<p>My older daughter just graduated from FSU with a B.S. in biochemistry. She was in Honors and wrote a thesis for Honors-in-the-Major. FSU is excellent for allowing undergraduate research, especially in the sciences.</p>
<p>See: fsu.edu</a> | Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors</p>
<p>plus: fsu.edu</a> | Honors Program</p>
<p>and: fsu.edu</a> | About the Honors in the Major Program</p>
<p>and: fsu.edu</a> | Honors Medical and Legal Scholars Programs</p>
<p>parent2noles, I am a biochemistry major going into my junior year. What is your daughter doing now after graduating? Did she choose to do something chemistry related or professional school? I have planned on dental school for the past 3 years and don't plan on changing.. but it is always interesting to hear what other people with my major (a small one) choose to do!</p>
<p>Everyone on here has to realize you can accomplish anything at about any school and get a fine education!</p>
<p>She's applied to med school. She had to decide between that and grad school.</p>
<p>Well now I can speak for Rollins.</p>
<p>It is similar to UT in the sense that a bunch of northerners come here, and a lot like to party, but it is MUCH better overall. Better looking campus, better academics, the kids are more motivated, and much better resources. We are about on the same level as Tampa in sports, in all the same conferences as them. Rollins gives out some hefty scholarships to those who can qualify, and those with full rides or more than 75% paid are top tier school caliber but came to Rollins because of the money.</p>
<p>The personal attention here can't be beat, since there are only 1700 undergraduate students. The campus is immaculate, the prettiest that I have ever visited. There are those who did only decent in high school and are coming here on daddy's money and aren't as motivated, but most want to do well, go to class, study a lot, etc. We were ranked by Playboy as the #3 party school in 2003, and although we still throw down, the ranking is definitely outdated.</p>
<p>USF has a good club scene since they have down town Tampa, Ybor which is strips of clubs that are amaaazzinggg.</p>
<p>UCF-is a crazy party school</p>
<p>FSU and UF are too but I def don't recommend going to school thats a big party school, it might effect your grades and you could come home an alcoholic. I'm originally from Florida but go to school in Kansas but if I go back Ill go to USF because of the downtown Tampa and because its what I'm most familiar with since I sent 11 years in the Tampa bay area.</p>
<p>"UCF - is a crazy party school"? Eh, I don't think it's any crazier or more partying than most other large universities in that regard. </p>
<p>I always feel compelled to put my .02 in about UCF, since my D is a senior there and loves it. She's a NMS who is also in the Honors College and is majoring in Molecular Biology & Microbiology, or M&M, as it's called at UCF. I can tell you that UCF is also strong in the sciences. My D has been put through the rigors, believe you me, but has really appreciated her education there. She will be applying to med school this year.</p>
<p>Some folks on CC tend to try to downplay UCF's reputation in Florida and beyond but, truth is, it really is an outstanding school. A minor amount of research will readily reveal that fact. CC is a great place to learn, however, and hopefully it assists students and their parents in making informed decisions.</p>
<p>Yeah, one thing I have noticed is that everyone in Florida is quick to shoot down the other schools with things they heard from a friend or other ridiculous notions about universities. </p>
<p>UCF is not full of slackers and people who don't care. Like any university, there are people who are excelling, and people who are goofing off. College is what you make of it, and many UCF students are very successful. </p>
<p>The best way to learn about the Universities is to actually visit them and pick the one that is right for you. While everyone feels that UF is the best school, it is not for everyone and you might do a lot better at UCF or rollins or another school.</p>
<p>swatdingo-thank you for your post and I agree that opinions of schools vary for each person. My DS has chosen the University of Tampa. He is NOT a rich northerner who likes to party. He has been accepted into the Honors Program, received a nice merit scholarship and has an opportunity to play on the golf team. With about 5,000 students, UT seems like the perfect size school. He is very excited about the Tampa area (Yankees, Buccaneers, Rays, Busch Gardens, the beach and of course, golf, golf, golf)
UT may seen like a pricey private school, but for us northerners, it seems like a bargain.</p>
