Fortis College-Richmond campus

Pre-Med Planning Guide

Pre-Med at Fortis College-Richmond

Richmond, VA

As a private for-profit two-year college in Richmond, VA, Fortis College-Richmond offers students the opportunity to complete essential prerequisite courses needed for medical school admission. While the college does not offer specific health science degree programs, it serves as a stepping stone for students aiming to transfer to universities with full pre-med curricula. Students should plan to continue their education at a four-year institution to fulfill advanced science and clinical experience requirements.

Fortis College-Richmond provides foundational coursework that can help students prepare for transfer to four-year institutions with established pre-med tracks, though its graduation rate indicates the importance of strong academic planning.

Pre-Med Strength

6.4/10

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

Why Students Choose Fortis -Richmond 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 Richmond
  • Active pre-health community with 2+ student organizations
  • Undergraduate research through while fortis college-richmond does not have formal research programs, students can seek summer research internships or volunteer positions at richmond-area universities such as virginia commonwealth university
  • Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Fortis -Richmond 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-Richmond.

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

While Fortis College-Richmond does not have formal research programs, students can seek summer research internships or volunteer positions at Richmond-area universities such as Virginia Commonwealth University.

LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year

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 Richmond, VA.

VCU Medical Center

On campus / < 5 mi

Volunteer

High

Shadowing

High

Research

High

Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center

5–15 mi

Volunteer

High

Shadowing

High

Research

High

McGuire Veterans Affairs 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 Club at transfer institutions

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 Interest Groups at local universities

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-Richmond

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 Richmond

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. Focus on completing all core science prerequisites with strong grades to facilitate a smooth transfer to a university with a robust pre-med program.

How Ready Are You For Medical School?

Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Fortis College-Richmond.

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 Fortis College-Richmond 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 Fortis College-Richmond college profile

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