Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research in molecular biology and health sciences labs
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Franklin and Marshall College offers a rigorous liberal arts education that emphasizes critical thinking and scientific inquiry, ideal for pre-med students. With strong programs in Biology & Life Sciences, Health Sciences, and Nursing, students gain the essential knowledge and skills needed for medical school prerequisites and beyond.
Franklin and Marshall College provides a strong foundation in the sciences and humanities, preparing many students competitively for medical school with a supportive academic environment.
Pre-Med Strength
6.8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Franklin and Marshall For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Strong life sciences pipeline (15% bio/health degrees)
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Lancaster
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research in molecular biology and health sciences labs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Franklin and Marshall 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 Franklin and Marshall College.
Target GPA
3.7+
Target MCAT
510+
Clinical Hours
250+
Volunteer Hours
150+
Research Experience
1–2 years
Research Opportunities
Structured pathways from freshman exploration to competitive publications.
Summer Research Programs
Collaborative projects with faculty focusing on environmental health and human physiology
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 Lancaster, PA.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital
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
Biology Club
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 Franklin and Marshall 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 Lancaster
- Robust STEM and life sciences curriculum depth
Challenges
- Research 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
- Leverage Lancaster’s robust healthcare network for clinical shadowing and research to strengthen your medical school application.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Franklin and Marshall 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 Franklin and Marshall 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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