Hi! Do you mind me asking, what 3 things do you like and what 3 things do you dislike about NJMS?
Likes:
1.) The classes at NJMS are extremely close. Students in the classes above you are very helpful and will go out of their way to give advice, lend books, etc. Students within the classes share notes, tips, complaints, etc. The "gunner" mentality is highly frowned upon and your classmates really begin to feel like family. We go out together after all exams in huge groups to celebrate.
2.) Many many electives, groups, and initiatives to get involved in. There are interest groups for everything. There are many sports teams and active things that you can do to get away from the academic/medicine world. There are numerous opportunities to begin seeing patients as a first year student. Mentoring/tutoring opportunities, an active student council, and many community service projects for the local community also exist.
3.) Faculty and administration is pretty organized. It is easy to get in touch with whoever you need to reach - registrar, financial aid, cashier's office, ID office, parking office, security.
Some more likes: first two years are pass/fail, lectures are recorded and uploaded to iTunes U immediately after the lecture ends so you don't have to attend class, scribe notes services are available if you want them.
Dislikes:
1.) Medical school is hard. This probably will be the case anywhere you go however. There is just a massive amount of knowledge to gain and only so much time to do it, I can't imagine that many other schools can make it "easy". Sorry, but the hard part is NOT getting in. Some people do fail medical school. Not many but there are some who have to repeat a year.
2.) The lecture halls are cold in the summer and hot in the winter. >:[
3.) The student lounge was ugly and didn't have an AC but the student council has taken care of this and there is now construction and remodeling underway to improve it. Yay!
