PCOM or Nova?

[Albah]

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Hey Everyone,

I wanted to hear about your input on this question...
Which school would you choose....PCOM or Nova and why?
Thanks!

 

[DrQuinn]

NSUCOM... why? Cause I go there.

You'll find PCOMers who will say to go to PCOM... why? Because they go there...

In the end, you're just as reputable for residencies as anyone else (I don't think any schools have an advantage over any other... besides the geographic location... obviously Philly residencies are more familiar with PCOMers... but note that I have had several Philly EM residency interviews, and I'm from NSUCOM). I think the biggest factor in choosing between the two schools was your gut feeling. Which school can you visualize yourself at more?

Also, geography and tuition should play a large role in your choice as well.

Good luck.

 

[Dr JPH]

I have never visited NSUCOM.

I can give you the run through about PCOM.

I would listen to Quinn about NSUCOM...definately knows what's up.

All in all, it's more a matter of personal preference rather than "which school is better."

Often here, you see PCOM, NSUCOM, NYCOM, KCOM, and CCOM being stacked up against eachother as far as which is better. Those five are solid.

You're going to be OK if you attend either school.

And by the way...it's about 35 degree right now in Philly.

Quinn...how's Fla?

🙂

 

[dogirl]

Fla = 75+ I just interviewed there. I would say go where you can picture yourself succeeding. For me, that's Nova. I felt more than at any school the students really work together and help each other succeed. Since the first 2 years of school are pretty much the same at any school I would go where you feel you are more comfortable. Nova and U Miami are the only med schools in S Fla which is great if you want to do residency in Fla. But they also place students all over. PCOM is a little too big in terms of class size and the weather a bit too cold for me so I'm heading south in august!

 

[DrQuinn]

JP and DOgirl are right.

And that's great. A lot of times, these threads turn into "I go to PCOM, its the best." Or "I am a 2nd year at PCSOM, and its the best go here." The frustrating thing is... none of us can really compare the schools. Even interviewing there gives little insight about the truth about being a student there. How many times on your medical school interview did you hear a student say "I don't think I would have picked this place?"

Its because as first and second years, you have a lot of school pride and really are kind of blind to what medical education is about. About halfway or 2/3 of the way through your third year you will begin to get the idea of how medicine is taught and practiced, then you can look back at your previous years and make a better judgement.

PCOM and NSUCOM are very similar. Big classes. I believe PCOM has a bigger class than NSUCOM (I think NSUCOM has aruodn 200-220 for first years... PCOM aroudn 250, but I could be wrong). Both in big cities (Ft. Laud/Philly).

PCOM has the advantage of a LOT, and I mean, a LOT of BIG hospitals in the area. But that's true of pretty much anywhere in the NE (Philly, NYC, Boston).

NSUCOM has the advantage of... well, FL. Not to mention you can go to Tampa, Orlando, Miami, etc for your 3rd/4th years. So you needn't worry about being stuck in a rut for clinical rotations.

Like JP and DOgirl said, it really comes down to personal preference. For me, I think it really si just geography. You're going to learn the same stuff from the same books. So don't think you'll learn more at one school than another. If you love the NE or the big NE cities, go to PCOM. If you want to try out FL, go to NSUCOM.

I am assuming tuition is similar.

I think both schools suffer from administrative grumbles. But that's true for any of the big private DO programs. You wont' realize it until you're a fourth year about to graduate though. But I refrain any more comments.

JP-. FL is great. Although I'm not sure if I want to leave for residency or not. Dunno if I want to go to Cleveland or Baltimore... or stay in Tampa or go to Univ of FL for residency. Not sure I can live without a tan.

 

[dogirl]

Nova: out of state @ $26,000
in state @ $21, 000

180 students per class

PCOM: in/out @ $28,000

250 students per class

Quinn...I'm with you on the tan/geography thing! Who wouldn't want to go to med school near the beach????

 

[jd star]

I just made the same decision between PCOM and Nova. For years I had my heart set on PCOM, but all of that changed when I went to visit Nova. I know you'll see my posts about Nova on other threads about how much I love the school, and I don't even go there yet. I know both schools are great schools and my decision to go to Nova was basically because I knew I would be happier there. And I'm definitely a warm weather girl.... I love the sun and I'm tired of this cold Philly weather. I could go on and on, sounding like an advertisement for Nova, but I won't because I've done it too many times on these boards.

All I know is that the decision is pretty much something you have to do on your own. It's nice to get input from other people, but you have to go with what you feel is right for you (unless you are married or have a family, then you have to consider them too). Good luck on your decision! One year ago I never thought I would get to choose between PCOM and Nova, and I think it's awesome that we're lucky enough to have this decision to make.

