Need advice on how to most likely get accepted into NSU

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mmbrink6

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Currently I live in Arlington, VA and I may or may not be moving to Hawaii fall of '14 to live closer to my parents and sister. However, my best friend is an oms-1 at Nova and I would like to move down there with him to finish school and have a better shot at getting accepted there. But the only problem is $$$. It's expensive down there as you all probably know.

I moved to Virginia from Florida almost a year ago. I went to elementary, middle, and high school in Florida. I also served six years in the Florida Army National Guard, where I obviously took part in a lot of community service. The Guard definitely helped out for what I would consider ECs, and community service hours relative to Florida. Just the military, I have heard, alone helps out your med school application a little bit.

Obviously I am set on going to NSU. I guess you could say it is "that one school" that I would choose over a lot of schools. Does it sound like if I didn't move back to Florida, and to Hawaii instead I would have a fair shot as an OOSer due to my connection to Florida? This is assuming my gpa and mcat allow me to be competitive as an applicant.

Thank you in advance for reading, and offering insight.
 
Currently I live in Arlington, VA and I may or may not be moving to Hawaii fall of '14 to live closer to my parents and sister. However, my best friend is an oms-1 at Nova and I would like to move down there with him to finish school and have a better shot at getting accepted there. But the only problem is $$$. It's expensive down there as you all probably know.

I moved to Virginia from Florida almost a year ago. I went to elementary, middle, and high school in Florida. I also served six years in the Florida Army National Guard, where I obviously took part in a lot of community service. The Guard definitely helped out for what I would consider ECs, and community service hours relative to Florida. Just the military, I have heard, alone helps out your med school application a little bit.

Obviously I am set on going to NSU. I guess you could say it is "that one school" that I would choose over a lot of schools. Does it sound like if I didn't move back to Florida, and to Hawaii instead I would have a fair shot as an OOSer due to my connection to Florida? This is assuming my gpa and mcat allow me to be competitive as an applicant.

Thank you in advance for reading, and offering insight.


Are you still a FL resident? While Nova is OOS friendly, over 51% are accepted within FL so that may give a boost. Your connections may help though.


Also what are your stats like? Nova is notoriously MCAT heavy for a DO school so a 27+ (with a GPA around 3.3 - 3.4) is better than a lower MCAT (24 - 26) and higher GPA.

Aside from that and the typical EC's that are expected, you're pretty much set.
 
Are you still a FL resident? While Nova is OOS friendly, over 51% are accepted within FL so that may give a boost. Your connections may help though.


Also what are your stats like? Nova is notoriously MCAT heavy for a DO school so a 27+ (with a GPA around 3.3 - 3.4) is better than a lower MCAT (24 - 26) and higher GPA.

Aside from that and the typical EC's that are expected, you're pretty much set.

Currently I am a Va resident, but I have an HOR in Florida, as well as family. Other ECs I have are ~60 emergency department volunteer hours, and my gpa is currently a 3.7. I haven't taken the MCAT yet so I don't even want to speculate what I may get on it yet.
 
I agree that your ticket in here really is a strong MCAT. NSU-COM gets so many competitive applications that having average stats may not cut it. Apply early, it always helps, never hurts.
 
If you have your eyes on NSU, then just study hard for the MCAT (get a good to great score) and keep building your ECs. With your GPA, if you nail the MCAT I strongly recommend applying MD.
 
If you have your eyes on NSU, then just study hard for the MCAT (get a good to great score) and keep building your ECs. With your GPA, if you nail the MCAT I strongly recommend applying MD.

How would you compare Nova to the MD programs in Florida?
 
How would you compare Nova to the MD programs in Florida?

Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that Nova is an awesome school, I love this school, and I'm fortunate to be here. It's well established in FL and within the South FL community. Great service opportunities, and the faculty is both caring and intelligent.

Now, having said that... I would say Nova fares incredibly well against the MD schools in the state. For what is important to me, I think Nova is the best DO school in the state. Still, I would have chosen to attend any of the MD schools in FL over LECOM-B or Nova. The lack of research at DO schools in FL was a tough pill for me to swallow. It's just not there... yet. In fact, Nova is building a huge research building as we speak. Unfortunately it will not be done in time for me to benefit from it, but future classes will enjoy more research opportunities on-campus. I don't want to start anything, but for certain career ambitions going MD will keep more doors open. Sad, but true.
 
Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that Nova is an awesome school, I love this school, and I'm fortunate to be here. It's well established in FL and within the South FL community. Great service opportunities, and the faculty is both caring and intelligent.

Now, having said that... I would say Nova fares incredibly well against the MD schools in the state. For what is important to me, I think Nova is the best DO school in the state. Still, I would have chosen to attend any of the MD schools in FL over LECOM-B or Nova. The lack of research at DO schools in FL was a tough pill for me to swallow. It's just not there... yet. In fact, Nova is building a huge research building as we speak. Unfortunately it will not be done in time for me to benefit from it, but future classes will enjoy more research opportunities on-campus. I don't want to start anything, but for certain career ambitions going MD will keep more doors open. Sad, but true.
My mom went to UF law, so I have considered that just because I was raised a gator fan. But honestly, any medical school in Fl (MD or DO) would make me happy. I guess the on denominator here is an above avg MCAT.
 
