RWJMS Early Assurance Program

Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Early Assurance Program Requirements and Application Outline 

The Rutgers Robert Wood Johnsons Medical School Early Assurance program is a special admissions program with the goal to support qualified students whose backgrounds are underrepresented in medicine in obtaining their doctorate of medicine. The program works in collaboration with undergraduate universities and offers mentoring and summer enrichment programs.

This program provides students with an early assurance acceptance to medical school contingent on successfully meeting requirements, mentoring and support from students and faculty at the medical school, and academic and mentoring support at their undergraduate university. 

Program components:

• Participation in a summer enrichment program run by the medical school between the junior and senior year
• Participation in the Pre-matriculation summer program prior to starting medical school
• Investment on students’ part in a growth mindset and passion for medicine
• Development of mentoring relationships with students and faculty of the medical school

Requirements:

1. Sponsorship by the consortium member leader at each undergraduate university
2. Strong letter of recommendation from at least one faculty member not affiliated with the consortium (more letters are recommended)
3. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 at the time of application*
4. An application that demonstrates exploration of the medical profession, commitment to service, and evidence of building a foundation in the pre-professional competencies identified by AAMC (https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/core-competencies/)
5. Success in the Multiple Mini Interview
6. Graduating with a bachelors’ degree within a four-year period
7. Sophomore, junior and senior years at Rutgers University or Seton Hall University and later years need to have occurred at the university you are applying from
8. Taking and achieving a B or higher in a number of upper level science courses. Course selection is optional but we encourage applicants to consider a course that covers physiology content.
9. Meeting the pre-requisites for Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (1 year of biology with labs or AP credit, 1 year of general chemistry with labs or AP Credit, 1 year of physics with labs or AP credit, 1 year of intensive writing coursework, 1 year of math (or AP credit), 1 semester of organic chemistry, 1 semester of biochemistry) at a C or higher.
10. An MCAT score of 494 with a minimum of a 123 in each of the subsections
11. Meeting the essential functions required by the medical school as well as successfully passing the criminal background check
12. Graduating cumulative GPA of a 3.4 with a minimum threshold science GPA of a 3.0*
13. Self-describes as Black and/or Hispanic (RWJMS definition of under-represented in medicine)
14. Must be a US citizen or have permanent residency.

*Consortium leaders may present alternative evidence in support of students that fall below the requested GPA’s but are at or above a cumulative GPA of 3.0

Application

Meeting with administrators of the program at Rutgers University or at Seton Hall University to review the program and ensure sponsorship of application. 

• Submission of undergraduate transcripts
• Submission of letters of recommendation directly to the Offices.
• Completion of the following questions. 
  • Background:

1. 1. 1. Full legal name
      2. Preferred name
      3. Sex
      4. Gender Identity
      5. Race and Ethnicity
      6. Major or planned course of study
      7. University your will receive your bachelor’s from
      8. Are you a US citizen yes/no, Are you a permanent resident yes/no
   2. In 5,300 characters (spaces are counted as characters) or less please answer the question: Why have you selected the field of medicine for your profession?
   3. Provide a list of meaningful experiences you participated in during the last three years. Be sure to title the experience, specify the time spent, and briefly outline your roles and responsibilities and what you gained from the experience.  You may provide a maximum of 5 experiences. Your descriptions for each experience need to fit within 120 words. 
   4. Please let us know if there is anything you would like the admissions committee to consider when reviewing your application.