How's Rutgers University for a Pre-Med track?

[AHossain]

I've been accepted to their New Brunswick campus and was wondering about this question. Anyone here have experience from Rutgers NB? Should I go to Rutgers or a SUNY?

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[AHossain]

anyone??

 

[AntiHouseMD]

Most of us are still in high school, so we really can't help out that much. Sorry.

 

[ZyuanJ]

I heard Rutgers was pretty good for pre-med. If I didn't get accepted ED I'd have went there in a heartbeat.

 

[ksmajmudar]

I already posted in the cross-posted thread in the pre-med section of the forums. The gist of my posts: don't go to Rutgers for pre-med.

 

[coldleg]

I did Rutgers NB for undergrad, and did just fine. Rutgers was the kind of place that had all of the resources you could hope for, but you have to seek them out yourself. It's definitely not the kind of place that holds your hand, and just gives you things. But if you're motivated, self-starting, Rutgers NB has everything you need for a successful pre-med campaign. If you're looking for solid academics, especially in the sciences (wonderful cell bio & neuro major, and a really fantastic genetics program), undergrad research opportunities, shadowing programs, and decent pre-med guidance, RU is a great place.

 

[ravupadh]

It really depends on what department you're talking about. The biology and physics departments are wonderful, and there's a good selection of classes as well as research labs to choose from. With the upcoming merge of Robert Wood Johnson and Rutgers New Brunswick, this will open up even more opportunities for undergraduate research. However, the chemistry department is probably one of the worst. They have no regard for the academic well-being of the student and many of the professors are simply horrible at teaching. When you take into fact that pre-meds have to take General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, this can lead to disaster if you're not prepared to deal with it. In the case of Organic Chemistry, it is not uncommon for the exam averages to be around the low 60 and high 50s area. Most of the professors in the department are either old or foreign.

Another problem is the university's poor judgement in terms of allocation of funds. Most of the funding goes to the football team, which is to the detriment of the students. Since Rutgers can't buy more intercampus buses, the buses tend to become VERY overcrowded during class changing times and it literally is a fight to see who can get on the bus first. Also, even many upper level science classes are large (Systems Physiology, Fund of Neurobio, etc.) where it is next to impossible to get to know your professor. This can make getting LORs very hard. Last but not least the university can't seem to maintain its facilities because of funding issues. The bathrooms in some of the buildings on College Ave are simply atrocious and it wll feel like you're walking into a landfill once you enter.

So as you can see Rutgers is a mixed bag. You can make the best of it if you try. If you want an institution with a huge social life that has a decent science program, this is the place for you. However do not pass up a university like NYU, Penn State, etc. for Rutgers since they will take care of you better there.

 

[dantemac]

If your complaints about college are crowded busses, large classes, and hard organic Chem exams, then you're probably in line without students from 95% of other universities country-wide.

 

[A7X]

RU is huge and can be intimidating (or so I've heard), but it has great facilities and has good opportunities for Pre-Med students, especially since RWJ Med School is affiliated with it.

 

[lineazy]

I am finishing my senior year at Rutgers NB and have been accepted to RWJMS. Rutgers is a great school. There is a huge variety of classes, associations, research, etc.. because it is a large university. There are hard classes and there are easy classes at any university and I dont think that classes even in some of the worst departments are that terrible. Was orgo fun? of course not, but it was hardly impossible.

The Health Professions Office is also extremely helpful on the whole and makes the application for med school much easier.

RU also has an above average percentage of acceptances for med school for an undergraduate, but in reality, its not really the school you go to, but how you as an individual do in your classes. I loved RU and dont regret coming here.

However do not pass up a university like NYU, Penn State, etc. for Rutgers since they will take care of you better there.

Also, for the record, I turned down NYU, saved $200,000 and Rutgers took care of me very well.

 

[Anonymous660]

I am new to the US system of education. Please guide me through the procedure of becoming a doctor in the US, right from Undergraduate studies. I have been accepted for admission in Rutgers school of Environmental and biological science, Brunswick. What should I do next ? Please enlighten.
Thanks.

 

[referee3]

I am new to the US system of education. Please guide me through the procedure of becoming a doctor in the US, right from Undergraduate studies. I have been accepted for admission in Rutgers school of Environmental and biological science, Brunswick. What should I do next ? Please enlighten.
Thanks.