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My advisor sent me this email she recieved form another student who recently interviewed at Nova. I found the email very informative and thought it could be useful to others who will be interviewing at NOVA. It is lengthy but outlines exactly what happens the interview day, complete with interview questions and all. Hope people can get some use from it!
After filling out the AACOMAS primary application, I submitted the
specific NSU secondary application along with my letters of
recommendation. (APPLY EARLY!) Then I recieved via e-mail an
invitation to interview. I was given a choice of either a Monday or
Friday, and I was told to respond with my choice. A packet was mailed
to me that included a parking pass, some historical facts, and other
news promoting the college of Osteopathic medicine.
It was mandatory to arrive by 8:45am. I had to sign in, and they
supplied me with a folder with a notepad to take notes plus a pen.
After waiting and conversating with the other applicants, we walked to a
broad room and chatted with some people about the curriculum of the
1st/2nd year. Some specifics about the 1st/2nd year: 5-6 students per
cadeaver in the anatomy lab; however, (2) groups work on (1) cadeaver,
but not at the same time. So actually 10-12 students/ cadeaver. The
class size is ~ 240 students. They split you into (2) groups, so that
labs are smaller ~120 or so. For example, 120 students in Histology lab
on Tuesday, while the other 120 students go to Anatomy lab. Then on
Wednseday, you switch. Moreover, they have started something called
"Academical societies" were you are randomly placed into one of 10
groups. So in your in a small 24 person group that you can associate
yourself with and do activites and such. Also, in your first semester,
3rd week actually, you start to shadow a D.O. For one afternoon (4hrs)
you do this shadowing procedure. Some of the 2nd year med students
shared some stories. One student said, first day of preceptoring with
the physician (granted it was his 3rd week of school and knew nothing)
was asked to go in and take a history of a lady. The lady stated
Hemarrhoids was the issue, and so he went and spoke with the doc, who
then asked, "How do you know? Did you see the hemarrhoids?" Needless
to say, he learned how to do a rectal exam on the first day!
Another person spoke about the clinical rotations (3rd/4th years). Some
specifics about the clinical rotations were that during your second year
you list were you want to go, and then a computer program "Matches" you
up to the hospital. The clinical rotation sites were all over Dade &
Broward county, but also included a site in Naples, FL and an upcoming
site in Ft. Myers, FL. You are allowed to choose some locations, your
choice, for your 4th year; yet, they must be reviewed by the faculty to
see if they fit the needs. The 3rd year is rigorous and you can only
choose from the listing of affliated hospitals, since they are your
"Core" clinical sites.
We were then told we would be split up into (2) groups. (There was 12
of us) Group A (6 applicants) went on an inside tour of the facilities,
classrooms and labs. While Group B waited for their call to interview.
On the tour, we saw a large auditorium classroom,,,holds 500 people; a
smaller auditorum ~250, multiple labs. We were not allowed into the
Dissection lab with the cadeavers b/c supposedly a visiting high school
student knocked a body off the table...woops! The medical library, very
nice with ~20 study rooms, but closes around 12p. However, the
cafeteria is open 24 hrs,,,not the food portion though. Also, they
have a "Harvey Cardiac Simulator" which is one of the few in the
nation...I believe the statistic was 1 of 20 in the U.S., and only 63 in
the world. Very interesting.
Got back from the tour, and waited for my interview time....There was
(3) different interviewer groups consisting of (2) interviewers
each...at least my group only had 2 people. Hence, waiting occurred and
I watched some people come back from their and I was nervous again.
Then it was my time. I interviewed with (2) females, one an M.D., and
the other a D.O. They reviewed my file just prior to my entrance, and
had some questions written down on a note pad of paper. Plus, they had
an official NSU paper, but they did not write on it during the
interview, but probably after they wrote some notes?????
So I can't remember exactly how it went, but they asked:
1) How did I learn or hear about NSU?
2) The D.O. I shadowed, tell me about your experience?
3) Why Osteopathic medicine, what draws you to it?
4) We see you are an X-ray tech, what type of specialty do you want to
go in to?
5) You graduated in May 2005, what have you been doing since then?
6) We see you are a Certified Nursing assistant also, tell us about
that experience?
7) How did you get involved in X-ray?
8) If we asked your best friend about a strength and weakness of you,
what would they say?
The interview was more of a conversation to understand your motives to
entering the program, and view your personality. I have heard that some
of the interviews are like a good cop/ bad cop situation, but mine was
did not fall in this category. I will say, that the lady not asking the
questions, was very quiet, and spoke slightly...I was a little nervous
of her.
Overall, I felt as if they were trying to get you to come to their
program...like they were promoting it.
On applicant had a statistic from U.S. news, stating the following:
NSU-COM interviewed ~440 people last season, and 367 were
accepted....YEAH, that means few that were interviewed were denied. Now
of course, they only take ~240, but multiple acceptances occur, so they
chose other schools.
