College Catalog: 2011-2012

(Note: Program Information Subject to Change)

The Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professional Studies Programs at Ramapo College are not academic majors, but support structures created to maximize students’ capacities to secure admission to medical, dental, and other health-related graduate schools. They offer an excellent opportunity for students to prepare for entry into the health professions. For advisement, students planning to pursue a career in the health sciences should contact:

• The School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS), (201) 684-7734 or
• Dr. Rena Bacon, Professor of Biology, (201) 684-7727
  e-mail: rbacon@ramapo.edu

Most professional schools require the following science and math courses for admission to their programs:
Fundamentals of Biology I and II – 8 cr.
Fundamentals of Chemistry I and II – 8 cr.
Organic Chemistry I and II – 8 cr.
Fundamental of Physics I and II – 8 cr.
Calculus I – 4 cr.

Additional recommended courses are:
Genetics – 4 cr.
Cell and Molecular Biology – 4 cr.
Anatomy and Physiology I and II – 8 cr.
Calculus II – 4 cr.

The courses listed above make up a substantial part of the Biology and Chemistry majors although students who plan professional health careers are free to major in any area. The General Education graduation requirements at Ramapo College are such that they provide both science and non-science majors the kind of broad base of knowledge sought by professional schools. Since the standardized entry exams, e.g., MCAT, DAT, etc., are usually taken either in the spring or late summer of the Junior year, students are advised to complete these courses before their Senior year to be adequately prepared for these exams.

The Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professional Studies Programs at Ramapo College are not academic majors, but support structures created to maximize students’ capacities to secure admission to medical, dental, and other health-related graduate schools. They offer an excellent opportunity for students to prepare for entry into the health professions. For advisement, students planning to pursue a career in the health sciences should contact:

• The School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS), (201) 684-7734 or
• Dr. Rena Bacon, Professor of Biology, (201) 684-7727
  e-mail: rbacon@ramapo.edu

ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
(Note:  Program Information Subject to Change)

Among Ramapo College’s numerous articulation agreements with area professional and graduate schools are several in the health professions field.

Students accepted into our articulated programs must complete all prerequisites, the Ramapo College General Education requirements, and the Biology major before they are eligible to proceed to complete their education at our partner programs.  Upon the successful completion of their first year of studies in the post graduate school, students can file for graduation to receive their Ramapo College Bachelor of Science degree.  At the completion of their course of studies in the graduate program, students are awarded their professional or other post graduate degree.

Articulated programs, unlike joint programs, require students to apply separately to the participating school and to meet all conditions for admission before acceptance.  This is normally done after the sophomore year.  Please consult the catalog of the partner institution for admissions requirements.

MASTERS OF SCIENCE (MS) – PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
UMDNJ-SHRP
Eligible students must apply to UMDNJ for admission to the Physician Assistant program no later than June 1 of their sophomore year.  Acceptance in the program in contingent on the student maintaining the required GPA and successful completion of coursework before the end of the junior year.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT INTO MS PROGRAM
Articulation of BS degree in Bioinformatics with
MS degree in Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ-SHRP
This articulated program allows selected Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) BS Bioinformatics students to complete MS degree in Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ-SHRP (School of Health Related Professions) at an accelerated pace.  This process will significantly reduce the normal time required to complete an MS degree in Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ-SHRP.

Qualified students enrolled in the Bioinformatics major at Ramapo College can take graduate courses (up to 9 credits) in Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ-SHRP, which could be used towards the required electives for the BS in Bioinformatics degree at Ramapo College.  These Biomedical Informatics courses can be used towards the course requirements for the MS degree in Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ-SHRP upon successful admission into that program.  In addition, selected Ramapo College Bioinformatics curriculum courses (equivalent up to 6 UMDNJ-SHRP credits) can be used towards the course requirements for the MS degree in Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ-SHRP.

Refer to the Convener of Bioinformatics (http://bioinformatics.ramapo.edu/) for more details of this articulation program and the lists of courses at UMDNJ-SHRP AND RCNJ that double count.

