September 5, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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Getting into med school isn’t supposed to be easy. But if you're looking up the NSU Medical School acceptance rate, chances are you’re trying to figure out whether your stats and story are enough. Maybe you’re wondering if your MCAT is too low, if your clinical experiences follow the same theme, or if Nova Southeastern is even within reach.
This guide breaks it all down. We’ll walk you through how hard it really is to get into NSU, what GPA and MCAT you need, what the AdCom actually wants to see, and how to build an application that stands out. We’ll also cover tuition, mission fit, and how to crush every part of the process, from secondaries to interviews.
And if you're serious about getting in? Don't just guess what a successful application looks like. Read one. The Premed Catalyst Application Database gives you free access to 8 full AMCAS applications that got students accepted to top programs, including UCLA, UCI, and more. You’ll get to see exactly what works and why, so you can use it to build your own standout application.
Get your free resource here.
Let’s be clear: NSU’s medical schools aren’t a walk in the park. Between its allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) programs, Nova Southeastern University offers two very different admissions paths.
For the 2025 entering class, the NSU MD program received 5,457 applications. Only 62 students matriculated.
That makes the NSU Medical School acceptance rate for the MD program around 1.14%.
And for the DO program? The exact acceptance rate isn’t publicly available.
What we do know: the program receives more than 7,500 applications each year. While class size numbers aren’t released, the volume of applicants alone tells you this isn’t a backup plan. It’s competitive in its own right.
Let’s break down the numbers:
NSU MD (Allopathic)
That’s well above national averages and which means you’ll need to be academically elite to be considered for the MD program.
NSU DO (Osteopathic)
NSU’s DO program takes a more holistic approach. That doesn’t mean your stats don’t matter. They do. But there’s more flexibility for applicants who shine in other areas.
That being said, if your GPA is below 3.0 or your MCAT is under 500, your application is probably not going to make it very far.
And if you’re planning to apply to the DO program through NSU’s M.S. in Foundational & Integrated Medical Sciences (F.I.M.S.) pathway? Maintain a 3.6 GPA and score a 500+ on your MCAT and you’re in. Literally.
To apply to either of NSU’s medical schools, you’ll need to meet standard premed requirements. Here’s what that looks like:
Prerequisites (for both MD and DO)
For the DO program specifically, Biochemistry is also strongly recommended.
For either program, you’ll also need to meet the following:
At Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD), tuition for the 2024–2025 academic year is $73,166. That’s just the sticker price. The actual cost of attendance, which includes housing, transportation, books, and other necessities, lands at a hefty $127,408 per year.
Welcome to the sad reality of med school math.
If you’re looking at the DO program, it runs a little cheaper but it’s still not cheap: around $68,858 for the 2023–2024 academic year.
Now, the good news: NSU has your back with financial aid. A huge chunk of students receive help from grants, loans, and scholarships. A few scholarships even apply automatically, like the Dean’s Scholarship (clinical research focused) and the NSU MD Fund.
No extra applications, just boxes checked.
Then there’s on-campus work, employer assistance, and veteran benefits if you qualify. On top of that, NSU recommends using the AAMC’s MedLoans® Organizer and Calculator (MLOC). It’s essentially your financial GPS for debt repayment later on.
Let’s be honest: most med schools talk a big game. They all have shiny facilities, strong faculty, and some variation of “innovative curriculum” in their marketing materials.
So, what actually sets a school apart? What makes a place like NSU’s MD and DO programs more than just another name on your AMCAS list?
Most med schools are either MD or DO—not both.
NSU is one of the few institutions in the U.S. that offers both paths on the same campus: the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) and the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM). And they don’t just coexist.
They collaborate.
Students across both programs share access to clinical sites, simulation centers, public health projects, and interprofessional education opportunities. This crossover creates a culture of mutual respect, not rivalry.
Both programs offer integrated, systems-based curricula, but they take slightly different routes. The MD program leans hard into case-based learning with early clinical exposure starting in year one.
The DO program builds in Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) training from the beginning and offers dual-degree pathways like DO/MPH and DO/MBA, ideal if you're thinking about leadership, business, or population health.
Whether your strength is in hands-on healing or high-level systems thinking, NSU gives you room to explore and expand.