After the interviews, we went back up to the conference room and had
lunch. (4) 2nd year medical students sat with us, and talked about the
school. One was on a military scholarship, one was on a chancellor's
scholarship in which she was from a single parent family, one of the
first to go to college, etc....that was a full ride scholarship also.
Another student was doing the dual D.O./MPH degree...At NSU, the MPH
program is free of charge while in med school...interesting!
After lunch and a chat, we went on a shuttle bus tour of the entir
campus....We visitied the Library, in which NSU claims it is the largest
library in FL. It was impressive.
Coming back from the tour we went upstairs and spoke with the
Dean.....The Dean, who I thought would be bold and stark, was really
laid back and put us at ease. A very nice guy,,,at first impression.
He was explaining the reason why there is a "Dress code" and a
"attendance policy" at the school...It seemed he was defending it and
trying to promote us to join the school. He spoke of many things, one I
do recall is the following:
At your undergraduate institution, you were the "cream of the crop" you
excelled among the masses...key word, the masses, anyone can go to
college and study, and so they can get C's but you excel and look like
king among them earing A's. Well, at Med school, you are surrounded by
people like yourself....brillant people. So in class if you get a C,
that doesn't mean anything bad,,,it means you are average among the
highest people....Good for you...But people get discouraged b/c they
never earned a C before, so now in med school they think they are
dumb..not true. Interesting speech.
He then asked everyone to talk about themselves...your name, where your
from, undergrad institution...and the Dean, would then hold a mini
conversation with you about things and joke with you...put me at ease.
We were all told initially that the Dean was very "chatty" and could
talk for a lengthy period, and that he had a "photographic memory."
We were free to go after that..
We did hear the process of after the interview..
The interviewers made recommendations of acceptance, rejection, or
wait-list. This was then brought forth to a committee...The committee
would overlook the file and keep or overturn the recommendation of the
interviewers. After that, all files are presented to the Dean, who has
the final say of Keep or overturn the decision..approximately, 9/10 stay
the same as the committee calls the decision.
So we interviewed on Monday(9/11/06), every 2nd Wednesday the committee
gets together. So that Wednesday for me = (9/20/06). On
Thursday(9/21/06), the files are presented to the Dean. The following
Friday (9/22/06) a mailing is sent out to the applicant, and at lunch
time a phone call is made. If you do NOT answer the phone call, and a
message is left, you must call back to learn of your decision. phone
tag could ensue then, but you still have the mail to recieve.
After filling out the AACOMAS primary application, I submitted the
specific NSU secondary application along with my letters of
recommendation. (APPLY EARLY!) Then I recieved via e-mail an
invitation to interview. I was given a choice of either a Monday or
Friday, and I was told to respond with my choice. A packet was mailed
to me that included a parking pass, some historical facts, and other
news promoting the college of Osteopathic medicine.
It was mandatory to arrive by 8:45am. I had to sign in, and they
supplied me with a folder with a notepad to take notes plus a pen.
After waiting and conversating with the other applicants, we walked to a
broad room and chatted with some people about the curriculum of the
1st/2nd year. Some specifics about the 1st/2nd year: 5-6 students per
cadeaver in the anatomy lab; however, (2) groups work on (1) cadeaver,
but not at the same time. So actually 10-12 students/ cadeaver. The
class size is ~ 240 students. They split you into (2) groups, so that
labs are smaller ~120 or so. For example, 120 students in Histology lab
on Tuesday, while the other 120 students go to Anatomy lab. Then on
Wednseday, you switch. Moreover, they have started something called
"Academical societies" were you are randomly placed into one of 10
groups. So in your in a small 24 person group that you can associate
yourself with and do activites and such. Also, in your first semester,
3rd week actually, you start to shadow a D.O. For one afternoon (4hrs)
you do this shadowing procedure. Some of the 2nd year med students
shared some stories. One student said, first day of preceptoring with
the physician (granted it was his 3rd week of school and knew nothing)
was asked to go in and take a history of a lady. The lady stated
Hemarrhoids was the issue, and so he went and spoke with the doc, who
then asked, "How do you know? Did you see the hemarrhoids?" Needless
to say, he learned how to do a rectal exam on the first day!
Another person spoke about the clinical rotations (3rd/4th years). Some
specifics about the clinical rotations were that during your second year
you list were you want to go, and then a computer program "Matches" you
up to the hospital. The clinical rotation sites were all over Dade &
Broward county, but also included a site in Naples, FL and an upcoming
site in Ft. Myers, FL. You are allowed to choose some locations, your
choice, for your 4th year; yet, they must be reviewed by the faculty to
see if they fit the needs. The 3rd year is rigorous and you can only
choose from the listing of affliated hospitals, since they are your
"Core" clinical sites.
