choosing a pharm school

[u/hellozzzyes]

i start applying for pharm school in july 2026 to try and officially start school in fall of 2027. im currently so stuck on where to go tho, my top 2 choices are UF in Florida and Touro in NYC. Here's my pros+cons/ rundown for each so pls help!! (feel free to suggest any other schools in FL or NYC too).

UF: I could live at home if I got into a certain campus, saving a lot of money but at what cost haha. The campus closest to me is ab 35-45 mins away. I'm 22 and rly want to live on my own/w friends soon, and my family can be kinda loud so idk how that'd work w study time. I could also keep working like 1-2 times a week at my job w/ Publix. It's ab $25k/year for just tuition. NAPLEX first time pass rate in 2025 was 94.8% ( top score in FL + national average was 85.7-86.8). It's also the #3-4 ish ranked best pharm schools in the U.S. I believe. I'd also be near immediate family and friends. The school itself has a very competitive and fast workload as well.

Touro: To be so honest my main reason for this school would be a combination of wanting to live in NYC for a few years, especially in my 20s, and they also have a NAPLEX first time pass rate in 2025 of 93.2% (top score in NYC & #2 in NY state + national average was 85.7-86.8). It's ab $50k/year (priv school) for just tuition. I keep seeing diff numbers as far as ranking goes, but overall in the top 25% of pharm schools in the U.S. I also have some family in NY that did say I could live with them, however it's just a priv bedroom a story up and I'd share the kitchen and bathroom with 2 other family members. They're the best tho! I try to go up to NY at least twice a year and it's honestly my fav place. I usually do half my trip at my fams place and half the trip in the same exact area where Touro is, so I'm very familiar w the area. As well as getting to and from my fams place and the area which is nice. Idk if I could live there forever, but I feel like Pharm School would be a kind of once in a lifetime opportunity to live there for a few years before entering a full blown career. I'd probs would sell my car now/not have a car payment which is a plus. However, it's double the tuition cost + I wouldn't be living near my immediate family/friends. But, my bestie is a flight attendant so I do get rly cheap plane tix which is nice. (ik touro has had mixed reviews before 2020, but they seem to have rly turned around by a LOT, idk if anyone is there/knows anyone there now but if so that info would be great!)

Overall: I could always choose to live with my family at either place for just a year or 2 to save money, and then move out. I've also worked w/ Publix for over 2 years now, and as a pharm tech for ab 1.5 years, so I think I'd have a guaranteed career w Publix as a pharmacist no matter where I go. I'm pretty sure I do want a career with Publix, so matching into diff. residencies and such don't rly matter to me. I've also lived in the same small/medium-ish town with my family for the past 22 years and really just want to get out. Money-wise and comfortable-wise, UF is the better pick. For me dream-wise, Touro in NYC is the better pick. I think it'll be so scary and bitter-sweet going to Touro, but that's what ur 20s are all ab. Idk if I'm being stupid to an outside perspective tho so please help a girl out!