Faculty Labs
Students should seek research experiences by transferring to nearby four-year institutions or partnering with local medical centers after completing prerequisites.
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Fortis College-Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Fortis College-Norfolk is a private, for-profit two-year institution in Virginia offering career-focused programs. Although it does not have dedicated pre-med or health science degrees, students can complete essential prerequisite courses here to prepare for transfer to four-year universities or medical school post-bachelor's. The college’s small enrollment allows for personalized attention during these foundational studies.
While Fortis College-Norfolk offers foundational coursework, students should plan carefully to ensure competitive preparation for medical school.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Fortis -Norfolk 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 Norfolk
- Active pre-health community with 2+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through students should seek research experiences by transferring to nearby four-year institutions or partnering with local medical centers after completing prerequisites
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Fortis -Norfolk 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 Fortis College-Norfolk.
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
Apply to REU, hospital affiliate, or campus summer research fellowships.
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 Norfolk, VA.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center
15–30 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Pre-Health Student Organizations
Build leadership, service, and networking depth for AMCAS.
Pre-Med Society at nearby universities
Membership: MCAT study groups, guest physician panels, application workshops
Leadership: Officer roles in programming and outreach
Networking: Peer mentors and alumni physician connections
Health Science Clubs through transfer institutions
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
AI Assessment
Pre-Med Fit at Fortis College-Norfolk
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 Norfolk
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 prerequisite courses at Fortis to build a strong academic record for transfer applications.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Fortis College-Norfolk.
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 Fortis College-Norfolk 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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