We were then told we would be split up into (2) groups. (There was 12
of us) Group A (6 applicants) went on an inside tour of the facilities,
classrooms and labs. While Group B waited for their call to interview.
On the tour, we saw a large auditorium classroom,,,holds 500 people; a
smaller auditorum ~250, multiple labs. We were not allowed into the
Dissection lab with the cadeavers b/c supposedly a visiting high school
student knocked a body off the table...woops! The medical library, very
nice with ~20 study rooms, but closes around 12p. However, the
cafeteria is open 24 hrs,,,not the food portion though. Also, they
have a "Harvey Cardiac Simulator" which is one of the few in the
nation...I believe the statistic was 1 of 20 in the U.S., and only 63 in
the world. Very interesting.
Got back from the tour, and waited for my interview time....There was
(3) different interviewer groups consisting of (2) interviewers
each...at least my group only had 2 people. Hence, waiting occurred and
I watched some people come back from their and I was nervous again.
Then it was my time. I interviewed with (2) females, one an M.D., and
the other a D.O. They reviewed my file just prior to my entrance, and
had some questions written down on a note pad of paper. Plus, they had
an official NSU paper, but they did not write on it during the
interview, but probably after they wrote some notes?????
So I can't remember exactly how it went, but they asked:
1) How did I learn or hear about NSU?
2) The D.O. I shadowed, tell me about your experience?
3) Why Osteopathic medicine, what draws you to it?
4) We see you are an X-ray tech, what type of specialty do you want to
go in to?
5) You graduated in May 2005, what have you been doing since then?
6) We see you are a Certified Nursing assistant also, tell us about
that experience?
7) How did you get involved in X-ray?
8) If we asked your best friend about a strength and weakness of you,
what would they say?
The interview was more of a conversation to understand your motives to
entering the program, and view your personality. I have heard that some
of the interviews are like a good cop/ bad cop situation, but mine was
did not fall in this category. I will say, that the lady not asking the
questions, was very quiet, and spoke slightly...I was a little nervous
of her.
Overall, I felt as if they were trying to get you to come to their
program...like they were promoting it.
On applicant had a statistic from U.S. news, stating the following:
NSU-COM interviewed ~440 people last season, and 367 were
accepted....YEAH, that means few that were interviewed were denied. Now
of course, they only take ~240, but multiple acceptances occur, so they
chose other schools.
After the interviews, we went back up to the conference room and had
lunch. (4) 2nd year medical students sat with us, and talked about the
school. One was on a military scholarship, one was on a chancellor's
scholarship in which she was from a single parent family, one of the
first to go to college, etc....that was a full ride scholarship also.
Another student was doing the dual D.O./MPH degree...At NSU, the MPH
program is free of charge while in med school...interesting!
After lunch and a chat, we went on a shuttle bus tour of the entir
campus....We visitied the Library, in which NSU claims it is the largest
library in FL. It was impressive.
Coming back from the tour we went upstairs and spoke with the
Dean.....The Dean, who I thought would be bold and stark, was really
laid back and put us at ease. A very nice guy,,,at first impression.
He was explaining the reason why there is a "Dress code" and a
"attendance policy" at the school...It seemed he was defending it and
trying to promote us to join the school. He spoke of many things, one I
do recall is the following:
At your undergraduate institution, you were the "cream of the crop" you
excelled among the masses...key word, the masses, anyone can go to
college and study, and so they can get C's but you excel and look like
king among them earing A's. Well, at Med school, you are surrounded by
people like yourself....brillant people. So in class if you get a C,
that doesn't mean anything bad,,,it means you are average among the
highest people....Good for you...But people get discouraged b/c they
never earned a C before, so now in med school they think they are
dumb..not true. Interesting speech.
He then asked everyone to talk about themselves...your name, where your
from, undergrad institution...and the Dean, would then hold a mini
conversation with you about things and joke with you...put me at ease.
We were all told initially that the Dean was very "chatty" and could
talk for a lengthy period, and that he had a "photographic memory."
We were free to go after that..
We did hear the process of after the interview..
The interviewers made recommendations of acceptance, rejection, or
wait-list. This was then brought forth to a committee...The committee
would overlook the file and keep or overturn the recommendation of the
interviewers. After that, all files are presented to the Dean, who has
the final say of Keep or overturn the decision..approximately, 9/10 stay
the same as the committee calls the decision.
So we interviewed on Monday(9/11/06), every 2nd Wednesday the committee
gets together. So that Wednesday for me = (9/20/06). On
Thursday(9/21/06), the files are presented to the Dean. The following
Friday (9/22/06) a mailing is sent out to the applicant, and at lunch
time a phone call is made. If you do NOT answer the phone call, and a
message is left, you must call back to learn of your decision. phone
tag could ensue then, but you still have the mail to recieve.
j/k
