UMDNJ-GSBS MBS Fall 2009

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bap5001 said:
So far Kimisocool says to take the .MGM, Pharm, and a required research seminar in the first semester.


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Just to clarify, I didn't actually say to take these courses, I was just answering the question of what I took. Also, seeing as how you're pre-dent, I wouldn't recommend taking MGM - it's a med school course.

There really aren't any "easy" classes, but the two I would recommend NOT taking would be immuno and ISF physio. Immuno is an intense Ph.D. level course with only two exams (40/60), thus allowing very little room to slide. Physio is difficult for Masters students because they have not had the anatomy background that the med students have at the time of the course. For picking the rest of your courses, keep in mind that there are many to choose from, and your best bet would be to take the ones that are the most interesting to you - the more you enjoy learning about a subject, the easier it will be to study it.

My spring semester was kind of crazy, and if I could go back and do things differently, I would have taken one more course during the fall, and one less in the spring. Still, everything did work out just the way it was supposed to, and I couldn't be happier about starting med school in the fall.
 
yamato said:
Unless something has changed, MGM wasn't offered at Stratford as of last year. MGM is a Newark, NJMS course that combines molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics in a 7 credit course. There are 3 exams, and the mixed bag "shelf exam". It was changed for the upcoming year to run from November to late December. 7 grad credits in less than two months is going to be pretty intensive. If you are looking for a GPA booster - be very wary of medical/dental school coursework. Expect to get worked, and worked hard. A grade of 80 is a high pass in MGM for medical students. If you get an 80, you get a B. On your transcript, that 3.0 does not look good.
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While this is all true, and you should be careful, please don't let these words scare you - I got a B+ in MGM and was just fine.
 
Kimisokool said:
Just to clarify, I didn't actually say to take these courses, I was just answering the question of what I took. Also, seeing as how you're pre-dent, I wouldn't recommend taking MGM - it's a med school course.

There really aren't any "easy" classes, but the two I would recommend NOT taking would be immuno and ISF physio. Immuno is an intense Ph.D. level course with only two exams (40/60), thus allowing very little room to slide. Physio is difficult for Masters students because they have not had the anatomy background that the med students have at the time of the course. For picking the rest of your courses, keep in mind that there are many to choose from, and your best bet would be to take the ones that are the most interesting to you - the more you enjoy learning about a subject, the easier it will be to study it.

My spring semester was kind of crazy, and if I could go back and do things differently, I would have taken one more course during the fall, and one less in the spring. Still, everything did work out just the way it was supposed to, and I couldn't be happier about starting med school in the fall.
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Thanks so much for the insight about the program. very helpful information because I was thinking about taking immuno..might not do that anymore lol. We shall see..🙂
 
Kimisokool said:
While this is all true, and you should be careful, please don't let these words scare you - I got a B+ in MGM and was just fine.
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It wasn't intended as a scare tactic. Some students have come to thank faculty members for protecting them from their own ambition. Graduate credits are quite a leap from undergraduate credits. After having one year of grad credits under their belt, a number of students took MGM or Dental Physio and earned A's. I've heard more accounts of these, than of those who hopped ship into MGM as a first year and earned an A.

While it's generous to offer one's grade as an inspirational measure, the non-uniformity of grades is something to be considered. While a B+ was not the highest grade earned in MGM, the lowest grade was also not a C.
 
Ok, Kimisokool has roped me into this thread, but real quick, I started at GSBS the same semester as her, we took (survived) MGM together, I also got a B+, and while I'm not positive how other schools view a B+ in that class, the dean of admissions said that a B+ in MGM constituted doing "well" in the class, which is huge since the 3.5 does tend to drag on your GPA. I planned from the outset to do the program in 1.5 years, although it's sort of dragged into the full 2 years thanks to my thesis.

I think Kim and myself will agree that the bottom line on MGM is to take it if you can get in (It seems to have gotten significantly harder to get in since we took it) or the dental school classes if you're pre-dent. These classes are heavy on the credits, with good reason. They are hard, at times frustrating, and the minutia you can be held responsible for at times boggle the mind.

Avoid Physio, it will crush your soul. Avoid the medical neuroscience course. It is taught by my P.I., who has literally written the book on the subject. Like physio, it is heavily reliant on gross anatomy, particularly the cranial nerves, as well as the fact that it is a 6 week course for five credits, which med students take as their only real coursework, whereas you would be taking it with other classes. DO take regional anatomy. It's an AWESOME class, and while it is more limited in scope and detail than gross, it's still useful when you take gross, plus it's just plain cool and the professor is great.

