Faculty Labs
Health Sciences students can engage in applied research projects in collaboration with local healthcare providers and community health initiatives in Queens.
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Plaza College
Forest Hills, NY
Located in Forest Hills, NY, Plaza College is a private four-year institution with strong offerings in Health Sciences and Nursing, ideal for students planning a pre-med track. While it does not have a dedicated biology or neuroscience department, its health-related programs provide essential coursework and practical experience relevant to medical school prerequisites.
Plaza College offers foundational pre-med preparation through its health-focused programs, supporting students aiming for medical school despite its competitive admission landscape.
Pre-Med Strength
7.2/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Plaza For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Structured biology and chemistry sequences for pre-med prerequisites
- Access to 4+ hospital systems near Forest Hills
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through health sciences students can engage in applied research projects in collaboration with local healthcare providers and community health initiatives in queens
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Plaza 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 Plaza College.
Target GPA
3.7+
Target MCAT
510+
Clinical Hours
250+
Volunteer Hours
150+
Research Experience
1–2 years
Research Opportunities
Structured pathways from freshman exploration to competitive publications.
Summer Research Programs
Opportunities exist to assist faculty in health outcomes research and nursing studies focusing on urban population health.
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 Forest Hills, NY.
Mount Sinai Queens
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
15–30 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Limited
Forest Hills 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
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 Plaza 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 Forest Hills
Challenges
- Research may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers
- STEM Resources may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers
- Competitive science coursework — prioritize science GPA 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 completing all core science prerequisites early to strengthen your medical school application.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Plaza 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 Plaza 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
Students Also Compare
Explore pre-med guides at similar universities.