I was accepted into UCF and FSU as an incoming freshman (UF decision comes out in February). However, I’m having a hard time figuring out which school would be based to go into. I want to study medicine and I hope to be a doctor one day (though I’m interested in the investigative side of medicine especially with researching and experimentation).
What are the pros and cons of each school for medicine and especially with research ?
UF produces by far the most med school applicants with more than 850 per year, FSU 338 and UCF 321. This makes getting research opportunities competitive at all three institutions. In fact, UCF goes out of their way to mention the competitiveness of research opportunities on campus.
https://med.ucf.edu/biomed/student-research/undergrad-research-faq/
You should look at UCF as an option as well. They have a combined 7 year BS/MD program that might be appealing.
What are your stats?
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I want to study medicine and I hope to be a doctor one day (though I'm interested in the investigative side of medicine especially with researching and experimentation). What are the pros and cons of each school for medicine and especially with research ? <<<
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No one studies medicine as an undergrad so there are no pros and cons “for medicine” at any of those schools.
As for research: As mentioned above, UF has a ridiculous number of students applying to med school each year. UF does NOT do Committee Letters (don’t know if FSU or UCF does), and it would appear (to me) that getting fab LORs would be hard when so many students are asking the same profs for these LORs.
Also, much depends on your stats. If you have really high stats (like ACT 34+), then it may be easier for you to stand out and shine at UF. If you have very good stats (like ACT 32), then UCF or FSU may be the place for you to shine.
If your ACT is around a 30, then maybe UCF, USF, FAU or FIU would be best.
If your ACT is 28 or below, then your chances of succeeding as a premed (GPA wise and MCAT wise) will be much more difficult at any good school. Not impossible, but more likely you’d be weeded.
Hard to say without stats . . . a good friend’s kid graduated from UF med school. Was always a top student in college and undergrad (UF) though. UF is known for pre-med, but UF is also a competitive place with many good students. That is something to consider.
Ok…I just found your stats…
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Accepted for Fall 2017 term at UCF! I’m hoping to be accepted to the Burnett honors college but I’m just unsure of my chances.
Here are my stats:
Term Applied For: Fall 2017
Residency: In-State
UW GPA: 3.800
W GPA: 4.74 hs gpa
Class Rank: 64/809
SAT: 1260/1600
ACT: 29
Community Service Hours: 350+
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I would NOT advice you to go to UF or FSU. Your premed classmates wil likely be stronger than you are and will likely score higher on the MCAT than you will.
Your ACT 29 is very good; it’s better than your SAT which is probably equivalent to an ACT 27/28.
If you are TRULY serious about becoming a doctor, then you need to be on the right path. You don’t want to be running with Olympic stars because you’ll likely end up in last place unless a few trip over their feet.
At UCF, you will be one of the stronger students. You would just make the top 25%.
Did you apply to any of the other FL publics with med schools, like USF, FIU or FAU. If not, you should. I think your stats would be higher at one of those. .
sorry for the late reply… and i thank you for your feedback 
I also applied to USF and was accepted.
The info underlying this question is outdated. It used to be that taking part in research was a real plus for a prospective med student. That has changed over the last 10+ years. Research is still a good thing to do, but these days an unofficial requirement to get into med school is actual experience (paid or volunteer) in a healthcare setting. As the Rhodes info below points out, this is actually more important than research.
Learn what it takes to get into med school by reading thru the very informative https://www.rhodes.edu/sites/default/files/PreMed_Essentials.pdf. There is also a good handbook at https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/gradstudy/health/guide and no doubt many other websites, as well as books.
The real question to address at this point is not what college, but why an M.D? Have you looked into the medical field and considered the alternatives? From the day you start college it will be 11-15 years before you are a practicing doctor. Its almost a reflex action among HS kids, they think of a career in medicine and its “I’m pre-med!” Doctors are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, nurses, speech pathologists, physician assistants, to name but just a few. Spend a few hours browsing on http://explorehealthcareers.org Unless you’ve considered the alternatives and have spent time actually working in a health care setting (which is an unofficial requirement to get into med school, BTW) its better to think of yourself as interested in exploring a career as a doctor rather than someone who has already made the decision.
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Also with a 29 you’re borderline to get into UF.
Where you should go does depend on how committed you are to the pre-med path.