Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research projects in biology and chemistry departments focusing on marine biology and environmental sciences
HighCompetitiveStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Old Dominion University provides a diverse and supportive environment for students pursuing pre-med studies. While ODU does not offer specialized health science degree programs, students can complete all standard pre-med prerequisites and engage with local medical communities to strengthen their preparation for medical school.
Old Dominion University offers a solid foundation for pre-med students, with accessible coursework and community resources that support readiness for medical school applications.
Pre-Med Strength
8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Old Dominion For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Major R1 research institution with extensive faculty labs
- Structured biology and chemistry sequences for pre-med prerequisites
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Norfolk
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research projects in biology and chemistry departments focusing on marine biology and environmental sciences
- In-state tuition advantage for VA residents pursuing MD programs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Old Dominion 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 Old Dominion 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
Collaborations with faculty researching infectious diseases and molecular biology
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.
MediumModerateStart: Junior Year
Clinical Opportunities Near Campus
Hospitals and health systems accessible from Norfolk, VA.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
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 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 Old Dominion University
Strengths
- Research: Major R1 research ecosystem with faculty labs
- Clinical Opportunities: Hospital and clinic access near campus
- Volunteer Opportunities: Community and clinical service pathways
- Strong research ecosystem for building a competitive AMCAS activity section
- Access to multiple hospital systems near Norfolk
Challenges
- Pre-med is inherently competitive — plan clinical and research depth early
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 building relationships with faculty involved in biomedical research to enhance your medical school application.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Old Dominion 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 Old Dominion 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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