NSU-COM Discussion thread 2008-2009

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I respect your opinion completely. No matter what school one goes to there WILL be gripes. That being said, it is kind of odd to register and have your first post be a warning to people possibly going to NSU. Especially when it was nothing that seemed to really hamper the education.

I'd love to hear what all the other little rules are, because I can't think of what they'd be for the life of me. Not saying they don't exist, I may just not have run into them yet.

It's also a wee bit suspicious that they mentioned "finger print scanning" specifically, which isn't something NSU does.

I smell a troll.
 
I'm about to graduate after 4 years at nova. I've done well, but I must recommend against the school. The class sizes are way too big now, they treat you like little kids (dress codes, finger print scanning for megalecture attendances, and more strange little rules than you can shake a stick at), and the administration is very rude and unaccomodating.

It'a a doctor factory, and way too expensive.

"if you must choose, choose wisely."

I don't know who you are, but you are either a very misinformed premed trying to disuade others from taking their spots, or an extremely disenchanted M4 who is embellishing on your experiences. Unless things have changed greatly since you were in your M1 and M2 years, which if you are familar with Nova you know nothing changes here that much that quickly, you are just outright spouting untruths.

There is a dress code, but it is not exceedingly restrictive, nor that fervently enforced. I can tell you that my normal attire for class is tennis shoes, scrub bottoms, and an NSUCOM club t-shirt.........yes its a rough life < i hope ya'll are getting the sarcasm here >

Fingerprint scanners? Megalectures? Seriously?? THERE ARE NO SUCH SCANNERS!!!! We have student ID's that you swipe in at the front of class, I'm sure they were pointed out to most of you on your tours. Attendance policy requires 70% attendance, and in the last 16 years there have only been 3 students who have lost any points off of final grades, the teachers and the admin don't even want to enforce that rule. The lectures have 240 people, not that bad, my undergrad had more than double that. The administration is not all bad, there are some who are uncooperative, but many who really work to make our time at Nova the best experience possible. And I spend more time meeting with admin and faculty than 99.9% of the student body, so I have a slightly better vantage point than most.

To the supposed M4: Maybe you should just be happpy you survived your 4 years and thankful that Nova trained you the best they could, and look forward to your residency.

To all students past, current, and future: like life, you're experiences at Nova are what you make them, come in with a positive attitude and make the best of them and most likely you'll have a good experience; dont and I can promise that you will not. I can tell you that I had a choice of 8 schools, MD and DO, and I have not regretted my choice once. Good luck to everyone in their decisions!
 
So I'm really trying to decide about NSU and need some questions answered from students who go there...

How well do the 1st and 2nd years at NSU prepare students? What are strong points and what are the weak points?

How are the rotations in the 3rd and 4th years? Are you placed in Level 1 Trauma Hospitals?

What is first time passing rate for the boards?

What is the percentage of students who get placed into their 1st and 2nd choices?

What made you choose NSU over other schools? (Be honest🙂)

What do you like about the school? What would you change about the school?


....If you can think of anything else that would help me with this decision I would greatly greatly appreciate it! I'm sure other people on this forum wouldnt mind hearing either.

....I wish I had a chance to interact with the students more during the day, but unfortunately did not really get that opportunity. So this would be very helpful!

Thanks!
 
On the other, disturbing pear note.....MossPoh, I have been to an actual torture museum in Italy (I think I have seen that thing in person!). Its in San Gimignano and I have no idea why we went in! It was kind of interesting but when you left you felt like looking for the nearest Ghandi museum..LOL.

It seems like there is a museum of torture in every old European city. I've been to like 3 or 4. One is usually enough. The show I watched the other day went into what happened to them medically with some of the stuff. It held my attention a bit longer than usual.
 
So I'm really trying to decide about NSU and need some questions answered from students who go there...

How well do the 1st and 2nd years at NSU prepare students? What are strong points and what are the weak points?

How are the rotations in the 3rd and 4th years? Are you placed in Level 1 Trauma Hospitals?

