Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research projects in biology and chemistry labs with faculty mentorship
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Hollins University is a private liberal arts college that provides a supportive environment for students pursuing pre-medical studies. While it does not have dedicated health science majors, students can complete all standard pre-med prerequisites and benefit from close faculty mentorship. The university’s small size allows for personalized attention, helping students tailor their coursework and extracurriculars to meet medical school requirements.
Hollins University offers a solid foundation for pre-med students, emphasizing broad scientific coursework and personalized advising to prepare for medical school applications.
Pre-Med Strength
6.8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Hollins 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 Roanoke
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research projects in biology and chemistry labs with faculty mentorship
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Hollins 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 Hollins 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
Collaborative studies focusing on environmental science and health-related topics
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 Roanoke, VA.
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
LewisGale Medical Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Roanoke Community 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
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 and Wellness 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 Hollins 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 Roanoke
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
- Focus on gaining hands-on clinical experience early through volunteering at nearby hospitals to strengthen your medical school application.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Hollins 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 Hollins 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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