Faculty Labs
Due to the fully online nature of the university, students are encouraged to seek local research internships or virtual research projects at Pasadena-area institutions such as Caltech or nearby UCLA.
LimitedModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at University of the People
Pasadena, CA
University of the People, based in Pasadena, CA, is a private nonprofit institution offering accessible, tuition-free degree programs online. Although it does not offer traditional health science degrees, pre-med students can complete foundational coursework remotely and prepare for medical school applications with a focus on core science prerequisites.
While University of the People does not publish specific pre-med success statistics, its flexible online model can support motivated students in completing essential prerequisites for medical school preparation.
Pre-Med Strength
6.4/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose of the People 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 Pasadena
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through due to the fully online nature of the university, students are encouraged to seek local research internships or virtual research projects at pasadena-area institutions such as caltech or nearby ucla
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to of the People 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 University of the People.
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 Pasadena, CA.
Huntington Hospital
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
California Hospital Medical Center
5–15 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
City of Hope National 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 Sciences Club
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Biology Interest 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 University of the People
Strengths
- Clinical Opportunities: Hospital and clinic access near campus
- Volunteer Opportunities: Community and clinical service pathways
- Access to multiple hospital systems near Pasadena
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 the university's flexible online platform to complete core prerequisites while gaining in-person clinical or research experiences locally.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at University of the People.
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 University of the People 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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