Faculty Labs
Collaborative projects with faculty in Biology & Life Sciences focusing on urban health and infectious diseases
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY
CUNY York College, located in Jamaica, NY, offers a range of health-related programs ideal for pre-med students, including Biology & Life Sciences, Health Sciences, and Nursing. The college's public status and affordable tuition make it an attractive option for students seeking a cost-effective pathway to medical careers. While the graduation rate is modest, students benefit from the college's proximity to major NYC medical centers for experiential learning.
York College provides a solid foundation in the sciences with accessible coursework and local clinical opportunities, supporting pre-med students in preparing for medical school.
Pre-Med Strength
7.2/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose CUNY York For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Life sciences programs including Biology & Life Sciences
- Access to 4+ hospital systems near Jamaica
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborative projects with faculty in biology & life sciences focusing on urban health and infectious diseases
- In-state tuition advantage for NY residents pursuing MD programs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to CUNY York 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 CUNY York College.
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
Summer research internships facilitated through CUNY-wide programs
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 Jamaica, NY.
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Queens Hospital Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens
15–30 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Limited
Mount Sinai Queens
15–30 mi
Volunteer
High
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
Health Sciences Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Nursing Student Association
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 CUNY York College
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 Jamaica
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
- Early engagement in research projects can enhance competitiveness for medical school applications.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at CUNY York College.
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 CUNY York College 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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