Finding a good medical school that matches the interests of students can be tough in some states. Luckily, if you are planning to study in New Jersey, there are great options. Besides mixing private and public schools and M.D. and D.O. degrees, these universities have unique programs that aren’t available elsewhere. To help you choose the best one, we made a compilation of the best medical schools in New Jersey.
In Which US State do Doctors Make the Most Money?
If you are wondering which state in the USA to set up a lucrative career as a doctor, then think Wisconsin, Milwaukee, North Dakota, and Alaska. Why? Physicians in the states of Milwaukee and Wisconsin make almost $400,000 a year, which is very high compared with average doctor salaries in the US. Doctors in North Dakota receive up to $361,000 in annual compensation. On the other hand, doctors in Alaska receive an average of $359,000 annually. These are mostly rural states offering higher salaries to attract more doctors. These are some of the highest salaries for Doctors in the USA.
See Also: Free Medical Schools
How Long Does it Take to Become a Doctor in New Jersey?
To become a medical doctor in New Jersey, you must complete a four-year undergraduate or pre-medical program to receive your BA or BS in your major. You will also need to take a 3-year MD program to train as a primary care physician, depending on your academic standing and clinical experience. You will also need to undergo several years of supervised residency before being allowed to practice medicine. Additionally, you must be accredited and given a license from the health department of New Jersey State to enable you to start practicing.
Learn More: Cheap Universities in New Jersey
Top Medical Schools in New Jersey
1. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS)
The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) is one of the two medical schools that belong to Rutgers University. Its campus is located in Newark, and admissions are completely independent of the other medical school.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, NJMS is ranked as the 75th best in terms of research and the 91st best in terms of primary care.
This medical school in New Jersey has two different M.D. programs. The traditional M.D. program lasts for four years and is divided into two years of foundational coursework an two years of clinical rotations.
The other program is called Accelerated Primary Care M.D. Program. It lasts for three years and is for those interested in primary care and that showed academic excellence and relevant medical experiences. They can choose between three tracks: pediatrics, internal medicine, or combined medicine/pediatrics.
Students also have unique research opportunities through a wide variety of programs. There’s a summer program to do research in the laboratories along with the professionals of the medical school. Important achievements have been done in the facilities of NJMS. These have been in the areas of cancer, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, and AIDS.
Dual degree programs include M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H. (Master’s in Public Health), M.D./M.B.A. (Master’s in Business Administration), and M.D. with Thesis.
As for admissions, in 2018 there were 5,084 applications. 695 applicants were interviewed but only 178 enrolled. Their average GPA as of 3.68 and their average MCAT score was of 513. Go check their website to learn more!
2. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS)
The Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) is the other medical school that belongs to Rugerts University. It has campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway. According to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report, RWJMS was considered as the 75th best in terms of research and 82nd in terms of primary care.
The MD curriculum divides into two phases. The first two years combine basic sciences and organ-systems blocks. The last two years consist of clerkships that combine selectives and electives. These are done in over 80 affiliated centers of RWJMS. These include the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the Women’s Health Institute, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, and the Cardiovascular Institute of New Jersey.
The dual degree medical programs offered include M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.B.A. (Master’s in Business Administration), M.D./M.P.H. (Master’s in Public Health), M.D./M.S.C.T.S. (Master’s in Clinical & Translational Science), and M.D./J.D. in affiliation with Rutgers Law.
In 2017, the entering class was of 134 students. Their average GPA was of 3.64 and their average MCAT score was of 511. Admissions are done through the AMCAS platform. Applicants will have to take the MCAT, submit letters of recommendation, and meet the pre-medical course requirements.
They have a lot of information for new students on their website. We recommend you to read their student’s handbook and the booklet. The booklet has reflections and advice from first-year students.
3. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU)
The Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) is a relatively new public medical school. Although it was founded in 2012, it already ranks among the top 100 universities in the country. According to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report, it is the 91st best in terms of primary care and the 93rd best in terms of research.
The M.D. program combines foundational coursework in the first two years and mandatory and elective clerkships in the last two years. Students in this New Jersey medical school will be exposed to clinical experiences since the 5th week of the first year. This way, they can apply what they learn by being in contact with patients and real cases.
There’s another option which is the Primary Care Track. This is a 3-year accelerated M.D. program for those who want to pursue a career in Pediatrics or Primary Care. The curriculum is completely different from the traditional M.D. program.
In 2018, CMSRU handled 6,708 applications. After interviews, only 203 students were admitted. This positioned it within the top 10 medical schools with the lowest acceptance rates. If you are a New Jersey resident, you’ll have higher chances to be admitted. They prioritize residents, who represented 65% of the students enrolled. If you are interested in studying here, take a look at their website!
4. Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM)
Rowan University has another medical school, but this one grants D.O. degrees. The Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) is a public medical school founded in 1976. According to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report, it is tied with CMRSU in the 91st place in terms of primary care and in the 93rd place in terms of research.
This medical school in New Jersey recently renewed their D.O. curriculums, which will be launched in the fall of 2019. Students can choose from two programs. The traditional D.O. program has a single-pass system and combines basic sciences with organ systems and clinical experiences. This means that once students have learned a medical aspect in class, they will have clinical practices that involve what they already learned so they can apply it.
The second program is Problem-Based Learning. This program is centered on students and has a double-pass system. The learning process is more independent, and students are exposed to clinical cases so they can also develop advanced clinical reasoning skills.
Both programs have the following courses: community service, sexuality, end of life care, and the science behind systems of healthcare.
There are four dual degree programs: D.O./M.P.H. (Master’s in Public Health), D.O./M.B.A. (Master’s in Business Administration), D.O./Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, and D.O./J.D. in affiliation with the Rutgers School of Law.
The admissions process here is similar to the process mentioned above. The only difference is that it has to be done through the AACOMAS platform instead of AMCA’s. In 2018, they received 5,003 applications but only 186 students enrolled. Competitive applicants have a GPA over 3.50 and an MCAT score of at least 505, Take a look at their website to learn more!
New Jersey has some of the best medical schools in the USA, like the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). If you are having trouble picking the best medical school to pursue your degree, the above overview of medical schools in New Jersey will help you narrow down to the best medical school. If you are still unsure about deciding, you can check out other cheap medical schools in the USA to explore your options.
We hope that this article on medical school in New Jersey was helpful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
