Hey guys. So I’ve been accepted to both UCF and USF and I’m waiting on a decision from UF. I would love to go to UF; however, my chances are not that high which is why I’m trying to choose between UCF and USF but I need some help. The goal is to do medicine. I got into the UCF honors college but I know nothing about the scholarship they’ll give me. USF, on the other hand, has also accepted me into their honors college along with a 4k scholarship each year ($16,000). My question is which school is better? Which has the better research opportunities? Which sets up a pre-med student for med school the best? Is there anything else I should be looking out?
Please help out a very lost senior. Just trying to make a decision I’m happy with now so that I’m not heartbroken when I get that rejection from UF. Maybe even if UF does take me (haha funny) then you guys can persuade me to choose UCF or USF.
Also, IDK if this should really factor into my choice but I really enjoy a school with great student spirit (UF has crazy school spirit which is something I really admire.) Also when I toured both schools, I liked UCF campus more than USF but I think I didn’t like USF because it was absolutely dead (even though I went to both during the summer) and I saw 3 people from my school at USF. I can obviously learn to like the campus though.
@PhilM1 - Can you contact both of the schools and talk to someone specifically about their level of pre-med support? Find out acceptance rates out of both schools? Ask about the research opportunities available, etc? Can you go back and re-visit the schools with a more targeted mission of learning more specifically about pre-med? What do you plan to major in? Set an appointment to visit some faculty or look some up and email them with your queries. You might find that you get a bit more attention at these schools instead of UF anyway! Especially if you are in their Honors Colleges. What do you know about participating in those? What benefits, if any, do they offer?
Both schools are excellent for pre-med. Either school would be a good choice. Taking the merit aid (scholarships) also helps to keep your cost down, which will help once you get into medical school.
UCF has more “spirit”, but it’s also much larger and has a worse student to faculty ratio. Overcrowding is more of an issue at UCF than USF.
USF has a lower student population (but it’s still a “big” school), and does more research (including medical research). It’s likely a bit easier to get into research at USF, but you can still do it at UCF.
Both Orlando and Tampa can be a great locations to go to college. Lots to do as compared to Tally or Gainesville (which are much more “college towns”). Some folks prefer this, others like college towns.
Really, pick the school that YOU think is the best fit. It will be the right school.
Both have great honors colleges - congrats, it’s not easy getting in - so, differences:
UCF is having growing pains - lots of online/super extra large classes/not enough parking space/not enough faculty for the growing student body.
However the honors college insulates you from these downsides somewhat and Burnett is excellent. Lots of engineering research.
USF has a better student: faculty ratio. The campus is more manageable. There’s a lot of medical research. The honors college isn’t as well-known.
The environment (Central Florida v. Southern Florida) would be a matter of preference. Personally I prefer USF’s environment to Orlando’s but that’s subjective.
@Hoggirl Thank you! I’ll try looking into those questions and contacting people from each school. My major is biomedical sciences at both schools except at UCF they have a special track I would be able to follow (neuroscience) which is what I’m interested in as I love the brain and would love to be a neurologist (even though that could change). I know honors colleges offer early class registration, special housing, and smaller class sizes in the honors classes.
@Gator88NE From your explanation, I’m getting that USF may be a better choice due to its smaller size and great medical research opportunities (which is a big thing for med school). I really like the college town feel tbh but USF and UCF don’t really offer that. I’m not really a big fan of all the amusement parks in Orlando but I guess I’ll have to gown again to both colleges and see how the city around it is. This is such a hard decision!
@MYOS1634 Thanks! I definitely don’t like the sound of all the people at UCF and all the problems that it’s causing. I guess I didn’t feel that struggle when I visited during the summer. I should probably visit again. In what ways is Burnett excellent? I like that USF has that medical research though and I know they have a hospital close by. Aren’t they opening a new medical building too on campus or something? Weather in Florida is practically all the same but Orlando is probably colder (which I absolutely love) so there’s that.
Let’s say I change my mind and decide not to do premed anymore or get weeded out, which school would be the better option for allowing more diversity in majors?
Here’s another perspective. Stop worrying about it until February. Enjoy your senior year and then prepare to go and visit each school for a more in depth visit after things are more clear. While at this moment you want to go to the best school “on paper,” you should also be sure that you can see yourself there for four years. Anyway, just one guy’s opinion.
