<p>I don’t know about FSU specifically, but it’s hard to imagine an institution with a medical school as being “third” tier. Medical schools are enormously expensive to run.</p>
<p>The amount of money that goes into building an allopathic medical school, followed by the research money that invariably gets sent their way, is astronomical. I will blatantly assert that a legitimate medical school at an institution, will in itself, guarantee that that institution has some credibility as a research institution, and will guarantee that that institution has a minimum degree of wealth.</p>
<p>I don’t equate either of those with 3rd tier status. Again, I don’t know the specifics of FSU, but I’m talking generalities.</p>