Faculty Labs
Students interested in research should consider partnerships with Arizona State University or other Tempe-area institutions that offer biomedical research programs.
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Sessions College for Professional Design
Tempe, AZ
Sessions College for Professional Design is a private, for-profit institution focused primarily on design and digital arts education. It does not offer health science or biology degrees, so pre-med students will need to supplement their studies with coursework at nearby colleges or through transferable programs to complete medical school prerequisites.
While Sessions College does not offer traditional pre-med programs, motivated students can prepare for medical school by fulfilling prerequisite courses elsewhere and leveraging local resources in Tempe.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Sessions for Professional Design 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 Tempe
- Active pre-health community with 2+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through students interested in research should consider partnerships with arizona state university or other tempe-area institutions that offer biomedical research programs
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Sessions for Professional Design 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 Sessions College for Professional Design.
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
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 Tempe, AZ.
Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Mayo Clinic Hospital - Phoenix
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Tempe St. Luke's Hospital
15–30 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Limited
Pre-Health Student Organizations
Build leadership, service, and networking depth for AMCAS.
Pre-Med Study Groups (informal)
Membership: MCAT study groups, guest physician panels, application workshops
Leadership: Officer roles in programming and outreach
Networking: Peer mentors and alumni physician connections
Health and Science Clubs at nearby ASU
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 Sessions College for Professional Design
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 Tempe
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
- Consider enrolling in prerequisite science courses at community colleges or Arizona State University to build a strong foundation for medical school.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Sessions College for Professional Design.
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 Sessions College for Professional Design 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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