Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research projects in Health Sciences faculty labs focusing on public health and community wellness
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
Located in Hays, Kansas, Fort Hays State University provides a public four-year education with programs in Health Sciences and Nursing that align well with pre-medical studies. While the university does not have a dedicated pre-med major, students benefit from a broad science curriculum and opportunities to build a competitive medical school application through coursework and extracurriculars.
Fort Hays State University offers a solid foundation for pre-med students with accessible coursework and supportive health sciences programs, though applicants should be proactive given the competitive nature of medical school admissions.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Fort Hays State For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Structured biology and chemistry sequences for pre-med prerequisites
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Hays
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research projects in health sciences faculty labs focusing on public health and community wellness
- In-state tuition advantage for KS residents pursuing MD programs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Fort Hays State 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 Fort Hays State 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 regional agricultural research centers studying nutrition and health impacts
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 Hays, KS.
Hays Medical Center
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Salina Regional Health Center (approx. 70 miles east)
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Ascension Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita (approx. 120 miles southeast)
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
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
Psychology Club
Membership: Sustained community health volunteering
Leadership: Trip leaders and chapter presidents
Networking: Non-clinical service narratives for AMCAS
AI Assessment
Pre-Med Fit at Fort Hays State 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 Hays
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 excelling in core science prerequisites to strengthen your medical school application from a public regional university.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Fort Hays State 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 Fort Hays State 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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