Best Pre-Med Schools In New Jersey
1. Princeton University
| Location: | Princeton, NJ |
| National University Rank: | 1 |
| Average SAT score: | 1450-1570 (ACT 32-35) |
| Acceptance Rate: | 6% |
| Tuition: | $56,010 |
| Private/Public: | Private |
| Undergraduate Enrollment: | 4,773 |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 4:1 |
Princeton University is a private school founded in 1746. It is among the oldest colleges in the US and a prestigious Ivy League college. Students attending Princeton must take care where they walk around – a local legend says if a student leaves campus through FitzRandolph Gate before graduation, he may be cursed never to graduate!
Legends aside, Princenton doesn’t offer a pre-med major (nor does it have a medical school; Does Princeton Have A Medical School?), and students from all majors can put together an application. Their health professions schools seek well-rounded students who demonstrate ability in the sciences and an interest in the human condition. Actually, about one-third of their applicants to medical school are non-science majors.
The most popular concentrations for Princeton applicants accepted to med school are:
- Molecular Biology
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- Psychology
- Chemistry
- Public & International Affairs
- Neuroscience
- Chemical & Biological Engineering
- History
- Politics
- Anthropology
- Economics (tie)
To help newbies through this path, the university offers a strong Health Professions Advising service. It is a home base for “all things prehealth.” They offer students guidance and resources, academic and non-academic.
According to the university, HPA wants to meet three objectives:
- To help students make good decisions about their choice of a health profession.
- Tp promote academic excellence providing accurate guidelines for completing prehealth coursework, understanding admission requirements, and using all available resources.
- To encourage involvement in the health care community, primarily through clinical work, service, and research.
The HPA application process begins in the fall semester (two years before you expect to start professional school). They advise students on post-bac prehealth paths and health professions’ school applications.
Check out the video below from some insider insight into what life’s like as a pre-med at Princeton…
DETAILS
- Name: Princeton University
- Location: Princeton, NJ
- Phone: (609) 258-3000
- Website: princeton.edu
2. Rutgers University-New Brunswick
| Location: | Piscataway, NJ |
| National University Rank: | 63 |
| Average SAT score: | 1180-1410 (ACT 25-32) |
| Acceptance Rate: | 67% |
| Tuition: | $15,804 (in-state) and $33,005 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public: | Public |
| Undergraduate Enrollment: | 35,844 |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 16:1 |
Rutgers is a public institution founded in 1766; It was then named Queen’s College, an all-male institution affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church.
The campus of New Jersey’s state university is split into five campuses. All of them have a different setting and identity, dining options, and a student center.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick provides pre-med students top-notch academics, hands-on experiences, and a wide array of research opportunities.
They offer pre-med advising through their Health Professions Office.
There is no specific pre-med major at Rutgers. Applicants who excel in non-science-related courses can be just as competitive medical school candidates. Popular majors for pre-meds include:
- Biological Sciences
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience
- Exercise Science
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Rutgers-New Brunswick also offers two joint BA/MD programs:
Both programs are designed for high-achieving pre-med students at Rutgers who are in their sophomore year. Students are expected to complete all Rutgers principal requirements by the end of their junior year.
In their senior year, they must take the complete first-year curriculum at the respective medical school. Students receive RU credit for select medical school courses, which may be used toward completing their major and elective credit to their undergraduate degree.
BA/MD New Jersey Medical School program is meant only for premedical students on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus.
Check out the video below for a glimpse into pre-med life at Rutgers…
DETAILS
- Name: Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- Location: Piscataway, NJ
- Phone: (732) 932-1766
- Website: newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
3. Stevens Institute of Technology
| Location: | Hoboken, NJ |
| National University Rank: | 83 |
| Average SAT score: | 1320-1480 (ACT 31-34) |
| Acceptance Rate: | 53% |
| Tuition: | $56,920 |
| Private/Public: | Private |
| Undergraduate Enrollment: | 3,670 |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 12:1 |
Stevens Institute of Technology is a private school founded in 1870. They have more than 100 clubs and organizations on campus. Housing is assured for four years, and more than 60% of students live on campus, which lies along the Hudson (New York City is a just boat or subway ride away).
Stevens’ pre-professional programs point students in the right direction and take them all the way to the finish line.
They offer several pre-med program options, an excellent internship location, and a rich slate of support services to ensure students excel.
Its pre-med education is based on a solid foundation in sciences, strong social science and humanities background, and communication skills.
The pre-health profession curricula also offer challenging courses of study and demand the very best of students.
Recent successful applicants have had majors which include:
- Chemical Biology
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Business & Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
In 2020, Stevens Biology and Chemical Biology programs boasted a 100% student acceptance rate to med schools.
Stevens also offers an Accelerated Combined Degree Program, planned for exceptionally qualified students. In medicine, the Accelerated Pre-Medicine program is paired with the medical program at the New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers University. The student applies to both Stevens and the Medical School.
