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Overview of the Combined BS/MD 7-Year Program
For 2009: Application Deadline: Post-Marked by January 2nd
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is this program the only pathway to medical school at TCNJ?
Q. What is the TCNJ UMDNJ/N.J. Medical School (NJMS) 7-Year Combined BS/MD Program?
Q. What are minimum admissions requirements?
Q. Is there an admissions quota and how many 7-year students are currently enrolled at TCNJ?
Q. What are the retention criteria for the 7-year program?
Q. What is a typical numerical breakdown of the high school senior applicant pool?
Q. How do I initiate the application process?
Q. What is the application process timetable?
Q. Who makes the final admissions decision on all of the interviewed applicants?
Q. What financial aid is available at TCNJ?
Q. What are the housing opportunities at TCNJ and NJMS?
Q. Can I get a tour of the college and the Biology Department?
Q. If I am accepted to the program and attend TCNJ, must I attend NJMS (at Newark)?
Q. What are the pertinent phone numbers and email addresses concerning premedical education at TCNJ?
For further information, please contact the program at medcar@tcnj.edu.
Q. Is this program the only pathway to medical school at TCNJ?
A. NO! For over 30 years our rising seniors have been successfully applying to a wide variety of US medical schools. The vast majority of our pre-meds are NOT in the 7 year program and, over the last 5 years, about 85% of our regular medical school applicants have gained entry into one or more US schools (i.e. Duke, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, U. VA., U. MD., U. Alabama, Tulane, Mt. Sinai, Einstein, SUNY-Syracuse, Temple, NYU, Penn. State-Hershey, Columbia, and, of course, NJ Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – New Jersey’s only MD schools). Many supports are available to our "regular" pre-meds, including personalized advisement, a chapter of AMSA (The American Medical Student Association), connections to nearby hospitals for volunteer positions, a campus-based, student-run Emergency Medical Service organization, availability of a wide variety of pertinent off-campus internships/research opportunities, an in-house MCAT preperation course and guidance through the application/interview process.
We also participate in the Early Assurance Program with SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine. Highly qualified students apply as sophomores (SUNY Buffalo students are given preferential treatment, but our students are also eligible). Accepted students finish the four-year degree at TCNJ without having to take the MCAT. New York state residence status can be earned by the start of your second year at the medical school (in-state tuition is significantly less). For more information, visit: www.smbs.buffalo.edu/ome.
Our mission is not only to best prepare the pre-med for success in the application process, but, more importantly, to best prepare him/her for success in medical school and beyond.
Q. What is the TCNJ UMDNJ/N.J. Medical School (NJMS) 7-Year Combined BS/MD Program?
A. It is a joint undergraduate-medical program in which a student spends three years at TCNJ in an approved major (e.g., Biology, English, Math, Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering, or History) and four at NJMS. You may also select either Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering majors if you enter the college having earned college credit (by qualifying AP test scores or completing college courses) in: General Physics I and II, Calculus I and II and one of these: General Chemistry I and II. Upon successful completion of the first year of medical school, the student is granted the BS or BA degree in the chosen undergraduate major from TCNJ. The M.D. degree is then earned at the end of four years at NJMS.
Q. During the 3-Year undergraduate program, is the credit load per semester greater than in the normal 4-year undergraduate program and are summer courses required?
A. The semester load is the same as that for other TCNJ students and, for the Biology majors, the only course taken earlier than normal is Biology Seminar, a two-credit, journal-based course usually populated by seniors. No summer classes are needed as long as the curriculum is followed. There is a required summer research program at NJMS or another research university to be completed no later than the summer immediately prior to the first year of medical school.
Q. Does AP credit and previous college coursework count toward the completion of undergraduate requirements at TCNJ?
A. Yes to both of the above as long as (1) the AP credit and college course(s) are equivalent to courses required by the college or major, (2) equivalency for introductory, entry-level courses only is involved (i.e. not Themes in Biology, Genetics, Ecology, etc.) and (3) at least 8 courses of approved science course work will be completed at the college.