<p>How about FIU?</p>
<p>FIU is a newer school and does not have the large alumni base or recognition of the big six schools in Florida. It is mainly a commuter school in south florida, and I know some of the people that attend FIU will try to transfer after a year or two to other universities. It is in a very nice area though.</p>
<p>How about Rasmussen College in Ocala, Florida?</p>
<p>Which schools are the best in engineering?</p>
<p>UF is probably the best for engineering followed by UCF</p>
<p>The latest (2008) US News Graduate rankings for Engineering show:</p>
<p>UF - 24
UCF - 80
FSU (shares College of Engineering with FAMU) - 92</p>
<p>Other FL schools are unranked in this category.</p>
<p>UCF is an amazing school. Academically most graduate in 5 years on average, but its because the social scene is unreal and its by choice. I just graduated in 4 years and already want to go back and get another degree. We just added a med school this year and we are the fastest growing and largest public university.</p>
<p>The social scene hands down is amazing. Not only do you have local bars, but also downtown is not too far away if you jump on the Expressway. Locally is a cheaper feat with the drink specials being extremely low compared to anywhere else $5-7 cover and your bartab will never exceed $20. If you are apart of a Greek organization, your bar tab will be more in the range of FREE DOLLA and you just have to tip pretty well. Frequent celebrity appearances when you are out and about aren't unusual, such as, Ashlee Simpson, former members of N'SYNC, NicK Hogan, the cast of JackAss, Ace from Real World Paris, are just a few people that I've personally spotted. UCF is not really a commuter school and most people I've met are from South Fla or out-of-state (NY, NJ, CT, MA). Greek Life is big despite its downfall in rescent years... a lot of organizations have gone underground and still exist; not too bad of a deal to hook up with one of these organizations and reap the perks.</p>
<p>UCF and its alumni are very active in the Entertainment industry both locally and nationally: Shannon James, Playboy Magazine and nominee for Playmate of the Year 2007. Brett Novak, VH1s Make Me a SuperModel. UCF Cheerleaders, WE's Cheerleader U. Film Site for Sydney White featuring the UCF Marching Band, PIKE/SAE house, and UCF Rec Center. WB's reality show BMOC. Ultimate Broski reality show spin-off of YouTube's My New HairCut. Playboy Mag's Top 5 Hottest Campus Girls. Jeff Grant, Abercrombie & Fitch model. Daunte Culpepper. 5 NFL Draftees in 2008. ETC....</p>
<p>i actually visited UCF and USF because i was stuck between the two and i HATED it. the people seemed so fake and they were barely any students roaming or interacting. i didnt get a good student body "feel" from it. the campus is all bricks and quite boring. but when i went to USF i instantly fell in love with it. there were clubs, organizations and tons of people from all sorts of backgrounds socializing and walking with books or riding bikes. the atmosphere was great and i knew i had to go there. I'm attending this fall =). academically, UCF was impressive with their academic presentations but I too have heard that the students weren't too bright and it was a low-budget UF =/ USF faculty members and students were well aware of all programs and majors there and gave honest opinions saying they loved it there and were learning alot. I hope im not being too biased but i really wanted a school that would have a good social scene but would have the academics to help me in the near future for my profession of choice. USF won me over.</p>
<p>if your going to USF I would suggest sticking to the st.pete campus if you can.</p>
<p>i actually enrolled in tampa. i like the big atmosphere, im from an extremely large city in florida so i like the havoc lol</p>
<p>UF is definitely the best.
UCF is definitely better than USF.</p>
<p>Trust me, Criminal Justice / Pre- law, UF is your best bet. If you absolutely said no, look at Stetson University -- very good school. If you like the Party scene, UF again.
I live in Florida and my sister is going to attend UCF maybe, she couldn't have gotten into UF. UCF is a good school, but UF is better</p>
<p>The general consensus in my school for rankings is this....</p>
<ol>
<li>UF</li>
<li>FSU</li>
<li>UCF</li>
<li>USF</li>
<li>UNF, FAU, FIU, FGCU</li>
</ol>
<p>New College of Florida gets no recognition because, well, nobody knows it's there!</p>
<p>I know a number of students that got into USF, but not into UCF and are now attending Valencia CC in hopes of transferring to UCF or FSU. Also know a kid that got into USF this year with a 3.3 weighted and 980 SAT....</p>