Do I have a chance at NJMS?

[ravupadh]

Hey all. I'm a Masters student at the graduate school in New Jersey Medical School. I'm planning to apply this upcoming cycle to NJMS after being waitlisted during the current cycle. I actually want to do early decision since the school is my first choice. They allowed me to take two medical school courses at NJMS. I got an A in Molecular and Genetic Medicine and a B+ in Physiology. Do I have a good chance if I apply through early decision?

Here are my stats:
MCAT: 32R (14 BS, 10 PS, 8 VR)
cGPA: 3.506 (3.484 from college, 3.676 from the NJMS Master's program)
Science GPA: 3.287 (3.208 from college, 3.676 from the NJMS Master's program)
History/Biology Major at Rutgers University
NJ Resident
Volunteered at the emergency room of a hospital for 6 months (108 hours total).
Shadowed a Family Physician for 2 months.
Did community service through a fraternity and UNICEF.
Had a leadership position for student housing during college (Assistant Vice President).
Performed research in an Evolutionary Molecular Biology lab for one year (20 hours a week). I made a poster for a symposium and we published a paper (I have second authorship).
I've been working on a research thesis at a laboratory in NJMS since November.
I have 5 LORs (2 science, 1 non-science, 1 research advisor, and 1 physician shadowed) and possibly another one from my current PI.

I realize my science GPA is holding me back but I'm hoping that me doing well in two 1st year medical courses (out of the total 4 courses that first year medical school students take) could partially compensate for that problem. Do I have a good chance if I apply early decision to NJMS? Thanks everyone!

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[tpadela]

doesnt NJMS masters program have a guarantee interview? so you should be okay then right?

 

[ravupadh]

Yeah they have a guarantee interview lol but unfortunately it's not a guarantee acceptance. :/

 

[dancerdoc89]

I think you have a good chance. My question is, will NJMS still give you that "guaranteed interview" as an EDP applicant? I'm not sure if that guaranteed interview is if you are a regular applicant...does anybody know?

 

[ravupadh]

I think the guaranteed interview is for both early decision and regular decision. It doesn't specify on the graduate school website.

 

[AvidAvatar]

It sounds like you have a solid chance at NJMS. If I was in your position I would set everything up to do an EDP. Then, I would have the DO applications (AACOMAS) set up in the background. If you hear back in the negative from NJMS, you can then put in the DO applications. You would have a great shot at Stratford and PCOM with those stats. Good luck!

 

[ravupadh]

It sounds like you have a solid chance at NJMS. If I was in your position I would set everything up to do an EDP. Then, I would have the DO applications (AACOMAS) set up in the background. If you hear back in the negative from NJMS, you can then put in the DO applications. You would have a great shot at Stratford and PCOM with those stats. Good luck!

I actually already got in to SOM for this year but I'm not sure if I want to got the osteopathic route since I want to have all residency options open to me. But I think I will do EDP. I'll have a meeting with one of the deans and hopefully they can give me feedback. I have a meeting with Dr. Heinrich but unfortunately it's on June 22nd and I want to submit my application before that.

 

[AvidAvatar]

Oh dude! Take the acceptance if you already have it. You are not going to have a fun time if you don't make it into UMDNJ EDP and you declined an osteopathic acceptance the previous year.

 

[ravupadh]

Oh dude! Take the acceptance if you already have it. You are not going to have a fun time if you don't make it into UMDNJ EDP and you declined an osteopathic acceptance the previous year.

Yeah I would be 100% determined to go to SOM if I was set on a non-competitive residency. However at this point I'm not sure yet and I don't want to have my options limited when the time comes. I might just defer my acceptance another year because I need time to finish my Master's degree anyway.