Florida biology

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone, </p>

<p>I'm currently a freshman biology major at SUNY Oneonta and am looking to transfer to florida after my sophomore year. I originally came here as an education major, but decided it was not for me, and now wish to go to a better biology school. I choose florida because I want to move out of state, have always wanted to live near the water, and my dad is also looking into buying a house down there. </p>

<p>I want a school with a great biology program, preferably with undergrad research or at least internship opportunities. I think I want to end up in biotechnology after school, and want the best possible job opportunites(obviously). </p>

<p>My first question is if there is a huge difference in getting a major in biotechnology or just biology(probably cell/molecular)?</p>

<p>Certain schools I'm looking at have an undergrad biotech program, others have fast track to biotech masters, others simply cell/molecular bio program. </p>

<p>As far as schools, I'm fairly open to location, size, cost, party scene, etc. I know that there are all kinds of people everywhere and each school has its ups and downs, so I'm not very picky in small details like those. </p>

<p>Right now, I'm focusing on getting the highest GPA I can to have better options when it comes time to transfer. What other qualities do schools look for in transfers? I play guitar in bands here, but not really in any clubs or anything yet. Should I be doing a lot of volunteer work and joining more clubs? </p>

<p>3.42 GPA first semester, aiming for at least 3.8 this semester
As far as high school, I had a 3.6, SAT: 610 reading, 630 math, 580 writing, ACT 29 </p>

<p>Currently my list in order of preference is:
University of Florida-biotech
University of Central Florida-biotech
Florida State University-cell/molecular bio
University of South Florida-cell/molecular bio
University of West Florida-fast track to biotech masters</p>

<p>My top choice is UF and I will definitely go there if I can, but I am more interested in which of the other 4 are better for biology. </p>

<p>Thanks!
Ryan</p>

2

<p>hi Ryan, yes the best choice amongst the grouping that you indicated is UF, go there if you have the opportunity.</p>

<p>“My first question is if there is a huge difference in getting a major in biotechnology or just biology(probably cell/molecular)?”</p>

<p>A difference in required courses? Yep. A difference in topics covered? Absolutely not. You would still learn the same biochemical and genetic techniques in either major. Universities blur the lines within these disciplines- the biochemistry major at one university covers the same coursework as a genetics major at another. When it comes to hiring in biotech, the name of the major on the diploma will have less than zero importance.</p>

<p>You probably already know this, the path to success in the sciences requires diligent research. When you apply for jobs in the biotech industry after college, they will look at your lab experience and ask you questions about your project. The more/better research you do, the more job interviews you will get. Inevitably you will also consider getting your Phd at some point, after tiring of the glass ceiling for non Phd scientists in industry, and the lab experience from both working in industry and from your time in college will be evaluated by admission committees more heavily than any sort of grade point or test score.</p>

<p>I said that I thought that UF would be better than any of the other schools you mentioned because they have more research being conducted than any of the others you mentioned. The trick for you will be to get into a good lab and onto a good project in short order. Two years isn’t a whole lot of time to get a project off the ground, especially at an undergraduate’s pace. </p>

<p>I hope this helps, Ryan. and if you have any questions specific to the biotech industry or scientific research in general, feel free to pm me.</p>

3

<p>

Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend any school in Florida for education purposes. If being near the water is so important I’d consider other schools on the coast of the East Coast (if there are any good ones). I’ll most likely have to stay in Florida for college and I’m sure it will be one of the worst mistakes (though it’s not really my choice) of my life. UF is almost certainly (UM and New College are the only real competitors) the “best” school in Florida but that’s not saying much and I don’t know a single person who actually likes it (and I know several dozen people who go there). And from what I’ve heard the research opportunities are very lacking at UF. If you can manage it, do yourself a favor and pick another state.</p>

4

<p>belevitt, </p>

<p>thanks for your response. its good to hear that the major doesnt really matter much which keeps my options wide open as far as deciding on a school. I will also make sure to choose a school where I can get involved in research early on, though I have heard that it is often hard to get into research as an undergrad. Is there any truth to this? </p>

<p>jasonleb1, </p>

<p>I also appreciate your answer. I have heard from many that UF is a very good school, especially for research in biology. Of course, no school is going to be right for everyone, and there are different things everyone looks for in choosing a college. If I may ask, what are some of the reasons you are so against Florida? I’m assuming you grew up/live there? </p>

<p>I would also like to point out that I am not really considering private universities, mainly for cost reasons. As far as public universities stack up, I would guess UF is up there.</p>

