nsu vs wvsom

[Chyea]

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I've been lucky enough to be accepted at both these schools. I am having trouble deciding between the two and would like anyone's opinions on these schools and how to go about making a decision. I enjoyed my time at both.

I'm also OOS (VA) for both.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ILikeFood]

I would never attend WVSOM as an OOS based on cost and quality of life.

http://www.wvsom.edu/OMS/fa-educosts
$49,950

Tuition alone is $5,000 more than NSU. Not a big difference but then you notice the budget maximum (the total amount you are allowed to take out in loans that year) is exactly the same as NSU.

So, knowing what you know about both schools, taking into account the quality of education and the quality of life, which school gives you the most bang for your buck?

 

[Chyea]

Thanks for the response. I know there are many factors that go into deciding the school you attend. But if you had to pick, which factor do you feel would be most important?

 

[ILikeFood]

Thanks for the response. I know there are many factors that go into deciding the school you attend. But if you had to pick, which factor do you feel would be most important?

An Aston Martin Vanquish is $200,000, no small sum of money (like med school tuition).

When I go to buy one in my 5th year after graduating residency, will I buy it because it's silver? Will I buy it because it has leather seats? Will I buy it because it can drive? Many cars have these features. No, honey, I'm going to buy it for whole package.

Or what about I date her for her tits

Scratch that, bad example.

My point is this:

What does it matter what I pick? What do YOU want? I've written down a lot about Nova, and there's a lot more from other students on here. Make your choice.

 

[Gobblox]

Hey!

I got into both schools last year as well and I chose WVSOM.

Quick thing about the "package" Ilikefood is talking about. I lived about 10 minutes from Nova for most of my life. You have to understand that the cost of living in South Florida is INSANELY more expensive than here in West Virginia.

The way I picked was a few criteria, come up with a list of things you would want in a medical school and compare/contrast schools.

Here's mine for an example:

1.) MUST be allowed to disect a real cadaver.
2.) MUST not have a Dress Code (Or a very relaxed one).
3.) The students on the tour must be happy.
4.) Must have the opportunity for research.

Since you went on the interviews...I wont rattle off facts/opinions about each school on the thread. If your really interested, PM me and ill tell you in depth, why I chose WVSOM.

Hope this helps!

 

[Mbeas]

Hey!


1.) MUST be allowed to disect a real cadaver.

NSU doesn't use cadavers?

 

[DarkHorizon]

Hey!

I got into both schools last year as well and I chose WVSOM.

Quick thing about the "package" Ilikefood is talking about. I lived about 10 minutes from Nova for most of my life. You have to understand that the cost of living in South Florida is INSANELY more expensive than here in West Virginia.

The way I picked was a few criteria, come up with a list of things you would want in a medical school and compare/contrast schools.

Here's mine for an example:

1.) MUST be allowed to disect a real cadaver.
2.) MUST not have a Dress Code (Or a very relaxed one).
3.) The students on the tour must be happy.
4.) Must have the opportunity for research.

Since you went on the interviews...I wont rattle off facts/opinions about each school on the thread. If your really interested, PM me and ill tell you in depth, why I chose WVSOM.

Hope this helps!

NSU has everyone of these things and more, sorry to say but I can't take a school seriously if there MCAT average is 22.

 

[ILikeFood]

Hey!

I got into both schools last year as well and I chose WVSOM.

Quick thing about the "package" Ilikefood is talking about. I lived about 10 minutes from Nova for most of my life. You have to understand that the cost of living in South Florida is INSANELY more expensive than here in West Virginia.

The way I picked was a few criteria, come up with a list of things you would want in a medical school and compare/contrast schools.

Here's mine for an example:

1.) MUST be allowed to disect a real cadaver.
2.) MUST not have a Dress Code (Or a very relaxed one).
3.) The students on the tour must be happy.
4.) Must have the opportunity for research.

