NJMS vs. Drexel

[ocean1]

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Trying to chose between these two schools. Any input from current students would be very appreciated. I am NJ resident. Would also love to know strong programs, average board score for both schools.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Vizsla]

altho i liked Drexel when i interviewed there, its definitely not worth passing up in-state tution for. go to NJMS.

 

[ChuckRock]

I had to make this decision last year and honestly, I realized there isn't really a difference between the two schools. The two exceptions would be if you are into PBL or women's health. NJMS has some PBL as well, but as I'm sure they made you aware, you can choose your entire curriculum at Drexel to focus around PBL if you wish. I'm not positive about the women's health thing, but they seemed to make a big deal about it during my visits.

Board scores and matching? Both are individual efforts in that regard, the name of the school won't help you in either case with these schools.

Ultimately the biggest difference, at least for me, is the COST. As the previous poster mentioned, there is a huge difference in cost between the two schools that is not justified by any difference in education. NJMS looks like the better choice.

 

[Critical Mass]

I had to make this decision last year and honestly, I realized there isn't really a difference between the two schools. The two exceptions would be if you are into PBL or women's health. NJMS has some PBL as well, but as I'm sure they made you aware, you can choose your entire curriculum at Drexel to focus around PBL if you wish. I'm not positive about the women's health thing, but they seemed to make a big deal about it during my visits.

Board scores and matching? Both are individual efforts in that regard, the name of the school won't help you in either case with these schools.

Ultimately the biggest difference, at least for me, is the COST. As the previous poster mentioned, there is a huge difference in cost between the two schools that is not justified by any difference in education. NJMS looks like the better choice.

😱 Down with PBL!

Granted, I know nothing about these places, but I would take the in-state option. From my experience, it seems like the pricetag at Drexel wouldn't be worth it. That is of course unless you are addicted to Philly Cheesesteaks.

 

[naegleria brain]

academics: don't know about NJMS, but drexel is the butt of all med school jokes in PA; low standards; penn, jeff, temple, pitt all make fun of drexel kids severing the ureter during histerectomies. still, shouldn't affect your decision as i'm sure many great surgeons come from drexel
cost: in state
board scores: what you make of it
matches: do you know what you want to match into yet? compare that field. otherwise, a non-issue just yet

money plays the biggest role in your situation, stay in-state.

btw - does njms rotate at rwjuh? if not, who does? a terrible area, but theyre getting some new buildings, and that new cancer institute, and a recently refurbished children's hospital. it looks like theyre trying to build themselves up. if they were in a better location i think theyd get a lot more hype for northeastern med schools

 

[Taurus]

academics: don't know about NJMS, but drexel is the butt of all med school jokes in PA; low standards; penn, jeff, temple, pitt all make fun of drexel kids severing the ureter during histerectomies. still, shouldn't affect your decision as i'm sure many great surgeons come from drexel

Temple kids making fun of Drexel ones?

I'm taking the high road and not responding to that.

 

[JonnyG]

Temple kids making fun of Drexel ones?

I'm taking the high road and not responding to that.

Even PCOM makes fun of drexel or whatever its called this month

 

[-Goose-]

Even PCOM makes fun of drexel or whatever its called this month

😕

 

[ocean1]

Thank you guys for your responses. It definitely helped.
To answer one question, UMDNJ-RWJ students rotate at rwjuh.
Is rwjuh a very good hospital?

 

[emtji]

i'd definately go to njms over drexel.

also, no med student will have the opportunity to cut a ureter during a hysterectomy...unless of course, it's your cadaver.

 

[Arsenic]

moving to pre-allo

 

[Kfire326]

Trying to chose between these two schools. Any input from current students would be very appreciated. I am NJ resident. Would also love to know strong programs, average board score for both schools.

Thank you in advance.

You might be interested in this SUNY Downstate vs. Drexel for a NY resident forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=379351&highlight=drexel

 

[Kfire326]

Even PCOM makes fun of drexel or whatever its called this month

 

[tp709]

Even PCOM makes fun of drexel or whatever its called this month

Um, is that supposed to be a joke?

 

[tp709]

academics: don't know about NJMS, but drexel is the butt of all med school jokes in PA; low standards; penn, jeff, temple, pitt all make fun of drexel kids severing the ureter during histerectomies.

I wouldn't say NJMS has the greatest rep either🙄
But its still worth the in-state tuition

 

[Cmercury1]

For the same reasons that everyone said above, I am leaning toward NJMS. However, my dad is afraid that the school might be affected by that corruption scandal a while back and close down (tell me this is not going to happen). He thinks I should go to my Drexel interview so I have another option, but I am so dreading waking up at 6 am to drive down there after working till 9 the night before. 😡

 

[SOMforme]

I know a kid with a 39T and a 4.0 GPA going to NJMS next year. Then again, he's in the BA/MD program. But it makes you think.

