Florida International University (FIU) is a public university established in 1965. Part of the State University System of Florida, FIU is the third largest university in the state. In 2021, Florida International University came first among public universities in the state, according to the Florida Board of Governors’ performance-based funding scores.
FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine integrates education, research, and clinical care. Students get to interact with the community while going through an innovative medical education curriculum. How does Florida International University compare with other medical schools in the country?
Is Florida International University a good Medical School?
Yes, Florida International University is a good medical school. Students get to immediately hone practical competencies by beginning clinical trials as they’re learning the basics of biomedical sciences. They get to work on personal skills, engage with the community, and become true experts in their clinical specialization.
FIU medical students also have great residency matches. According to the school’s website, since 2013, 99% of their graduates have transitioned to some of the most competitive and respected residency programs in the US.
In this article, we’ll be diving into the different aspects that make Florida International University a good medical school. We’ll go over the school’s admission requirements, tuition, and acceptance rate. We’ll also review FIU’s match data and go over some student reviews of the school.
Florida International University Medical School Admission Requirements
Florida International University has a total of 41,220 students enrolled. Out of those, 498 students are enrolled in FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. The school offers different medical programs, Master’s degrees, PhDs, certificates, and combined degree programs. Here are a few of the most popular:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Master in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
- PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The Doctor of Medicine program takes four years to complete. Since Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is a community-based medical school, students have access to both public and private clinical settings right from the beginning.
The program is very patient-centered and extends to different types of populations. Among the different competencies that students must acquire is a domain regarding social accountability. Students also learn how to interact with patients that have little to no access to medical care.
Students applying to the Doctor of Medicine program must submit their applications through American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS). Besides the primary and secondary AMCAS applications, students must also submit a photograph and three letters of recommendation.
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine performs Level I and II criminal background checks. Both of them need to be done before the applicant begins their first year of medical school training. Students must also go through a 10-panel drug testing and interviews.
Master in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
The Master in Physician Assistant Studies program takes two years to complete. The first year is dedicated to didactic education and the second year includes supervised clinical rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and more.
The program is very community-based and puts a lot of focus on the ability to communicate well with patients and healthcare teams. It is a very competitive program, with only 45 seats available in each class.
To apply to the MPAS program, students must have a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, from an accredited superior education institution, with an overall GPA and science GPA of 3.0. They must also submit their GRE or PA-CAT scores.
Students must complete all prerequisite courses, provide three letters of recommendation, and complete the CASPer online assessment. The program requires a minimum of 500 hours of shadowing experience and Direct Patient Care Experience (DPCE).
PhD in Biomedical Sciences
The PhD in Biomedical Sciences takes 5 years to complete. It combines knowledge from basic sciences and medicine to help students create unique and innovative research in their fields of choice. The fourth and fifth years are dedicated to dissertation research.
Some of the key research areas at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine include Environmental Science and Toxicology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and Genetics and Cancer Biology.
Applying students must have a Bachelor’s degree in biological, chemical, pharmaceutical, or biomedical sciences, with a minimum of 3.0 GPA. In their application, students must provide a CV with relevant research and experience, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose essay.
Florida International University Acceptance Rate
According to the US Department of Education College Scorecard, Florida International University has an acceptance rate of 58%. In 2019, the national average acceptance rate for first-time freshmen in public schools was 70.3%. This means that FIU is quite selective for a public school.
Florida International University Match Data
Florida International University medical students consistently match with competitive residency programs across the country. 2022 Match Day for FIU students revealed that they were able to enter residencies in dermatology, plastic surgery, neurology, urology, and other sought-after programs. 48% percent of students went into primary care specialties.
While more than a third of the students will complete their residency programs in Florida, others are matched into prominent residencies at the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Cleveland Clinic, and NYU.
Florida International University Tuition
Florida International University Tuition differs depending on the program you’re applying to. Total MD tuition costs $77,288 for in-state students, and $108,792 for out-of-state students, per year. These yearly values can be broken down into different expenses including books and supplies, technology fees, room and board, and personal expenses.
In-state students enrolling in the MPAS program pay $86,857, per year, while out-of-state students pay $88,054 for attending. Tuition on its own costs $41,400, books and supplies add up to $1,500, and students can pay up to $30,000 in room and board.
Does Florida International University Accept AP Credits?
Yes, Florida International University accepts AP credits. Students can take advantage of any AP credits for English, Biology, Math, Physics, and General Chemistry as long as they appear on college transcripts and are verified by AMCAS.
Does Florida International University Offer Scholarships?
Yes, Florida International University offers a wide variety of scholarships. Some of them are available to the entire student body, while others depend on which school/program they’re attending. Here are a few scholarships available at FIU:
- Doctoral Evidence Acquisition (DEA) Fellowship. This scholarship awards $8,590.50 to doctoral students without means of financial support. Students might be required to participate in off-campus library/archive research, fieldwork, experiments, interviews,
- M&LP Family Scholarship. FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine awards $5,000 to continuing medical students in good academic and professional standing. Students must’ve contributed to the school and community.
- Richard Elias, MD Cardiac Nursing Scholarship Fund. This fund was created for students enrolled in any nursing program. It awards $4,157.14 to students seeking to advance their studies in the cardiovascular field of nursing.
Florida International University Accreditation
Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Its different schools and programs are also accredited by different institutions.
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s MD program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and the MPAS program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Is Florida International University Good?
Yes, Florida International University is good for medical students. This school is recognized for its diversity, being ranked #1 for Most Diverse Medical School Among Public Universities and #2 for Most Diverse Medical School Nationwide by the U.S. News & World Report.
It also ranked among the top 30 medical schools with graduates practicing in medically underserved areas which confirms the strong focus that the school places on community work and serving patients in the area without access to medical care.
Pros of Studying at Florida International University
- Immersive programs
- Inclusive and diverse community
- Big campus
- Big on sports
- Low student-to-faculty ratio
Cons of Studying at Florida International University
- Not all professors are as dedicated as others
- Students must figure things out on their own
- Living in Miami is expensive
Students and Graduate Reviews of Florida International University
According to reviews from Rate My Professors, GradReports, and Quora, students praise the many ways the school took care of them. From grants and scholarships to good food, and helpful faculty and advisors, most students share an extremely positive experience.
Student life is never boring. There’s a strong Greek life, several clubs, and sports events. The medical campus, for instance, has over 25 restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops, more than 50,000 square feet of fitness space, jogging trails, and much more to experience.
Students reveal that the major cons of attending this school are associated with the high cost of living. Students also mentioned that advisors expect students figure most things out on their own and that some faculty members are not as involved as others.
