Faculty Labs
Collaborative research projects through partnerships with University of Notre Dame biology and chemistry departments
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, IN
Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana, offers a supportive private liberal arts environment ideal for pre-med students seeking a personalized education. Although it lacks dedicated biology or chemistry degree programs, students can complete all standard pre-med prerequisites and benefit from close proximity to the University of Notre Dame and regional medical facilities for research and clinical experience.
While Holy Cross College does not offer specific health science majors, its strong liberal arts foundation can effectively prepare motivated pre-med students with the right coursework and extracurricular engagement.
Pre-Med Strength
6.8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Holy Cross 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 Notre Dame
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborative research projects through partnerships with university of notre dame biology and chemistry departments
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross 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
Summer research internships at nearby South Bend medical centers and research institutes
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 Notre Dame, IN.
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
University of Notre Dame Health Clinic
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
Psychology Club
Membership: National pre-health honor society recognition
Leadership: Chapter officers and service project leads
Networking: Inter-chapter and national pre-med network
Community Health Volunteer Group
Membership: Sustained community health volunteering
Leadership: Trip leaders and chapter presidents
Networking: Non-clinical service narratives for AMCAS
AI Assessment
Pre-Med Fit at Holy Cross 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 Notre Dame
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
- Engage early with pre-med advisors to tailor your course schedule and extracurriculars to medical school expectations.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross 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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