FIRST (First Introduction to Resources, Skills and Training)

The FIRST program is a six-week summer program designed to acclimate students who have been accepted to NJMS by providing a rigorous, skills-oriented foundation for successful performance in the basic science curriculum of medical school. It is aimed at enhancing the intellectual and self-management skills of those students whose backgrounds may not have included the skills known to be effective in professional training or who have been out of the academic environment for some time.

The program uses a range of instructional techniques vital to the education of professionals, including: lecture, laboratory, conferences, tutorials, problem-based learning seminars and guided independent study sessions. Students receive feedback on their performance from the faculty via written and practical examinations and small group exercises. The program runs for four-weeks beginning in early June at NJMS. The program is taught by basic science and clinical faculty and medical students.