 

[RockandRolldoc]

I made this decision last year, and I chose Nova. I was certain I was going to go to PCOM, I even set my acceptance in. When I interviewed at Nova, I went in thinking that the outcome of that day wouldn't matter because I was already set with Philly. I was wrong, I left that interview very confused. It took me about a week to decide. The first thing I did was rule out the academic discrepancies. There aren't any. Both schools have great programs and rotations. As far as reputation... Geography is a big factor in determining popularity, but I did research... ( calling directors of medical education from local hospitals in my home town near Detroit). What I took from my conversations was this... PCOM=solid staple, old brass DO school, can't go wrong. NOVA=up and coming DO school, very positive reaction to students

Either one of those scenario's worked for me so I basically had both schools locked into a dead heat. So then I thought about the intangibles... A very radical, yet the most important question was then brought to light.... "Where will I be the happiest?" Remember this is life here, this isn't a line on a resume, this is your actual life which you only live once ( unless you're hare krishna ). Since it's my life, i want to be the happiest I can be, and my guts told me to go to Florida. I don't know if my process is helpful to you, but this worked for me. Every day when I wake up, look out the window and see palm trees reminds me of the great decision I made.

 

[DrQuinn]

JD-

Its good to see a pre-med... or should I say soon to be M1... being down to earth and realizing the truth about medical school... and that the decision to go to one school or the other is a personal choice. You're very lucky you got to choose between the two programs. But I'm glad you made your decision. Congrats.

Some people love oysters... some people get a gag reflex just thinkign about it. If you asked someone if you should order raw oysters for an appetizer or buffalo wings... you'd get both sides of the fence. But you won't know which one you like better until you just make a decision and go for it.

I myself like oysters. Yummy! And I chew them too.

 

[MoNOVA]

You all probably forgot to consider the hot Latinas i.e. nurses, PT's, PA's, among other medical staff during med school and rotations 😉

Seriously, one of the many cool things about South Florida is that you'll meet and admire the diversity of cultures. Having lived for 6 years in S. FLA. I've met people from all over the world namely all of the Hispanic countries in South America (most notably cubans, colombians, puerto ricans and venezuelans), Europe, Asia (there's a good mix of Orientals and Indians here), as well as people from within the U.S. Each group brings unique qualities to the SoFla community.

Its like being up close and personal with other cultures without traveling.

 

[jd star]

quinnnsu - Thanks!

monova - The diversity of South Florida was also something I really liked about the school. I just felt like I would really get to see a lot and experience a lot of new things.... being sheltered in Philly suburbs for the past 22 years makes me really want to see new things. Because really, if I don't experience this stuff now, I'm afraid I'll go into "culture shock" when I eventually enter the real world. (Not that Philly isn't culturally diverse, but I know that South Florida is an entirely different story.)

 

[DrQuinn]

S. FL is a world all by itself. It is very different from any other part of FL, and very different from most of the cities I've been in. I grew up around the DC area... which is also a very culturally diverse area with lots of stuff to do...

but, man... S. FL, especially the Miami-Dade area... is like entering a whole other country. Very cool.

 

[JPNSU]

I'll put in another vote for Nova. I don't think it's the best medical school out there. However, no school is perfect. I think it could improve upon its reputation by establishing a wider and more extensive listing of post graduate medical educational opportunities. University of Miami has been arround for just around 50 years and has already built up a very strong though not stellar reputation of producing excellent physicans through its hospital affiliations, residency programs, and post-residency fellowships. I think NSU-COM could learn from this and start making a name for itself in a like manner. Ideas have been floating around with a proposed Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and OB/GYN Residency program at Broward General Medical Center. That is a truly scary thought...LOL

I can't complain though...I just learned that I matched in the exact specialty that I wanted at my 2nd choice institution (I participated in the Military Match)...whether or not Nova had anything to do with that?? It wasn't the school...it was certain faculty, and classmates that made the difference for me. All in all I enjoyed my Nova experience...I just wish I had partied more like QuinnNSU..you sure picked the right specialty for yourself

Jason Park M4
NSU-COM

 

[DrQuinn]

JP makes a good point...

There is no perfect medical school. Harvard isn't perfect, neither is Yale, Cornell, Howard, Meharry, or any other school starting with the letters A-Z.

I remember one EM attending talking about his DO program he went to... he said:
"All that really matters is they took me in to train me as a physician, and I ended up in the specialty that was perfect for me. They allowed me to train there. Thanks."

Those words will hopefully ring true. If I went to NSUCOM, PCOM, Do-me-COM, wherever, all that matters is I can practice medicine, get the residency that I want (not necessarily Hopkins), and live my life how I want.

Oh, and the Hopkins EM residency is NOT even CLOSE to one of the better EM residencies out there... trust me!