To prospective students (summer 2003),

I was asked to give you a little information about the master's program in interdisciplinary biomedical science at UMDNJ. Currently, I am finishing my master's thesis on the viral etiology of multiple sclerosis and will begin medical school at NJMS in the fall. I have been a master's student here for 2 years and have found the program extremely rewarding. I feel it's perfectly designed for students who have a passion for medicine, but need further exposure before feeling entirely confident to handle the rigors of medical school. It's also a good choice for individuals who have not yet decided where their interests lie, be it medicine, research, industry, or something entirely different. I entered the program with a background as a psychology major and had spent a year doing gene therapy research. My goal was to use the graduate program at UMDNJ to give me a "taste" of medical school by enrolling in some first-year courses, and in doing so strengthen my transcript to make up for some lackluster undergraduate grades. Here's a list of some of the classes I took as a master's student at UMDNJ:

• Medical biochemistry
• Medical physiology
• Medical immunology
• Stem cell biology
• Bioterrorism and weapons of mass destruction
• Frontiers in cardiovascular research
• Brain hormones and interactions

The master's program here provides you with limitless opportunities to explore and develop your own interests, and these are only a few of the courses open to students in the program. All the requirements can be completed in one year, but I personally recommend that you spend the first year developing your interests, and then apply during your second year.

If you know that you're ultimately interested in attending medical school at NJMS, you should contact Dr. George Heinrich, the Associate Dean of Admissions, and schedule an appointment to meet with him. Dr. Nicholas Ingoglia is the Dean of the master's program and he may also be very helpful to you. Although I'm not sure what their admissions policies are, I can tell you that this school places a lot of emphasis on being well-rounded and passionate about your field of study.

I hope this proves to be of use as you make your decision about graduate programs.

You should know that this program is the ONLY reason that I was accepted into med school. Not only did the master's program assist me academically, but it helped me to decide without a doubt what I am most passionate about. After spending one night shadowing an attending physician in the ER here in Newark, I learned the value of studying medicine in a fast-paced urban environment. Additionally, since enrolling in the master's program I have become a CPR instructor through a work-study job and also teach 6th grade science three days a week in a Newark elementary school. As I've said, there really is no limit to what you can do with your time here as a graduate student, and the more you challenge yourself to accomplish, the better your chances will be to gain acceptance into the med school. I am certainly glad to have enrolled, and I'm sure you will be too. Good luck.

M.S.

NJMS, class of 2007
05/03