NOVA vs. USF

[adit15]

I'm stuck in a dilemna between USFmed and NOVA D.O.... I feel I can do well at USF and be at the upper quartile of my class, but I think I can be at the top of my class at NOVA. However, I don't want to leave Miami... I've become very comfortable here, and I have a great network of people I'm surrounded with... not looking forward to moving to Tampa and starting over. Any suggestions?

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[TexasTriathlete]

How could you possibly know how you would measure up to your future classmates at either school right now?

 

[umean2tellme]

if you like miami then go to NOVA and make that commute every day. If you can make the top quartile and USF and be top of NSU class does that mean NSU accepts dumber people than USF? What info do you have that makes you feel this way? Also, does it matter where you graduate within your class?? I have no idea whether my doctor graduated in the top of his class or in the bottom half, but as long as he knows what he's doing that's all I care about. Good luck.

 

[Gold 5]

How could you possibly know how you would measure up to your future classmates at either school right now?

Just like the stars do.... Psychic Friends Network

http://www.youtube.com/v/56S6CSvw8Jo&hl

 

[adit15]

point taken with class rank... i honestly do not care whether i am a d.o. or an m.d., i do kno there will be a limit in my residency choice tho if i go to nova, but i'm worried if i should make a choice on where i go to school based on location and friends

 

[adit15]

i think going where u will be happier is important... but in this profession you will be moving around throughout your life when it comes to residency, then again when it comes to doing a fellowship, then again when it comes where you will actually practice... so does that make it not ok to base a decision on where u go b/c of location?

 

[Sam212]

I'm stuck in a dilemna between USFmed and NOVA D.O.... I feel I can do well at USF and be at the upper quartile of my class, but I think I can be at the top of my class at NOVA. However, I don't want to leave Miami... I've become very comfortable here, and I have a great network of people I'm surrounded with... not looking forward to moving to Tampa and starting over. Any suggestions?

While you should choose where you think you'll be happiest, but this is pretty much a no brainer. You go to USF and save a ton of money because of USF being a state school. Further, you will be much happier come match time if you are looking to go into some super competitive field. Check out residency forums for further elaboration.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I have a feeling that, come match time, this guy will not be particularly happy if he wants to go into "some super competitive field", regardless of where he goes to school.

 

[adit15]

i think its healthy to think abt things more than just school... but im also very career driven

 

[lacesoutdan]

I posted in the duplicate pre-allo thread, but I saw it got closed right after that so I'll repost here.

I'd choose USF. Better research opportunities, better residency prospects, no OMM, and Nova doesn't have a teaching hospital. I'd make the move for my career and trust that I can build a new social life with all the people I'll meet at school. I would guess USF is also cheaper, although I don't really know.

 

[Shaniqua14]

Woah. TT's analysis of the OP's comment was right on par with mine. Sounds slightly presumptuous on the OP's part to give his class rank at med school prior to med school.

Plus, point is -- ALL soon-to-be M1s are bright... all 100% of us... and 50% of us will be in the bottom half of our class......

TT - I agree with you again, on your later post -- sounds like this guy might be happier at USF -- likely easier to enter competitive specialties as an M.D.

But if he does end up with me at Nova..... hmmm.... I'll just have to let him know (in a tough girl voice) that he sure can't be 27th in the c/o 2012.... I've had that spot in the rank wrapped up since I was, like, 10 yrs old! (JOoooooking!)


disclaimer: now I know DO's can enter competitive specialties too! So none of you jump down my throat! 🙂 But the "word on the street" I would assume to be true, that having an M.D. behind a name probably does make it easier. But who cares. If you want derm or ortho -- kick *** in med school and you'll get it. 😀

How could you possibly know how you would measure up to your future classmates at either school right now?

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

no OMM, .

This is a reason to choose Nova over USF, it's ok you got confused, I forgive you.

I'm very heavy Pro-DO if all things were equal I'd pick Nova, but I'm guessing the tuition is much lower, and if so that would be a swaying factor for me to pick USF

 

[MossPoh]

I am assuming you're a florida resident. I'd pick USF hands down. I have nothing at all against Nova, but USF has a wealth of research opportunities, great residencies with a ton of options, and it is a very nice campus with fairly mellow students. Also, instate tuition.... The "instate" at nova isn't that much better than the regular. Clinical rotations don't matter, and Tampa isn't THAT far from miami if you want to do the occasional weekend trip...or rotations there at a later date. You're asking this in a DO forum, so responses MIGHT be a bit biased. 😉 I'm not going to comment on the class rank stuff. I have never heard a bad thing about USF though. Tampa isn't too shabby of an area either.

