Faculty Labs
Collaborate with healthcare professionals at Sentara Healthcare facilities on clinical research projects
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Sentara College of Health Sciences
Chesapeake, VA
Sentara College of Health Sciences, located in Chesapeake, VA, is a private nonprofit institution specializing in health sciences education. Although the college primarily offers nursing and allied health programs, pre-med students can leverage the college's strong clinical affiliations and healthcare environment to fulfill pre-med requirements and gain relevant experience. Students interested in medical school should plan to complete prerequisite coursework and seek out additional biology and chemistry opportunities either on campus or through nearby institutions.
While specific medical school acceptance data is not publicly available, Sentara College of Health Sciences offers a focused health sciences education that can prepare students well for medical school prerequisites and healthcare careers.
Pre-Med Strength
7.2/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Sentara of Health Sciences 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 Chesapeake
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborate with healthcare professionals at sentara healthcare facilities on clinical research projects
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Sentara of Health Sciences 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 Sentara College of Health Sciences.
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
Participate in observational studies related to nursing and patient care outcomes
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 Chesapeake, VA.
Sentara Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk
15–30 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
Health Sciences Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Community Outreach and Volunteer 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 Sentara College of Health Sciences
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 Chesapeake
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 Sentara's clinical partnerships to gain meaningful healthcare experience that strengthens medical school applications.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Sentara College of Health Sciences.
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 Sentara College of Health Sciences 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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