Faculty Labs
Students may seek summer research internships or volunteer positions at nearby universities or medical centers to gain hands-on experience.
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Oakton College
Des Plaines, IL
Oakton College, a public two-year college in Des Plaines, IL, provides accessible pathways for students interested in health-related fields. With programs in Health Sciences and Nursing, Oakton supports students aiming to enter medical professions by offering essential coursework and transfer advising.
While Oakton College offers foundational health sciences and nursing programs, students should plan carefully to complete all pre-med prerequisites before transferring to a four-year institution.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Oakton 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 Plaines
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through students may seek summer research internships or volunteer positions at nearby universities or medical centers to gain hands-on experience
- In-state tuition advantage for IL residents pursuing MD programs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Oakton 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 Oakton 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
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 Des Plaines, IL.
Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
NorthShore University HealthSystem
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 Oakton 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 Plaines
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
- Leverage Oakton's affordable tuition to complete core science prerequisites before transferring to a four-year program with a dedicated pre-med track.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Oakton 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 Oakton 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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