RWJ vs NJMS

[lakun]

I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of attending either school. Is the only bad thing about NJmed that its located in Newark? Other people have also said that the students at RWJ are more "academic". I'm assuming they mean that most have come from prestigious institutions like princeton, georgetown, columbia.

I think what my decision ultimately comes down to is where I would have the best advantage to pursue derm and I can only determine that by looking at the match lists of both schools. RWJ has at least 3 posted on their website, while I've only been able to obtain one from NJmed. only two matched in derm last year at RWJ and no one else in the preceeding years. NJmed had 4 match but since its only one match list I don't have much of a pattern to go on. Does anyone happen to have information on last years match list or the year before?

also, I'd love to hear from students at either school--someone I could get in contact with...

I'm swayed towards NJMS because of diversity, proximity to home and iits location in a more metropolitan area.

lakun

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[Gfunk6]

IMO, as a former NJ resident there are only a few, superficial differences between the two. Other than location, you will get essentially the same education at both schools. If you want to get into a competitive residency, ace Step I, do well on clinicals, obtain good LORs, get elected to AOA and you will be a highly competitive applicant for Derm no matter where you go.

With certain comparisons, e.g. Harvard/Hopkins vs. your state school, you have a significant enough difference in prestige to favor one over the other. In this arena, there is absolutely no difference between NJMS and RWJ.

If your gut tells you NJMS, go there and excel.

 

[kissit]

oh my god! no difference b/t rwj and njms? mr. alabama has no idea what he is talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there is a huge difference between the two schools both in terms of academics and location. njms is more urban, rwj is suburban. the patient exposure and patient populations are polar opposites. the two schools are also ranked extremely differently. there is also a subtle price difference.

listen, i'm sure you learned about both schools at your tours and interviews, go with your gut.

also, i urge those of you who have no idea what you're talking about, to refrain from posting replies to questions. thank you.

 

[Heal&Teach]

Hi lakun,

Not sure if you saw the reply to your post in pre-allo, but I agree with both posters. I don't think that Gfunk is too far off. The schools are different in terms of exposure to two very varied and diverse populations, but both schools will give you a solid education (what school wouldn't)? If you're really concerned about rankings at the risk of being happy at one place over another, then I feel for you. Go where you'll be happy.

Matching into Derm is somewhat guided by your medical school, but your individual effort will determine your future success. You definitely have to go with your gut on this one.

Best of luck,
H&T

 

[lotanna]

girl look at u, I'm cracking up, now u can pick and choose what u want. I'm sure ur having fun with this now.
Maybe Bushbaby can give u some input since she started the summer prog?

 

[Gfunk6]

oh my god! no difference b/t rwj and njms? mr. alabama has no idea what he is talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, really?

njms is more urban, rwj is suburban. the patient exposure and patient populations are polar opposites.

I believe I summarized your brilliant prose with the expression, "Other than location . . ."

the two schools are also ranked extremely differently.

There are ~160 med schools in the US. When you are talking about schools under top 50, there is not a damn bit of difference.

also, i urge those of you who have no idea what you're talking about, to refrain from posting replies to questions. thank you.

For all your hot air, you may have noticed that both of our advice was exactly the same. "Go with your gut."

 

[Justin4563]

It doesnt matter where you go to med school!!!

Ill say it again.. It doesnt matter where you go to medschool.

I went to school in a small small city , ended up at NJMS for residency.. I just finished my residency, and its all the same stuff..

DOnt let newark scare you.. There are great places to live around the area; and great places to party too. Close to NYC, montclair bars, hoboken nightlife great restaurants in newark.. I really will miss the location. Classic Jersey.

When i was first moving here I had apprehensions, but ill tell you best place i lived. NOw that im moving for a job, I am certain i will be back in the area some day.

 

[Gfunk6]

It doesnt matter where you go to med school!!!

Ill say it again.. It doesnt matter where you go to medschool.

If you plan on doing a residency that is not competitive, then this statement applies. If you plan on doing a competitive residency (e.g. derm) or go into academic medicine, then it behooves you to go to a top 25 medical school if you can get into one.

 

[Heal&Teach]

Gfunk,

I'm assuming you're talking about Top 25 based on the Research Rankings, or do you mean Top 25 in terms of a "Name school" (many of which are incidentally in the Top 25, but not all are, e.g., Dartmouth, Brown). I think that all things are possible as long as you take advantage of your surroundings. Since the OP has specifed RWJ and NJMS, I think that doing the things that you specified in your first post will certainly give her the advantage she needs to match where she wants to.

