Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research projects in biology and health sciences with faculty
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN
Concordia University-Saint Paul provides a supportive environment for pre-med students, with strong programs in Biology & Life Sciences, Health Sciences, and Nursing. Located in the Twin Cities area, students benefit from access to diverse clinical and research opportunities to strengthen their medical school applications.
Concordia University-Saint Paul offers a solid foundation in the sciences and health fields, preparing pre-med students well for medical school applications through a combination of coursework and practical experiences.
Pre-Med Strength
7.2/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Concordia -Saint Paul For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Life sciences programs including Biology & Life Sciences
- Access to 4+ hospital systems near Saint Paul
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research projects in biology and health sciences with faculty
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Concordia -Saint Paul 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 Concordia University-Saint Paul.
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 local medical and biotechnology institutions in Saint Paul and Minneapolis
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 Saint Paul, MN.
Regions Hospital
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
HealthPartners St. Paul Clinic
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
United Hospital (Allina Health)
15–30 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Limited
Hennepin Healthcare
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
Health Sciences Club
Membership: National pre-health honor society recognition
Leadership: Chapter officers and service project leads
Networking: Inter-chapter and national pre-med network
Nursing Student Association
Membership: Sustained community health volunteering
Leadership: Trip leaders and chapter presidents
Networking: Non-clinical service narratives for AMCAS
AI Assessment
Pre-Med Fit at Concordia University-Saint Paul
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 Saint Paul
Challenges
- Research may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers
- STEM Resources 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
- Focus on completing core science prerequisites early to allow ample time for clinical experience and research later in your undergraduate career.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Concordia University-Saint Paul.
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 Concordia University-Saint Paul 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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