NSU medical students train in South Florida, one of the most culturally and clinically diverse regions in the U.S. From high-volume hospitals to underserved community clinics, both MD and DO students rotate through settings that expose them to complex, real-world medicine. And because NSU has built strong partnerships across healthcare systems in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, you’re not scrambling for rotation spots.
Because both medical schools are relatively young, they’re not weighed down by outdated academic traditions. NSU has the freedom to design its programs based on what actually works in today’s healthcare system. That means modern tech, integrated public health, and an emphasis on things that matter now, like interprofessional teamwork, social determinants of health, and evidence-based care.
Being part of NSU Health means you’re not in a silo. You’re surrounded by pharmacy students, dental students, optometry, PA, PT, nursing—you name it. Both MD and DO students benefit from interprofessional education opportunities and shared simulation labs. It’s the kind of real-world collaboration you’ll need once you’re practicing medicine.
Getting into either Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (MD) or College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) takes more than decent stats and a well-formatted resume. These programs aren’t looking for average; they’re looking for students who show up with purpose.
Your GPA and MCAT might get your foot in the door, but what gets you an acceptance is your story: what you've done, why you’ve done it, and how it’s shaped the kind of doctor you want to be.
Nova Southeastern University offers both MD and DO programs, and the application process for each program follows a different system and application timeline.
For the MD program, NSU uses the AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service). Unlike many medical schools, NSU’s MD program does not operate on a rolling admissions basis. Instead, it has strict deadlines for primary and secondary submissions, as well as decision and enrollment steps. This means timing your application right is what’s going to keep you competitive.
For the DO program, NSU uses AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service). The DO admissions process is rolling and periodic, meaning the earlier you apply, the better your chances.
Your personal statement is your narrative: who you are, what you care about, and the kind of doctor you're becoming.
Whether you're applying to NSU’s MD or DO program, your story needs to do one thing: show, not just tell. If you say you care about health equity, then you should show experiences in free clinics and outreach in underserved communities. If you say you're passionate about research, where are your hours in the lab? Your experiences are your proof.
Your secondaries aren’t just about proving you’re qualified. They’re about proving you’re the right fit. Both NSU's MD and DO programs are looking for more than stats. They want students who align with their mission: team-based problem solvers, future physicians who see the whole patient, and leaders ready to serve diverse communities.
Below are the actual prompts from the most recent application cycle for each program, along with how to approach each one.
NSU MD Program Secondary Essays:
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.
Pick a specific story. Don’t generalize. Ideally choose one where your leadership wasn’t about a title but about how you helped others succeed. Show how you navigated a challenge, how the team grew because of you, and what you walked away with that makes you a better future doctor.
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.
Don’t just say “I like PBL.” Show it. Use a time when you worked in a self-directed, collaborative setting (research, clinical, or extracurricular). Highlight your ability to listen, stay flexible, and guide the group forward when things get stuck.
3. Identify any traits, life experiences, or interests that a professor or advisor would not normally know about you.
Think about what’s not on your resume. Did you grow up translating at the doctor’s office for your parents? Are you a first-gen college student? Do you paint, box, or write poetry to decompress? This is a chance to add depth and personality without forcing it.
4. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., intro biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine? Please highlight any service-learning activities that align with humanism in medicine.
Point to one or two courses or programs, whether it’s philosophy, public health, language, or sociology, that stretched your understanding of people or systems. Then, tie that to a concrete service-learning moment where that knowledge actually helped someone.
5. Have you encountered significant personal or professional challenges that have shaped your motivation to pursue a career in medicine and service to others?
Be honest. The challenge doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just needs to be real. What matters most is how you grew from it and how it pushed you to help others in a way that only you can now.
6. If applicable, please describe how your experience with challenges has informed your perspective, decision-making, or approach to helping others. If not applicable, please type NA.
If you answered the last question, this is your follow-up. Don’t just repeat. Go deeper. Show how the challenge changed how you treat people, how you lead, or how you think under pressure. If not applicable, write “NA” and move on.
7. Do you have any gaps or inconsistencies in either academic or standardized test performances throughout your undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate career? If yes, explain; if no, type NA.
If you do, address it head-on. Own the issue, explain the context briefly, and show what changed (tutoring, new study system, mental health support, etc.). If there’s nothing to explain, type “NA.”
