Faculty Labs
Collaborate with local universities such as UCLA and USC for biomedical research projects
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at The Chicago School at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
The Chicago School at Los Angeles is a small private nonprofit institution primarily known for its psychology and behavioral sciences programs. Although it does not offer dedicated pre-med or traditional science degrees, motivated students can complete essential pre-med prerequisite courses through partnerships or nearby community colleges. The school's location in Los Angeles provides access to a rich healthcare landscape for clinical exposure and volunteer opportunities.
While The Chicago School at Los Angeles offers a focused private education, students should proactively seek supplemental science coursework and clinical experiences to prepare competitively for medical school.
Pre-Med Strength
7.2/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose The Chicago School at Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborate with local universities such as ucla and usc for biomedical research projects
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to The Chicago School at Los Angeles 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 The Chicago School at Los Angeles.
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 psychology and behavioral health studies affiliated with The Chicago School's faculty
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 Los Angeles, CA.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
UCLA Medical Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center
15–30 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles 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
Health and Wellness Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Psychology Student Association
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 The Chicago School at Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles
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
- Supplement your curriculum with prerequisite science courses through community colleges or university partnerships to meet medical school requirements.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at The Chicago School at Los Angeles.
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 The Chicago School at Los Angeles 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
Students Also Compare
Explore pre-med guides at similar universities.