Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. The single most universal prerequisite: essentially every MD and DO program asks for it, and it is the foundation the MCAT assumes.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. Take it early: organic chemistry, biochemistry, and most upper-division biology all sit behind it, so a late start pushes the whole sequence past your MCAT date.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab at most schools. A meaningful and growing minority accept one semester of organic plus one of biochemistry. Do not drop the second semester on that assumption until you have checked the schools you actually want.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester, lab rarely required. Roughly two thirds of schools require it outright and the MCAT tests it heavily, so treat it as required even where it technically is not, and take it before you sit the exam.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. Algebra-based is accepted almost everywhere; take the calculus-based sequence only if your major needs it or a target school names it.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Two semesters of English or writing-intensive coursework. Many schools accept writing-intensive courses from any department, but a few name English specifically. If your writing credits come from elsewhere, confirm before you count them.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Most schools with a math requirement accept statistics or calculus; statistics is the more widely accepted of the two and the more useful for reading clinical research, so the baseline tracks it here. If a target school names calculus, its own requirements will say so.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Required outright at a minority of schools (several of them highly selective) and accepted in place of statistics at most of the rest. Take it if calculus is already in your major's path.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. A minority of schools require it, but a quarter of the MCAT is psychological and social foundations: this is the cheapest points on the exam.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Same reasoning as psychology: required by fewer schools, tested directly on the MCAT.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Required by a small number of schools and a common way to fill the upper-division science coursework that strengthens a science GPA.

150+ hours

What RWJ does ask for is evidence rather than a total: "The Admissions Committee is looking for evidence of your exploration of the medical profession, passion for the profession, and service orientation. This evidence can take many forms." On format it is specific: "Virtual experiences are permitted; however, we expect applicants to have in-person experiences as well". A purely virtual record will not do. No hours figure is published.

50+ hours

Robert Wood Johnson says so plainly: "Shadowing is not and has not been required." Worth knowing before you spend a cycle chasing hours for this school specifically. Other schools on your list will still expect it.

150+ hours

Service with no medical angle. Committees are reading for a habit, not a total, so one commitment held for two years beats five one-off events.

100+ hours

Effectively expected at research-heavy MD programs and genuinely optional at many DO and community-focused schools. If research is not your path, put those hours into clinical work and say so clearly rather than padding a semester in a lab.

No published minimum

"Robert Wood Johnson Medical School requires three letters of recommendation (or a committee evaluation) and allows up to 10 letters." A Pre-medical Advisory Committee evaluation replaces the three individual letters entirely.

No published minimum

"The three letters should be academic or professional. We encourage applicants to choose a mix of letters and recommend that at least one letter be from a science faculty member." Recommended rather than required. RWJ adds that "applicants who have been out of school for some time may have difficulty securing recent academic letters and we welcome alternative relevant letters."