What is first time passing rate for the boards?

What is the percentage of students who get placed into their 1st and 2nd choices?

What made you choose NSU over other schools? (Be honest🙂)

What do you like about the school? What would you change about the school?


....If you can think of anything else that would help me with this decision I would greatly greatly appreciate it! I'm sure other people on this forum wouldnt mind hearing either.

....I wish I had a chance to interact with the students more during the day, but unfortunately did not really get that opportunity. So this would be very helpful!

Thanks!


not to be a buzz kill - but ALL of this information has been answered and well explained many times over in this thread as well as others. i suggest spending some time reading through the forums. Any of the comparison threads like CCOM vs. NSU-COM, LECOM-B vs. NSU-COM etc, etc, etc... are great sources where current students have posted very detailed explanations to these kind of questions. people have posted the pass rates and residency match lists on here as well.
Also try the "medical students" forums http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=14

hope that helps.
 
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I find all the versus NSU threads kind of funny but ridiculous. There are like 5 or 6 of them now aren't there?
 
I called the help desk concerning the error message I received after trying to log onto the shark link account. They told me I couldn't access this until I was a student. So..... What's the deal with Elen's E-mail she sent to all of us? Anyone get any further in figuring this all out?
 
^ they told me the same thing when I called. Basically you need to forward all official transcripts to them before you can login and check everything. I haven't spoken with Ellen directly, but I think this is a problem. I don't wanna miss out on orientation information because I had to wait till May to access SharkLink.
 
I never got this email everyone is talking about referring to sharklink..can someone post its contents
 
I never got this email everyone is talking about referring to sharklink..can someone post its contents


I STILL haven't figured out shark link. Ya know...considering I'm the one in my society that's supposed to be updating that...I should probably look into that...thanks for the reminder!👍

I actually just wanted to stop in and share something with my you guys. I'm not the biggest "believer" in OPP. Not so much that I don't think it's valid, but rather, that I'd never been exposed to it before coming to school here. I picked my school (between MD/DO, MD/MD and DO/DO) based on where I felt I'd be happiest, and do the best, OMM wasn't even a factor. Today we learned the COOLEST $hit! Seriously! We were talking about viscero-somatic reflexes and how you could find chapman's points that were indicative of various issues throughout the body. It was seriously awesome. While i'm not srue how much I'll use OMM on a regular baisis, I will tell you that there are some things (like what we learned in OPP today) that will be VERY useful to me as a physician.

so for all those who are joining us at NSU this fall (or where ever you may go) get excited. 🙂 some of this stuff is pretty freakin cool. That and make sure you keep an open mind to the OMM/OPP stuff. Some of it's pretty awesome.

I just wanted to pass that along 🙂
 
Here are the contents of the email in their entirety--



Dear Prospective Student:
Congratulations again on your acceptance to Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM). We have received your first acceptance fee, which is nonrefundable and will be applied toward your first semester's tuition.
As an entering student, please visit the NSU Web site and go to SharkLink to get your SharkLink ID as a student. Once you receive your SharkLink ID, you will be able to log-on to Sharklink and subscribe to the DO Class of 2013 Group. This site will contain orientation information, documents that need to be completed, and a means to communicate with your future classmates through chat and discussion boards.
I also want to remind you about the deadline for the $1,050 second deposit needed to hold your seat in our entering class, which is due by March 15, 2009. This fee is nonrefundable but applies toward your first semester's tuition. We encourage you to pay online by credit card or electronic check. If paying by paper check, please send to the following address:
Nova Southeastern University
Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
Attention: Ms. Linda Ferris
3200 S. University Drive
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328
You are currently provisionally accepted to NSU-COM. Provisional acceptance becomes full acceptance upon receipt of all required documents (transcripts, etc.) and fees.
We will be in touch with you during the next several months through email or WebCT (once enrolled) to make sure you have the most updated information relating to the college. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Office for Student Services, Dawn LoForte at [email protected] or by phone at 954-262-1485.
Best wishes, and again, congratulations.

Sincerely,

Ellen Rondino
 
I go to a college with slightly shorter semesters and then a spring semester. Because of this the credits here only count for 0.9 credit hours at Nova. Now I am accepted but 0.8 credits short in all of the required classes. Has anyone had this problem or does anyone have any advice?

I've tried calling and emailing Ellen Rondino this week and no reply thus far.
 
I called the help desk concerning the error message I received after trying to log onto the shark link account. They told me I couldn't access this until I was a student. So..... What's the deal with Elen's E-mail she sent to all of us? Anyone get any further in figuring this all out?
Do not listen to the lady at the help desk. I am pretty sure she has no clue what she is talking about. She says we need to register before we can access Sharklink. According to Ellen, we need to access Sharklink in order to fill out necessary documentation to be able to register. Anyway, I emailed Dawn Laforte, who is the contact person mentioned in Ellens email I believe, if we have problems with Sharklink. Here is her response:

Due to a technical error, the Shark Link System is unavailable. We will send an email once the system is back online.

Thank you,

Dawn C. Loforte
Student Services
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern University
Office: 954-262-1485
Toll Free: 800-356-0026 - ex 1485
Fax: 954-262-2544
[email protected]

So don't sweat it. It is not even close to the time that we should be rushing anything. Be patient and I will see you guys in August.
 
I am scheduled to interview next month. Any ideas on who to stay and get around in Ft. Lauderdale without going broke? My flight is fine, it is rental car and hotels that I am struggling with. I will welcome any ideas.
 
I am scheduled to interview next month. Any ideas on who to stay and get around in Ft. Lauderdale without going broke? My flight is fine, it is rental car and hotels that I am struggling with. I will welcome any ideas.

If you scan through this thread then you will literally see your question asked at least 4 or 5 times.
 
I am scheduled to interview next month. Any ideas on who to stay and get around in Ft. Lauderdale without going broke? My flight is fine, it is rental car and hotels that I am struggling with. I will welcome any ideas.


:bang:
 
singinfifi, Thanks for your info on what you learned in OPP the other day! Very cool.

As for the Sharklink email, I never received that email... weird.
 

I know, right?

Here's what I normally do: pull up Google maps. Figure out where the school is. Pull up travelocity/hotwire/orbitz/travel site of your choice. Search for nearby hotels. Pick one. Now do a search for car rentals. Pick one.

And you're done! It's southern Florida, there's hardly a dearth of hotels in the area. This really isn't hard, people.
 
I tried logging into sharklink today and you can actually log in so give it a shot.

PS I hate snow
 
Worked for me too!! Yay!! Its a little convoluted but hey it finally works!
 
HAHAHA! YES! Im into SharkLink too! I just got so excited. Wow I must be a huge dork. Oh well, I heart Nova.
 
YES! sharklink is a go for me as well! indeed im a dork also!! :laugh:
 
I'm pretty technologically challenged so please stay with me here: how do you join that group that Ellen said we should join...LOL
 
I looked under groups and couldn't find it either. Please let us know if anyone figures this out!! We should all be big dorks and email each other using our new email addresses...LOL.
 
I searched for "2013" and the DO Class of 2013 group appeared. You have to request to enter the group. Hopefully someone is monitoring the groups and will let us in.
 
I know, right?

Here's what I normally do: pull up Google maps. Figure out where the school is. Pull up travelocity/hotwire/orbitz/travel site of your choice. Search for nearby hotels. Pick one. Now do a search for car rentals. Pick one.

And you're done! It's southern Florida, there's hardly a dearth of hotels in the area. This really isn't hard, people.

It's not even that...

it's the fact that I think I said 3 or 4 times in this thread that there are student hosts available. That's it. I'm putting it in my signature.
 
It's not even that...

it's the fact that I think I said 3 or 4 times in this thread that there are student hosts available. That's it. I'm putting it in my signature.

