<p>I am most likely going to do the following program after much pondering, questioning, and driving people insane on forums, but I think it’s an important decision, and I have been PM’ed by people saying thanks for the BS/DO info and I really want to do the BS/DO program at Nova, so thanks…anyways this is where I am most likely going:</p>
<p>*Nova Southeastern University with NSU-COM in Ft. Lauderdale, FL !!! 
(I can’t wait to leave Chicago’s crazy weather *50 inches of snow this year, which is why I can’t wait for next fall and paradise:) )</p>
<p>*MCAT: 24 (They change the MCAT requirement to adjust to the national average of the school since 5 years ago it was 22, but in a few years I imagine it will be 26…I believe they change it every 3-5 years…)</p>
<p>GPA: 3.3 (You need to major in Biology, but you can minor in anything. They are strict with the GPA and if you fall below, you will go into academic program probation and risk losing your reserved seat after 1-2 semesters.)</p>
<p><em>Number of Seats Available: 25 seats total for both 7 and 8 year BS/DO program, but they place you in which program they think you will be successful in based on interview and secondary application. For example, last year only 2 people were admitted into the 7 year program vs 15 in the 8 year program. *</em>The program is very selective since there are 2 applications, an interview with 3 doctors, and they grill you from controversial topics in health care to finding out about your personality/interests in the interview.</p>
<p>*Why you are doing it…</p>
<p>The major reason I’m doing it is because it’s like a head-start into college for me, which is the description of the program on Nova’s website. Students are encouraged to learn about various subjects, get a well-rounded education, and still guaranteed a seat in the college of osteopathic medicine. Students have the option of applying out to different medical schools too, so it’s not like you are stuck for college. Also, the location is great, the tuition is very affordable with the scholarships they give. Also, I love their Honors Program, extracurricular activities are amazing, and the atmosphere is good.</p>
<p>Also many people have told me that osteopathic medicine is bad and blah blah, there is bias, but I strongly disagree. After shadowing DO’s and doing personal research, I think a DO degree is equivalent to an MD degree and I have been told DO’s learn even more with extra hours in osteopathic manip. treatment. And DO’s can take the USMLE instead of COMLEX if they want an allopathic residency..</p>
<p>All in all, I think Pitzer College and Nova have the best BS/DO programs in the nation because they have been doing it for decades, I know Nova has. But getting into the Pitzer program is more difficult since their school and osteopathic medical school is more selective. I believe Western is the hardest DO school to get into, but NSU-COM, PCOM, CCOM, NYCOM have good reputations…</p>
<p><em>I also got accepted to BS/DO programs with NYIT/NYCOM, Gannon/PCOM, Utica College/LECOM/UNECOM…it’s a great plan even though people seem to be against it…</em></p>