Figured I'd start a class thread since no one else has yet..
Very excited about Nova! The campus is amazing.. Who else will be attending??
Very excited about Nova! The campus is amazing.. Who else will be attending??
Will officially be attending here in the fall. Just paid the deposit today!
are you guys using ebooks? if so what are your thoughts on them. thanks. good luck with finalsI am currently an M1 student at NSUCOM. Currently 2 finals left to go and regrettably distracting myself with SDN. If you are from 2016, and have questions ask away. I know some M2s are already offering, perhaps we can both chime in, as experiences are slightly different from their M1 year and our M1 year, and maybe that in itself can clue you in on the school's policies. Can also answer questions on teacher's etc. I'll try to be as unbiased as possible.
I was thinking of getting the ipad mainly because of the ebooks. But with the powerpoints I might decide otherwise. Thanks for the info!This will be fragmented.
We are indeed using ebooks. The only physical books I recommend are Netters anatomy and perhaps some of the BRS series of books for your first semester. Netters you will be able to get for free once school starts from joining one of the clubs (forgot which, it costs money to join the clubs but you get free things and it appears on your transcript). Netters is one of the provided ebooks through the school for you, but its kind of worth it to get a hard copy. Plus, you cannot take your tablets or phones into the anatomy lab during dissection, and in that case you would want at least someone in your group to have a hard copy of Netters. Also an anatomy coloring book will be useful.
The ebook service is through Vital Source. The program and format on laptops/pcs is much much better than on the iPad. The school could have used various other service providers for the iPad but regrettably it is what it is. Vital Source is currently not out on android, it was expected to be released this year but chances are more so 2012. If you are looking for a tablet right now for school, either wait or get an iPad. Id estimate around 1/4th of our class uses iPads, but I eventually decided that I miss typing and started bringing a laptop instead.
Steel auditorium (the room you will be in 99% of the time first year) barely has any outlets, so keep that in mind.
Some classes you'll have to read the ebooks for (Patient Centered Medicine) and some you will never touch. I've very rarely used the ebooks this semester. Most of the classes provide you with detailed note packets that you just add on to as the lectures go. Our cardiophysio right now is based on a fairly dense and detailed packet that's 120 pages big. Each anatomy exam was based on packets that were probably around 200 pages ish, with pictures.
IF you do manage to get an iPad, get iAnnotate. Its an app a few of us use that is basically a very feature filled pdf editor. We ended up scanning a lot of our notepackets that we received into pdf format and just take notes on the iPad with iAnnotate. The app allows you to highlight, draw, freeform write, take pictures, record, insert images, whatever you might imagine. Its honestly a must if you plan to go the digital route. Plus all the notepackets end up being condensed into the thickness of your iPad. Extreme portability compared to having to carry around packets.
PS: Nova gets really good discounts with Dell, Lenovo, and HP. So if you are going to buy school related/apartment related stuff, wait until you are fully enrolled and use the savings (like 40% off lenovo products for example).
http://www.facebook.com/groups/149336538506187/To continue have the ball rolling, the link below is for the Facebook Group. If there are any suggestions (name change, layout, content, pictures, privacy settings, etc) let me know (PM or FB message)!
NSU-COM Class of 2016
http://www.facebook.com/groups/204094929675500/
--Israel
NSU-COM C/O 2016!
I'll be there next year too! C/O 2016 Thanks for the great information regarding eBooks, it was definitely a question of mine too. Is there any additional advice you have? (maybe regarding living arrangements, purchasing equipment, do's and don'ts of any 1st year courses)
Any current NSU-COM student wish to share their yearly cost and how they feel about it? (tuition + living etc). On the NSU-COM discussion board there is a lot of talk about NSU being overly expensive compared to other medical schools. What is everyone's take on this?
Where should I live?
I like the idea of the beach, but is it worth it in practice?
If I live within walking distance of campus, are there biking lines or sidewalks that lead directly to HPD without any hassle?
Does it rain enough that walking/biking daily is impractical?
People in my class (M1) seem to be spread all over the place - a lot live within a few minutes of campus, a lot more live within a 10-20 minute drive, and there's definitely people who live on the beach and love having the ocean, etc., right there. If you don't think it will distract you from going to class/studying , it's definitely doable. What I've heard is that if lower rent is your number one priority, go further from campus. My biggest concern was being close, since I don't have a car.
There are sidewalks around campus, so it's pretty easy to walk, and you'll figure out the easiest routes pretty quickly. I live in the dorms, and half the time I'll walk instead of waiting for the shuttle. Most of the time when it rains it'll stop within 30 minutes, so walking/biking isn't a huge problem.
Sorry, I'm not sure about the discounts. If it's an official NSU thing you'll probably be able to find a link on sharklink somewhere?
Tuition-wise, I don't really remember the actual numbers from last year. I do remember looking at the tuition for multiple schools at one point, and thinking Nova was pretty comparable (I'm also out of state). I do know that compared to in-state tuition at your state school it will be much higher, but compared to most private school tuitions it seemed pretty much the same. Maybe there's a little bit higher cost of living here than some other locations?
Rolling Hills is convenient but you are paying a premium if you choose to live there, for pretty pathetic rooms. The big plus is that the security there is rock solid. There is a 24 hour security guard in the front lobby and a guard who patrols the parking lot at night. I lived here my 1st two years.
I suggest having an alarm system installed wherever you decide to live in Davie, if possible. I personally know 1 girl who had her apartment burglarized in Sunforest and know there was a shooting at Palm Trace a year or two ago. One of my classmates who lived in Royal Grande had his car stolen within a month of moving to Davie. Burglarly and car theft is a major problem in all the apartment complexes surrounding the school. The shooting was a bit out of character for Davie. I personally didn't have any problems around the school, at any hour.
If you have the funds and are willing to drive the extra distance, my opinion is that Aventura is hands down the nicest area to live in. It's a 20-25 minute drive to school and I wish I had found out about the city my 1st year. The problem is price and distance, but the benefits are secluded gated apartment complexes and lots of restaurants and ocean to enjoy.
Can someone explain the difference between WebCT, WebStar, SharkLink and WebMail?!?!?!
Sharklink is the main hub from which you can access all the others (although mail just changed). WebCT is where you go for class things, sorta like Blackboard or other systems. Get syllabi, homework, ppts, tht stuff. WebStar is your paperwork area. Go there for financial aid, matriculation documents, grades, etc. WebMail is, well, webmail. Email, you access it through outlook.
Also, on the security stuff. ILikeFood is entitled to his opinion but I respectfully disagree. There have been some burglaries in the area but it is pretty safe. Like anywhere, be careful at night but don't lose sleep over it. The bubble around the school tends to be unique so I can't speak on other areas but I've never felt unsafe here and don't know anyone who has. Not to start any arguments, just thought I'd add my 0.02. Specifically, there's no reason to feel that you need a 24 hour doorman. Alarm isn't a bad idea if you can foot the bill but let's not live our lives in fear.
Hi all, thanks for the great thread.
What are the first year clinical experiences like? How often do you have patient contact in what kind of setting ( e.g., hospital, clinic) and in what capacity?
Good to hear! One more question; I know most of the first two years are large didactic lectures. How much academic support do you get from the faculty/TAs? Are there "recitations" or any other structured opportunities for small group learning?
Thanks again.
Hey Class of 2016! I, too, will be attending NOVA this fall! I was hoping one of you might know when new student orientation is and/or when the first day of class is? No one in the office can provide an exact day AND I cannot find next year's academic calendar online. Please help!
Thanks!