KCUMB vs. NOVA

[Doc 2b]

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Alright guys I got a real problem, I got into two of my top choice schools, not a bad problem to have, but still hard. Anyone who has interviewed at both or attending at one or the other that can help me figure this out. NO sales pitch please. Seriously if you guys have some things you can comment on, things you like and dislike, I think they are both important.

Thanks - Doc 2b

 

[Doc 2b]

Buller, Buller, Buller.....Anyone, Anyone

 

[LovelyRita]

*whispers KCUMB 👍

 

[docbill]

Doc2b if everything else is the same to you. Location, Environment, City, Climate then this is a no brainer. What is that I hear... is someone wispering to me.
hmmmmm

 

[MizzouDrWannabe]

I"m assuming you've visited both schools? Like the poster above, I'd say it's time to factor in environmental preferences since both schools have great curriculum. I really like KCUMB, but haven't visited NOVA so I can't comment helpfully 🙁 If you have any questions about KC or anything though, you can feel free to PM me, I was born and raised there 😀

 

[Ypo.]

For me the deciding factor would be whether or not the school makes me dress up and sign in to make sure I go to classes.

Go where is cheaper for you, or closer to home (or further away from home if thats what you need). They are both good schools.

 

[iatrosB]

For me the deciding factor would be whether or not the school makes me dress up and sign in to make sure I go to classes.

Go where is cheaper for you, or closer to home (or further away from home if thats what you need). They are both good schools.

cough, KCUMB, cough...

 

[dulcinea]

I would look at things like boards scores and how the curriculum is laid out. I really liked KCUMB's curriculum but I don't know NOVA's-I assume it is traditional. Also, look at the first time board pass rates-KCUMB is 96% for first time. I'm sure you've already considered location and how you felt on campus so maybe it will come down to the little things =) Good luck! Of course, I really want to go to KCUMB so I'm trying not to be biased!

 

[stoic]

I like NOVA, but I like KCUMB more. But maybe I'm biased cause I'm trying to get as many SDN'ers in KC as possible.

 

[Robz]

Ummmm


I studied my physiology while sunning myself at the pool this weekend.....


ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Sunshine.

 

[HoodyHoo]

Ummmm


I studied my physiology while sunning myself at the pool this weekend.....


ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Sunshine.

what up Robz.....

In regards to the OP.....let me clear up some common misconceptions about our school. People on SDN often complain about the dress code and attendance policy and have never even stepped foot in our school. Also at the interview, the administration acts a lot more hardcore about it than they really are. The dress code is very relaxed. I wear scrub bottoms and a t-shirt to class everyday, you can't really get much more comfortable than that. As for attendance.....if you don't like it, you study during class.....some people even skip out and go to the library to study. So don't complain about the policies if you haven't experienced going to school here.

Also, it's not too bad being 7 miles from the ocean, 20 miles from southbeach, and an hour north of the closest "key".

I have never been to KCUMB, but your decision should be based on what aspects are important to you (environment, cost of school, proximity to family, board rates, cirriculum, feeling you got during your interview, all that stuff).

 

[cooldreams]

hoody, from what ive read and seen, what you talk like about attendance and dress are about the same as kcumb...

sooo... im wondering... hows the hurricane weather??

nah seriously... what is the cost of living down there? do you know if it is comprabale to kansas city? room rates and food and such... its gotta be pretty cool to be so close to the ocean....

 

[OmedDOC]

Ive only been to a couple of campuses thus far but I just cant see there being any better environment, tech support, facilities, and surrounding areas than there is at NOVA. Just my opinion though..

 

[Just D.O. It!]

I am attending KCUMB currently. There is a dress code, which consists of wearing either scrubs, dress pants and polo type shirt, of course appropriate skirts (dresses) for girls, shirt and tie with white coat, or just shirt and tie.

Some students do not follow the code precisely. We haven't had anyone send us home yet to change clothes🙂. However, for the majority, people follow the dress code.

The school encourages us to attend class. We do not have to sign in for lectures though. For most labs, they do want us to sign in, and we receive a small amount of attendance points.

It appears that NOVA and KCUMB are both trying to help teach professionalism to their students. At KCUMB we've had a few presentations strictly on professionalism. I've appreciated the presentations a lot.

KCUMB has something unique to its curriculum called "Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)". In every section we have relative to each body system, we have CQI team leaders, who are volunteers from our class, that help record suggestions from classmates on ways that the curriculum can be improved etc. At the end of each section, reports are made with suggestions for curriculum improvement. These reports are given to faculty, & deans, etc. This has really impressed me. I think the curriculum, in this way, will just continue to get better.

I think I'll end here before I get too long-winded....

Good luck with wherever you go!

 

[HoodyHoo]

hoody, from what ive read and seen, what you talk like about attendance and dress are about the same as kcumb...

sooo... im wondering... hows the hurricane weather??

nah seriously... what is the cost of living down there? do you know if it is comprabale to kansas city? room rates and food and such... its gotta be pretty cool to be so close to the ocean....

are you thinkin of applying?? anyway, i pay $500 a month to live in a 3-bedroom condo right next to school. Food at the grocery store is more expensive than I am used to....but then again I came from Iowa. So, everything seems more expensive here. But i'm sure it's comparable to KC since KC is pretty big. It is cool to be close to the ocean. But to tell you the truth, I haven't seen the ocean in a month because I've been locked down studying. It's fun being close to south beach....a couple of people from our class went to parties hosted by the Video Music Awards with celebs and all that....if you're into that i guess. And whoever said our campus was gorgeous is right, everything is marble, the buildings are brand new, ponds everywhere, and the miami dolphins practice on our campus.........but i guess that shouldn't be a basis for choosing a school. anyway, i'm rambling now also....