 

[Kfire326]

I know a kid with a 39T and a 4.0 GPA going to NJMS next year. Then again, he's in the BA/MD program. But it makes you think.

OMG WTH? Makes me think of how that person def. should have applied out...????

 

[AnthonyNY]

IMHO, school will be what you make of it. We've all gotten into med school; we're all intelligent people that (or at least, we would hope that we all) want to make a meaningful and positive difference in peoples' life through medicine. Lets not forget that we're pursuing a medical education so that we can take care of our patients, not to show off where we got our diplomas.

as everyone has said, board scores and matching are left to your individual efforts.

What its called this week? butt of all jokes? - Grow up...

good luck everyone

 

[Uegis]

Drexel lost in the first round of NIT after whining about not making the tournament, so you shouldn't go there, haha.

All joking aside, Drexel is a fantastic school. Don't let the negative energy around SDN about the school deter you from going there. Rank doesn't matter. I know of 2 people who matched into radiation oncology from Drexel. That's one of the toughest specialties. Philly rocks too, so that should factor into it.

Given I don't much about NJMS, I will not comment. But remember, Drexel is pretty awesome in it's own right.

 

[ExKitty Doctor]

I would have to agree that in-state tuition is tough to beat. Unless you felt a really strong connection/vibe from Drexel, I'd say go with NJMS.

BTW, did you also interview at EVMS Ocean1? I think I may have talked to you for a bit..

 

[naegleria brain]

that whole scandal with njms - was it a research irregularity? i know rwj has been absolutely anal about procedure to the very last detail and i think it's because of that, unless there was another scandal.

philly is not awesome. actually, it depends on the part of philly, and the drexel part of philly is not awesome. but at least it's better than temple's part.

med school IS what you make of it (agree with ppl above). and med school is tough. having family close by can give you motivation during crappy times, which might be hard if youre pulling an all nighter at drexel before an exam

also, if they do lose accreditation, i'd imagine the school would do everything to get you to an accredited school during the interm. new orleans helped its kids out (albeit a totally different situation). i'd hope that with all that tuition, theyll see you through.

just some thoughts to ponder

 

[thebeatblitz]

NJMS is not going to lose its accreditation. The entire scandal revolved around administrative mismanagement at the highest level. That being said, they are cracking down heavily on these fund misappropriations since federal monitors are everywhere now. This is straight from my interviewer, a PhD at the school, when I asked him point blank about the scandal.

NJMS has also been hit with scandals involving referrals. I believe this is separate from the government's audit.

Both are similar schools; if you have specific questions I can probably answer them since I live in NJ and extensively researched the surrounding northeastern schools.

 

[zimmie256]

NJMS is not going to lose its accreditation. The entire scandal revolved around administrative mismanagement at the highest level. That being said, they are cracking down heavily on these fund misappropriations since federal monitors are everywhere now. This is straight from my interviewer, a PhD at the school, when I asked him point blank about the scandal.

NJMS has also been hit with scandals involving referrals. I believe this is separate from the government's audit.

Both are similar schools; if you have specific questions I can probably answer them since I live in NJ and extensively researched the surrounding northeastern schools.

What consequences (direct or indirect) do you see the scandal causing for students in the UMDNJ system -- including NJMS and RWJ? I agree that losing accredidation will not be an issue, but do you see any forthcoming impact on students? Or have there already been changes since this whole thing began at least a year ago...

 

[hydrogen3k]

What consequences (direct or indirect) do you see the scandal causing for students in the UMDNJ system -- including NJMS and RWJ? I agree that losing accredidation will not be an issue, but do you see any forthcoming impact on students? Or have there already been changes since this whole thing began at least a year ago...

I hope this doesn't affect residency match.

 

[thebeatblitz]

Well I can't tell you what residency directors around the nation are thinking, but most people recognize the scandal as a hospital administration problem. I don't really see how the students should be affected, unless NJMS loses its Medicare reimbursement and they start drawing from the medical school coffers. Unrealistic, probably.

It basically has everything to do with how terribly NJ is run. As long as the education isn't compromised, I don't see why it would have an effect on graduating students.

 

[lakersbaby]

its funny how the kid from PCOM states that PCOM students make fun of drexel. Don't take out your inferiority complex out on Drexel.

 

[MaximusD]

its funny how the kid from PCOM states that PCOM students make fun of drexel. Don't take out your inferiority complex out on Drexel.