My mom went to UF law, so I have considered that just because I was raised a gator fan. But honestly, any medical school in Fl (MD or DO) would make me happy. I guess the on denominator here is an above avg MCAT.

If your MCAT score is decent or great (26+) and you apply early, I think you'll be blessed with an early acceptance to Nova (and/or LECOM-B). If I had your GPA and scored what I did on the MCAT, I would have my eyes focused on MD like the eye of Sauron, so to speak.
 
OP, make sure you have an LoR from a non-science professor. Nova requires one, and that kept me from applying.

I am pretty certain my history professor would do this if I asked him. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that Nova is an awesome school, I love this school, and I'm fortunate to be here. It's well established in FL and within the South FL community. Great service opportunities, and the faculty is both caring and intelligent.

Now, having said that... I would say Nova fares incredibly well against the MD schools in the state. For what is important to me, I think Nova is the best DO school in the state. Still, I would have chosen to attend any of the MD schools in FL over LECOM-B or Nova. The lack of research at DO schools in FL was a tough pill for me to swallow. It's just not there... yet. In fact, Nova is building a huge research building as we speak. Unfortunately it will not be done in time for me to benefit from it, but future classes will enjoy more research opportunities on-campus. I don't want to start anything, but for certain career ambitions going MD will keep more doors open. Sad, but true.

Ok but what about someone who does not want to do research? Also, do you think for good IM programs, research is required? If I've been doing social science research, could Nova help me continue that- maybe with its affiliate college? What are their affiliates anyway?
 
Ok but what about someone who does not want to do research? Also, do you think for good IM programs, research is required? If I've been doing social science research, could Nova help me continue that- maybe with its affiliate college? What are their affiliates anyway?

I don't think I can accurately answer your question regarding the lack of research and competitiveness for good IM programs. Research isn't everything, but I think it definitely adds something special to one's residency application, especially if it is something in the field you are pursuing and for which you've developed an interest.

I would spend some time looking through Nova's research labs across campus. Hopefully you can find something that appeals to you, or better yet something that is similar to what you are pursuing now. I don't know any social science labs off the top of my head.
 
If you don't get in directly to their school you can apply to Novas masters of biomedical science program which is pretty much a bridge program to their D.O. School. Only 17 kids get accepted and you do the first year of med school. If you score above an 80% in all your classes, you get automically accepted.
 
If you don't get in directly to their school you can apply to Novas masters of biomedical science program which is pretty much a bridge program to their D.O. School. Only 17 kids get accepted and you do the first year of med school. If you score above an 80% in all your classes, you get automically accepted.

Is this information on their website? I haven't checked it out but I would be interest if I don't get into med school this cycle.
 
Currently I live in Arlington, VA and I may or may not be moving to Hawaii fall of '14 to live closer to my parents and sister. However, my best friend is an oms-1 at Nova and I would like to move down there with him to finish school and have a better shot at getting accepted there. But the only problem is $$$. It's expensive down there as you all probably know.

I moved to Virginia from Florida almost a year ago. I went to elementary, middle, and high school in Florida. I also served six years in the Florida Army National Guard, where I obviously took part in a lot of community service. The Guard definitely helped out for what I would consider ECs, and community service hours relative to Florida. Just the military, I have heard, alone helps out your med school application a little bit.

Obviously I am set on going to NSU. I guess you could say it is "that one school" that I would choose over a lot of schools. Does it sound like if I didn't move back to Florida, and to Hawaii instead I would have a fair shot as an OOSer due to my connection to Florida? This is assuming my gpa and mcat allow me to be competitive as an applicant.

Thank you in advance for reading, and offering insight.

Score 28+ mcat.... Nova is 'mcat obsessed' according to some posters on SDN. I, myself, would like to get into Nova. Hence, I am shooting for 28+ mcat score.
 
I have several friends that applied to NOVA with sub 25 MCAT's and non stellar GPA's that were accepted.

Make sure you do as well as you can on the MCAT and have solid EC's and you should be good for NOVA. You have a nice GPA. Best of luck dude.
 
I have several friends that applied to NOVA with sub 25 MCAT's and non stellar GPA's that were accepted.

Make sure you do as well as you can on the MCAT and have solid EC's and you should be good for NOVA. You have a nice GPA. Best of luck dude.

What is op's GPA, I don't see it.
 
I have several friends that applied to NOVA with sub 25 MCAT's and non stellar GPA's that were accepted.

Make sure you do as well as you can on the MCAT and have solid EC's and you should be good for NOVA. You have a nice GPA. Best of luck dude.

Were they URM--AA?
 
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