If you do a little digging, when it comes time for your 2 credit research rotation, you might be able to find a lab where you can get your name on a paper relating to the work you will be doing. I am co-author on a paper we are submitting this week, from what was ostensibly a 60-hour rotation. Expect to spend a good deal more than that though if you're looking to get published.

Finally, avoid PhD classes unless you already have significant exposure to the topics covered. They are graded rather capriciously, generally at the discretion of the course director. One course I took the class organizer told me that he just didn't give out more than three A's per term.

One last point - If a class looks interesting, take it! Some of the coolest classes I took were classes that sounded neat and just happened to fit into my schedule.

All in all, I'm happy with my experience at the GSBS, I am finishing with an M.S. in biomedical science and a 3.73 GPA.

My experience with med school applications notwithstanding, it's a great program.
 
yamato said:
While a B+ was not the highest grade earned in MGM, the lowest grade was also not a C.
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When Kim and I took MGM, the lowest grade earned by a master's student was in fact a C+. Not that I would suggest shooting for a C+, but that particular student was accepted ED for class of 2013.
 
tpjunkie said:
When Kim and I took MGM, the lowest grade earned by a master's student was in fact a C+. Not that I would suggest shooting for a C+, but that particular student was accepted ED for class of 2013.
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Since the shelf exam is graded such that the average of all medical students' scores is 80, I included the scores (and rough grade translation) of some medical students I knew who didn't do so well.

as well as the fact that it is a 6 week course for five credits, which med students take as their only real coursework, whereas you would be taking it with other classes.
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MGM was recently changed to start in November and end in late December for Fall 2009. I haven't seen the syllabus, but I'm guessing a little over 7 weeks to fulfill 7 credits worth translates to class everyday. If Neuro was difficult at 5 credits in 6 weeks, I'm somewhat nervous about the pace of MGM this fall.

The class I enjoyed the most so far, has been General Pathology. It's a fairly compact and intensive course for 2 credits that lasts a little over a month, but the lectures were interesting. Dr. Studzinski has the reputation of being a tough grader, but he's an awesome lecturer and all around guy. I would definitely recommend the course. Coupling this course with MGM actually works out well - this course ends a few weeks before MGM begins.
 
MGM now runs Nov. 2 through Dec. 23, three hours per day, and meets every day except tuesday. I would assume this means that gross anatomy will occupy the time period from august until the end of november, and that both classes will be taken only with themselves and Core, dropping the fall course load for MS1 to 2 classes at a time.

I would guess that the med students will have an easier time with it now, but it may make the master's students lives rather unpleasant, at least until they finish their other classes fall term.
 
If MGM is not available, what other courses are you guys planning to take?
I will probably try to enroll MGM next Fall

Fundamental of Biomedical -3
Fundamental of Pharma -3
Seminar in Biomedical- 1
Cellular Pathology -3

+ Work Part-time

+ MCAT studies

Any opinions?
 
Because of the lecturer, Cellular Path is one of the more heavily detail dependent courses. Despite being three credits, the workload will be more than the Fundamentals I.

I think your course lineup is pretty doable - Fundamentals I should actually help with your MCAT preparation.

I worked ~20 hours a week, and found that was good balance w/ 10 credits worth of classes.
 
yamato said:
Because of the lecturer, Cellular Path is one of the more heavily detail dependent courses. Despite being three credits, the workload will be more than the Fundamentals I.

I think your course lineup is pretty doable - Fundamentals I should actually help with your MCAT preparation.

I worked ~20 hours a week, and found that was good balance w/ 10 credits worth of classes.
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Oh darn, I am taking my MCAT September 12th..well it would be good just in case I have to take it over.
With the information about the classes, I am thinking about if I should consider Immunology or Neuroscience during my year and a half there. Mmm, we shall see..Does anyone know how Histology is as a class? Also is there a such course called Fundamentals III??
 
There is no fundamentals III...as for histology, there was a class at one point, I'm not sure if it still exists...however the fall courses are posted at the campus specific sites, which you can navigate to from http://gsbs.umdnj.edu/

Also in case anyone is unaware, if you take MGM, you are exempted from both fundamentals I and II, although a number of people I know decided to take fundamentals II after MGM anyway.
 
Yeah I saw the Fall classes already and histology is on there..probably one of those courses that are in and out through the years..

But I wonder why on the course descriptions sheet there was a course called Fundamentals III..ah well
 
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tpjunkie said:
There is no fundamentals III...as for histology, there was a class at one point, I'm not sure if it still exists...however the fall courses are posted at the campus specific sites, which you can navigate to from http://gsbs.umdnj.edu/

Also in case anyone is unaware, if you take MGM, you are exempted from both fundamentals I and II, although a number of people I know decided to take fundamentals II after MGM anyway.
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If I take Fund I & II, can i still try to enroll for MGM in next fall or is it that I am no longer eligible to take it?
 
