Howard vs Nova (DO) - Decision needed tonight

[ucfknight407]

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I got accepted to both Nova and Howards medical schools. I am really having a hard time making a decision and I need to make a decision on Nova tonight. I am also currently waiting on decisions on two other MD programs, one in my home state of Florida.

The thing is I love Florida and would rather stay in it if possible but I currently only have an acceptance from Nova. I was alternate listed at UM and still have a interview coming up at FSU. I am not certain on what kind of doctor I would like to be yet but some of my interests do lie in MD specialties. While I am aware the line between MD's and DO's has lessened considerably. I have been told it still exists in places. On the other hand, I fear going to a minority MD school might also carry a negative connotation when applying for residency and its not in Florida but I am willing to go to a school thats better for my career.

I'm torn in the decision making process right. Any helpful advice guys? Which is would more negatively impact my chances at MD residencies, going to a DO program or minority MD program?

Also Nova wants a lot more money to hold a seat and they want more again in March.

 

[willen101383]

Dude come on...you know everyone here is going to tell you to go with the MD school regardless. Thats just how SDN pre allo is. Nova is a pretty respected DO program however. I interviewed there back in the day and the facilities shocked me (super nice)...not that that makes a huge diff. Are you AA? Where do you see yourself fitting in better?

 

[Mr Hippopotamus]

Why would going to a "minority MD school" have a negative connotation? It's an accredited US medical school.

 

[Bernoull]

I got accepted to both Nova and Howards medical schools. I am really having a hard time making a decision and I need to make a decision on Nova tonight. I am also currently waiting on decisions on two other MD programs, one in my home state of Florida.

The thing is I love Florida and would rather stay in it if possible but I currently only have an acceptance from Nova. I was alternate listed at UM and still have a interview coming up at FSU. I am not certain on what kind of doctor I would like to be yet but some of my interests do lie in MD specialties. While I am aware the line between MD's and DO's has lessened considerably. I have been told it still exists in places. On the other hand, I fear going to a minority MD school might also carry a negative connotation when applying for residency and its not in Florida but I am willing to go to a school thats better for my career.

I'm torn in the decision making process right. Any helpful advice guys? Which is would more negatively impact my chances at MD residencies, going to a DO program or minority MD program?

Also Nova wants a lot more money to hold a seat and they want more again in March.

u can rank ur concerns and decide based on that. What's most important to YOU, FL VS OOS, MD VS DO, student demographics etc..

I'm pretty sure Nova's student population majority minority.. I'm sure Howard's graduates do just fine matching into various residencies.

Gdluck

 

[WingedOx]

I read this as "Harvard vs Nova" and was going to make a really sarcastic response... god I think I'm getting sick.

...I guess I have to give advice now (more to come)...

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you want to go into road or a surgerical specialty ( optho, ent, ortho) : +1
If you want to say in Florida : -1
If you want to be a MD : +1
If you want to be a DO : -1
If you want to do a residency in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in D.C ( Amazing hospitals) : +1
If you want to do your residency in D.C or a possibly competitive program( Primarily for fellowships) : +1
If you like all 4 seasons : +1
If you pretty beaches and warmth year long : -1


A more positive result = Howard
A more negative result = Nova

There's are just a few things I thought of frankly. Make a pro & con list. Personally my vote is to go to Howard. However it's up to you.

 

[sideways]

If you want to go into road or a surgerical specialty ( optho, ent, ortho) : +1
If you want to say in Florida : -1
If you want to be a MD : +1
If you want to be a DO : -1
If you want to do a residency in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in D.C ( Amazing hospitals) : +1
If you want to do your residency in D.C or a possibly competitive program( Primarily for fellowships) : +1
If you like all 4 seasons : +1
If you pretty beaches and warmth year long : -1


A more positive result = Howard
A more negative result = Nova

There's are just a few things I thought of frankly. Make a pro & con list. Personally my vote is to go to Howard. However it's up to you.

Oh Lord.

 

[theWUbear]

I fear going to a minority MD school might also carry a negative connotation when applying for residency

I assure you this is not the case; my only advice is that you not use that as a factor when making your decision

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Oh Lord.

