Faculty Labs
Undergraduate research with faculty in biology and chemistry departments
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at The University of the South
Sewanee, TN
The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee offers a distinctive liberal arts education that encourages critical thinking and a broad scientific foundation, ideal for pre-med students. While it does not have dedicated health science degrees, students can complete all standard pre-med prerequisites and benefit from personalized advising to prepare for medical school applications.
Students at The University of the South are well-prepared for medical school through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum and strong advising, though acceptance ultimately depends on individual performance and extracurricular engagement.
Pre-Med Strength
6.8/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose The of the South For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- Strong life sciences pipeline (13% bio/health degrees)
- Access to 3+ hospital systems near Sewanee
- Active pre-health community with 4+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through undergraduate research with faculty in biology and chemistry departments
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to The of the South 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 University of the South.
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
Summer research programs through regional partnerships
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 Sewanee, TN.
Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga, TN)
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (Nashville, TN)
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Southern Tennessee Regional Health System (Winchester
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
Chemistry Club
Membership: National pre-health honor society recognition
Leadership: Chapter officers and service project leads
Networking: Inter-chapter and national pre-med network
Health Careers Club
Membership: Sustained community health volunteering
Leadership: Trip leaders and chapter presidents
Networking: Non-clinical service narratives for AMCAS
AI Assessment
Pre-Med Fit at The University of the South
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 Sewanee
- 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
- Leverage Sewanee’s small student body to build strong relationships with faculty for personalized letters of recommendation.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at The University of the South.
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 University of the South 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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