Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
1. Do you have dual degree programs? Do I have to apply to these programs when I submit my medical school application? Is there any financial assistance available for these programs?
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University and Princeton University offer an MD/PhD program. The dual degree can be completed in 7 to 8 years. There is full tuition support and stipend for students in this program. Applicants are strongly urged to file an application to the PhD program concurrently with the submission of the MD application. Additional information can be found at:
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
We have an M.D./J.D. program, which allows for completion of both degrees in six years of full-time study. Both Rutgers University School of Law in Camden and Seton Hall sponsor this dual degree program. Students must take the LSAT and generally apply in their second year. M.D./J.D. for Seton Hall and Rutgers Camden
The UMDNJ-School of Public Health sponsors a dual M.D./M.P.H. program in conjunction with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University. This program for the M.P.H. allows completion of both degrees in a five year period. There is full tuition support for selected students. Students generally apply at the end of their first year, however they may apply earlier. All Robert Wood Johnson Medical School first year students may take two graduate MPH courses during their first year at no cost. M.D./M.P.H.
Rutgers Business School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School offer the dual degree M.D./M.B.A. The program may be completed in five years. There is full tuition support available for selected students. Students must take the GMAT. Students generally apply at the end of their first year. M.D./M.B.A.
New Jersey Institute of Technology and the UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions joins Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in offering the M.D/M.S. in BiomedicalInformatics. The program may be completed in five years. M.D./M.S. Biomedical Informatics
An M.D./M.S. in Jurisprudence in Health Law and Policy is offered in association with Seton Hall Law School. This program is specifically designed for those who desire to study Health Law and Health Policy without obtaining a J.D. degree. The program is completed in five years. M.D./M.S. Jurisprudence
2. What clinical experiences do students have during their preclinical years?
The integrated, multidisciplinary Case-Based Learning course provides a major clinical focus for first year medical students. In the Introduction to the Patient course first year students spend an afternoon a week in a clinical setting learning the "art" of medicine. Basic Life Support is offered during the first year. The second year provides more intense clinical experiences including Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Decision Making, Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Decision Making in Psychiatry, and Human Sexuality.
In addition to the above required curriculum there are numerous preclinical electives including the Emergency Medicine Elective, Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Community Child Health, and Issues in Women's Health to name but a few.
Over sixty percent of our students participate in HIPHOP (Homeless and Indigent Population Health Outreach Project) during their first and second years. This student created and student run organization has numerous clinical opportunities with expectant mothers, cancer patients, and at risk high school students. Through involvement in HIPHOP our students enhance their health education and communication skills, improve their clinical and interpersonal capabilities and gain valuable community-oriented primary care experience.
3. Do the students have the opportunity to conduct research during
their medical school education?
There are many opportunities in both basic science and clinical research
settings which are tailored to medical students. Students can get
exposure to research in their first year in student electives, and we
offer research scholarships for the summer between the first and second
year of medical school. These opportunities are designed to allow
students to learn about the breadth of research at RWJMS, find their
niche and identify mentors. We also offer a year long Student Scholars
Program which allows for meaningful experiences in the laboratory or
clinical setting. Students performing research can apply to the
Distinction in Research Program, where a scientific publication or
thesis is written and students graduate with this distinction on the
records and diploma. Our entire series of programs is described at our
Medical Scientist Training Web Site at
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/research/scientist_training/index.htm.
4. How do your students perform on the USMLE?
Our students consistently perform above the national average on Step1 and Step 2 of the USMLE in terms of the first-time pass rate and mean score.
Questions about Residency Placement of our Graduates from preceding years.
1. May I see the list of specialties and residency programs to which the graduating classes of 2008 were accepted through the National Resident Matching Program?
View the 2008 Match List
2. May I see the list of specialties and residency programs to which the graduating classes of 2007 were accepted through the National Resident Matching Program?
View the 2007 Match List
3. May I see the list of specialties and residency programs to which the graduating classes of 2006 were accepted through the National Resident Matching Program?
View the 2006 Match List
Questions about the Campuses and Student Life at RWJMS
1. Where do students spend their first two years of medical school?
All students complete the first two years of the curriculum on the Piscataway campus. This campus includes the Kessler Teaching Labs, Research Towers, the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, the School of Public Health, the University Behavioral Health Care center and the Library of Science and Medicine.
2. What about housing?
The medical school does not offer on-campus housing, however most students readily obtain housing in the nearby communities of Piscataway, New Brunswick, Edison and Highland Park where many townhouse and apartment complexes are located. The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Affairs will assist students in finding housing. Two "Housing Days" are held in the summer months and available housing is listed on the web.
3. I was offered the choice of attending either the Piscataway/New Brunswick campus or the Camden campus. What is the difference?
The difference between the two clinical campuses relates to where students
complete their 3rd and 4th year of medical school. Ninety-two students complete
their last two years of medical school as part of the Piscataway/New Brunswick
campus and fifty students complete their clinical years on our Camden campus,
so the size of the programs is one difference.
Another difference is the number of clinical facilities used for third year clerkships.
Students in the Piscataway/New Brunswick campus complete clerkships at several
hospitals in the greater Central New Jersey area, with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital serving as the principal teaching hospital. Students at the Camden campus complete all their clerkships at Cooper Hospital University Medical Center.
Both campuses offer the identical curriculum and grading policies. The faculty on both campuses enjoy close communication in the different departments.
Both New Brunswick and Camden offer cultural and entertainment attractions and both campuses are committed to the local communities and participate in multiple service learning opportunities.
4. When do I make this choice?
If there are places available on either campus, then you will be offered your choice
of campus at the time of acceptance. You will be asked to notify the Admissions
Office of your choice when you accept the place.
If one of the campuses is filled at the time of your acceptance then you will be
offered the available campus and be placed on a waiting list for the campus of your choice. Many students are offered their choice prior to the first day of school. Another opportunity to switch campuses occurs during the second year. A blinded review process is used if an unequal number of students wish to switch their campus.
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