I have too much time on my hands.

 

[amateur obgyn]

If it was me, I would take NOVA. My dad works at the dental school there and he says it's a great school. I also live in Florida and I want to go med. school anywhere in Florida because...

1. You will get a license to practice in Florida
2. Florida has no state income tax
3. The weather/women are fine
4. Even though both schools are private, it's gonna save you a lot of money by not having travel by staying home.

I'm sure Howard is great...but to me, this one is a no-brainer. Don't worry about residency or any other peripheral decisions.

 

[WingedOx]

If you want to go into road or a surgerical specialty ( optho, ent, ortho) : +1
If you want to say in Florida : -1
If you want to be a MD : +1
If you want to be a DO : -1
If you want to do a residency in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in D.C ( Amazing hospitals) : +1
If you want to do your residency in D.C or a possibly competitive program( Primarily for fellowships) : +1
If you like all 4 seasons : +1
If you pretty beaches and warmth year long : -1


A more positive result = Howard
A more negative result = Nova

There's are just a few things I thought of frankly. Make a pro & con list. Personally my vote is to go to Howard. However it's up to you.

If you're really concerned about doing residency in FL, going to NOVA isn't really going to be any significant advantage.

 

[WingedOx]

I assure you this is not the case; my only advice is that you not use that as a factor when making your decision

agreed.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you're really concerned about doing residency in FL, going to NOVA isn't really going to be any significant advantage.

I've heard on the DO forum many residency programs won't accept you unless you rotated with them. But that's for DO-only programs I guess. So your point probably is more correct.

 

[ucfknight407]

dude come on...you know everyone here is going to tell you to go with the md school regardless. Thats just how sdn pre allo is. Nova is a pretty respected do program however. I interviewed there back in the day and the facilities shocked me (super nice)...not that that makes a huge diff. Are you aa? Where do you see yourself fitting in better?

aa?

 

[ucfknight407]

Why would going to a "minority MD school" have a negative connotation? It's an accredited US medical school.

Im not sure if its a negative connotation or not. Im just going through a list to try and make a tough decision. In the end, I am honored I got accepted to either school. I will receive a great education at either. I am just being forced to choose right now.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

or you could jsut pay the deposit for NOVA, wait and see about the other schools, and then make this decision later with a lot less pressure.

 

[ucfknight407]

If you want to go into road or a surgerical specialty ( optho, ent, ortho) : +1
If you want to say in Florida : -1
If you want to be a MD : +1
If you want to be a DO : -1
If you want to do a residency in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in Florida : -1
If you want to do your rotations in D.C ( Amazing hospitals) : +1
If you want to do your residency in D.C or a possibly competitive program( Primarily for fellowships) : +1
If you like all 4 seasons : +1
If you pretty beaches and warmth year long : -1


A more positive result = Howard
A more negative result = Nova

There's are just a few things I thought of frankly. Make a pro & con list. Personally my vote is to go to Howard. However it's up to you.

Wow. Thank you for taking the time to make that list lol. It does help put somethings in perspective. Although, I heard I would still be able to do a residency in Florida just easily coming from Howard or was that incorrect?

 

[ucfknight407]

If it was me, I would take NOVA. My dad works at the dental school there and he says it's a great school. I also live in Florida and I want to go med. school anywhere in Florida because...

1. You will get a license to practice in Florida
2. Florida has no state income tax
3. The weather/women are fine
4. Even though both schools are private, it's gonna save you a lot of money by not having travel by staying home.

I'm sure Howard is great...but to me, this one is a no-brainer. Don't worry about residency or any other peripheral decisions.

Nova does have an amazing campus and facilities and I lived by there for years. Just trying to make the best decision for my career and not let something like where i live completely dominate such an important decision.

 

[ucfknight407]

Thanks so far for everyone's input. It is extremely helpful.

 

[ucfknight407]

or you could jsut pay the deposit for NOVA, wait and see about the other schools, and then make this decision later with a lot less pressure.

