Pre-Med Planning Guide

Pre-Med at Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy

Joliet, IL

Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy is a private for-profit institution in Joliet, IL, specializing in cosmetology education. It does not offer traditional pre-med or science degree programs, so students planning to pursue medical school will need to complete standard prerequisite courses at other colleges or universities. The academy’s small enrollment and focused curriculum mean it is not designed for pre-med preparation.

While this academy focuses on cosmetology training, students interested in pre-med pathways should seek additional coursework elsewhere to meet medical school prerequisites.

Pre-Med Strength

6.4/10

  • Research
  • Clinical Opportunities
  • Advising
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • STEM Resources

Why Students Choose Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy 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 Joliet
  • Active pre-health community with 2+ student organizations
  • Undergraduate research through local universities such as the university of st. francis or joliet junior college may offer undergraduate research in biology and chemistry relevant to pre-med students
  • Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy 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 Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy.

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.

Faculty Labs

Local universities such as the University of St. Francis or Joliet Junior College may offer undergraduate research in biology and chemistry relevant to pre-med students.

LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year

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 Joliet, IL.

Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center

On campus / < 5 mi

Volunteer

High

Shadowing

High

Research

High

Silver Cross Hospital

5–15 mi

Volunteer

Medium

Shadowing

Medium

Research

Medium

AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet

15–30 mi

Volunteer

High

Shadowing

High

Research

High

Pre-Health Student Organizations

Build leadership, service, and networking depth for AMCAS.

Pre-Med Society or Health Sciences Clubs at nearby colleges

Membership: MCAT study groups, guest physician panels, application workshops

Leadership: Officer roles in programming and outreach

Networking: Peer mentors and alumni physician connections

Community volunteer groups focusing on healthcare outreach

Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure

Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains

Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators

AI Assessment

Pre-Med Fit at Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy

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 Joliet

Challenges

  • Research may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers
  • STEM Resources may require extra initiative compared to R1 peers

Recommended Strategy

  1. Join research or a structured lab by sophomore year
  2. Begin sustained clinical volunteering freshman or sophomore year
  3. Complete MCAT prep with a diagnostic by spring junior year
  4. Build strong physician and science faculty recommendations over 2+ semesters
  5. Students interested in medical careers should plan to enroll in a community college or university offering full pre-med curricula alongside cosmetology training if desired.

How Ready Are You For Medical School?

Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy.

Enter at least one metric above to see your estimated readiness score.

Track Progress In Pre-Med OS

Start Your Pre-Med Journey

Build your personalized plan for Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy 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
View full Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy college profile

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