Q. What are minimum admissions requirements?
A. The minimum admission requirements are as follows:
1) An SAT score of at least 1400, from the critical reading and math sections only, from one test date. No exceptions will be made. Scores on ACT exams will NOT be accepted in place of SAT scores, per an established rule by NJMS. Average SAT scores of those accepted are very near to 1500.
2) High school rank within the top 5 - 10%. Again, no exceptions will be made regardless of class size or competitiveness of your school. If your school does not officially rank, we will call the head guidance officer at your school to obtain what information is available about your rank or evaluate your transcript for performance and rigor of curriculum.
3) High school senior status. It is not possible to transfer into this program from other colleges or from any other 3 or 4-year program within The College of New Jersey. If you meet the above criteria, you have had some service experiences and your overall admission file is positive, you will be eligible to be interviewed. The first interview is with a Medical Career Advisor at TCNJ (telephone interviews are available only for applicants living far away). Assuming that is favorable, you will interview with a medical school admissions representative in Newark (this must be done in person).
Please note: your state of residence has NO bearing on your admission to the 7-year program. You must, however, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident by the time you enter NJMS.
Q. Is there an admissions quota and how many 7-year students are currently enrolled at TCNJ?
A. Usually, up to 20 freshmen enroll in the 8 undergraduate institutions participating in the 7-year program with NJMS annually. TCNJ usually has more than half of the total number of enrollees.
Q. What are the retention criteria for the 7-year program?
A. If you are admitted and participate, you must:
Complete the three-year undergraduate curriculum at TCNJ in an approved major earning a 3.5 (B+) cumulative and science average each semester.
Earn a B or better in each of the basic science courses required by the Medical School (Themes in Biology, General Chemistry I/II, Organic Chemistry I/II, and Physics I/II).
Earn no grade below a C in any course.
Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) no later than the spring of the third (and last) year at TCNJ . NO MINIMUM SCORE IS REQUIRED.
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must obtain U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status by the time you enter NJMS.
Engage in a research experience at NJMS or elsewhere no later than during the summer immediately preceding your first year of medical school.
Q. What is a typical numerical breakdown of the high school senior applicant pool?
|
All 8 undergraduate institutions combined |
The College of New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
# Students interviewed |
N/A |
150 - 180 |
# Students interviewed at NJMS |
< 100 |
80 - 100 |
# Students Accepted - 1 st and only round (April 1) |
30-40 |
~ 40 |
# Students Planning to enter program Fall |
12-20 |
20 - 24 |
Average SAT (Range) of all Accepted to 7-year program (recentered scores) |
N/A |
|
Average (Range) Class rank of all Accepted |
N/A |
ca. 2% (valedictorian to top 10%) |
# Students interviewed at both TCNJ and NJMS but rejected |
N/A |
40 - 50 |
Average SAT (Range) of this group |
N/A |
ca. 1450 (1400-1600) |
Average (Range) Class rank of this group |
N/A |
top 3% (valedictorian to top 7%) |
Note : Please keep in mind that interview evaluations, SAT II and AP scores (which are optional), nature and extent of extracurricular activities and other components of the application files were also important criteria for admission.
Q. How do I initiate the application process?
A. Obtain a TCNJ application (includes financial aid information.)* YOU NEED NO OTHER APPLICATION FORMS.
Or
Admissions Office
The College of New Jersey
P.O. Box 7718
Ewing , NJ 08628 - 0718
P) 609.771.2131
*The application is available by late July.
Note: Complete the general essay. The major codes for the 7-year programs are: BIOM, MENG, MHIS, MPN, MMAT, ESBM, or ESIM.
If you submit a “common application,” please write “7-year program” in the space for “possible areas of concentration/major.”
Q. What is the application process timetable?
A. Submit the TCNJ application form, the fee, etc. to the Admissions Office by the end of December. Send no application materials, letters, transcripts, etc. to Dr. Shevlin, as it will delay the processing of your application. One of the Medical Career Advisors will review your completed file and, if appropriate, call you to schedule your first interview by early February. We can interview you at TCNJ anytime after your admission file is complete. Your completed file, which is kept in the Admissions Office, consists of :
-
application with the one essay required of all applicants
-
application fee
-
official high school transcripts and SAT scores
-
one or more letters of recommendation from teachers, guidance counselor and/or supervisors
-
Achievement Test (SAT II) and/or AP Scores (optional)
There is no early decision process for the 7-year program, but the college does have an early decision program (ask Admissions about deadlines).