If only i had that kind of money for that lol

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

well if you're thinking of making the deposit anyway... then i don't see what the problem is.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Wow. Thank you for taking the time to make that list lol. It does help put somethings in perspective. Although, I heard I would still be able to do a residency in Florida just easily coming from Howard or was that incorrect?

Yes, ignore the residency perspective. You can get a residency in Florida probably without trouble as a MD from Howard. However I believe DO's in FL are required to do a DO transitional year/internship to practice in FL. I'm not sure if proposition 42 only applies to PA but this could be problematic for you if you decide to do an MD residency as a DO.

Also as a DO you will have to take both the comlex and usmle if you want to apply to MD residencies.

Someone please comment on this if the statement on DO's having to do a transitional year to practice is wrong as there could be another proposition like prop 42 that is actually in effect for Florida DO's.

 

[ucfknight407]

well if you're thinking of making the deposit anyway... then i don't see what the problem is.

I cannot do both right now. its one or the other. then waiting to see what the other med schools say later

 

[ucfknight407]

Yes, ignore the residency perspective. You can get a residency in Florida probably without trouble as a MD from Howard. However I believe DO's in FL are required to do a DO transitional year/internship to practice in FL. I'm not sure if proposition 42 only applies to PA but this could be problematic for you if you decide to do an MD residency as a DO.

Also as a DO you will have to take both the comlex and usmle if you want to apply to MD residencies.

Someone please comment on this if the statement on DO's having to do a transitional year to practice is wrong as there could be another proposition like prop 42 that is actually in effect for Florida DO's.

Those are very good points you raised. Hopefully someone has an answer or I can find the info.

 

[MossPoh]

If it was me, I would take NOVA. My dad works at the dental school there and he says it's a great school. I also live in Florida and I want to go med. school anywhere in Florida because...

1. You will get a license to practice in Florida
2. Florida has no state income tax
3. The weather/women are fine
4. Even though both schools are private, it's gonna save you a lot of money by not having travel by staying home.

I'm sure Howard is great...but to me, this one is a no-brainer. Don't worry about residency or any other peripheral decisions.

License is easy-ish to get.

No state income tax doesn't matter if you're making less, spending more and have much higher malpractice insurance.

I almost went to nova. I liked it. Big class. Nice facilities but LOTS of people use them. If you really want to live with your parents then great, but that'd be really painful for me personally. I live fairly close to mine now. It is nice to see them for lunch or visit once in a while for a day, but living with them would feel like high school.

Pretty consistent matchlist. I don't know if still is, but you had to attend a certain percentage of lectures which now that I'm in my second year and never go, realize that would've been painful.

Can't say much about the curriculum. Minor inconvenience if you decide you want to do allo residency and have to take the USMLE and COMLEX. If you want to practice in certain states things can get messy. Students all seem very happy there.

 

[willen101383]

Yes you need to complete an AOA internship year in order to practice in florida....unless you can prop 42 out...which AFAIK is approved like almost 100 percent of the time. However, I dont know if Florida is doing away with prop 42...I know PA (supposedly) is trying to.

 

[WingedOx]

Yes you need to complete an AOA internship year in order to practice in florida....unless you can prop 42 out...which AFAIK is approved like almost 100 percent of the time. However, I dont know if Florida is doing away with prop 42...I know PA (supposedly) is trying to.

semi-off topic... could you clarify why this is, and what prop 42 is, for the uneducated? (me)

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

semi-off topic... could you clarify why this is, and what prop 42 is, for the uneducated? (me)

There are 5? states ( PA & FL included) in which to be able to practice medicine with a DO degree you need to have completed a AOA internship/transitional year. Since many DO's choose to do ACGME residencies this proves to be a problem for them to practice. Prop 42 is a loophole in which those DO's can practice by having their first year of their ACGME residency count. However in PA this loop hole is either closed already or being targeted for closure. I'm not sure if this means that it will also be closed for FL as well or not though.

 

[deleted357625]

If it was me, I would take NOVA. My dad works at the dental school there and he says it's a great school. I also live in Florida and I want to go med. school anywhere in Florida because...

