2010-2011 UMDNJ-RWJMS Application Thread

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Email...and they only had one date available in october which filled up really quickly...the rest start from november

Congrats on the Interview Invite! Can you please tell us when you submitted your primary AMCAS to RWJMS, when you completed their secondary, and when you received the complete email?
 
Congrats on the Interview Invite! Can you please tell us when you submitted your primary AMCAS to RWJMS, when you completed their secondary, and when you received the complete email?

thanks!! I submitted my primary on June 15th, sent in my secondary on 07/15, and received the complete email on 07/20...and they have a new interview style this year - 7 stations/9 minutes each...should be interesting :xf:
 
i was complete on 7/27 and still haven't heard anything. someone said that they are really moving slowly this year because of their new interview format. and they are going through all of the early decision candidates first before getting to the regular applications. hopefully we will hear something good soon!
 
Any OOSers got interviews yet? If so, when did you receive complete email?
 
Interview invite today, too! in-state applicant... unfortunately none of the available dates work for me. i'll interview sometime! sad day 🙁
 
Anyone interview here yet? I'm curious to hear a bit more about the new interview format.

Seems like the bulk of the interviews are starting in October, but maybe someone who applied early decision?
 
Anyone interview here yet? I'm curious to hear a bit more about the new interview format.

Seems like the bulk of the interviews are starting in October, but maybe someone who applied early decision?

This is from the web site:

RWJMS Multiple Assessment Stations (MAS) were adapted from the Multiple Mini Interview format developed at McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine in Ontario. The Admissions Committee voted to implement the RWJMS-MAS in the summer of 2010. The MAS consists of a series of seven interview “stations” or encounters which last nine minutes each. Each station has one member of the Admissions Committee and each student will be evaluated by seven different Admissions Committee members. The stations may be comprised of scenarios which do not test or assess scientific knowledge but will focus on issues such as communication, ethics, service, critical thinking and adaptability.

The individual members who participate in the MAS sessions will not have access to the AMCAS or Secondary application during the MAS session. While students can discuss their backgrounds, qualifications, experiences during their interview visit, it is important to understand that the stations and scenarios will be the focus.

The interview day will consist of the MAS in addition to a tour of the Medical School provided by current students and information on the admissions process, financial aid, the curriculum and other topics of interest.

The Admissions Committee will no longer admit applicants on a "rolling" basis. Offers of admission will be made beginning in late December and will continue to be made in batches throughout the winter months.
 
Thanks, Fruit. I actually had read that before. I was wondering if anyone had already experienced it first hand. Sounds like it could be fun.
 
Why is nothing going on on this thread??? I'm assuming that they've been slow because of the new interview process, and just haven't sent many interview invites out?
 
AFAIK the first day of interviews are this Friday. This thread should probably pick up after then.
 
AFAIK the first day of interviews are this Friday. This thread should probably pick up after then.

ok so i just interviewed here and i must say that i LOVED this new system....I personally felt that this was a way better method of getting to know an applicant and how they think rather than a typical one on one interview...just my 2 cents
 
Really a fun and fair system they had in place. Logistics were a little rough with the timing- one of my mini interviews was shortened because of this- but overall fun. =Just be prepared to think on your feet and be yourself and it will be fine- the interviewers are really nice!
 
can anyone who has already interviewed do one of the interview feedback surveys?

ill sure all of us fellow sdn folk would appreciate it...

thanks guys and best of luck! 😀
 
nope we cant! signed a confidentiality agreement and I for one always honor my word written or verbal🙂
They are serious about this being kept secret and it makes sense why- because its a non-traditional interview youll have to use their website to give you all the info you'll need. Just be yourself and think quickly- two essential skills for a physician.
 
Personally heard from two RWJ students (MS1 and MS3) who said the new system is "stupid". The MS3 thinks fewer "highly competitive" applicants will be enticed to stay in NJ because of the lack of personalized interview where they can connect with someone at the school. Interesting thoughts.
 
Personally heard from two RWJ students (MS1 and MS3) who said the new system is "stupid". The MS3 thinks fewer "highly competitive" applicants will be enticed to stay in NJ because of the lack of personalized interview where they can connect with someone at the school. Interesting thoughts.

I disagree. This was my 6th interview and I found this interview to be the most enjoyable and fair. Instead of relying on that "connection" with your interviewer, you now have a more fair shot of portraying how you think and how you would act in certain situations ....I feel like this way you cannot prepare the standard answers and you actually have to think on your feet and show whether you understand the implications of certain actions (very important in a physician). Some interviewers can ask ridiculous questions and some ask the standards questions (for which we all prepare the same answers....more or less). I just think this is a better way to really get to know an applicant instead of asking "so tell me about your research...." Overall I really enjoyed my interview here and was very impressed
 
I disagree. This was my 6th interview and I found this interview to be the most enjoyable and fair. Instead of relying on that "connection" with your interviewer, you now have a more fair shot of portraying how you think and how you would act in certain situations ....I feel like this way you cannot prepare the standard answers and you actually have to think on your feet and show whether you understand the implications of certain actions (very important in a physician). Some interviewers can ask ridiculous questions and some ask the standards questions (for which we all prepare the same answers....more or less). I just think this is a better way to really get to know an applicant instead of asking "so tell me about your research...." Overall I really enjoyed my interview here and was very impressed

If the questions/scenarios at each station are carefully and thoughtfully developed, then, perhaps, they can serve as a way to "really get to know an applicant". Otherwise, I think the longer the conversation, the better an interviewer will know an applicant. You can probably BS yourself out of a question or two with each of the 7 interviewers, but it's pretty hard to BS out of 10+ questions with one interviewer.

