Faculty Labs
Collaborations with nearby institutions such as George Washington University and Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Strayer University-Virginia
Arlington, VA
Strayer University-Virginia in Arlington offers a flexible four-year undergraduate experience suited for adult learners and career changers interested in preparing for medical school. Although the school does not offer dedicated health sciences programs, students can complete essential pre-med coursework and supplement their education through local clinical and research opportunities in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
While Strayer University-Virginia has a lower overall graduation rate, motivated pre-med students can build a strong foundation by carefully selecting prerequisite courses and gaining clinical experience locally.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Strayer -Virginia 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 Arlington
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborations with nearby institutions such as george washington university and virginia tech’s northern virginia center
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Strayer -Virginia 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 Strayer University-Virginia.
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
Participation in community-based health research projects facilitated through Arlington’s public health departments
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 Arlington, VA.
Virginia Hospital Center (Arlington)
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Inova Fairfax Hospital (Falls Church)
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
MedStar Washington Hospital Center (Washington, D.C.)
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 and Science Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Community Service Organization
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 Strayer University-Virginia
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 Arlington
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
- Develop a personalized plan to complete all standard pre-med prerequisite courses through Strayer or partner institutions.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Strayer University-Virginia.
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 Strayer University-Virginia 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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