1. You will get a license to practice in Florida
2. Florida has no state income tax
3. The weather/women are fine
4. Even though both schools are private, it's gonna save you a lot of money by not having travel by staying home.

I'm sure Howard is great...but to me, this one is a no-brainer. Don't worry about residency or any other peripheral decisions.

Amen. That's the deal breaker right thurr😀

 

[ucfknight407]

License is easy-ish to get.

No state income tax doesn't matter if you're making less, spending more and have much higher malpractice insurance.

I almost went to nova. I liked it. Big class. Nice facilities but LOTS of people use them. If you really want to live with your parents then great, but that'd be really painful for me personally. I live fairly close to mine now. It is nice to see them for lunch or visit once in a while for a day, but living with them would feel like high school.

Pretty consistent matchlist. I don't know if still is, but you had to attend a certain percentage of lectures which now that I'm in my second year and never go, realize that would've been painful.

Can't say much about the curriculum. Minor inconvenience if you decide you want to do allo residency and have to take the USMLE and COMLEX. If you want to practice in certain states things can get messy. Students all seem very happy there.

I wouldn't live with my parents but they and the rest of my family would be within driving distance.

And yes Nova does have a mandatory attendance policy which would hurt me too but their facilities and the whole area is nice. But the school is integrated with other programs so it can be crowded. Not much an issue to me though. Having to take both the USMLE and COMLEX would be a pain but doable.

 

[ucfknight407]

Yes you need to complete an AOA internship year in order to practice in florida....unless you can prop 42 out...which AFAIK is approved like almost 100 percent of the time. However, I dont know if Florida is doing away with prop 42...I know PA (supposedly) is trying to.

ouch

 

[WingedOx]

I wouldn't live with my parents but they and the rest of my family would be within driving distance.

And yes Nova does have a mandatory attendance policy which would hurt me too but their facilities and the whole area is nice. But the school is integrated with other programs so it can be crowded. Not much an issue to me though. Having to take both the USMLE and COMLEX would be a pain but doable.

for lectures!? DEAL BREAKER!!!!😱

 

[ucfknight407]

There are 5? states ( PA & FL included) in which to be able to practice medicine with a DO degree you need to have completed a AOA internship/transitional year. Since many DO's choose to do ACGME residencies this proves to be a problem for them to practice. Prop 42 is a loophole in which those DO's can practice by having their first year of their ACGME residency count. However in PA this loop hole is either closed already or being targeted for closure. I'm not sure if this means that it will also be closed for FL as well or not though.

So I could end up having to do a transitional year if Florida follows suit. Otherwise, I could just opt out using Prop 42. something to consider.

 

[ucfknight407]

for lectures!? DEAL BREAKER!!!!😱

yes thats what they told me on my interview day lol.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10221442

info on resolution 42 from another thread.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i would never attend a school that did not treat me like an adult.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Heh.. I thought Nova was more like you need to attend 70% of lectures and that its unenforced. But meh.

 

[genswim24]

for lectures!? DEAL BREAKER!!!!😱

+1
A mandatory attendance policy would drop a school to the bottom of the list. Before medical school, I never missed a class in undergrad or grad school. Now, I only go when I have to and that's once every other week. You have so much more time to study and enjoy yourself if you don't have to spend 5 hours a day in class. Check on the medical school forums if you don't believe me.

 

[gravitywave]

my first question now for these MD/DO threads is the "professionalism" crap that the DO schools put on their students. mandatory lecture attendance or mandatory dress code outside the clinical setting is an absolute dealbreaker.

seriously. you have no idea how big a deal this is until you're in the middle of it and you can stare wonderingly at your classmates who still attend class. med school is fun this way - otherwise i'd be looking at 60 hour weeks.

 

[willen101383]

my first question now for these MD/DO threads is the "professionalism" crap that the DO schools put on their students. mandatory lecture attendance or mandatory dress code outside the clinical setting is an absolute dealbreaker.

seriously. you have no idea how big a deal this is until you're in the middle of it and you can stare wonderingly at your classmates who still attend class. med school is fun this way - otherwise i'd be looking at 60 hour weeks.

