UCF Burnett Honors College Medical Scholar vs. University of Miami Pre-Med

Our DS was not accepted to the University of Florida despite an ACT score of 34, 4.4 GPA, mutli-extra cc, and being in-state. He was fortunately accepted to UCF Barnett Honors and Miami. We are trying to decide which pre-med program of the two is best and where their graduates ultimately go to medical school. Our DS would like to pursue a path in research and is looking at the top twenty research medical schools. We do know that some UCF Barnett pre-med have gone to some top medical schools like Johns Hopkins. But we are unsure of the exact rate of placement to the top medical schools from each program. If anyone has ideas on which program, let us know.

My daughter has very similar stats 4.4 weighted GPA, 33 ACT, ECs with leadership positions and was also turned down by UF. She plans to pursue pre-med as well. Have you visited both UCF BHC and University of Miami? Last week we visited UCF honors college and were very impressed. They offer lower level and upper level courses like organic chemistry through the honors college with 20 students max. It also seemed like the honors students would be offered opportunities to get involved in research very early in their undergrad studies. While we were there another parent asked a question about med school placement. Although the presenter did not give specific medical schools, she did say 100% of the UCF honors college pre-med students got accepted to med school the first or second year.

You two have scared me…May I ask if those GPAs are the UF recalculated are your weighted high school GPAs. I am shocked that @GWColonials D and @sipco100 S did not get in. Any recommendations for my 10th grader who wants to try for UF? …OH and UCF is very, very high on her list as well.

My daughter’s UF weighted GPA was 4.4. She started taking AP classes as a freshman in high school and also did dual enrollment. I cannot do more than speculate on the UF approach to holistic admissions. I have heard some majors are more difficult than others to get admitted under. Also a friend of mine works at a state university in Virginia and she told me that state schools have to carefully distribute admitted students from high schools throughout the whole state. My daughter attends a high school in the top 10 in Florida based on US News national rankings so there are many very high achieving students in her class. Best of luck to your daughter. Enjoy the next 2 years of high school, they will go by fast!

@GWColonial UF does consider “Geographical residence” in state. In the common data set it’s flagged as “Important” (same as Test scores, but lower than GPA/Rigor/ECs).

The best HS will send many more students to UF than the average HS. However, it also means those with the highest GPA’s that get reject, likely came from the best/competitive high schools…
.
UF’s holistic admissions drives me nuts…:confused:

On the other hand, it’s a public university that must serve the whole state and not just a couple neighborhoods - all state residents’ kids must have a shot, regardless of where they live.

I have to ask, when did your daughters or sons apply yo UF? My DS applied to UF with a weight 4.1 gpa/1440 sat/32 act and was admitted. So the only thing I can think of is it’s bc we’re oos? What I do remember from our tour last fall was we were told that none (zero) of the students that did NOT apply EA were offered a spot from the year before. Very harsh but something that stuck with my DS and made him apply EA. Turns out he like UCF better anyway

@aed2021, we are in west Texas, may I ask what your S liked more about UCF than UF. We have every been to Florida yet.But we will tour UF and UCF (if OOS Benacquisto is still in play).

@aed2021

EA?

He ultimately chose UCF Barnett

Adding some color. We lived in San Antonio for ten years. He just liked the UCF Barnett program and all the research he could do at Barnett, plus scholarship. Barnett is its own universe, small, its own building, its own dorm. It is like a school within the school. Many students have gone on to law or medical school at Ivey’s and the JH, Georgetown, Rice. etc. Special, unique. He ultimately chose it over UVA, UM. UF did decline, despite his high class rank and 34 ACT, and he was in-state. But overall, UF was older, smaller town, and a big discrepancy in research vs. Orlando. He preferred UM vs. UFD. UF also gave no financial assistance. He is pre-med at UCF after mulling between UM and UCF Barnett. Walk into the Barnett building with your son/daughter - and you will know why. FYI, he was in an extremely competitive HS in Florida, public, always ranked top 5. It did make a difference in acceptance rates, but not necessarily his decision.

“100% of the UCF honors college pre-med students got accepted to med school the first or second year.”
A TRUE fact. All due to MCAT preparation and the amount of research opportunities.

What does “got accepted to med school the first or second year” mean? Is it a combined BS/MD program, or was she referring to when the applications were submitted to MD programs by undergraduates?
It would also be interesting to hear what their definition of “pre-med” is; have seen many undergraduate schools claim very high medical school acceptance rates, but first time seen a claim of 100% acceptance.

D wants to major in electrical engineering (at least for now) , wonder how much she will get out of Barnett if she comes in with a ton of AP credit.

100% acceptance to Medical School is quite the claim for UCF.

From the Johns Hopkins website:
“Overall admit rate to medical schools: 80%”
…so something seems off.

Nevertheless, big fan of UCF here from when our DD toured. Her younger siblings are also interested in UCF as a result.

I am shocked…stunned even…that the students mentioned above were declined from UF with such stats. Seems crazy to me. UF’s loss!

My daughter went to UCF Burnett Medical Scholar program, finished UCF BS part, took a gap year sleeping and reading romantic novels. Will start UCF Med phase in the fall.

I personally think UCF BS MD program is a wonderful way to keep focus at a relaxed way. There are lists of requirement of courses, EC, and that monster hurdle of MCAT 514. But you know you are in from the get go, and program will work with you to get through. If you need an extra year, ask for it, they will give it to you to meet that requirement list. You are prepared to stay at UCF or go elsewhere. But it is wonderful feeling on Oct 15, when first batch of acceptance is sent out across the nation, and you are on it !

She went through UCF with Bright Future and UCF scholarship. We got our FL prepay back, she invested that wisely herself, and is proud of her own investment.

She was thinking about UM back then. But financial affordability was my concern. She got President Scholarship at UM, no Singer. So had she stayed at UM, I still have to pay 25K each year. $100,000 for 4 years of UM. I am pretty sure she would have gotten wonderful education and attention at UM.

But financially more agreeable, and little more psychologically steady at UCF. Name of school UCF does not bother me.

Her friend went to Stanford, 3.7 516, applying this year. She has not gotten any interview invite yet. She will surely end up at med school somewhere, but that uncertain feeling is driving her mom crazy. Like pulling her hairs off, that type of crazy.

My son will face the same college issue. He has an el cheapo father who does not want to pay for college. I will pay full price for grad/professional school, but not at college level. I believe if kids are good, they will come out college with numbers and stats that will put them in great higher education. At that level., I will be happy to pay full price. My son with SAT 1540, might get Singer, might not get Singer. If he gets Singer, he goes to UM, if not, he goes to a school that would give him a ride.

Another friend’s daughter, finishing at UM Health Mentoring Program HMP. He likes her daughter’s education at UM. She is waiting to score high enough on her MCAT to get to next phase. He is paying a whole lot more, but he is happy with his sense of security.

I am sure all capable kids will do well at all colleges, both high end and low end schools . Parents are the determining factors where they go. Some parents are cheaper than others, and they do expect great product at low cost. Many people will make fun of them. But they truly believe final products are the same.

I believe at the true higher education level, there is a merit paying for a bigger name; but not at the college level, not yet.

I am in the same situation, all college tours cancelled due to virus. I read your comment. We have a lot of questions about this program.
Is there any way you can help???

Hi, I would like to know about the UCF BMS program. My daughter has a choice between Siena /AMC and UCF. She likes UCF better because of the Residency matches are better, great undergrad experience and for us undergrad scholarships. Please advise.