Yea, when I got my interview offer they never even mentioned it. It wasn't a concern since I just stayed with my brother.

Part of the problem is that we're TOO active on this thread, so we have like 30 pages+ and people don't want to sift through that crap to find answers.
 
I searched for "2013" and the DO Class of 2013 group appeared. You have to request to enter the group. Hopefully someone is monitoring the groups and will let us in.

When I first clicked the button to reply I couldnt figure out how to join the group either, but I just figured it out. The groups icon is at the top next to the log out button in case anybody else is technologically challenged today, lol.
 
I figured it out. I'm locked out of my webstar thing though. If I have that account is that the sign that they got my deposit? I never got that email mentioned above either.
 
Looked at my Nova webstar account and I have: Denied..lol, oh well, I tried. Great school though and great location. Good luck to all of you.
 
I never got the Sharklink email after I paid my deposit either, but I was just looking around on the website and figured it out. Go to:

http://www.nova.edu/sharklinkid/

I chose "Option 1" because "Option 2" didn't work with my NSU ID. From there it's really easy and you can have your login info and password sent to your email address. Once I got the password in my email, I went back to Sharklink and was able to login.
 
My NSU ID sucks. I don't like it. I like my psu and fsu ones better...and my HU, but that was german.
 
its just first initial + last initial + a number...

whats not to like... its just moo.
 
its just first initial + last initial + a number...

whats not to like... its just moo.

That is what is not to like. I like my initials or last name with some low number or no number at all. For email sake, it is nice to have some kind of indicator that it is the correct person. One digit wrong can be a completely different person with that system.
 
I just submitted my AACOMAS yesterday, does anybody think I have a chance of getting an interview???
 
from those of you who got in, how long did it take for you to hear back from the school after your interview? and did any of you get any hints that you would be accepted during the interview? i had my interview on jan 13 and im so anxious to hear back. i really wanna come here
 
from those of you who got in, how long did it take for you to hear back from the school after your interview? and did any of you get any hints that you would be accepted during the interview? i had my interview on jan 13 and im so anxious to hear back. i really wanna come here

The committee meets on Wednesdays, so depending on how many files they got through you could hear this week or next week. Check your webstar it will tell you the decision. Good luck! :luck:
 
The committee meets on Wednesdays, so depending on how many files they got through you could hear this week or next week. Check your webstar it will tell you the decision. Good luck! :luck:


Yea, i really want my decision also. Good luck to everyone, I am really hoping my decision will be up by this monday...I might call tomorrow though, does anyone know if Ellen will tell you if they did make a decision or not?
 
So...I am in the group, but I can not find where these documents are that we are supposed to fill out. Anyone have any luck?
 
Thought maybe I'd share a few pics of the trip for future interviewees. This is from my interview at NSU-COM back in December and I was blown away - both from the school and location!

The morning of my interview, from the balcony of my hotel room. Sunrise over the Atlantic
n41801601_32038336_1666.jpg


Looking at downtown Ft. Lauderdale
n41801601_32038337_1874.jpg


NSU-COM, Terry Building
n41801601_32038340_2525.jpg


One of the COM's many auditoriums
n41801601_32038343_3181.jpg


The library on campus (it was massive, the pics don't do it justice)
n41801601_32038344_3404.jpg


The university center
n41801601_32038347_4084.jpg


Inside the student center
n41801601_32038348_4311.jpg


The gym
n41801601_32038349_4538.jpg


Sunset near our hotel
n41801601_32038358_6680.jpg
 
Wow, all these pictures make me want to go there even more......sun instead of winter, what could be better?
 
Yea, i really want my decision also. Good luck to everyone, I am really hoping my decision will be up by this monday...I might call tomorrow though, does anyone know if Ellen will tell you if they did make a decision or not?

I found out on the friday after the committee met. So you might see tomorrow
 
I just have to post and say its actually -2 here in Cincinnati. I am dying to just run down to South Florida right now!! I am so ready to go down there and join you guys!
 
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