@JDGatorfan I mean I guess. The thing is I just don’t want to be as sad if I don’t get into UF. I want to choose a good school I’ll be able to go to that’ll be able to provide me with the opportunities and experiences I’m looking for. It’s hard because I can see myself at either school for 4 years.
Both UCF and USF are large comprehensive universities. You’ll have plenty of majors to choose from, and few are “limited” access, so switching majors is very easy. (the same would apply to UF).
On timing with UCF/USF. Make sure you complete any scholarship paper work before the deadline (based on the scholarship offered, they may have different dates). Otherwise, you can wait till February/March to make a final decision.
The nice thing about getting accepted to UCF/USF and being offered large amounts of merit scholarships, is that it should help reduce the stress caused by waiting on UF’s decision. Once you’re happy with your backup plan, waiting on UF becomes MUCH less stressful!
Gosh, I live in Orlando, about a mile from UCF, and I cannot answer the OP’s question. UCF/USF are peer institutions, and both are “hot” schools right now (pardon the pun). Somewhere on this site, someone posted an article about how USF has become a much tougher admit in recent years (I think the article is in a thread about “hot schools”). UCF is also on fire. It has literally doubled in size in the past dozen years; that is not overstatement. However, USF is plenty large as well.
Don’t know if it matters, but both are also pretty similar in sports (weird how similar these two unis are right now). UCF had an undefeated football season in 2017, but USF was competitive as well. Big time sports will be part of both schools.
Question? I am assuming that the OP is from FL. Where in FL? Is “going away” important to you? For instance, if you’re from Orlando, perhaps UCF feels too much of a hometown school, while heading off to USF would feel like going away. Or vice versa.
I would A) follow the money, or, B) follow your gut (which one feels right?), or C) flip a coin. There is also “D,” of course: All of the above.
@Hapworth Thanks for the response. I am from south FL and “going away” is pretty important. I really want to get as far away from home as possible USF is like 2 1/2 hours away and UCF is like 3.
For part A, money isn’t too much of an issue right now since I have full tuition covered and both schools are going to offer me money. I’m also prob getting stuff from FAFSA. I also have florida pre paid. For part B, my gut is telling me UCF cause I just liked it more than USF but my brain is telling me USF cause it has better medical “stuff”. As for flipping a coin, that would just be even worse to me. Then I feel like the choice wouldn’t be mine.
@Gator88NE I’m good on the scholarships right now! There’s no paperwork I’m aware of. Only extra paperwork I had to do was for UCF honors which I got into. For some reason, getting into both schools has caused even more stress not less! It’s caused more because now I have to make a choice and I don’t know how to make the right one!!! AAAHHHH I think I’m actually going to go crazy. Choosing a backup plan I like will definitely bring down my stress levels for UF which I am FREAKING out about because I’m on the edge for recalculated gpa, in range for test scores, and my extra curriculars are pretty unique. I also thought my essay was pretty good but for all I know, it could have been straight garbage. I like this holistic approach but I hate it at the same time.
There isn’t a wrong choice. Both are good, both will be inexpensive or free. See if you can visit again and find something you like about one more than the other. The student activities? A team or club? The colors or mascot? (you’ll be wearing that color a lot).
Maybe you’ll get into UF and then won’t have to choose.
@twoinanddone I know there’s no wrong choice I just want the better one. I guess I’ll visit again. UCF colors are a lot nicer. I really hope I make it into UF! Then I wouldn’t be having to go through all this
Are you in an honors college at USF? If not, that might be important, especially if your gut says UCF. I do not know the details of UCF honors, but if it is like other honors colleges it could make UCF much smaller and stronger in terms of academics, yet you get all the benefits of a large uni. Also, if med school is in your future, you should go where you will excel academically, and here too the smaller classes and professor availability might help when others who are not in honors are potentially struggling and need that extra attention. *** NOTE: just saw that you’re in USF honors too. Is one honors program better than the other? USF is giving you more money, so how important is that? Yikes, I am not helping at all, am I?
@Hapworth I don’t know if one honors college is better than the other but maybe I should look into that! What aspects should I be looking at to determine that though? Money is kinda important but not really a deciding factor since it’ll all be practically the same. You are helping! Thank you
USF is like 2 1/2 hours away and UCF is like 3.