Schools in Florida???

<p>Hello!</p>

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My son is an IB senior and is looking to go into Pre-med. Cost IS a factor... He is introverted and quiet and being in an IB setting, would probably do better in a small class enviroment.

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Coincidentally, I am also a pre-med student at FAU... although I do not attend the Honors College (I preferred the main campus myself). </p>

<p>The situation sounds like he'd be a regular admit for UF and an Honors admit for FAU. I point that out because that sounds to me like he'd be taking classes with fewer people at FAU (more akin to the IB setting you described). The problem is that, for medicine, he needs to be exposed to and become more social and the Honors College may trap him in a social bubble. Premed students get shot down all the time in the medical school application process because they're not social enough. Then again, a lot of people come into college wanting to be a doctor and end up doing something different (like research, which is better for someone who prefers to do their own thing without constantly interacting with people).</p>

<p>It'll be important for him to test his interest in medicine. Both sites will allow him to do that (at FAU-Jupiter it would be local hospitals/medical centers, at UF it would be Shands)</p>

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He has been accepted to FSU, UF, FIU, UCF, UM, and FAU Honors College aka known as HARRIET L. WILKES HONORS COLLEGE. We've basically narrowed it down to UF and FAU. We visited each campus and feel comfortable with these two choices. FAU is only a three exit ride on I95 even though he will dorm his first year. UF is a good 4 hour drive.

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<p>One of the issues that results in second and third-year transfers from other places to FAU is the fact that many people move away and then either they don't like it or they find themselves consistently returning home to hang out with friends. It's a very real concern and it's up to your son as to whether he thinks that will be the case should he go to UF.</p>

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I just keep hearing that UF will offer the better education.

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Only a person who has attended both schools would truly know that, unfortunately.</p>

<p>A lot of people have graduated from UF over the hundred-some odd years it's been around and some of them have a Gators-or-nothing attitude (especially after the National Championships). Also, the school is highly ranked for research... which is great to advance technology in our community, but what does that mean for your son who is going there primarily to learn? The Honors classes will be more exclusive, smaller classes and these should be more conducive to learning than 100+ student Biology classes at UF.</p>

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Our main concern is not so much the campus social scene as much as we are the education offered at each school. Most importantly, if he decides NOT to go to UF this time around, will his FAU credits be transferable should he decide to make the move IF he doesn't like FAU?

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<p>Hmm. That's a question for UF: "Do you accept transfer credit for the FAU Honors college?"</p>

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I know the reputation of the Pre-med program at UF but I can't find much information on the program available at FAU. They are currently building their Medical program and we've been told that in four years, it will be fully up and running. Apparently, they have some kind of agreement with UM.

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<p>Right, well, our medical program is more or less 'built'. </p>

<p>The Boca Raton campus (main campus) of FAU serves as the site of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine branch campus. This means that these medical students at both FAU and UM are considered UM medical students and their MD diploma will reflect that. In Fall 2007, we will be admitting our fourth class of ~32 medical students (I noticed that as many as 9 of them may be grads from the Boca campus, since they are up on the wall of acceptances). </p>

<p>The UM@FAU medical school is smaller than the UM main campus and the Biomedical program here is basically built around it, so the students find it extremely accessible and tailored to their needs. </p>

<p>In 2008, we are scheduled to break ground on what will now be called the Charles E. Schmidt Medical Center (formerly known as Boca Raton Community Hospital). It is scheduled to be completed in 2011 and will be the first academic teaching hospital built in the nation in a long time. As a result, by the time your son is ready to apply, the majority if not all of the medical school rotations he would do would be here on site. This is great because it's a major pain to have to rotate to sites that are an hour+ away.</p>

<p>So that's the situation with the medical program at FAU.</p>

<p>My personal feeling would be to attend FAU for a year, see what he thinks, and if he wants to transfer to UF he should do it before the third year (If I recall correctly, you have to do two years at an institution before they'll grant you a degree with their name on it).</p>

<p>I think UF is a great school and it should be proud of it's reputation, but when I think of UF I just think about saturation. It's just so saturated with people up there. 50,000 people all over a humongous campus so big it needs its own bus system and everybody there because they heard that UF is the best thing going. Truth is, UF is not the best school for everybody, just like FAU or UCF or FSU aren't for everybody. People fit into colleges. A friend of mine was admitted to Yale with an athletic scholarship and he couldn't stand the people or the weather there. But if he asked around, people would have told him, duh, go to Yale over FAU!</p>

<p>Even though he took the road less travelled, he was happier here with down-to-earth people, a beach five minutes away, and he
still
got into medical school. </p>

<p>Just something to think about.</p>

<p>Also, whoever talks bad about FSU is affiliated with UF or goes to UF. FSU is a legitimate school and thats all that matters.</p>

<p>Why is Rollins nonexistent here? I just got admitted there and would like to hear some opinions on it please.</p>

<p>Rollins is a nice place, I know someone that goes there and he likes it. Its in a nice part of Orlando. UCF is in a mediocre part.</p>

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Why is Rollins nonexistent here? I just got admitted there and would like to hear some opinions on it please.