Since you went on the interviews...I wont rattle off facts/opinions about each school on the thread. If your really interested, PM me and ill tell you in depth, why I chose WVSOM.

Hope this helps!

Yes, but what is there to do in West Virginia? And I pay $1200/month to live in a 1050 sqft apartment in a gated community by the water. My classmates probably pay less for their living arrangements and yes, you may pay less, but what do you do for fun when that rare moment of free time arises?

 

[Gobblox]

NSU has everyone of these things and more, sorry to say but I can't take a school seriously if there MCAT average is 22.

And I'm sorry to say that your flat out wrong.

http://www.wvsom.edu/Applicants/applicants-home

Not good enough?

http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/medical/MedBasics.aspx?iid=1034937

Here's Nova:

http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/medical/MedBasics.aspx?iid=1033137

@Mbeas - Maybe I miscommunicated. The list was NOT things that Nova had/didnt have. It was just MY personal criteria on what I wanted from a medical school.

@ILikeFood - It's not as bad as your would think. there are a few bars, the snowshoe ski resort is about 45 min. away, if your into hiking or swimming, the greenbriar mountain trail is closeby along with some of the most awesome swimming holes I have ever been to. If your wealthy, you can go to the greenbriar hotel and resort.

But like any medical student, my activity of choice is SLEEP! 🙂

 

[DarkHorizon]

I take it back, it was 22 the year i applied, it's 25 now. Nova was 26 then and is about 28 now. Anyway, you'll have a hard time convincing anyone WVSOM is a better school between the two.

And I'm sorry to say that your flat out wrong.

http://www.wvsom.edu/Applicants/applicants-home

Not good enough?

http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/medical/MedBasics.aspx?iid=1034937

Here's Nova:

http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/medical/MedBasics.aspx?iid=1033137

@Mbeas - Maybe I miscommunicated. The list was NOT things that Nova had/didnt have. It was just MY personal criteria on what I wanted from a medical school.

@ILikeFood - It's not as bad as your would think. there are a few bars, the snowshoe ski resort is about 45 min. away, if your into hiking or swimming, the greenbriar mountain trail is closeby along with some of the most awesome swimming holes I have ever been to. If your wealthy, you can go to the greenbriar hotel and resort.

But like any medical student, my activity of choice is SLEEP! 🙂

 

[munchymanRX]

Hey!

I got into both schools last year as well and I chose WVSOM.

Quick thing about the "package" Ilikefood is talking about. I lived about 10 minutes from Nova for most of my life. You have to understand that the cost of living in South Florida is INSANELY more expensive than here in West Virginia.

The way I picked was a few criteria, come up with a list of things you would want in a medical school and compare/contrast schools.

Here's mine for an example:

1.) MUST be allowed to disect a real cadaver.
2.) MUST not have a Dress Code (Or a very relaxed one).
3.) The students on the tour must be happy.
4.) Must have the opportunity for research.

Since you went on the interviews...I wont rattle off facts/opinions about each school on the thread. If your really interested, PM me and ill tell you in depth, why I chose WVSOM.

Hope this helps!

I'll respond to each one of these points systematically:

1) We dissect real cadavers. You and 5 other people are in a lab group (each lab group gets a body) and you spend 2 hours every thursday afternoon dissecting. However, I will say that whether or not you get anything out of dissection lab is kind of dependent on your learning style. You will learn very quickly that dissection is not a systematic, clear-cut art. In all honesty I get more out of looking at the prosected samples and having a TA point stuff out.

2) Our dress code is blue scrubs. You can wear a T-shirt and scrub pants and nobody will look at you sideways. It is loads more comfortable than jeans and a tee and drastically cuts down on your laundry bill. If you've ever wanted to go to class in your pajamas, NSU is for you--I don't know why everyone freaks out about our code-it's really a non issue.

3) If the students on your tour are 1st years, of course they're not going to be happy. Here at NSU, our 1st years (like myself) are slogging through the trenches like the rest of our brethren around the country, but there's an end to that in sight. You're being tested for mental and emotional resilience as much as you are biochemistry knowledge. Get used to it, because it won't be any different anyplace else. Our second years freaking love their lives though. PBL and they get Mondays off.

