Faculty Labs
Collaborative research projects through partnerships with local universities such as the University of Washington
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Highline College
Des Moines, WA
Located in Des Moines, Washington, Highline College is a public four-year institution known for accessible education and affordable tuition. While it does not offer specialized pre-med or health science degree programs, it provides comprehensive coursework in biology, chemistry, and related sciences essential for pre-med preparation. Students often use Highline as a stepping stone to complete prerequisites before transferring to universities with medical programs.
Highline College offers a supportive foundation for pre-med students to complete their prerequisite coursework, preparing them for transfer to four-year institutions and medical school application.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Highline 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 Des Moines
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborative research projects through partnerships with local universities such as the university of washington
- In-state tuition advantage for WA residents pursuing MD programs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Highline 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 Highline 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
Participation in summer research internships at nearby institutions
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 Des Moines, WA.
Swedish Medical Center - First Hill, Seattle
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Harborview Medical Center, Seattle
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Highline Medical Center, Burien
15–30 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
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
Biology Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Chemistry Club
Membership: National pre-health honor society recognition
Leadership: Chapter officers and service project leads
Networking: Inter-chapter and national pre-med network
Health Careers 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 Highline 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 Des Moines
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 courses at Highline to build a strong academic record for transfer applications.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Highline 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 Highline 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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