5

<p>strat – you will hear the same complaints regarding just about any state’s universities. There is the phrase: “the grass is always greener on the other side”, which is usually not the case. there is also the more current phrase " I wouldn’t want to go to any school that would actually admit ME".</p>

<p>Here’s where Jasonleb1 might be coming from – FL doesn’t have any schools ranked higher than #47 in USNWR. Maybe he has very high stats and therefore thinks schools outside FL are a better match for him. </p>

<p>However, your stats 29 ACT and your current college GPA match well to FL, Miami, and the other schools you list, but don’t match that well to schools outside FL that are ranked higher than #47.</p>

<p>It’s all a matter of fit. Jasonleb1’s fit will not be yours.</p>

6

<p>" I have heard that it is often hard to get into research as an undergrad. Is there any truth to this? "</p>

<p>Yes and no. There are a variety of obstacles to getting a good spot in a lab- some labs won’t pay undergrads, some labs require work study hours for undergrads who want to get paid, some labs utilize undergrads as lab assistants (washing dishes, pouring plates, making buffers and little else), some labs don’t accept undergrads at all. If you weren’t selective about the lab, didn’t care what field or were willing to forego an hourly paycheck, you could have any of hundreds of different undergrad positions at virtually any large university. </p>

<p>Obviously you should be a bit more choosy in picking a lab. The ideal lab would be one that offers you a project (or sub project) of your own. Also, it is very important that you join a lab where you are working with a postdoc or grad student. The PI (professor) is far too busy to supervise you directly, so if you want to learn techniques, be guided to the right research articles, learn what reagents are available, you would need a mentor in the lab. </p>

<p>Check your college’s library for a book called “At the bench: a laboratory navigator”. It covers all the finer points of starting a research career including explaining proper conduct in the lab, introduction to the various roles of the researchers around you, how to run basic methods, how to keep organized etc.</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes, I’ve lived in Florida most my life. I just don’t find it to be a place for education at any level. Public schools (including high schools, middle schools, etc) are all extremely under-funded and I’ve found that on most occasions the quality of education suffers because of it (from my entire educational experience so far, I can count the number of good teachers I’ve had on one hand). For example, the high schools in my county have “cleansed” (for want of a better word) their staff each year for the last 3 years or so, firing most the teachers that are approaching their 4th year (when they obtain contracts which assure they will have a job at my or various other high schools in the area) and hiring new teachers fresh out of college. Those that don’t get fired usually get transferred out of the county to another school. From what I’ve been told and experienced, the college experience in Florida is no different. I have 3 cousins who attend UF (and have many friends who go there as well), none of them enjoy it. The classes are humungous, almost half their classes (and in some cases more) are taught by TAs or professors who barely speak english, they campus is ugly, the dorms are minuscule, it’s very cliquey, a large portion of the students are extraordinarily rude, research/internship/job opportunities for most majors are difficult to come by, the list goes on. By all means, visit the campus and gauge it for yourself, these are just my experiences and opinions. Yours may differ entirely and you might love UF, granted I haven’t encountered anyone who feels so but who am I to tell you what you would or would not enjoy? </p>

<p>

The USNWR rankings have nothing to do with it. In fact, I think a #47 rank is quite spectacular but I don’t think UF deserves it. I’ve explained why I don’t believe so. As for my stats, I’d hardly call them “very high” or even “high” at all for this site. Are the above average? Certainly. But they’re nothing spectacular.</p>

<p>

I agree completely.</p>

8

<p>ok thanks for that insight. I am also seriously considering Florida Tech as my top choice. It seems to have great research opportunities and facilities and seems to be a bit better than even UF? </p>

<p>Any opinions on Florida Tech?</p>

9

<p>

define “better”.</p>

10

<p>I think you should visit Florida State as my older daughter graduated from there and experienced outstanding research opportunities as an undergraduate. She was a biochemistry major, however, so maybe this choice of major will make a difference.</p>

<p>She selected FSU over UF, having been accepted to both. She was accepted to the undergraduate Honors program. She worked in two different labs as an undergrad and earned funded research as well as having won an undergraduate fellowship, which enabled her to present her work at a national symposium.</p>

<p>She later graduated Phi Beta Kappa and is now in med school.</p>

<p>FSU was simply enthusiastic about promoting her research work as an undergrad. At her presentation (at U Wisc-Madison) there were no UF undergrads; in fact there were virtually no other undergrads. She had access to the NHMFL for her work.</p>

<p>FSU is worth a visit.</p>

11

<p>

Well, I’ve lived in Florida for 14 of my 17 years of life and have never heard of it. I think that says all that needs to be said about it.</p>