4) Are you kidding? One of the things that attracted me to NSU was the opportunity for research! NSU is a large school with undergraduates and graduates in the sciences, and there are plenty of labs on campus for you to join if you want to get your hands dirty. If none of the projects here tickle your fancy, FAU, U Miami, and FIU are all within a half-hours drive and have laboratories-a-plenty to choose from. Don't think you need to be involved in an academic setting either. Many hospitals in the south florida area are the locations of great clinical research. Do some digging and you'll find you should be able to do quite a bit more than just pipet your way to a publication.

 

[Hotterthansand]

I also had the pleasure of interviewing at both schools and I definately put WVSOM above NSU for two reasons primarily.

The feeling i got from WVSOM was that they are always trying to get better and progress and it has showed throughout their stats from year to year compared to a somewhat complacent feeling i got from the NSU program.

The other reason I went with WVSOM is to get out of south florida. Living in Fort Lauderdale seems great if your not from their but having to deal with the area for another four years in the probably the most stressful and grueling period of your education made me weary of choosing NSU. Everyone has their own opinions but I would highly advise making a decision by visiting both places and give them a thorough review, why people make comments about schools they haven't even seen or been to is beyond me.

 

[xajtx]

I also had the pleasure of interviewing at both schools and I definately put WVSOM above NSU for two reasons primarily.

The feeling i got from WVSOM was that they are always trying to get better and progress and it has showed throughout their stats from year to year compared to a somewhat complacent feeling i got from the NSU program.

The other reason I went with WVSOM is to get out of south florida. Living in Fort Lauderdale seems great if your not from their but having to deal with the area for another four years in the probably the most stressful and grueling period of your education made me weary of choosing NSU. Everyone has their own opinions but I would highly advise making a decision by visiting both places and give them a thorough review, why people make comments about schools they haven't even seen or been to is beyond me.

Why was "having to deal with the area" so stressful and grueling? I'm curious because I'm leaning towards NSU.

 

[munchymanRX]

Why was "having to deal with the area" so stressful and grueling? I'm curious because I'm leaning towards NSU.

In all honesty the attitude towards free time in medical school is somewhat disingenuous on these boards. You will have free time. You will not have A LOT of free time, but it is not even an issue to maintain a social life and hobbies-it all depends on how efficient you are at studying.

Given the above, I'd rather be in a place that has ample culture, activities, the beach, decent restaurants, and isn't 200 miles away from the nearest major airport. Don't think it doesn't matter. It does. You're still living here for 3-4 years.

 

[xajtx]

In all honesty the attitude towards free time in medical school is somewhat disingenuous on these boards. You will have free time. You will not have A LOT of free time, but it is not even an issue to maintain a social life and hobbies-it all depends on how efficient you are at studying.

Given the above, I'd rather be in a place that has ample culture, activities, the beach, decent restaurants, and isn't 200 miles away from the nearest major airport. Don't think it doesn't matter. It does. You're still living here for 3-4 years.

I'm assuming you go to NSU?

 

[munchymanRX]

I'm assuming you go to NSU?

yup. I'd be happy to field any questions you have in a PM, as well!

 

[ksmajmudar]

An Aston Martin Vanquish is $200,000, no small sum of money (like med school tuition).

When I go to buy one in my 5th year after graduating residency, will I buy it because it's silver? Will I buy it because it has leather seats? Will I buy it because it can drive? Many cars have these features. No, honey, I'm going to buy it for whole package.

Or what about I date her for her tits

Scratch that, bad example.

My point is this:

What does it matter what I pick? What do YOU want? I've written down a lot about Nova, and there's a lot more from other students on here. Make your choice.

Arguably the funniest, yet simultaneously, most helpful post I've ever seen on SDN. 👍

 

[ensuii]

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