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Is Winter Park part of Orlando? I thought it was separate. Anyway, Rollins looks like a very nice place. It's also a LOT of $$$, so it BETTER be a nice place. They have a great business school from what I've heard.</p>

<p>He turned down Yale for FAU? That would drive me crazy....that would drive my parents insane!</p>

<p>Another factor to consider is that the Scripps Research Institute of Florida is right on FAU Honors College Campus. There will be plenty of research opportunities for a pre-med student.</p>

<p>Scripps Florida
Scripps Graduate Program Florida. ... IBM and Scripps Research Institute to Collaborate on Pandemic Research : : : IBM and The Scripps Research Institute ...
<a href="http://www.scripps.edu/florida/%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.scripps.edu/florida/&lt;/a> - 11k - Cached - Similar pages</p>

<p>I really dont know what to say about the Universities in Florida. I attend FIU, which is actually an "ok" school in my opinion. The housing is crazy though, it's ex*****ve and I dont think the rooms are worth it. Anyone out there, can inform the folks about this school if they choose to, it is all based on your experience and decision. I really wanted to go to UCF, but there does not seem like a good school either, so I just might try somewhere else. Any real advice from students that experienced other campuses?</p>

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He turned down Yale for FAU? That would drive me crazy....that would drive my parents insane!

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<p>I was recently reading an article -- I think it was in a college guide by The Princeton Review -- about how parents try to push their kids into the "best" schools possible so they can brag about it later. "Did you hear about my son? He got admitted to Yale." The article went on to say how parents try to use these schools as a comparative measure for how good of a job the parents did raising them.</p>

<p>Another article in the same guide was from a gentleman who graduated from Princeton. He was saying, 'Yeah, I graduated from Princeton, but that's about the only thing that matters. I can say, "I graduated from Princeton." In all these years, that's the only benefit it has ever seemed to have." </p>

<p>Another article talked about a Harvard grad who seemed to lose out on a job because he went to Harvard and his interviewer went to Yale (scholarly rivalries, you know).</p>

<p>I'm not saying this to make FAU (or any school that is 'less' than Yale) look better. I'm not saying this because I think Yale is a terrible school -- it's obviously a great school for some people. </p>

<p>I'm saying this because there are appreciable downsides to these famous institutions but people glaze over them because there is this indoctrinated faith that going to an Ivy League institution guarantees you nigh-unlimited success. The whole point of going to college, other than to expand your mind, is to get a great job afterwards -- isn't that why we're really supposed to be there? Is no one who graduated from Yale unemployed? </p>

<p>Parents largely want to deny that a more important aspect of college is the fit between the student and the college. This is a strange thought because all our lives we haven't had to 'fit' into schools because we didn't have a choice. But now we do. People differ. Locations differ. Weather differs. Opportunities differ. Feelings differ. As college students, we have to make the choice that feels right to us.</p>

<p>I came to this school (FAU) because I wanted to live at home and go to college. Years ago, I considered transferring, but I'm glad I stayed because this is my school now. FAU is the place for me. I feel it every time I walk the halls, talk to the professors, and bump into all the great people I've met here. I felt it even stronger when I wore red, painted my face, and cheered on my men's basketball team (currently the hottest team in the Sun Belt Conference)</p>

<p>And years from now, when I'm a physician, I'll still look back on this and think it was a great choice.</p>

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I really wanted to go to UCF, but there does not seem like a good school either, so I just might try somewhere else. Any real advice from students that experienced other campuses?

