Faculty Labs
Students may seek internships or research collaborations at nearby medical centers or universities in the Des Moines metropolitan area.
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at La James International College-Johnston
Johnston, IA
La James International College-Johnston provides focused two-year programs in Health Sciences and Nursing that can serve as a stepping stone for students aiming to enter medical school. The college’s small enrollment enables personalized attention, although students should plan to complete upper-level pre-med prerequisites elsewhere. This institution is a practical starting point for foundational science education in the Johnston, Iowa area.
While specific medical school acceptance data is not available, La James International College-Johnston offers foundational health sciences coursework suited for students beginning their pre-med pathway.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose La James International -Johnston For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Life sciences programs including Health Sciences
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Johnston
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through students may seek internships or research collaborations at nearby medical centers or universities in the des moines metropolitan area
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to La James International -Johnston 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 La James International College-Johnston.
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
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 Johnston, IA.
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Broadlawns Medical Center - Des Moines
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
Health Sciences Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Nursing Student Association
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 La James International College-Johnston
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 Johnston
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 completing strong foundational science courses at La James before transferring to a four-year university to fulfill remaining pre-med requirements.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at La James International College-Johnston.
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 La James International College-Johnston 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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