Faculty Labs
Collaborations with Minneapolis-based healthcare organizations on public health projects
MediumModerateStart: Sophomore Year
Pre-Med Planning Guide
Pre-Med at Walden University
Minneapolis, MN
Located in Minneapolis, MN, Walden University offers strong programs in Health Sciences and Nursing, ideal for students aiming to build a pre-med foundation through coursework and professional healthcare exposure. While Walden does not have a dedicated pre-med track, students can fulfill essential medical school prerequisites and gain practical healthcare knowledge to support their medical school ambitions.
Walden University provides foundational health sciences and nursing programs that prepare students with essential knowledge for medical school prerequisites and healthcare careers, though it is not traditionally known as a major feeder school for MD programs.
Pre-Med Strength
7.6/10
- Research
- Clinical Opportunities
- Advising
- Volunteer Opportunities
- STEM Resources
Why Students Choose Walden For Pre-Med
University-specific pre-med advantages and pipeline signals.
- R3 research classification with undergraduate lab access
- Structured biology and chemistry sequences for pre-med prerequisites
- Access to 4+ hospital systems near Minneapolis
- Active pre-health community with 3+ student organizations
- Undergraduate research through collaborations with minneapolis-based healthcare organizations on public health projects
- Personalized planning tools in Pre-Med OS tailored to Walden 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 Walden University.
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
Health sciences research initiatives focused on community health and nursing practices
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.
MediumModerateStart: Junior Year
Clinical Opportunities Near Campus
Hospitals and health systems accessible from Minneapolis, MN.
Hennepin Healthcare
On campus / < 5 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
5–15 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Medium
Regions Hospital
15–30 mi
Volunteer
Medium
Shadowing
Medium
Research
Limited
University of Minnesota Medical Center
15–30 mi
Volunteer
High
Shadowing
High
Research
High
Pre-Health Student Organizations
Build leadership, service, and networking depth for AMCAS.
Pre-Health Club
Membership: MCAT study groups, guest physician panels, application workshops
Leadership: Officer roles in programming and outreach
Networking: Peer mentors and alumni physician connections
Nursing Student Association
Membership: Clinical volunteering coordination and health career exposure
Leadership: Event leads and volunteer site captains
Networking: Connections to hospital volunteer coordinators
Health Sciences 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 Walden University
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 Minneapolis
Challenges
- 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 Walden's strong nursing and health sciences programs to build a solid clinical and practical healthcare foundation before applying to medical school.
How Ready Are You For Medical School?
Estimate your readiness profile while planning at Walden University.
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 Walden University 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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