HELL YES. I freakin get up at 1030 every day usually and never have to see other neurotic med students yessss.


and serenade...I dont think prob 42 is out in PA yet...and from what the admin here at PCOM tells me...it may never end up happening.

 

[patel2]

I interviewed at Nova and was shocked to hear the dean basically give a 10 minute lecture about why mandatory attendance is CRUCIAL to being a physician. Talked about how it shows responsibility, duty and motivation or some nonsense that any rational person would refute. Every student there was like 'yeah, it's a terrible policy.' Many find very little time to do anything but attend class all day and then study at night. He cited a story about some rare medical diagnosis saved a patient's life, and that he remembered this only because of an obscure lecture he had attended. Wouldn't video lectures solve this?

It's a real shame because Nova has fantastic facilities, great rotation sites, and prime location in a 30 mile radius of miami and ft. lauderdale. I don't know anything about howard, but nova's mandatory attendance would be a deal breaker if I had the option.

 

[WingedOx]

Agreed. I interviewed at Nova and was shocked to hear the dean basically give a 10 minute lecture about why mandatory attendance is CRUCIAL to being a physician. Talked about how it shows responsibility, duty and motivation or some nonsense that any rational person would refute. Every student there was like 'yeah, it's a terrible policy.' He cited a story about some rare medical diagnosis saved a patient's life, and that he remembered this only because of an obscure lecture he had attended. Wouldn't video lectures solve this?

"professionalism" soapboxes from administrators are hardly unique to DO schools. The deans of Jeff wrote a f-cking texbook "for medical students".

/yeah, it's awful.

 

[jeffro1080]

i would never attend a school that did not treat me like an adult.

👍👍

 

[jeffro1080]

"professionalism" soapboxes from administrators are hardly unique to DO schools. The deans of Jeff wrote a f-cking texbook "for medical students".

/yeah, it's awful.

I was going to mention that about Jeff... it always seemed like they stressed professionalism during their presentations.

lol the director of admissions told a story about how she called a student in for a meeting after seeing him wear his pants "ghetto style".

 

[WingedOx]

I was going to mention that about Jeff... it always seemed like they stressed professionalism during their presentations.

lol the director of admissions told a story about how she called a student in for a meeting after seeing him wear his pants "ghetto style".

Dr. Callahan? If it was in the clinic, I could understand that though. I think the amount of cleavage that's worn with a white coat is too common an issue to be honest. (I always did a facepalm at the girl in my class who had her hospital ID picture taken in a spaghetti strap tank top).

 

[tkim]

Choose the cheapest school that will get you where you want to go.

 

[Bernoull]

By the way OP, have u received ur finaid package, that's another factor to consider. For me, that decided everything, I had to choose b/t schools in FL, NY & Midwest and despite my profound love of s. florida (hometown), i braved the cold and went for the cheapest school (with finaid factored in).

gdluck

 

[deleted357625]

Lecture being mandatory...who cares, just do it, it's school..

During undergrad almost every class i had were graded by attendance, so it's not really a difference. I mean you just gotta suck it up.

 

[patel2]

Lecture being mandatory...who cares, just do it, it's school..

During undergrad almost every class i had were graded by attendance, so it's not really a difference. I mean you just gotta suck it up.

there is much less class in college than med school. being in class 2-3 hours a day in college is different from 9-5 (while wearing scrubs), and then coming home at 5 and having zero time to do anything else but have a quick dinner and hit the books till bed.

Imagine if you could have those 40 hours of lecture time each week to just study more efficiently on your own and at your own pace. For most people, that would help them substantially with learning the material, or at least make them more efficient to be able to do other things and actually have balance. Or at least, even if you like going to class, the choice to be able to make adult decisions.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Lecture being mandatory...who cares, just do it, it's school..

During undergrad almost every class i had were graded by attendance, so it's not really a difference. I mean you just gotta suck it up.

It's different in medical school. Most people don't attend lecture and simply self-study and many medical students agree it is much more effective and conducive than going to lecture and then having to self-study anyways. I think one medical school student on osteo ( I think from Kcom) said by MS-2 only 10% of his class attends lectures daily.