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<p>What's wrong with UCF? It's not UF or FSU?
UCF is an awesome school. I know many, many people who absolutely love it there.</p>

<p>The guy should learn to grammar and spelling before entering college.</p>

<p>UCF is indeed an awesome school... I go there ^_^</p>

<p>Yea I have to agree UCF is a great school. Here is what is wrong. I was planning to apply to UCF but my parents told me they are not sendign me there. not cuz of money, but they had never even heard of it. We are from Florida. I think it just dosnt recieve as much appreciation. its a 4th tier school according to US news. That will change in my opinion cuz they are getting extremely selective (avg SAT Score: 1200) and have a growing sports program.</p>

<p>Also want to attack those who compare USF with University of Tampa. That is rediculous. University of Tampa is defiantely NOT GOOD. my mom did one year there in her time, and it was known for a bunch of rich kids from up north coming and doing nothing but party. many would not even show up in classes. Today as i believe it is predominantly OOS and its not recognized very well. Many ppl from top high schools in Tampa that stay in Tampa go to USF. Take not that Tampa Prep is located across the street from UTampa and only a small handfull go there as opposed to a huge amount goign to USF.
USF is very good. has a great Med School and a business school on the rise. its engineering program is really good as well. as to name recognition, it is constantly on the rise as it has been moved up to a Big East school. more and more ppl are recognizing it. it has been moving up the ranks and currently stands as a 3rd tier school.</p>

<p>acarta07, I went to UTampa a few years ago. It's exactly the same as when your mom went. No change whatsoever. All rich kids who live up north who want to come to Florida because it's sunny and party.</p>

<p>I go to Utampa I have no choice since UCFs digital media program is restrictive and game oriented. I like it personally.</p>

<p>I think UCFs digital media program is good if you want to go into the game field.Its A LOT CHEAPER!!!!!! then FullSail and has connections with EA.</p>

<p>I like USF st.pete more then USF tampa. Smaller class sizes,nicer location,cheaper.</p>

<p>I went to UNF for a summer semester. I thought it was bad until I ended up at FIU and then I saw what bad really was. </p>

<p>FIU the people are so damn unfriendly. I was there for a semester and took a full course load. I had so much free time I didn't know what to do with myself. Couldn't get a job because I don't speak spanish. You do not get a true college experience there so your better off saving your money and going to a CC. </p>

<p>Location wise UCF and UTampa and USF are there only ones in good cities. The rest you will be bored out of your freaking mind.</p>

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Yea I have to agree UCF is a great school. Here is what is wrong. I was planning to apply to UCF but my parents told me they are not sendign me there. not cuz of money, but they had never even heard of it. We are from Florida.

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Wow, really? Where in Florida? UCF is one of the "name" schools in Florida (the 'Big Six' everybody knows, for better or worse: UF, FSU, UM, UCF, USF, FAU). </p>

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I think it just dosnt recieve as much appreciation. its a 4th tier school according to US news. That will change in my opinion cuz they are getting extremely selective (avg SAT Score: 1200) and have a growing sports program.

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My understanding was that it was a 3rd tier school now and I definitely recommend that anyone who even considers these rankings to at least look up the methodology for how they're scored (some things make sense, like retention, but other things...)</p>

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Also want to attack those who compare USF with University of Tampa. That is rediculous. University of Tampa is defiantely NOT GOOD. my mom did one year there in her time, and it was known for a bunch of rich kids from up north coming and doing nothing but party.

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I have lived almost my entire life in Florida and I had never heard of that school until about a week ago.</p>

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USF is very good. has a great Med School and a business school on the rise.

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I agree. The USF medical program is fantastic. I'm seeing people on Student Doctor Network chose USF over UF, even. Interesting shift.</p>

<p>I was just at Rollins college with my friend. The kids that go there are so much better than at a huge university. I saw it with my own eyes!!! The campus is very cool, too. It is such a nice place.</p>

<p>^^^rollins is similar to UTAMPA, bunch of rich northerners who party..</p>

<p>I go to usf right now, and I love it! I'm a freshman form out of state and I've had no problem getting to know the campus and students. The campus is really pretty and new, (only 50yrs old) its also in a great location, really close to alot of entertainment, busch gardens, ybor city, and universtiy mall. Plus the beaches. As far as parties go there are plenty! Especially if you know where to look. But because your into pre-law its a no go, they dont have a pre law program.</p>

<p>Please keep the comments coming. DD has 8 colleges in Florida on her list. Thanks for all the contributions.</p>

<p>Its all about the U. Go to UMiami.. nuff said!</p>

<p>In all reality.. if she is going to be affiliated with the science programs she should undoubtfully go to UM.. they are the best school in Florida who gives most access to undergrads getting into research posistions. If she is doing anything else besides a physical science major I cannot help ;)</p>