Nova Southeastern Secondary Essay Tips & Prompts

Nova Southeastern University Patel College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Nova Southeastern Secondary Application Essay Prompts by Year
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Nova Southeastern University (NSU) stands out as an exceptional choice for aspiring doctors for several compelling reasons. First, NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is renowned for its comprehensive curriculum that blends traditional medical education with osteopathic principles, providing a holistic approach to patient care. This unique perspective emphasizes preventive medicine, wellness, and treating the whole person, setting NSU graduates apart in their practice. Additionally, NSU boasts cutting-edge facilities and resources, including state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical training sites, ensuring students receive hands-on experience from day one. Moreover, NSU’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity fosters a collaborative learning environment, exposing students to a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

    It is important to have a STRONG secondary application for Nova Southeastern. Read our tips below to see what Nova Southeastern looks for in its students. Prompts change frequently for NSU, so this is NOT a secondary application we would pre-write.

    Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive interviews and acceptances Nova Southeastern University. Get started and read our Nova Southeastern University secondary application tips below. 

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025

    Note: Nova Southeastern University secondary application essay prompts change significantly from last cycle.

    1. Please provide an example that indicates your ability to function effectively as a productive member of a team working toward a common objective. Elaborate on leadership roles you held in this capacity and how you solved problems that arose. Indicate highlights learned from this experience. (4,000 characters max)
    2. Please share some personal examples of problem solving in a team environment and/or leadership experience that would lead to your success in a Problem Based Learning environment. (4,000 characters max)
    3. At NSU M.D., we value the unique perspective that each applicant brings. Identify any traits, life experiences, or interests that a professor or advisor would not normally know about you. (4,000 characters max)
    4. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine? Please highlight any service learning activities that align with humanism in medicine. (4,000 characters max)
    5. Is there a time gap between earning your last degree (baccalaureate or other) and the expected time of your medical school matriculation? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    6. Were you employed full-time (or part-time) during your undergraduate or graduate years? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    7. Do you believe that you are a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    8. (If applicable) Please explain any gaps or inconsistencies in either academic or standardized test performances throughout your undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate career. (no word limit)

    Tips to Answer NSU Secondaries

     

    Pre-Writing Guidance: NSU Medical School changes its secondary essay prompts each year. This is NOT a school we would pre-write prior to the official release of its secondary application prompts.


    Nova Southeastern Secondary Application Tip #1: First, it’s important to know what the NSU Medical School Admissions Committee is looking for. Make sure you emphasize the following: 1) Academic strength (NSU needs to be assured that you will not fail out of medical school given the tough curriculum) and 2) Excitement to serve a diverse patient population in Florida. 3) Extensive clinical experiences.

    Nova Southeastern Secondary Application Tip #2: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society. 

    Nova Southeastern Secondary Application Tip #3: Tell stories throughout. For example, if there is a question about teamwork, it’s not good enough to say you were a team in ____ organization. If you want to stand out, Drs. Mediratta and Rizal always advise students to SHOW teamwork through a story. Talk about a specific time you displayed teamwork. 

    Nova Southeastern Secondary Application Tip #4: On the note of stories, add patient stories. For example, for the Nova Southeastern secondary essay question, “Please highlight any service learning activities that align with humanism in medicine,” you can give 1-2 stories of patients. Make sure to discuss how that patient experience shaped your view of the type of physician you want to become. 

    Nova Southeastern Secondary Application Tip #5: Get our help to edit your Novasoutheastern secondary application essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

    [Read more secondary essay tips: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Florida State University (FSU), Florida International University (FIU)]

    Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

    We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

    Dr. Rachel Rizal

    Rachel Rizal, M.D.

    Changing the trajectory of people’s lives

    Undergraduate
    Princeton University, cum laude

    Medical School
    Stanford School of Medicine

    Residency
    Harvard, Emergency Medicine

    Awards & Scholarships
    Fulbright Scholar
    USA Today Academic First Team
    Tylenol Scholarship

    Dr. Rishi Mediratta

    Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

    Advising students to attend their dream schools

    Undergraduate
    Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

    Medical School
    Stanford School of Medicine

    Residency
    Stanford, Pediatrics

    Awards & Scholarships
    Marshall Scholar
    Tylenol Scholarship
    Global Health Scholar

    stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

    download your secondary Essay Guide

    Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

    Secondary Essay Guide
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

    Note: Nova Southeastern University secondary application essay prompts change significantly from last cycle.

