Bentley University campus

Pre-Med Planning Guide

Pre-Med at Bentley University

Waltham, MA

Bentley University, located in Waltham, MA, is primarily known for its business and technology programs but provides a rigorous curriculum that can accommodate pre-med students seeking essential science coursework. Students interested in medicine often supplement their studies with biology, chemistry, and related courses while leveraging the university's location near Boston’s renowned medical and research centers.

While Bentley University does not offer dedicated health science degrees, its strong foundational science courses and proximity to premier medical institutions support a solid pre-med preparation.

Pre-Med Strength

7.2/10

  • Research
  • Clinical Opportunities
  • Advising
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • STEM Resources

Why Students Choose Bentley For Pre-Med

University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.

  • Structured biology and chemistry sequences for pre-med prerequisites
  • Access to 4+ hospital systems near Waltham
  • Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
  • Undergraduate research through collaborative projects with nearby universities such as boston university and harvard medical school
  • Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Bentley 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 Bentley 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.

Faculty Labs

Collaborative projects with nearby universities such as Boston University and Harvard Medical School

LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year

Summer Research Programs

Internships and research assistant positions within Boston’s biomedical research community

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 Waltham, MA.

Massachusetts General Hospital

On campus / < 5 mi

Volunteer

Medium

Shadowing

Medium

Research

Medium

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

5–15 mi

Volunteer

Medium

Shadowing

Medium

Research

Medium

Newton-Wellesley Hospital

15–30 mi

Volunteer

Medium

Shadowing

Medium

Research

Limited

Boston Children’s Hospital

15–30 mi

Volunteer

High

Shadowing

High

Research

High

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

Health and Science Club

Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure

Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains

Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators

Community Service and Volunteer Groups

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 Bentley 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 Waltham

Challenges

  • Research may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers
  • STEM Resources may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers

Recommended Strategy

  1. Join research or a structured lab by sophomore year
  2. Begin sustained clinical volunteering freshman or sophomore year
  3. Complete MCAT prep with a diagnostic by spring junior year
  4. Build strong physician and science faculty recommendations over 2+ semesters
  5. Leverage Bentley’s strong quantitative and analytical training to excel in the MCAT’s data analysis sections.

How Ready Are You For Medical School?

Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Bentley University.

Enter at least one metric above to see your estimated readiness score.

Track Progress In Pre-Med OS

Start Your Pre-Med Journey

Build your personalized plan for Bentley 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
View full Bentley University college profile

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