Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research projects in biology and chemistry labs
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Augustana University
Sioux Falls, SD
Situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Augustana University provides a personalized liberal arts education with strong emphasis on the sciences essential for pre-med students. Although it does not have dedicated pre-med majors, students can complete all necessary prerequisite coursework while benefiting from small class sizes and close faculty mentorship. The university’s location near a growing healthcare hub offers practical exposure to clinical settings.
Augustana University offers a solid foundation for pre-med students, with a curriculum designed to prepare them for medical school applications and success in rigorous science coursework.
Pre-Med Strength
6.8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Augustana For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Strong life sciences pipeline (14.8% bio/health degrees)
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Sioux Falls
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research projects in biology and chemistry labs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Augustana students
4-Year Plan
Pre-Med Roadmap
Year-by-year milestones from freshman year through application cycle.
- General Biology
- General Chemistry
- Join Pre-Med Club
- Begin Volunteering
Your Pre-Med Journey
Track each phase in Pre-Med OS.
Successful Pre-Med Student Profile
Competitive targets for students at Augustana University.
Target GPA
3.5+
Target MCAT
505+
Clinical Hours
250+
Volunteer Hours
150+
Research Experience
1–2 years
Research Opportunities
Structured pathways from freshman exploration to competitive publications.
Summer Research Programs
Collaborations with faculty on health-related studies
MediumCompetitiveStart: Sophomore–Junior Year
NIH / Federal Opportunities
Competitive national programs — strong GPA and prior lab experience recommended.
LimitedCompetitiveStart: Junior Year
Clinical Research
Hospital-affiliated clinical studies and patient-oriented research near campus.
LimitedModerateStart: Junior Year
Clinical Opportunities Near Campus
Hospitals and health systems accessible from Sioux Falls, SD.
Sanford Health
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Sioux Falls VA Health Care System
15–30 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Limited
Pre-Health Student Organizations
Build leadership, service, and networking depth for AMCAS.
Pre-Med Society
Membership: MCAT study groups, guest physician panels, application workshops
Leadership: Officer roles in programming and outreach
Networking: Peer mentors and alumni physician connections
Biology Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Chemistry Club
Membership: National pre-health honor society recognition
Leadership: Chapter officers and service project leads
Networking: Inter-chapter and national pre-med network
AI Assessment
Pre-Med Fit at Augustana University
Strengths
- Clinical Opportunities: Hospital and clinic access near campus
- Advising: Pre-health advising and peer mentor networks
- Volunteer Opportunities: Community and clinical service pathways
- Access to multiple hospital systems near Sioux Falls
- Robust STEM and life sciences curriculum depth
Challenges
- Research may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers
Recommended Strategy
- Join research or a structured lab by sophomore year
- Begin sustained clinical volunteering freshman or sophomore year
- Complete MCAT prep with a diagnostic by spring junior year
- Build strong physician and science faculty recommendations over 2+ semesters
- Leverage the proximity to Sioux Falls’ major hospitals for internships and shadowing experiences early in your undergraduate career.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Augustana University.
Enter at least one metric above to see your estimated readiness score.
Track Progress In Pre-Med OSStart Your Pre-Med Journey
Build your personalized plan for Augustana University with GPA tracking, MCAT prep, and medical school match tools.
- GPA Tracking
- MCAT Planner
- Clinical Hours Tracker
- Volunteer Tracker
- Research Portfolio
- Medical School Match
- Application Timeline
- AI Advisor
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