CLINICAL DOCTORATE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT)
UMDNJ-SHRP
Students are accepted into the “track” of  this 3+3 program upon admission to Ramapo College.  Students complete 3 years of undergraduate education at Ramapo College and then may continue in the DPT program at UMDNJ-SHRP provided that they have completed all Ramapo College and program requirements and prerequisites, and have successfully applied to the UMDNJ-SHRP-DPT program no later than October 1 of the student’s junior year.  Please see the catalog of the partner institution for admission detail

CHIROPRACTIC DOCTOR (DC)
New York Chiropractic College
Students may apply for admission to the Chiropractic College program during their junior year.  The chiropractic curriculum at NYCC is a ten trimester program of approximately 3 years and 4 months duration.

DENTISTRY
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Dental School
Students applying for this program may be interviewed before starting college and are granted provisional admission to UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School contingent on completing all requirements for graduation and meeting admission standards. Please see the catalog of the partner school for more specific requirements.

Upon successfully completing the first year at UMDNJ School of Dentistry, students receive their Bachelor of Science degree from Ramapo. Upon completion of the remainder of the program at UMDNJ, students receive a DMD from UMDNJ Dental School.

Medicine (DO)
UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM)
Graduates from Ramapo College are eligible to apply for regular admission to the UMDNJ-SOM, Stratford, New Jersey.  Students may be eligible for early admission into the SOM after completing their junior year and successful early completion of the MCATs.

Optometry (OD)
SUNY State College of Optometry.
Students applying for this program may be interviewed before starting college and are granted provisional admission to SUNY-Optometry contingent on completing all requirements for graduation and meeting admission standards.

Upon successful completion of the first year of Optometry school, students receive their Bachelor of Science degree from Ramapo College.  Upon completion of the remainder of the program at SUNY-Optometry, students receive their OD degree from SUNY.

PODIATRIC MEDICINE (DPM)
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Application to this program can be made in the student’s junior year.  Upon successful completion of the first year at NYCPM, students are eligible to receive their Bachelor of Science degree from Ramapo College.  Upon completion of the remainder of the program at NYCPM students receive their DPM degree.

For additional information and specific requirements for admission to these programs, contact Dr. Rena Bacon, School of Theoretical and Applied Science, Ramapo College of New Jersey, at (201) 684-7727 (rbacon@ramapo.edu)

The Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professional Studies Programs at Ramapo College are not academic majors, but support structures created to maximize students’ capacities to secure admission to medical, dental, and other health-related graduate schools. They offer an excellent opportunity for students to prepare for entry into the health professions. For advisement, students planning to pursue a career in the health sciences should contact:

• The School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS), (201) 684-7734 or
• Dr. Rena Bacon, Professor of Biology, (201) 684-7727
  e-mail: rbacon@ramapo.edu

Joint Degree Programs
(Note: Program Information Subject to Change)

The School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS) of Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) offer the following joint programs:

1. a joint Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health (Diagnostic Sonography,
   Respiratory Care, Nuclear Medicine Technology, or Vascular Technology)
   and minor in Biology. See Allied Health in the Majors section of this catalog.
2. a joint Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Science
   (Cytotechnology, Medical Lab Science). See Clinical
   Laboratory Science in the majors section of this catalog.

• Which health career articulation programs does Ramapo have?
• How do the articulation programs work?
• How do I get admitted into a program?
• How do I decide which career path and which program is right for me?
• I want to be a medical doctor. What should I major in?
• What are the Ramapo courses that fulfill the medical school requirement?
• I have AP credits for some of the courses. Am I exempt from taking the prerequisite courses?
• Do I need to volunteer at a hospital if I want to go to medical school?
• Do I have to do scientific research to get into medical school?
• What else do I need to do in order to apply to medical school?
• How do I apply to medical school?
• What is the personal statement?
• How do I get recommendation letters?
• What are medical schools looking for?

Q: Which health career articulation programs does Ramapo College have?

A: Ramapo College has articulation programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and clinical doctoral levels.

