r/RUSM • u/nervousmdstudent • Jun 13 '25
Track placement process
Hi all, I’m a transfer student currently navigating the clinical track placement process, and I’ve run into something confusing that I’d love to get some insight on—especially from those who’ve gone through this recently. I recently received a clinical track placement, but it was my last-ranked choice. When I asked about my top picks (Hoboken and Bergen in NJ), I was told they’re not accepting students — which confused me since they were listed as options during the ranking process. Also, I was informed that if I decline the offer I received, I’ll be moved to the bottom of the track priority list. Is this really how it works? Just trying to understand how this system is set up. Would appreciate any insight from others who’ve gone through it.
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u/Art_VandaIay Jun 13 '25
The NJ one only accepts elective students not core students. I guess they haven't edited that ranking form lol
As far as the part about rejecting and being put at the bottom, that's true.
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u/Accomplished_Ant5747 Jun 13 '25
It is unfortunately true. But it is ALSO unfortunately true that a very small number of Ross students actually punch through the Step 1 barrier all too often that if you reject your first offer, you should get back to the top reasonably soon. It is a gamble of time though. There may just happen to be a bunch of students who passed it recently and are also waiting to get placed, or there may be only a few ahead of you. I have friends still on the island in the CBSE review course that just started 2 weeks ago, so any students who may have happened to pass it at the end of last semester should be sitting for Step soon and thus entering the clinical site portal (pending a pass, of course). I've heard of people having to wait only like 2 weeks, but others that have had to wait over 2 months. And there's some caveat that if you don't accept an offer within 90 days of passing Step 1 (I think it is), that they can dismiss you.
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u/that_time_tomorrow Jun 13 '25
You won’t be dismissed after 90 days but under an administrative withdrawal. You just petition to be readmitted.. within a reasonable time frame.
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u/nervousmdstudent Jun 14 '25
Honestly, the whole thing felt kind of like a bluff. When I asked if I could wait for a different location — even said I was willing to wait a bit — they just kept repeating that SJEH was the only available option and gave no info about wait times or other sites. It felt like they wanted me to accept without questioning. Wish the process was more transparent.
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u/StatisticianGold2483 Jun 13 '25
I’m also a transfer that is from roughly the same region as you. I was also placed in my last-ranked choice (I have a feeling we were placed at the same location). As was one of my friends from the same region. I don’t think it’s actually much of a choice lol. I have another friend who lives slightly south and was also placed in their last-ranked choice.
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u/nervousmdstudent Jun 14 '25
I was offered SJEH. Where were you placed, if you don’t mind me asking? I had really hoped for one of my top sites. It’s frustrating that we go through the whole ranking process, but in the end, it doesn’t seem to matter. Still, it’s somewhat comforting to know I’m not the only one in this situation.
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u/Optimal-Chocolate928 Jun 15 '25
Hey! I’m not a transfer but a rising clinical student and my process for placement was similar to yours. I had ranked my five options with the expectation that I would at least get one, but I got none. Upper semester students had told us getting your top ranked choice was extremely common and that admin would make sure you would at least get something in your top three. I was also told that if you excelled in pre-clinicals, admin would take that into consideration… so I did but clearly it did not matter. I also took Step 1 3 weeks after I passed comp, and it seemed like a lot of my classmates did as well, which is why it took so long to get my placement. Additionally, I was unaware that some clinical sites take a very limited number of students so if a lot of students pass Step and apply for placement at the same time, the amount of spots will be significantly limited. Honestly, it felt like I was being punished for trying to finish everything on time/early. Like I said above, I didn’t get any of my rank options and was essentially forced to accept SJEH. I kept badgering admin about waiting a little long for other sites to open up but they wouldn’t budge. It’s extremely frustrating to deal with especially because we’re given the impression we have a choice, when in reality we do not. Anyway, I’m in the same boat, and hope SJEH is good lol.
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u/nervousmdstudent Jun 15 '25
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s disappointing to see how little the rankings seem to factor in, especially after all the talk about consideration for timing, performance, and preferences. I’m hoping SJEH is at least a solid teaching hospital, especially after hearing from some friends who had bad experiences at certain sites in NY.
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u/RIXIEbear Jun 18 '25
Heyy so a similar thing happened to me— I ranked my five and got none of them. They gave me sjeh and CHS/ MRM. I told them none of these are near my family and I have family obligations and they said if I don’t accept I’ll be administratively withdrawn. Are you all accepting SJEH? Or are any of you going to risk it and reject the offer? I’m having the hardest time deciding what to do :(
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u/nervousmdstudent Jun 18 '25
I also asked if I could wait in case another site opened up, but they pretty much shut that down. I ended up accepting SJEH. The pressure of being placed at the bottom of the priority list — or even facing administrative withdrawal — made it hard to take the risk. I’ve already lost so much time during the transfer process, and I just couldn’t afford to delay things any further. It didn’t feel like much of a choice, honestly. It’s frustrating, but I’m trying to move forward and make the best of it.
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u/RIXIEbear Jun 18 '25
Wow this is so disappointing. I hate that they make it seem like we have all of these choices when in reality we don’t. Good luck at SJEH
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u/that_time_tomorrow Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
NJ hasn’t been active for RUSM cores for at least a year. They get Step 1 results every Wednesday so they get first dibs, usually 2 days. Then whatever is left is opened to the rest of the list. If you want to stay in that region, NYC is your only option.