 

[Doc 2b]

I have never been to KCUMB, but your decision should be based on what aspects are important to you (environment, cost of school, proximity to family, board rates, cirriculum, feeling you got during your interview, all that stuff).

Hoody, where can I get info on board scores, pass rates, match lists (showing where everyone went) etc. Would the admissions office give me that?

 

[otter1812]

Here's the match list from last year: http://www.nova.edu/~ltokayer/INTRES04 Web.html

 

[Robz]

now that I'm a bit loopy from studying physiology from 3pm till midnight I have more to say!

I interviewed at both UHS (KCUMB) and NSUCOM. I found both schools very nice and delightful. I was accepted to both.

I really have nothing bad to say about UHS at all. The students were very cool and the faculity were also nice. I found their curriculum kinda cool with the genisis thing and they have been around for a long time as they were one of the earilest schools.

As some around here know I picked NSUCOM (or you can read my sig). I chose my selection for many reasons personal to me. Location, city size, diversity, weather, early clinicals, gut feel, 3rd and 4th year rotations, resources available, money placed back into school...yadda yadda.

UHS was cool to me but it was one of the more expensive schools. Plus I realized there was 3 medical schools in Kansas City with a crap load of students prying to go through the hospitals in that town. This mean there was going to be a lot of moving in the 3rd and 4th years. Some may like that but I found it kinda annoying. Yes NSU might cause you to move to but most of the rotations are in Broward or Miami which is still in south beach. Some people choose to go to tampa or orlando....oh the horror. 🙂

In the end I didn't end up using match lists or board scores to make my decision. I don't really like the U.S. News either. I feel that you are going to be the wild card in a situation. It is up to you to learn the material and to knock the crap out of the boards. The school is there to give you the knowledge but it is not there to hold your hand. I am totally happy with my choice and my ability to wear shorts every day of the week once I am out of school.

ok I have said my piece...and I am hitting the sack. I got full day of studying physiology tomorrow!

 

[dradams]

Nicely put Robz.

 

[Chronotropic]

The only thing that nags me about KCUMB is that the administration will sometimes bully you around. ie Buy this or your seat will be withdrawn! or Do this or face the consequences! They don't really follow through with alot of the stuff but it's still annoying to be talked to like some kid in highschool. I'm sure alot of other med schools are like this as well.
All in all though I really like it here. Great instructors, facilities, etc etc. And we have ERF. Can't beat that 👍

 

[cad_15]

cough, KCUMB, cough...

KCUMB makes you "dress up", but you do not have to sign in. I miss about 60-80 percent of my classes so far and I have no problems. The dress code requires you not to wear jeans and t-shirts..most people wear scrubbs the entire week. some people wear t-shirts, but they are just trying to get you used to other clothes than jeans.

 

[Doc 2b]

The only thing that nags me about KCUMB is that the administration will sometimes bully you around. ie Buy this or your seat will be withdrawn! or Do this or face the consequences! They don't really follow through with alot of the stuff but it's still annoying to be talked to like some kid in highschool. I'm sure alot of other med schools are like this as well.
All in all though I really like it here. Great instructors, facilities, etc etc. And we have ERF. Can't beat that 👍

What do you mean about bully. Do you mean they threaten to kick you out of school if you don't buy something? Buy what?

 

[Chronotropic]

What do you mean about bully. Do you mean they threaten to kick you out of school if you don't buy something? Buy what?

Just some medical equipment before school starts. Not a big deal since you're going to have to buy it sooner or later. And it wasn't a big deal except for the fact that they added the "If you don't buy this your seat will be revoked" line at the end of the letter. If they tell us that we have to buy it we'll buy it, no need for the administration to flex their perverbial muscles at us. But again I don't go to other med schools so I really can't really say this is unique to KCUMB.

I don't mean to paint the administration as ogres because that is definately not the case. They have been very helpful from the time I interviewed to this day.

 

[Robz]

The only thing that nags me about KCUMB is that the administration will sometimes bully you around. ie Buy this or your seat will be withdrawn! or Do this or face the consequences! They don't really follow through with alot of the stuff but it's still annoying to be talked to like some kid in highschool. I'm sure alot of other med schools are like this as well.
All in all though I really like it here. Great instructors, facilities, etc etc. And we have ERF. Can't beat that 👍

Your going to run into a lot of that no matter where you go....its called bureaucracy. You find it in any large university, state run goverment, or large business....

 

[Chronotropic]

Your going to run into a lot of that no matter where you go....its called bureaucracy. You find it in any large university, state run goverment, or large business....

Yes I should of followed up with "this probably happens at all schools." Cause when I think about other people's complaints about med school I'm sure it does. And like I said in my last post, it wasn't that big of a deal at all. It's just kind of a shock going from undergrad/grad school where you have no contact with the administration what so ever (basically just go to class and do whatever you want) to going to a private med school where the administration is very involved in your life.

 

[Doc 2b]

Ohhhh... I thought you meant like after you were already there. That makes a little more sense.