Medical School Options in New Jersey?

I'm a New Jersey native and think I'm interested in going pre-med, but I also love being close to home. Does anyone know about the available medical schools in New Jersey? More specifically, I'm interested in their undergraduate programs with good pre-med tracks.

There are several reputable colleges in New Jersey offering excellent pre-med tracks that prepare students well for medical school. While these institutions do not have their own medical schools, they equip students with the necessary knowledge and experiences to apply to medical schools anywhere in the country.

1. Princeton University: It's known for its rigorous science programs, including Biology, Neuroscience, and Molecular Biology, which are popular majors for pre-med students. Students also have access to research opportunities, advising, and MCAT prep.

2. Rutgers University: Both the New Brunswick and Newark campuses offer strong pre-health programs. Rutgers New Brunswick, for example, has a Health Professions Office that offers advising, workshops, and programs such as the Health Professions Mentoring Program. The Newark campus is located in a city with several hospitals where students can volunteer or work for clinical experience.

3. TCNJ (The College of New Jersey): Known for its strong science programs and Pre-Health Pre-Law Advising center that provides advice, events, and opportunities for research and internships to pre-med students.

4. Drew University: Known for its strong Natural Sciences department and RISE (Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti) program, unique for offering research opportunities to undergraduates.

5. Seton Hall University: Their School of Health and Medical Sciences offers strong preparation for medical school.

Remember that the school you choose should not just have a good pre-med track, but also should be a good fit for you in terms of size, location, culture, etc. In the end, your choice of college matters less than what you do during your four years in college in terms of maintaining a high GPA, obtaining strong recommendation letters, getting involved in extracurricular activities—especially those that demonstrate a genuine interest in medicine, such as shadowing a doctor or doing medical research—and performing well on the MCAT.