Best,
H&T

 

[Energon]

Although I am not a student at UMDNJ, my best friend just graduated this year, she matched at UCSF for IM; my roommate from college in just started MSIII at RWJ, based on their input:
1. RWJ has a block system of exams which most students find to be a royal pain in the arse.
2. NJMS does not have that, but have recently started some sort of an "integrated" apporach which reduces/ will reduce class room hours but will end up with a bock system like RWJ 🙁 .
3. And most importantly, the class that just graduated from NJMS (2004) was an exceptional class with an exceptional match list. According to my recent grad friend this will help the junior classes as it raises their "stock value".
4. If you get into RWJ, make sure you avoid getting assigned to the Camden class (they supposedly divide the class into two to do their rotations). My ex roomie got the shaft on that one 🙁
5. At NJMS, pretty much everything is under one roof. They do rotations at three other hospitals. One is down the street, the other one is about a 20 minute drive and the third one is a little farther away 30-40mins away. I dont know how it is at RWJ camden

 

[Heal&Teach]

4. If you get into RWJ, make sure you avoid getting assigned to the Camden class (they supposedly divide the class into two to do their rotations). My ex roomie got the shaft on that one 🙁

I could definitely see how this might suck, especially if you're settled in and don't want to be far away from Piscataway/New Brunswick. Some of the RWJ students see going to the Camden campus as an advantage. When interviewing a second year expressed this to us, and using her own example, told us that she was a "city-girl", and that she couldn't wait to get away from Piscataway. Also, many students that do their rotations in Camden get to see different clinical populations and many live across the water in Philly and commute since it's so close.

 

[zippie]

personally, block exams aren't that bad. the thought of finishing everything in one blast rather than say, having an exam per week, works for me.

it's been said before on other threads, but if you get 'stuck' with camden, and dont want to go there for rotations, you can request a change to new brunswick, and basically you just switch with someone who wants to go to camden.

I think with the block exams and camden/NB issues, you just gotta deal with the situation and make the best of it and then it wont be much of an issue anymore 🙂

And on a side observation, when i was in undergrad, we had health fairs with njms and rwj, and it seemed like the nj med students always loved to bash robert wood. it just seemed like they were always trying to come up with reasons why they were 'better' than rwj, but i never found this to be the case at rwj. To me, this speaks volumes about robert wood. If you're good, you're good, and you don't have to really justify why you are. people just know. that's just my 2 cents.

 

[4 Ever]

And on a side observation, when i was in undergrad, we had health fairs with njms and rwj, and it seemed like the nj med students always loved to bash robert wood. it just seemed like they were always trying to come up with reasons why they were 'better' than rwj, but i never found this to be the case at rwj. To me, this speaks volumes about robert wood. If you're good, you're good, and you don't have to really justify why you are. people just know. that's just my 2 cents.

its funny you mention that because in my experience from reading about what others have to say about the two schools, they stated that RWJ students thought themselves better than NJMS students. in the end, they forget they are both UMDNJ students and under the same umbrella. So it might just vary from person to person --

heres one quote i read on this site regarding the two schools -------

in class, when answering a question when someone gave the wrong answer, the kids would say "well thats the answer at NJMS, but the correct answer is...."

So, to conclude that RWJ students are more mature because you havent heard them bash NJMS students, is an incorrect assumption.

 

[mellantro]

yeah this year's njms match list was very strong i heard. the OP asked about derm, all i know is that someone matched at penn or harvard or some school of that caliber for derm from njms. of course that individual had to be an amazing student, but njms will not hinder you in getting where you want.

 

[zippie]

heres one quote i read on this site regarding the two schools -------

in class, when answering a question when someone gave the wrong answer, the kids would say "well thats the answer at NJMS, but the correct answer is...."

So, to conclude that RWJ students are more mature because you havent heard them bash NJMS students, is an incorrect assumption.

i've read that somewhere (on SDN?) too. I'm sure those sort of comments do occur at rwj, njms, and probably any other school out there, but i'd have to say that at rwj, they are quite rare (references to njms). I think what sticks out in my mind is that NJMS students seemed so adement in justifying why they went to NJMS, or why their school was better, etc. It got super old after 2 minutes.

I mean, why do you have to justify why you chose to go somewhere so vigorously and defensively? Because you're right--they're all under the UMDNJ branch, and in my opinion, in the end, it doesn't matter where the heck you go to med school.

 

[4 Ever]

From what I have looked into, there are benefits of going to either school.

NJMS - Great Clinical Experiences

RWJ - Great Research Experiences

The downsides are just subjective if you ask me - some say the location of NJMS is scary so thats a big downside (to them). Some say the rotation through camden at RWJ is scary ------- once again, all relative.

in the end, if you bust your butt, then ull come out of it not regetting your choice

 

[Justin4563]

Hey g funk

Ill say it again.. It does not matter where you go to school...

Do you wanna hear it again.. (as long as it is in the USA)

GO to the school in decreasing priority.. 1) where you think you will fit best.. and you have to be honest with yourself 2) the CHEAPEST..