It is seriously not knocking nova. Great school with a beautiful campus, but I think USF is pretty underrated for what they offer.

 

[explorer_tx]

If you plan on practicing in FL and do not mind doing the internship year (and aside from the other cons mentioned) then go to Nova. I think both schools are great (I will be attending NOVA) but cost is definately something to think about; besides Miami is only a 4.5 hrs drive away from Tampa. Good luck on your decision. 😀

 

[D-Bone]

If you plan on practicing in FL and do not mind doing the internship year (and aside from the other cons mentioned) then go to Nova. I think both schools are great (I will be attending NOVA) but cost is definately something to think about; besides Miami is only a 4.5 hrs drive away from Tampa. Good luck on your decision. 😀

I'd suggest going to USF. You're clearly too smart for DO school, right? And everyone else currently accepted at Nova is dumb. Nice one!

All criticism aside, GO TO USF. Nova seems to be a great program(I'm currently waitlisted), but given your statement that you'd be top of your class at NOVA and somewhere below that at USF, go to USF for one simple reason -> You can RELAX at USF if you're not gunning for grades. You'll drive yourself nuts and have no fun at Nova if you're shooting for A's across the board. Many DO students have this mentality prior to starting school, but soon realize that grades don't have that much bearing on things down the road.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[MossPoh]

If you plan on practicing in FL and do not mind doing the internship year (and aside from the other cons mentioned) then go to Nova. I think both schools are great (I will be attending NOVA) but cost is definately something to think about; besides Miami is only a 4.5 hrs drive away from Tampa. Good luck on your decision. 😀

Why would nova be better for practicing in Florida? What rationale goes into that decision? If anything, if you want certain residencies, you are far more likely to end up in a different state. I Have met a lot of nova grads in the midwest. Never met a USF grad there.

 

[GregsAnatomy]

OP,

I'm an M4 about to graduate from Nova and enter a general surgery residency. Your decision for med school is a truly personal one, and you need to take everything into account, not just perceived "prestige." If you feel like you would be happier at Nova and have no qualms about being a DO--go for it! I can honestly attest that Nova students are not limited in any way and my classmates have matched into competitive residencies including ortho, radiology, anesthesia, and optho. Whichever school you pick, just know yourself, what you want to do, and what you need to do to get there and you'll have no problems getting into any specialty.

You only live once...and while med school was tough...I wouldn't trade any of the fun times I had in Fort Lauderdale and Miami for anything. Good luck! 👍

 

[TexasTriathlete]

You're going to get to your general surgery residency, and they're going to say "psyche! DO's don't do surgery. This is really family practice. Haha, we got you good, you ****er!"

 

[explorer_tx]

Why would nova be better for practicing in Florida? What rationale goes into that decision? If anything, if you want certain residencies, you are far more likely to end up in a different state. I Have met a lot of nova grads in the midwest. Never met a USF grad there.

Both schools are better to practice in Fl; however, NSU is part of the five states that requires doing the internship year. All I was referring to was the internship year, if you do not mind doing it, then either school will led you to the same path.

 

[MossPoh]

Both schools are better to practice in Fl; however, NSU is part of the five states that requires doing the internship year. All I was referring to was the internship year, if you do not mind doing it, then either school will led you to the same path.

Ok. Sorry. I just got some perceived notion that it was better to practice in Florida if you want to.

 

[VALSALVA]

Go to USF and save a lot of money. This is something that is overlooked by most pre-meds, but is very important. Also, you seem to like living in Florida. Someone else raised the issue of Florida being one of five osteopathic internship holdout states. That could be an issue if you go to NOVA and want to stay in Florida to practice. Given the above factors, USF should be a no brainer.

 

[udsoccer7]

You're going to get to your general surgery residency, and they're going to say "psyche! DO's don't do surgery. This is really family practice. Haha, we got you good, you ****er!"

D*mn it Farva!!!

Supertroopers is probably the greatest movie ever.