At the bachelor’s level, we have joint degree programs with the University of Medicine and Dentistry – School of Health Related Professions (UMDNJ SHRP) in Allied Health and Clinical Lab Science.

At the master’s level we have a Physician Assistant program with UMDNJ-SHRP.

At the doctoral level we  currently have:
Physical Therapy with UMDNJ-SHRP
Chiropracty with New York Chiropractic College
Optometry with State University of New York (SUNY) State College of Optometry
Dentistry with UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School
Dentistry with New York University College of Dentistry
Podiatry with New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Medicine with UMDNJ – School of Osteopathic Medicine

Q: How do the articulation programs work?

A: Typically, students study at Ramapo College for the first three years. At that time they fulfill all their pre-professional requirements. Then, instead of their fourth year at the college, they enter the professional school of their chosen program. At the completion of that year, they will receive their Ramapo diploma and graduate with their class. If students are in a bachelor’s program, they receive the joint degree from UMDNJ as well. If they are in master’s or doctoral level programs, they continue to complete their programs and graduate those programs with their class.

For example, a student in the Clinical Lab Science Program will spend three years at Ramapo and one year at UMDNJ-SHRP. At the end of that year, the student will get two diplomas: a Ramapo College diploma and a diploma from UMDNJ-SHRP in Clinical Lab Science, in a total of four years.

A student who is in the Physical Therapy program will also spend the first three years at Ramapo. Then, instead of completing the senior year at Ramapo, the student will begin the first year of the graduate Physical Therapy Program at UMDNJ-SHRP. At the successful completion of that year, the student will receive the Ramapo bachelor’s degree and graduate with the class. After completing another two years at UMDNJ, the student will have completed the physical therapy program. This student will now receive the clinical doctorate degree in Physical Therapy after a total of six years; three years at Ramapo and three years at UMDNJ.

For UMDNJ-SOM, admission to medical school, students must complete their bachelor’s degree before starting medical school.

Q: How do I get admitted into a program?

A: Each program has specific requirements which are subject to change by the participating partner institutions. Check the particular requirements for each program, as specified in that institution’s college catalog, for more details.

Allied Health and Clinical Lab Science
Three plus one year program
Total time: Four years
No special SAT required for entry
College minimal GPA of 2.75 required
Students formally apply to UMDNJ in the fall of their junior year

Physician Assistant
Three plus three year program
Total time: Six years
Last year of college is first year of M.S. program at UMDNJ-SHRP
Must maintain a 3.0 GPA at Ramapo College
Applications to UMDNJ due at end of sophomore year

Physical Therapy
Three plus three year program
Total time: Six years
Last year of college is first year of DPT program at UMDNJ-SHRP
Admission to UMDNJ limited to excellent students
SAT score 1200 and above
High ranking and high school grades
Must maintain a 3.0 GPA at Ramapo College
Acceptance not contingent on GRE scores
Three plus four option available

Chiropractic
Three years plus ten trimesters (three years, four months)
Total time: Six years, 4 months
Last year of college is first year of DC program at NYCC
Minimum Ramapo College GPA: 2.5

Optometry
Three years plus four year program
Total time:  Seven years
Last year of college is first year of OD program at SUNY-Optometry
Admission limited to excellent high school students
Minimum SAT (math and reading combined) of 1300, with a minimum of 670 in Math
Top 10% in high school class
High School average of at least 93
Must maintain minimal 3.3 GPA at Ramapo College
Minimum OAT score of 330 in each category

Dentistry
Three plus and four year programs
Total time: Seven years
Last year of college is first year at either UMDNJ or NYU
Admission limited to excellent students.
DAT scores are “acceptable”

NYU Requirements
Excellent SAT scores
Ramapo College minimum GPA of 3.5
No grade of D or F in sciences

UMDNJ Requirements
Three plus four program:
Top 10% high school ranking
1250 SAT
Ramapo College minimum GPA of 3.5
Four plus four program for special admits:
Top 10% high school ranking
1000 SAT
Ramapo College minimum GPA of 3.3

