Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research projects in biology and environmental science labs
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Reed College
Portland, OR
Reed College in Portland, OR provides a strong foundation for pre-med students through its emphasis on critical thinking and interdisciplinary study. With a dedicated Biology & Life Sciences program and access to Portland’s rich medical community, students can build the scientific and analytical skills needed for medical careers.
Reed College offers a rigorous academic environment that prepares students well for medical school, though acceptance depends heavily on individual achievement and extracurricular engagement.
Pre-Med Strength
6.8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Reed For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Strong life sciences pipeline (16% bio/health degrees)
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Portland
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research projects in biology and environmental science labs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Reed 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 Reed 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
Collaborations with faculty on molecular biology and ecology studies
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 Portland, OR.
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Portland VA Medical Center
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
Health Outreach and Education Group
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 Reed 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 Portland
- Robust STEM and life sciences curriculum depth
Challenges
- Research 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
- Engage early with Portland’s medical community through volunteering and internships to strengthen your medical school applications.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Reed 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 Reed 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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