BA/MD Program (UMDNJ-NWK): Applying

The 7 Year BA/MD joint degree program is designed for high school seniors interested in pursuing a medical degree upon completion of their bachelor's degree. The program offers a guaranteed admission to medical school provided you maintain certain minimum progress requirements. The BA/MD program is offered jointly between the Rutgers-Newark College of Arts and Sciences and the New Jersey Medical School of UMDNJ.

Minimum Application Requirements
Admission to the BA/MD program is highly competitive. Applicants MUST meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Achieve a minimum 1400 on the SAT-I (critical reading and math combined) in one test administration. Note: Only test scores through October 2009 will be considered for the BA/MD program. If you plan to take the SAT after October, you should still have your scores sent to Rutgers for scholarship consideration. However, scores from tests later than October 2009 will not be factored into the BA/MD review process.
• Be ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class
• Be enrolled in their senior year of high school at the time of application
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident

Applying
If you meet ALL of the requirements and would like to apply to the 7 year BA/MD program, please complete the following by November 1st:

• Apply to Rutgers University online selecting "BA/MD Program-Newark College of Arts and Sciences" as one of your school choices and "Med Joint BA/MD" as your Academic Interest.
• Have the College Board submit your SAT-I score electronically to Rutgers University (code 2765).
• Complete the Rutgers University Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) online at  https://www.ugadmissions.rutgers.edu/srt/Login.aspx
• Submit a completed BA/MD portfolio. (See below for specific portfolio requirements)

Have your guidance office send all of the following portfolio documents in a single envelope by November 1st to the attention of Ms. Jennifer Nyeste, Assistant Director, Rutgers-Newark Admissions Office, 249 University Avenue, Room 100, Newark, NJ 07102:

• A 600 word essay consisting of four specific parts:
  Part I. Apart from the BA/MD program, what has attracted you to apply to Rutgers-Newark? Are you familiar with the campus? Be specific. (150 words)
  Part II. Describe your health-related volunteer experiences and the time devoted to them (150 words). Provide supporting documentation in your portfolio from a supervisor, coordinator, etc.
  Part III. State why skipping one year of undergraduate studies is meaningful to you (150 words).
  Part IV. Why are you specifically interested in attending New Jersey Medical School over other medical schools? (150 words)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• A copy of your official high school transcript (even if you have self-reported your grades online).
• Any additional documentation you deem pertinent, such as verification of your volunteer work, copies of awards received, etc.

Any applications/documents postmarked after November 1st will not be considered for the BA/MD program. Portfolio documents MUST be mailed to the Rutgers-Newark Admissions Office in one envelope. Documents that come in separately will not be reviewed and may result in you being incomplete and withdrawn from further BA/MD consideration.

After Applying
After November 1st, BA/MD applicants can expect:

• File Review: Admissions will review all students who applied, met the minimum criteria, and submitted completed portfolios by November 1st. This does take some time to do so please be patient. We will notify you of the status of your file via email. Please check the email account you provided on the Rutgers University application regularly for BA/MD status updates.
• Rutgers Interview: Applicants with the strongest credentials will be interviewed by telephone while at school or at home by late February. Not all applicants are guaranteed an interview but you will be notified of your status in the BA/MD review process regardless.
• UMDNJ Interview: Should Rutgers recommend the applicant, the medical school reviews the credentials and may consider the applicant for an in-person interview by late March.
• Final Selection Process: The medical school ultimately makes all BA/MD admission decisions (admission AND rejection). Notifications are mailed in April. Admitted students must inform Rutgers of their enrollment intentions by May 1st.

BA/MD Program (UMDNJ-NWK): Admission

Students admitted to the program are required to pay an enrollment fee of $100. The payment form is available in the Pre-Health Office - Hill Hall Room 306.

Note: English, biology, chemistry, economics, psychology and history are the six possible majors at Rutgers offered to students in this program.