Exceptional student? Laser focused on a medical career? Our seven-year medical and optometry programs were designed for students like you. Successful applicants enter the program as first-year TCNJ students, with guaranteed admission to our partner schools of medicine or optometry. A rigorous curriculum and expert guidance from dedicated program advisers keep students on track to transfer seamlessly into a four-year degree program in medicine or optometry after the junior year at TCNJ.
Students in our accelerated seven-year program are accepted into our partner medical school at the same time they matriculate into TCNJ—effectively, a 100% admission rate into medical school.
Looking to keep your options open? The seven-year program is not the only route to medical school. You can still take the more traditional path, applying to a medical school of your choice. These students receive personalized advisement on all aspects of preparation for medical school from the expert faculty members of our Medical Careers Advisory Committee. Over the past five years, between 60 and 65% of TCNJ students who applied in their senior year to medical school were accepted, significantly above the national average of 45%.
Our commitment, in the School of HSS, is to provide all students who are interested in pursuing medicine with the very best preparation for success in—not merely admission to—medical school.
Seven-Year Medical Program Options
Get accepted into medical school at the same time you matriculate into TCNJ in our accelerated, seven-year medical program. This joint-degree program offers outstanding high school seniors the opportunity for dual admission to both TCNJ and Rutgers’ New Jersey Medical School. Students spend three years at TCNJ pursuing an approved major in a science or non-science discipline. After their junior year at TCNJ, students transfer to New Jersey Medical School and complete their medical studies in four years. Successful candidates graduate with a BS or BA from TCNJ and an MD from New Jersey Medical School in seven years.
This accelerated medical program is highly selective. To apply, students must meet academic eligibility requirements, including a minimum SAT score of at least 1500 in critical reading and math and placement in the top 5% of their high school class. Applications must be made by December 1 of the senior year of high school for August admission to TCNJ; transfer students are not eligible for admission.
Learn more about this program.
HSS Majors
Students who wish to pursue the seven-year medical program must select one of these approved majors: