NOVA - your Feedback, experiences, Stats/acceptance

[Grover2k9]

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I am considering applying to NOVA but am wary. I'd like people to post pros/cons of nova (from experiences please).

I am used to a small school with personal attention, I also qualify for the in-state tuition in FL (my parents moved there when I graduated High School).

Thanks!

Eric

 

[od2bn2009]

I am considering applying to NOVA but am wary. I'd like people to post pros/cons of nova (from experiences please).

I am used to a small school with personal attention, I also qualify for the in-state tuition in FL (my parents moved there when I graduated High School).

Thanks!

Eric

Why are you wary? Maybe I can answer some specific issues for you.

 

[Grover2k9]

I guess because it is the only school i have looked at so far and I loved it.

I am so sure I want to go there, but a large attraction for me is the ticket price (i get in-state tuition).

I just dont want to make a decision based on the wrong reasons.


Are you there, or did you enjoy your time there?

 

[gochi]

I am considering applying to NOVA but am wary. I'd like people to post pros/cons of nova (from experiences please).

I am used to a small school with personal attention, I also qualify for the in-state tuition in FL (my parents moved there when I graduated High School).

Thanks!

Eric

Uhh there was another thread discussing the same issues. From what I can remember is that NOVA pretty much treat's students like trash; students with below 70% are required to drop out, students with <80% are on academic probation, NOVA lost its accreditation a while back..there are probably more negatives than positives. Definetly utilize the search function !

 

[vsarge0708]

Uhh there was another thread discussing the same issues. From what I can remember is that NOVA pretty much treat's students like trash; students with below 70% are required to drop out, students with <80% are on academic probation, NOVA lost its accreditation a while back..there are probably more negatives than positives. Definetly utilize the search function !

I could not disagree more. (From the viewpoint of a current student) Nova def. does not treat their students like trash--most faculty members are very approachable and genuinely want to see the students succeed (as with any school there are still a few bad apples). As far as the academics are concerned, students with an average less than 70% should be required to drop out anyway--it's friggin professional school, not some mickey mouse crap to be taken lightly. Gochi, if mediocrity and banality is your thing (which is the impression I'm getting from your posts), then Nova wouldn't be a good choice for you. It's not difficult to keep an 80 average to stay off of academic probation. And for the record Nova never lost their accreditation, when the school was still young they were asked to tweak some things for the schools next review.

 

[gochi]

I could not disagree more. (From the viewpoint of a current student) Nova def. does not treat their students like trash--most faculty members are very approachable and genuinely want to see the students succeed (as with any school there are still a few bad apples). As far as the academics are concerned, students with an average less than 70% should be required to drop out anyway--it's friggin professional school, not some mickey mouse crap to be taken lightly. Gochi, if mediocrity and banality is your thing (which is the impression I'm getting from your posts), then Nova wouldn't be a good choice for you. It's not difficult to keep an 80 average to stay off of academic probation. And for the record Nova never lost their accreditation, when the school was still young they were asked to tweak some things for the schools next review.

I would rely on sarge's opinion here since he I think attends NOVA.

Anyways, I definetly think they lost there accreditation and as I recall people claim to have said that other optometrists do not recommend NOVA, which is probably due to the accreditation issue.

Dude, 80% is freakin hard if you're taking 10 course and labs at the same time. You must seriously have no activities other than studying if you're maintaining an 80% average, which is not bad at all.

Also you say "as with any school there are still a few bad apples." I do agree with this, however I have never read a complaint from students attending other optomtery schools except for ICO which I think had a weird anat prof. All in all, there should be no "few bad apples" if you're paying 30 grand per year.

Most of the stuff that I post is collected from other sdn posters, so I'm not certain about my claims. I'm not insulting NOVA or anything like that, rather I'm helping a student choose the best OD school and I guess some of my claims which appear to be bias or whatever you wanna call it may be true.

 

[Grover2k9]

For those of you at NOVA, how are the professor/student relationships?

At my undergrad we have 2400 students, and I am an officer hour maniac. I thrive on the personal attention and assistance.

Is this type of thing available at nova?

 

[odmissy]

I have to agree with my fellow classmates, there are more pros than cons. Most profs are more than happy to help us and they make themselves available to us. Honestly, if you have the brains and the drive, maintaining a 80% (and especially a 70%) is not that hard. Yeah, you do have to study a lot and if you're not prepared to put it the work, optometry school (or any other professional school) is not for you. Believe it or not, quite a few people actually maintain 90% or better... and they have a life outside of studying.

 

[a1bui]

Click on my name and read some of my posts; I talk a lot about my experiences at NOVA.

You shouldn't worry about the whole accredidation issue; it was a "new school" kinda thing. A lot of other professional schools go through the same thing when they first start out.

What you should know, is that NOVA has had one of the highest board passing rates for Part 1 (first time) the past couple years. If the school wasn't a good school; there's no way this could happen.

Yes, NOVA does kick people out, but then again, so do all the other schools. I don't know of any school that passes people who fail. Most of the other schools have a 70% as passing too, so that's not even an issue.

Don't research by going off what other optometrists say unless you talk to NOVA alumni. Practicing optometrists don't know squat about NOVA, since it wasn't around when they were in school. The ONLY thing they know is the accredidation thing, so they base their soul opinions off that. Same thing with the posters on here. You'll get a lot of negative posts from students who failed/slacked out, but that's how it usually works. People generally post to complain, not compliment.

If you're a poster, don't put down a school unless it's your first-hand opinion. Otherwise, second-hand isn't worth much.


...oh, 80% is possible. Even if you're on probation though, the only major consequence is that you can't do any big club activities; like a medical mission in another country. You can still graduate as long as you're above 70% (same as other schools).

Most professors are friendly and available. They all have office hours. Some of them are even nice enough to give their personal phone number so you could call them if you have a question before a test. There's also tutoring for the harder classes in case you really want help.

 

[FL Opt Girl]

Thanks for giving comments based on first-hand experience, a1bui! 🙂