You can definitely take it in the fall, a number of my friends who didn't get into it our first fall took it this past fall.
 
what are you dental guys thinkin of taking?
 
fundamentals or dental physio or histo
oral microbio
havent decided on the rest of the electives...what about u?

also this is off topic..but for hte financial aid tab after all your documents have been in (all green check marks) whats the next step? just wait till they award u an amount?
 
Albuterol said:
fundamentals or dental physio or histo
oral microbio
havent decided on the rest of the electives...what about u?

also this is off topic..but for hte financial aid tab after all your documents have been in (all green check marks) whats the next step? just wait till they award u an amount?
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yeah..maybe they might ask for more information but I doubt that. The award amount should be the next step.
 
Albuterol said:
fundamentals or dental physio or histo
oral microbio
havent decided on the rest of the electives..
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hey albuterol, are these the classes you going to put down in aadsas come june 1? I am going to put umdnj classes on planned/inprogress but if another school accepts me I am going to go there , would it be cool to go to a nother school if my classes say NJ?
 
Hey michaeld ...yup these are the classes im going to put down..im going to put about 12 credits down. U can always add/delete courses during the academic update period
 
hey albuterol, how many schools are you planning on applying to come june 1st? more than umdnj? or sticking to just one?
 
I'm thinking of applying to ~18 schools...most of the northeast except harvard and stony brook and some schools scattered across the usa such as midwestern, western,nova,uop....what about you userah?
 
i'm seeing if it's worth it to apply to that many schools without finishing the masters. application fees are expensive haha. I think i might just apply to like 5-7 ish and in case i don't get in right after masters cuz they were all waiting for my complete grades, then apply to a bunch of them all over and pray i get in haha.
 
Applying is madddd expensive but i think if your undergrad gpa cum/sci >3.0 and DAT scores of 21-27 range you should go ahead and apply. The DAT will have gotten their attention, now u just need to do well in your masters to get that interview.
 
haha except my sci gpa wasn't > 3.0 =( which is why im doing this whole masters thing in the first place haha. that's why i'll likely just end up applyin to a few schools as opposed to a whole lot of them; this year anyway.
 
gotcha, either way applying this yr or next we gotta kill it 4.0 haha
 
lol my thoughts exactly. no more f*ckin around. it's on like donkey kong come september! =P
 
Hi guys,
I am leaving my room at the University Centre in Newark and I am leaving my room early so it is available to rent for the summer! My lease is until Aug 13 and is available from today. This is perfect for someone just spending the summer here or to live in while looking for more permanent housing. Additionally, if you like it here at the UC, you could renew your lease for the year! Perfect for students or residents, it's fully furnished and has many students living here already.
Please check out my craigslist posting and thank you for your time!

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/roo/1194364937.html
 
i'm finally in!!!! i'm so excited that i almost peed in my pants when i received the acceptance letter lol it's time to look for an apartment now!!!!! and apply to dental school tomorrow...
 
Hello everyone I am sure this topic has already been discussed but I have specific questions about housing which I am a little nervous about. I am not familiar at all with the area and have gotten the worse feedback about Newark. All understandable. But I need to find housing asap. I looked into the on campus housing which is what I prefer but since there is no guarantee of getting a single I am going to have to find an apartment independent of the school. I don't want to have to commute 20 minutes everyday from Jersey city or another area. Are the ANY nice safe areas in Newark that are close to UMDNJ?

I would really appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
 
Congratlations jsdss..see you in the Fall!!!!

And Roxy15 have you checked out University Centre?? Nice student housing..singles are still available..I would definitely give them a call 9735048200 and check out the website univcentre.com. A lot of medical and dental students from UMDNJ live there..and it gated so you won't have to worry about safety. I think you should seriously this since you are very new to the area.
 
Congratlations jsdss..see you in the Fall!!!!

And Roxy15 have you checked out University Centre?? Nice student housing..singles are still available..wonderful amenities..I would definitely give them a call @ 9735048200 and check out their website www.univcentre.com. A lot of medical and dental students from UMDNJ live there..and it's gated so you won't have to worry about safety. I think you should seriously consider this since you are very new to the area.
 
Thanks Dr.Chuck. This forum is so amazing. lol
 
The information from the actual students from the GSBS is very helpful!
Thank you guys much.

I just got accepted into Tulane masters in Cell and Molecular Biology.
I didn't think I would get in and I have been getting everything straight to go to GSBS this fall..

