statistics, Psychology, Sociology, a diversity-focused course, a fairly fluent knowledge of a language spoken by immigrants.
You’d probably have to take Level2 in each, even if you already have them, just to ensure the strength of your med school application. You can “keep” all the other gen ed credits though (History, Art, etc.)
In addition to this core, you need to have research (preferably after sophomore and junior year), shadowing/medical experience (being an EMT, for example), volunteer at a clinic… You’ll need all 4 years to build a strong portfolio in order to be competitive against other applicants.
Why not try to get a major that would place you well for the MCAT and for admissions (math, statistics, engineering, neuroscience, foreign languages, economics, philosophy)? If you have lots of classes completed and you can attend FIU for free, you can choose to double major very easily!
In addition, how well do you know the medical profession? Could you change your mind and decide to go for another career? Because outside of med school admissions, prestige counts more. Now, FIU honors is a strong honors program, but it’s definitely not the same as attending UF.
But it’d be a fine choice, too. In part, you’d get more (smaller classes, more attention, more opportunities) but outside the Honors College your peers would be less focused/driven. You’d have to choose your classes carefully and take as many Honors as you can (ask the Honors program how many classes are offered). You’d have first crack at research opportunities and Honors Students tend to have their highest grades in their Honors classes, which would be good for med school!
Would your parents be able to use Florida prepaid for med school in FL? Check, this is very important.
In terms of my A.A all I took were simple intro classes cause I knew that I would have to retake important courses like Chem and bio again so I would spend my time at FIU or UF doing those since I have most simple humanities and sociology courses out of the way. I am also pretty set on med school and my only other option would be dental, but med is what I want. The Florida pre paid would be refunded into a bank account, but i doubt it will even cover a year in need school cause of how expensive it is, if anything for food and housing. Thank you btw
Sounds like you are methodical in your planning - that’s good.
Do check whether Florida Prepaid can be used for Florida Public universities postBA/BS (ie., MD), some plans allow that.
Thanks again, and yes I called them (pre paid) and they told me that all money not used would be refunded to a bank account so that would probably be like 14,000 in total which isn’t much compared to how much medical school is.
yes, I understand, but that’s money “not used”… what about “money used to pay for grad school in FL”?
Ohh no it cannot be used to directly pay for grad school. All the money “not used” is returned because the specific plan my parents paid for is undergrad only
Okay, thanks, that’s what I was asking - some prepaid plans can be used for undergrad AND grad.
I think you should take FIU’s offer, but stay all 4 years, and get a double degree with as many classes towards a Masters (or as many graduate classes) as the university will allow. Kinda like doing CC while in HS. It sounds like it’d be easier to do at FIU than at UF and if you’re sure you’ll prepare for a career in medicine, it’d allow you to save toward med school costs (those will likely be $250-300,000 total - which is why you don’t want debt; if you’re a super ace you MIGHT get some kind of fellowship but typically this amount has to be borrowed). Since UF would not accrue debt AND you have the prepaid plan for it, UF is another viable solution but I’m not sure it’ll work out as well as FIU for your goals.
Those goals being med school, would have to include 1° A’s in all your premed classes 2° any major (biology is NOT the best major for the MCAT - outside of engineering, which has other challenges to overcome in the process, good results are achieved by math/statistics majors, Economics majors, Foreign Language and English majors, Biochemistry majors. Biology and Psychology tend to score the lowest. Public Health sounds like it’d be a useful major too but I don’t have data about its correlation to med school admissions. I do know that anything stats-related is very much in-demand.) Double majoring however would allow you to have some Plan B should Plan A not work out the first time around and it may open you to more opportunities within the university itself wrt research possibilities, making contact with professors, etc. 3° Take as many grad classes as you can; 4° Use your Honors Scholar status right away: find research opportunities, get to know professors by going to office hours and seeking out advice, participate in everything. Ultimately, you want professional and research experience, which pretty comes handed to you if you’re in honors and just pay attention a little, and you take that further by conducting your own project, presenting it at a conference, or even perhaps getting it published :d. You thus need to have all the basics down, but also stand out - and it’ll be easier to do that in the Honors Program than at UF. Graduate courses, a sufficient background in statistics and/or fluency in a foreign language spoken by immigrants, significant research with a conference presentation would make you very competitive.
The downside is that in many of your classes the students at FIU won’t be as motivated as you are. Outside of the honors program, the peer environment may not be very challenging and stimulating for you (however of course you’ll find plenty of good people/smart students, but drive& preparation will not be the same). The classes will be good, since the professors are similar at all Florida publics, but the participation (in quantity or quality) may not be at a level you’d like it to be for it to be satisfying, especially during your first year (you’ll likely be advanced enough by sophomore year that the problem won’t be as acute). It’s something you have to take into account. In addition, UF is the state’s flagship. Budget cuts have been implemented (even now that there’s a strong economic recovery o_O, not sure why), and UF, as the State’s pride and joy that is determined to make it into the Top 10 publics nationally, is less impacted than directional campuses such as FIU.
Have you visited again, asked for an honors tours, talked with professors, etc?
Thank you once again. For my major I was thinking of double majoring in chemistry and math. I realize that FIU is easier, so that would allow me more time to prepare for the MCAT. I have visited FIU once, but the orientation for the honors college is not until June so I have not really met anyone when it comes to that. I do think I have a research opportunity for the summer tho because my brother is actually attending FIU honors right now and is doing research. I don’t think the motivation of my peers matters that much as long as I am focused tho. I was planning to visit UF again this week ( a lot of people keep telling me that leaving is worth the experience, but in all honesty I think i can have my experience here if anything).
Go to FIU with the honors with the full ride and prepare for med school. Med school is the important variable in this equation. UG education, besides GPA, courseload, and MCAT, does not matter as much.
Thank you guys, I think I’m gonna go with fiu then. Also what would be the point of taking graduate courses while an undergrad
Did you submit your deposit to FIU? I’m in the same boat as you. Can’t decide between fiu honors or uf, and my major is engineering. I’m very stressed and conflicted right now, and I’d like a helping hand, too
The point of taking grad courses as an undergraduate is that it shows grad schools that you can handle an extra level of intensity - kin of like taking college classes in high school when you apply to colleges. It helps you stand out, demonstrates your intellectual maturity and preparation, and since the classes are more specialized gives you a chance to look into fields that would matter to you- bioinformatics, neuroscience, etc