    1. Please provide an example that indicates your ability to function effectively as a productive member of a team working toward a common objective. Elaborate on leadership roles you held in this capacity and how you solved problems that arose. Indicate highlights learned from this experience. (4,000 characters max)
    2. Please share some personal examples of problem solving in a team environment and/or leadership experience that would lead to your success in a Problem Based Learning environment. (4,000 characters max)
    3. At NSU M.D., we value the unique perspective that each applicant brings. Identify any traits, life experiences, or interests that a professor or advisor would not normally know about you. (4,000 characters max)
    4. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine? Please highlight any service learning activities that align with humanism in medicine. (4,000 characters max)
    5. Is there a time gap between earning your last degree (baccalaureate or other) and the expected time of your medical school matriculation? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    6. Were you employed full-time (or part-time) during your undergraduate or graduate years? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    7. Do you believe that you are a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    8. (If applicable) Please explain any gaps or inconsistencies in either academic or standardized test performances throughout your undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate career. (no word limit)

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

    Note: Nova Southeastern University secondary application essay prompts change significantly from last cycle.
    1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine? (1000 characters)
    2. List and briefly describe your significant healthcare-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school. (2,000 characters max)
    3. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and the number of hours per week. (2,000 characters max)
    4. (If applicable) If you have ever matriculated into an M.D. or a D.O. program, please explain the reason(s) for leaving. Please use the following format: date, institution, status. If nonapplicable, please type “none”.

    Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

    Stand Out From Other Applicants

    Why Choose Us?

    Your acceptance can be just one essay away…

    Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

    Note: Nova Southeastern University secondary application essay prompts change significantly from last cycle.

    1. Please provide an example that indicates your ability to function effectively as a productive member of a team working toward a common objective. Elaborate on leadership roles you held in this capacity and how you solved problems that arose. Indicate highlights learned from this experience. (4,000 characters max)
    2. Please share some personal examples of problem solving in a team environment and/or leadership experience that would lead to your success in a Problem Based Learning environment. (4,000 characters max)
    3. At NSU M.D., we value the unique perspective that each applicant brings. Identify any traits, life experiences, or interests that a professor or advisor would not normally know about you. (4,000 characters max)
    4. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine? Please highlight any service learning activities that align with humanism in medicine. (4,000 characters max)
    5. Is there a time gap between earning your last degree (baccalaureate or other) and the expected time of your medical school matriculation? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    6. Were you employed full-time (or part-time) during your undergraduate or graduate years? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)
    7. Do you believe that you are a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? If yes, please explain. (4,000 characters max)

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

    1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine?
    2. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week.
    3. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

    1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine?
    2. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week.
    3. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

    1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine?
    2. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week.
    3. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

    1. Are you open to the idea of practicing primary care medicine? Yes or No?
    2. Are you open to the idea of practicing medicine in a health care shortage area? Yes or No?
    3. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine?
    4. Please indicate which of the following applies. I grew up in a community of:
      • Less than 10,000 people
      • 10,000 to 50,000 people
      • More than 50,000 people
    5. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week.
    6. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school.
    7. If you have ever matriculated into an M.D. or a D.O. program, please explain reason(s) for leaving. Please use the following format: date, institution, status. If non-applicable, please type “none”.
    8. Are you interested in being considered for the DO-DMD Program (6 year program leading to a joint degree). Yes or No?
    9. Are you applying to the D.O. Program for D.P.M. Graduates? Yes or No?

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

    1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine?
    2. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week.
    3. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

    1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine?
    2. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week.
    3. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school.

    Nova Southeastern University Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015

    This application cycle 2014-2015 required no essays.

    We'll answer any and all your questions about medical school! We typically respond within 1 business day.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    Scroll to Top