👎

Drexel's a great school, but I am worried about the assumption that you are making. Is it necessarily true that a two-letter difference makes Drexel a better school that PCOM? I have to say that visiting both schools has made it clear that there are really bright individuals at both institutions, and I am unsure why the DO/MD stigma is perpetuated with vehemence on these forums. Give me some concrete facts pertaining to why that comment elicits an assumption of an "inferiority complex" when other premeds and med students in the same thread were saying the same thing.

Bottom line, poo on you.

 

[lakersbaby]

👎

Drexel's a great school, but I am worried about the assumption that you are making. Is it necessarily true that a two-letter difference makes Drexel a better school that PCOM? I have to say that visiting both schools has made it clear that there are really bright individuals at both institutions, and I am unsure why the DO/MD stigma is perpetuated with vehemence on these forums. Give me some concrete facts pertaining to why that comment elicits an assumption of an "inferiority complex" when other premeds and med students in the same thread were saying the same thing.

Bottom line, poo on you.

Im not even going to drexel but here it is..

PCOM
GPA: 3.35
MCAT: 24.5

Drexel
GPA: 3.58
MCAT: 31

 

[MaximusD]

Im not even going to drexel but here it is..

PCOM
GPA: 3.35
MCAT: 24.5

Drexel
GPA: 3.58
MCAT: 31

I'm talking about preparation as a physician-in-training. Yes, everyone knows that the average matriculant at a DO school is of lesser caliber in terms of stats. Explain how the programs themselves match against each other. I doubt that you can come up with anything separate from the premed obsession with statistical comparison.

PS. I own the MSAR, TPR's "The Best 162 Medical Schools", and USN&WR. I'm aware of the numbers.

 

[lakersbaby]

you know what you are right. i honestly dont care about the whole MD/DO thing i just think its dumb for everyone MD/DO alike to say anything bad about drexel because they really dont know anything and no matter where you go as long as you work hard you'll be successful. so sorry about all this BS

 

[MaximusD]

that guy from PCOM made his comment in a way that made me feel like he had a complex..("EVEN pcom students make fun of drexel or whatever they are calling it this month") i dont doubt there are smart people at pcom but there are also *******es like him.

He's not a *******, but you are right that comment was a bit rude/tactless. It still doesnt' change that there were others here bashing Drexel with the same lack of diplomacy regardless of whether they are MD or DO students/premeds.

 

[MaximusD]

you know what you are right. im honestly dont care about the whole MD/DO thing i just think its dumb for everyone MD/DO alike to say anything bad about drexel because they really dont know anything and no matter where you go as long as you work hard you'll be successful. so sorry about all this BS

👍 I can get on board with this, thanks. And like I said, I really do like Drexel. It was one of my top choices... Too bad I wasn't one of theirs.

 

[westcoastgirl07]

Drexel is a fantastic school and I am so glad I chose it over some other MD schools. Those of you who don't even realize that Drexel Med is located in suburban East Falls 15 min north of Philly and not by Drexel undergrad obviously don't know enough about Drexel to deserve posting negative immature comments.

Drexel has had a 98% passing rate on the Boards for at least the past 2 years, which is way above the 94% national average. Plus this year's graduating class matched 4 derm, 9 orthopaedics, 2 urology and so on. Even though we are a bigger school, do the stats and you'll realize that the students here are extremely competitive and do very well on the Match. That said, you create your own success, not the school.

What you really want to know once you're here?
1. PIL (problem based learning) is the way to go if you like discussion and can deal with conflict. Tradeoff is that you learn the history and physical exam in the first year and apply your knowledge to create several 1 hour case presentations to defend to 2 facilitators at the end of first year (this is real world training).
2. ALL lectures are put online within hours and are available all year. Very few schools do that and some other top schools like Boston Univ require a doctor's note to prove you were really sick so you can get an audio version.
3. We have a really nice new gym and just a mile away is a nice river to run along or a forest to go hiking/climbing.
4. Philly is an up and coming restaurant city. cheesesteaks are overrated.
5. The rent here is much more affordable than a place like Boston though you'll need a car eventually for clinical sites.
6. The whole pathology department is fabulous.
7. Philly is the birthplace of US medicine. All the museums, USMLE, licensure committees, etc are located here.

You can become an MD anywhere but you really have to decide where it is you can have a life, make some real friends, and not feel like you're with Type A gunners all the time

by the way, the OD's probably have the one up on us MD's since they learn manipulation techniques and that is something I didn't realize was so important until 1/2 way through my 2nd year of med school.

good luck. - you can check out my post on 3.10.07 for more info

westcoastgirl07
Drexel MSII