8. Is there a time gap between earning your last degree (baccalaureate or other) and the expected time of your medical school matriculation? If yes, explain; if no, type NA.
If yes, make the gap work for you. Did you work, take care of family, travel, or explore other career paths? Emphasize what you learned and how it shaped your readiness now. Otherwise, say “NA.”
9. Have you previously applied to any medical school (M.D., D.O., international)? If yes, explain what steps you have taken to improve your overall application profile for this admissions cycle. If no, type NA.
If you’ve applied before, be clear about how you improved, whether that’s your MCAT, clinical, research,or maturity. Avoid sounding defensive. Show growth. If this is your first time, type “NA.”
NSU’s DO Program Secondary Essays:
1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine? (1,000 characters)
Tell the truth, not what you think they want to hear. Maybe you shadowed a DO who impressed you with their holistic approach. Maybe you were a patient who experienced OMM firsthand. Either way, show what clicked for you and why it matters.
2. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school. (2,000 characters)
Be specific. Name the role, setting, and your responsibilities, but more importantly, reflect on what each experience taught you. Choose quality over quantity. Aim to show genuine patient interaction, growth, and consistency.
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 number of hours per week. (1,000 characters)
This is mostly factual, but don’t just list jobs. If you can, add a line or two about what you gained from working, especially if you balanced school and work. That says something about your grit and time management.
If you’re applying to NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD), plan on submitting three to four letters of recommendation. No fewer than three, no more than four.
And it needs to include at least one from a math or science professor. The rest can come from professors, mentors, clinical supervisors or other professionals who know you well.
NSU MD doesn’t require a committee letter, but they want writers who truly know your grit, your drive, and your character, not just your stats.
On the other hand, if you’re applying to NSU’s DO program, you need either two or four letters: one option is one physician and one curriculum letter; the other is two science professors, one non‑science professor, and one physician. Osteopathic applicants may also submit a pre‑professional committee letter if available, or otherwise follow the individual‑letter path.
If you’re applying to the MD program at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, you’re walking into a virtual MMI. Multiple. Mini. Interviews.
It’s like academic speed dating. You rotate through timed stations where interviewers throw scenarios, prompts, or ethical dilemmas your way. Eight minutes. Next room. Again and again.
You don’t have time to fake it. They’re watching how you think, how you respond to pressure, how you treat people. Communication, empathy, ethics, adaptability. It’s not about your MCAT anymore. It’s about your character. Your decisions. Your presence. And the structure is built to expose that.
The DO program at NSU is a totally different setup.
If you’re applying to the College of Osteopathic Medicine, you’ll get a traditional interview. Usually one-on-one or with a small panel. Most applicants are done with that part in under 30 minutes. Some finish in ten.
It’s conversational. It’s personal. It’s your chance to show who you are without a script. Expect the usual questions: Why DO? Why NSU? Tell me about yourself. What challenges have you faced?
Not every med school is right for every premed, and that’s a good thing. The strongest applicants aren’t chasing prestige. They’re finding a program that aligns with how they learn, what they value, and the doctor they want to become. NSU offers two distinct paths: the MD program at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine and the DO program at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Here’s how to know if either or both might be your kind of fit.
NSU MD or DO is a good fit if…
NSU MD or DO may not be a good fit if…
If you’re looking at NSU, chances are you’re also considering other medical schools in Florida. That’s smart. The best premeds don’t just throw 30 schools on a list and hope one sticks. They do their research. They understand each program’s vibe, mission, and stats. That’s how they build an application that actually fits. So if you’re serious about giving yourself options, and you should be, then check out our guides on these other Florida med schools.
You already know the odds aren’t stacked in your favor. Thousands of applicants every year have the GPA, the MCAT, the volunteer hours and still end up with rejection after rejection. Not because they weren’t smart enough, but because they didn’t know how to package their story in a way that admissions committees actually notice.
That’s why we built the Premed Catalyst Application Database: a free resource with 8 full AMCAS applications that earned acceptances at some of the toughest schools in the country, including UCLA, UCI, and more.
Inside, you’ll see the exact MCAT scores, GPAs, essays, and extracurriculars that made real students stand out.
Stop guessing. Start modeling your application after strategies that already work.
Get your free resource here.