FWIW, I've never had an interviewer say "so tell me about your research", and all of my interviews thus far have been extremely enjoyable--the highlight of each interview day. I'm guardedly optimistic that that will be same for RWJ.
 
If the questions/scenarios at each station are carefully and thoughtfully developed, then, perhaps, they can serve as a way to "really get to know an applicant". Otherwise, I think the longer the conversation, the better an interviewer will know an applicant. You can probably BS yourself out of a question or two with each of the 7 interviewers, but it's pretty hard to BS out of 10+ questions with one interviewer.

FWIW, I've never had an interviewer say "so tell me about your research", and all of my interviews thus far have been extremely enjoyable--the highlight of each interview day. I'm guardedly optimistic that that will be same for RWJ.

We're all entitled to our opinions and I personally just thought this was a fair system. Some interviewers can be biased so it would kind of suck if that person happened to not like you for some reason. I just feel that these questions had me thinking more on my feet about how would I would react in certain situations than having the standard answers prepared (almost every interview I was asked why that school and why do I want to be a doctor and I feel these anticipated questions can easily be bs-ed). And I had many interviews where I was asked "tell me about your research on XXX" or "tell me about your job as a XYZ." Just my opinion. I just happen to enjoy this interview far more than any of my others.
 
Interview INVITE!!!! In state. Most likely will be interviewing on Nov. 29th.

A quick question for those who have interviewed.. I know we can't know any specifics about the interview prompts, but what kind of topics do they talk about on the prompts? Is there a lot of ethical scenarios, political topics like healthcare/tort reform etc, and are there some prompts that are more personal and geared towards the applicant?

Thanks!
 
What form do interview invites come in?

RWJ would my last UMDNJ to interview and get accepted at, and i'm really interested in looking at the school to see the diff to NJMS
 
Interview INVITE!!!! In state. Most likely will be interviewing on Nov. 29th.

A quick question for those who have interviewed.. I know we can't know any specifics about the interview prompts, but what kind of topics do they talk about on the prompts? Is there a lot of ethical scenarios, political topics like healthcare/tort reform etc, and are there some prompts that are more personal and geared towards the applicant?

Thanks!
I woiuld have no problem saying anything- but remember its confidential! I was there for the first day of interviews and I just used my intuition about what kinds of scenarios they will want to ask me about. I didnt need to prepare too much because other schools asked on similar topics.
 
Personally heard from two RWJ students (MS1 and MS3) who said the new system is "stupid". The MS3 thinks fewer "highly competitive" applicants will be enticed to stay in NJ because of the lack of personalized interview where they can connect with someone at the school. Interesting thoughts.
I found it to be most fair and fun. It levels out the playing field. On rwjms website they give the source of the study that they are basing the interview off of. i found the paper on google scholar and it was an interesting read- the ranking of a candidate is affected by having one interviewer. I think RWJMS is being progressive and this style will catch on quickly within 3 years.
 
For those feeling the need to prepare for RWJ's interview, google "MMI Practice Questions", to get a sense of what it might be like. I have not interviewed at RWJ, but this is the interview format that they are using.
 
I want to hear an invite from here!!!!

Been complete since mid-August and no word >_<
 
Hi, does anyone have stats on # of in-state applicants and # and % accepted. I only found on their website their accepted average of 31 MCAT and 3.69 GPA. Thank you!
 
Hi, does anyone have stats on # of in-state applicants and # and % accepted. I only found on their website their accepted average of 31 MCAT and 3.69 GPA. Thank you!

in 2008 there were 1159 in state applicants and 418 were interviewed. 140 of those matriculated. not sure how many were actually accepted. but i would imagine it to be around 300 or so.
 
in 2008 there were 1159 in state applicants and 418 were interviewed. 140 of those matriculated. not sure how many were actually accepted. but i would imagine it to be around 300 or so.

yeah, accepted should be around double of the matriculated, so 300 makes sense. Then that would make 300/1159 = 25% acceptance rate. This is comparable to NJMS, which has acceptance rate of 30% for IS.

Thanks for your help!
 
Sorry - I know everyone on here is at the end of their application cycle and what not...I just had a question about that MCAT...


They say 31 is average score of those accepted? Or is it the minimum score of those accepted?

If it's an average, is it weighted? I hope it's not, "oh, last year we accepted people in the range from 24 - 38, so (24+38)/2 = the average was a 31, even though 75% of acceptances were >34"?
 
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zk - buy the MSAR; it will show you the 10-90% on the MCAT and GPA wise

But in short, the average was a 31 - not the weighted thing you described
 
Hi, does anyone have stats on # of in-state applicants and # and % accepted. I only found on their website their accepted average of 31 MCAT and 3.69 GPA. Thank you!

2008 Data for in-state applicants: 1197 applied, 405 interviewed, 260 were accepted, 140 enrolled.
 
First time poster, long time browser --- if that makes any sense. Lol.

Isnt the pass rate in med school supposed to be 100%???? Does anyone know the pass rates in med school based on blocks? I would really like to know it. Thanks.
 
Super quiet on the RWJ page. Any invites come out recently? Haven't heard a peep since the complete email 9/9.
 
does anyone have any clue when we are supposed to start hearing back about decisions????
 
i think they said the first wave will go out sometime in december
 
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