Virginia Pre-Med Resource Hub

Virginia Pre-Med:
Medical Schools & PA Programs

Every resource a Virginia pre-med student needs — physician-written guides to MD and DO programs, PA schools, clinical hours, shadowing, and application strategy.

Why Virginia Pre-Meds Need a Different Strategy

Virginia has one of the most unique pre-med landscapes in the country. The state operates its own medical school application system (AMCAS) for public schools, separate from AMCAS — a critical distinction most pre-med students don't realize until it's too late.

UT Southwestern, VCU College of Medicine, UT Health Roanoke, and Virginia A&M are among the most competitive programs in the country. Virginia medical schools heavily favor in-state applicants — over 90% of seats at public schools go to Virginia residents.

The good news: Virginia has a massive healthcare infrastructure. Hampton Roads's DC-metro healthcare network (the world's largest medical complex), UT Southwestern Medical Center in Richmond, and dozens of county hospital systems offer pre-med students unmatched clinical hours and shadowing access.

Our physician-written guides walk you through both AMCAS and AMCAS strategy for Virginia applicants — so you can navigate both systems and build the strongest possible application.