It is your responsibility to check with Admissions, 609.771.2131 or online, on the status of your application file. You cannot be considered until your file is complete (postmarked by the January 2 deadline).
TCNJ will mail its offers of acceptance to the college in March . NJMS will notify Dr. Shevlin of its acceptances to the 7-year program by early April . He will call those accepted and write to all interviewed applicants as soon as possible. There is no alternate list, nor are there subsequent rounds of admission.
Please remember that your admission to the college is handled separately from that to the 7-year Program. Dr. Shevlin has nothing to do with admission to the college or financial aid.
Q. Who makes the final admissions decision on all of the interviewed applicants?
A. The NJMS Admissions Committee makes the final decisions based on the materials in the applicant's file and the evaluation of both interviews.
Q. If you are not qualified for or not admitted to the 7-year program, what is the fate of your TCNJ application?
A. As stated before, your college application is handled separately from your 7-year program application. You will be given your second choice of major that you indicate on your application. You will be considered for admission to TCNJ and for financial aid based on the college's entrance criteria. Note that the average TCNJ freshman comes from the top 7% of his/her high school class and has about 1300 SAT total (critical reading and math only).
Q. What financial aid is available at TCNJ?
A. Several merit-based scholarships as well as needs-based assistance packages are available. The Financial Aid Office can provide you with detailed information on all forms of financial aid (609-771.2211).
Note: To date it has been possible for every out-of-state student to become a NJ resident by the time he/she matriculates at NJMS. In-state medical school tuition is of course significantly cheaper than out-of-state tuition.
Q. What are the housing opportunities at TCNJ and NJMS?
A. All students admitted to the 7-year program are guaranteed on-campus housing during their entire three years at TCNJ.
Unlike most professional schools, NJMS has dormitories. Students may also arrange their own housing, usually with other medical students. Ample, inexpensive, safe rental properties are available close to the medical school.
Q. Can I get a tour of the college and the Biology Department?
A. Call the TCNJ Admissions Office (609-771.2131) if you want to schedule a campus tour and the Biology Department (609-771.2371) if you want to meet some of our students, see our well-equipped labs and ask questions about the high quality, personalized program we provide our students. A departmental tour will be a part of your TCNJ interview if you have not previously seen our facilities.
Q. If I am accepted to the program and attend TCNJ, must I attend NJMS (at Newark)?
A. You are free to withdraw from the 7-year program at any time during your first three years. The medical school, of course, will then withdraw its guarantee. During your fourth year at TCNJ, you may apply to any medical school you wish. Your medical school acceptance will be based on the regular criteria: cumulative GPA, MCAT scores, medical school interview and composite letter of recommendation.
Our Medical Careers Advisory Committee consists of seven science faculty members (Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology) who offer personalized advisement on all aspects of pre-medical preparation. In addition, we have an in-house MCAT prep course and a local chapter of AMSA (American Medical Student Association), both of which are valuable resources for the pre-medical student. The latter is a student club, which sponsors presentations by health career students and practitioners, charity fund-raisers, tours of area health professional schools, and offers peer and faculty advisement on all phases of pre-medical preparation.
Note: Students in the 7-year program with good MCAT scores and grades have successfully applied to other medical schools during their junior year (i.e. Temple , UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson, University of Texas-San Antonio , SUNY Syracuse and Duke University ). You must officially declare your intention to matriculate at NJMS or withdraw from the 7-year program before December of your junior year.
Q. What are the pertinent phone numbers and email addresses concerning premedical education at TCNJ?
Admissions Office: 609.771.2131 or deinhard@tcnj.edu
Financial Aid Office: 609.771.2211 or osfa@tcnj.edu
Student Housing Office: 609.771.2201 or mmanetas@tcnj.edu
Medical Careers at TCNJ: 609.771.2021 or medcar@tcnj.edu*
*December through February is our busiest time. Returning phone calls and e-mail messages often takes a week or more during this period.