Now, I have to debate between the two.
any thoughts??

Thanks.
 
From what I have read on SDN, the tulane CMB program is pretty good...honestly, i think both will do the job as long as u perform well. Which one is cheaper? Go there.
 
word, go the cheaper route, I got accepted to Barrys mastes but its 800 bucks a unit and its a 36 unit program so its like 30 G's thats why im going to Jersey
 
Does anyone know how many applicants GSBS actually gets?
 
accepted to both tulane and umdnj 1 year masters... from south jersey.. dunno where to goo
 
Well if you're a NJ resident (or for that matter, even if you're not) UMDNJ is going to be cheaper, much cheaper than private schools. The total cost for tuition start to finish for me ended up being around $15,500. I think the cost may have increased a bit, to maybe 16.5 or so. Non residents were looking at 18-19k I believe.
 
tpjunkie said:
Well if you're a NJ resident (or for that matter, even if you're not) UMDNJ is going to be cheaper, much cheaper than private schools. The total cost for tuition start to finish for me ended up being around $15,500. I think the cost may have increased a bit, to maybe 16.5 or so. Non residents were looking at 18-19k I believe.
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yeh im still up in the air.. both schools will be under 20k, just wondering if one is more advantageous than the other...
 
tpjunkie said:
Well if you're a NJ resident (or for that matter, even if you're not) UMDNJ is going to be cheaper, much cheaper than private schools. The total cost for tuition start to finish for me ended up being around $15,500. I think the cost may have increased a bit, to maybe 16.5 or so. Non residents were looking at 18-19k I believe.
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$21k for out-of-state in case anyone is interested
 
aadsas application went up today. anyone getting a leg up on the application already? I just got started on mine. Trying to get the small stuff out of the way in next few days and then the hardest parts left would be personal statement only because i'm gonna have to spruce up my old one from last year haha. When are you guys planning on submitting your fully completed application?
 
ive been working on aadsas since about 3pm. i'm looking to submit tonight or tomorrow. send out transcripts and lor request to HPO later this week. for planned courses (umdnj) what are u guys going to put? i'm thinking of putting fundamentals I and 3 electives down...
 
damn planning on sendin it out by the end of the week? were you been workin on revamping the personal statement beforehand? I suppose I should have done that haha. Oh well. I'll work on it tonight. Goin on vacation next week so hopefully I can send it out also by Friday/Saturday ish. As for which classes, I was thinkin the same thing. Fundamentals and 3 electives. Prolly histo. Haven't made up my mind bout the other electives.
 
hey for planned classes do you have to add UMDNJ GSBS as a school before you can add in progress? and do we have to send a transcript form for all schools on the list? what do we do if we decide not to go to UMNDJ in a month or two and go to another school can i change it? aadsas keeps timing out ahhh but ya i already went and did my transcripts today and pretty much ready to submit
 
userah said:
damn planning on sendin it out by the end of the week? were you been workin on revamping the personal statement beforehand? I suppose I should have done that haha. Oh well. I'll work on it tonight. Goin on vacation next week so hopefully I can send it out also by Friday/Saturday ish. As for which classes, I was thinkin the same thing. Fundamentals and 3 electives. Prolly histo. Haven't made up my mind bout the other electives.
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yea dude thats the plan..i'm trying to be as early as possible. I finished my personal statement back in mid-May and have had people just looking at it/suggesting if I should change anything. Nice! vacay...i could use one of those..going anywhere tropical? good luck man...aadsas is so annoying to fill haha
 
michaeld said:
hey for planned classes do you have to add UMDNJ GSBS as a school before you can add in progress? and do we have to send a transcript form for all schools on the list? what do we do if we decide not to go to UMNDJ in a month or two and go to another school can i change it? aadsas keeps timing out ahhh but ya i already went and did my transcripts today and pretty much ready to submit
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Yup you have to add UMDNJ-GSBS first then you can add the planned/in progress courses. Send a transcript for all schools that you have attended...I'm pretty sure you send the UMDNJ-GSBS transcript during the academic update period. Not sure, I'm assuming you will be able to change/edit/add school and classes during the academic update period. The lag on the AADSAS site has been killer today.
 
haha i'm goin on a cruise to alaska with the family.

on another note, is there a way to access my old application? so i can just get the stuff i wrote from there instead of having to rewrite everything? haha. that would make things so much easier.
 
I have problem with aadsas page. ADEA keeps directing me to 2009 aadsas page, not 2010. What's wrong with it???

Oops, never mind. Got it lol
 
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anyone know how to do planned /in progress for GSBS?
 
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