Podiatric Medicine
Three years plus four year program
Total time: Seven years
Last year of college is first year of DPM program at NYCPM
Minimum Ramapo GPA of 3.0
Satisfactory MCAT’s or DAT’s required

Medicine
Four years at Ramapo College (Bachelor’s Degree) and four years at UMDNJ-SOM
Total time: Eight years
Minimum Ramapo GPA of 3.5
Satisfactory MCAT’s required

Note that successful participation in these articulation programs requires planning and proper advisement. The science curriculum is sequential. The three years at Ramapo will be intense. However students admitted into these programs by the participating partner institution can save a year and enter their professional schools early. Students may also choose to defer entry and complete their four years and earn their Bachelors degree at Ramapo in the traditional fashion before entering professional school.

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Q: How do I decide which career path and which program is right for me?

A: The program that is best for you is to some extent dependent on your personal preference and your academic strengths and interests. You can learn more about your choices by becoming involved in the Ramapo College Pre-Health Club and attending meetings and participating in club activities.

Q: I want to be a medical doctor. What should I major in?

A: If you are planning on going to any allopathic or most osteopathic medical school, you are free to choose any major that interests you. Medical schools are happy to accept accomplished students in any fields, provided that they have done well academically in both their science and non-science courses. However, because most of the required courses for medical school are also required in the biology, biochemistry and integrated science majors, many pre-med students opt to choose these majors.

Q: What are the Ramapo courses that fulfill the medical school requirement?

A: Most American schools require the following:

BIOL 110/112 Fundamentals of Biology 1and 2 (with lab)
CHEM 110-113 Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and 2 (with lab)
PHYS 110/112 Fundamentals of Physics 1 and 2 (with lab)
CHEM 210-213 Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (with lab)
MATH 111/112 Calculus 1 and 2
CRWT 102 (was ENGL 180) Critical Reading and Writing II
LITR A course in Literature

Some schools may also require Biochemistry or other upper level courses. Check the admission requirements of the schools you are hoping to attend to make sure you know their specific requirements.

Q: I have AP credits for some of the courses. Am I exempt from taking the prerequisite courses?

A: Most medical schools will require that you have actual college courses in the disciplines that they require. For example, even if you scored a 5 in AP Biology and received Ramapo College credits for that class, you would still need to take one year of biology courses with labs to fulfill the medical school requirement. However, if you are a biology or biochemistry major, you will certainly be taking one year of biology courses with labs during your college career. In this way the AP credits you earned exempt you from the Fundamentals of Biology course and give you the time you might need for other activities, such as volunteering at a hospital.

Q: Do I need to volunteer at a hospital if I want to go to medical school?

A: No, volunteering is not a requirement. However, it is strongly recommended. The admissions committees at the medical schools are much happier accepting students who have demonstrated by their choice of actions that they are seriously committed to a career in medicine. Spending significant time in a medical setting, e.g., working with a volunteer ambulance crew, volunteering in a nursing home, or transporting patients in an emergency room, allows you to gain the experience of being in a medical setting and helps you decide if this is really the right career choice for you.

Q: Do I have to do scientific research to get into medical school?

A: No. However, please realize that the competition for those coveted spots in medical school is fierce. The better your academic record, the more competitive your application package will be. Being involved in research and being included in the publication of the results testifies to your academic accomplishment and gives you something interesting to talk about at your interview as well.

If you are interested in applying to an M.D./Ph.D. program, however, research is essential. You need to demonstrate that you have the academic and technical skills that will make you an attractive candidate for these very selective programs.

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Q: What else do I need to do in order to apply to medical school?

A: Almost all American medical schools, both allopathic and osteopathic, require the MCAT exam, administered by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Traditionally it is recommended that you take the MCAT in the spring  of your junior year, after completing your prerequisite courses, so that you can submit your medical school applications during the summer. Many schools accept students on “rolling” admissions. This means if you wait until December to apply, even though the deadline is not past, there may not be any seats left for you. The earlier your application is submitted, the better your chances overall.

Q: How do I apply to medical school?