Check out the video below for a closer look at student life at the school…
DETAILS
- Name: Stevens Institute of Technology
- Location: Hoboken, NJ
- Phone: (201) 216-5000
- Website: stevens.edu
4. Seton Hall University
| Location: | South Orange, NJ |
| National University Rank: | 127 |
| Average SAT score: | 1150-1310 (ACT 25-30) |
| Acceptance Rate: | 78% |
| Tuition: | $46,880 |
| Private/Public: | Private |
| Undergraduate Enrollment: | 5,913 |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 14:1 |
Seton Hall University is a private institution founded in 1856. It is a Catholic school in the small town of South Orange, 15 miles away from New York City.
The university has a Health Professions Advising Program to assist students through the pre-med way. Dr. Roberta Moldow, chair of the HPAC, helps students determine the most appropriate career track based on their academic achievements, liabilities, values, and life goals.
They help helps students in basically three ways:
- Advice on Academic Requirements; including model biology and chemistry programs for students tracking the health professions.
- Four-year plan to get into medical school.
- The pre-health professions honor society (Alpha Epsilon Delta) provides opportunities to do volunteering.
Seton also has a Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Plus Program (PMPDPP) to provide access to higher education for disadvantaged students (low income and lack of access to quality education).
It gives them many benefits:
- Financial assistance to academically proficient students who lack the financial resources to attain a college degree.
- The MEDICAL Summer Academy, a program created to build a strong foundation of skills, knowledge, and networks.
- Advising Services, with specialized one on one attention to scholars
Lastly, the Office of Diversity & Equity collaborates with Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) to provide shadowing opportunities for Seton Hall University students underrepresented in medicine. The program’s objective is to give students exposure to the reality of medicine in an onsite teaching hospital setting.
Want to take a Virtual Tour? Check out Seton Hall in the video below…
DETAILS
- Name: Seton Hall University
- Location: South Orange, NJ
- Phone: (973) 761-9000
- Website: shu.edu
All admissions data is taken from the American Association of Medical Colleges (Source). Ranking data is taken from U.S. News.
Related Questions
Is It Important To Attend A Good Pre Med School In New Jersey?
Having a reputable school on your med school application can look good. Performing well during undergrad, at any of the colleges recommended above, is a strong indicator you’ll fit in studying medicine.
How much an individual school actually contributes to your chances of becoming a doctor is open for debate, however.
The biggest factors, in terms of competitiveness, are your GPA score, your clinical experience (shadowing, working, etc), and extracurriculars, and how well you present yourself in application essays and interviews.
To say the strength of your candidacy comes solely down to where you studied for pre-med would be a stretch!
What College In NJ Has The Best Medical Program?
The best medical school in New Jersey, according to U.S. News Ranking (Source), is Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Newark. You’ll need an average GPA of 3.64 and an average MCAT of 511.
Related: Best Medical Schools In New Jersey (Everything You Need To Know)
How To Improve Your Medicine Application As A Pre-Med In School In NJ
A great way to make your med school application as competitive as possible is through extracurriculars.
In New Jersey, you have a lot of clinically relevant medical/hospital volunteering opportunities to take advantage of.
These positions are organized and very useful for obtaining letters of recommendation (LOR’s), shadowing, and other important networking connections.
You can also look into relevant pre-med jobs like scribing, EMT, and phlebotomy available in the state for extra clinical experience.
Related: Does Scribing Count As Shadowing?
What Is The Hardest/Easiest College In NJ To Get Into?
Based on the data above, Seton Hall appears easier to gain admission into as an undergrad. Their admission rate is one of the highest and their undergraduate admissions places are higher than most other schools in the state.
Princeton is undoubtedly the most competitive.
What Major Should I Choose As A Pre-Med?
The standard advice is to choose a major you feel you can do well in. Your GPA will be possibly the biggest differentiator between you and other pre-med candidates.
Here’s what you should consider:
- How motivated you’ll be to study (choose something you’ll enjoy)
- How “suitable” you are to the subject (maximize your chance of a high GPA)
If you did well in a particular subject in high school, or find something relatively easy to get good grades in, that could make for a good pick.
Something else to think about is the MCAT. Sometimes life science subjects can be a good fit as they’ll help you in the preparation for this key med school exam. They also may cover many of the prerequisites.
If you found this article useful, make sure you check out the rest of our pre-med guides…
- Best Pre-Med Schools In North Carolina (Costs, Extracurriculars & Admission Info)
- Best Pre-Med Schools In Virginia (Costs, Extracurriculars & Admission Info)
Writer | Lawyer | PhD Student at @DerechoUCA and @UFPel
I spend most of my time washing dishes, changing diapers, playing doll/ball/house/doctor/cooking with my daughter, and making my son sleep. I write and read about education, philosophy, law, religion, finance, and real estate when there is some time left. And I usually don’t sleep!