A: The medical school application process is a multi-step process and begins in the summer of your junior year (about fourteen months before you plan to start medical school). Almost all allopathic medical schools subscribe to the centralized application service, the American Medical College Application Service, AMCAS, run by AAMC.

To apply to osteopathic medical school, you need to use the centralized application service of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, AACOMAS.

• The applications (which are online) become available June 1st. You must submit your transcript, as well as a list of all the college and post-graduate courses that you have taken.
• Personal statement: You also will be asked to write about your school and work experiences and very importantly, to write a personal statement.
• Criminal Background Check; all applicants must submit a CBC. It is usually a good idea to have a preliminary check  in your junior year to make sure that there are no errors on the report that need to be corrected prior to your application. Any complications that hold up your application may have a significant effect.
•  At this time you will also select which medical schools you want your application to go to. Choose wisely, because you pay a fee according to how many schools you apply to. Do some research and carefully select the schools you apply to. (If your GPA and MCAT scores are low, applying only to top tier schools is not the wisest way to spend your money.)

After your selected schools receive your application (some may also wait for your MCAT scores), the schools* that are considering your application will send you an invitation to submit a secondary application and your references.

*Note: For most schools this is a selective step. Not everyone gets invited to send a secondary. Some larger schools simply send everyone a secondary, since they don’t have time to do a preliminary selection.
These secondary applications also will cost you. In other words, the more schools you apply to the more it costs. However, most students apply to about fifteen allopathic schools and five osteopathic schools.
You also need to submit the following to Dr. Bacon (preferably electronically) for each school that you are applying to:

a. whom the letter should be addressed to
b. addressee’s title
c. school address

This is so that your recommendation letters can be sent out in a timely fashion.

Students who have done very well academically and on their MCAT’s and who have strong recommendations then get invited for an interview. Try to schedule your interviews as early as possible to maximize your chances.

Q: What is the personal statement?

A: On your AMCAS application, you have space to submit a one-page personal statement. This is your opportunity to “sell” yourself to the admissions committee and let them know who you are and why they should consider your application. You should emphasize your strengths and what particular abilities you can contribute. You can include your achievements, work experiences, volunteer experiences and research. Try to make your essay interesting and a good representation of who you are.

If you are also applying to osteopathic medical schools, in your AACOMAS application you will need to demonstrate that you understand what osteopathic medicine is all about and why you are interested in that type of medical school. (You should arrange to meet with an osteopathic physician to learn about the profession before you apply.) Your personal statement for osteopathic schools must reflect why you are considering osteopathic medicine as well.

Be prepared to rewrite your essay many times as you strive to write the best possible essay. Show it to friends and family and to your English professor, and then consult Dr. Bacon before you submit your final version.

Q: How do I get recommendation letters?

A: Stop by Dr. Bacon’s office to pick up medical recommendation forms to submit to your references. We strongly suggest that you waive your right to examine your references so that the medical school feels that you are being honestly evaluated. Keeping this in mind, select your references carefully. Asking a professor for a reference if you were chronically late for class or late with assignments is not a smart choice. However, asking a professor of a class where you received a “B”, but the professor knows how you improved and what your strengths are, can be a very positive recommendation.

It is a good idea to start asking professors as soon as each semester  is over. Dr. Bacon will keep a growing file for you, and then by the end of junior year there will be a substantial number of references in your file.
You should seek references from the following.

At least:
1 biology professor
1 chemistry professor
1 physics professor
1 math professor
1 general studies professor
1 volunteer supervisor
1 medical setting reference
2 professors in your major

Q: What are medical schools looking for?

A: Admissions committees are composed of doctors who have graduated, school administrators, professors and medical students. They are looking for the qualities that you would want in a doctor who was treating your own family: Candidates who are smart (evidenced by strong GPA and MCAT scores), compassionate (evidenced by their experiences in college, volunteering, and giving back to the community), hard working, interesting and show maturity (assessed in your interviews).

The time to prepare for your medical school interview is when you walk into your first class at Ramapo College. Prepare for all your classes, get to know your professors, read extensively, get involved in college and community, and spend your leisure time wisely.