How to Get into Harvard Medical School: The Ultimate Guide for 2024-2025

‍

Worldwide renowned for its excellence in medical education and research, Harvard Medical School (HMS) is a dream destination for many aspiring doctors. In this post, we'll explore everything you need to know to craft a compelling application.

We’ll share:

• An overview of Harvard Medical School’s curriculum for MD students
• Tuition fees 
• Required premed courses, GPA, and MCAT
• Current admission rates
• How to write your HMS admission essay
• Letter of recommendation guidelines
• HMS eligibility restrictions
• Application timeline

Without further ado, let’s get started.

An Overview of Harvard Medical School’s Curriculum for MD Students

The MD program at Harvard Medical School is renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum, comprehensive clinical training, and rich research opportunities. 

The first two years of the curriculum are known as the pre-clinical years, with two tracks to choose from:

• Pathways - This innovative curriculum emphasizes active, case-based learning and early clinical experience. It integrates basic science education with clinical medicine, focusing on the development of critical thinking and clinical skills.
• Health Sciences and Technology (HST) - Jointly offered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this program is ideal for students with a strong interest in the intersection of science, medicine, and engineering. It provides a more in-depth focus on quantitative, scientific, and technological aspects of medicine.

On average, 80% of MD students are enrolled in the Pathways program, while 20% choose the HST program.

In years three and four, the clinical training consists of:

• Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) - Typically in the third year, students engage in core clinical clerkships in various specialties. This hands-on training takes place at HMS-affiliated hospitals and health centers, exposing students to a diverse patient population and a variety of medical conditions.
• Advanced Experiences - During their fourth year, students have the opportunity to delve deeper into their areas of interest through advanced electives, sub-internships, and research projects.

Moreover, for those interested in a career combining medicine and research, the MD-PhD program prepares students for careers as physician-scientists. This dual-degree program is typically completed in eight years and involves both medical education and intensive scientific training.

Harvard Medical School Tuition Fees and Scholarships

For the academic year 2023-2024, the tuition fees at Harvard Medical School are as follows:

• Tuition - $69,300
• Mandatory Fees - $1,480
• Health Insurance Fee - $4,120
• Loan Fees - $269
• Living Expenses - $33,556

With all the mentioned fees included, the total cost of attendance comes to $108,725.

Financial Aid

Scholarships played a significant role in student support for the class of 2027. A substantial 71% of students benefited from financial aid, with the average annual scholarship totaling $56,716. The scholarship awards ranged widely, extending from $2,153 to as much as $96,091.

How Hard Is It To Get Into Harvard Medical School?

Harvard Medical School admissions are highly competitive. Harvard seeks to enroll students who can demonstrate academic excellence, a solid scientific background, and a strong commitment to medicine.

There are several key aspects of HMS admissions, including:

• Taking prerequisite courses
• Taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) 
• A strong undergraduate GPA, especially in science courses
• Submitting a secondary application
• Letters of recommendation
• Admission interviews
• Personal statement and essays that articulate your motivation for pursuing medicine

In addition, the following aspects are desirable but not mandatory:

• Extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership, service, and commitment to medicine
• Research and clinical experience

Plus, HMS values diverse backgrounds and perspectives in its student body and aims to create an inclusive environment. It’s worth mentioning that HMS doesn’t have an early decision program or a rolling admissions policy. All admissions decisions are sent out on the same date in early March. 

Required Premed Courses at HMS

The prerequisite courses required for admission to Harvard Medical School include:

• Behavioral Sciences - Students are encouraged to take courses in subjects like psychology and sociology.
• Biology - Students must have completed one year of biology with lab experience, focusing on cellular and molecular aspects. AP credits are not accepted, but you can meet this requirement by taking upper-level biology courses.
• Chemistry/Biochemistry - Students must take two years covering inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. It’s also necessary to have lab experience.
• Physics - You must take one year of physics. Lab experience isn’t mandatory but is desirable. If you want to take the HST program, HMS strongly encourages taking calculus-based physics.
• Math - If you want to take the Pathways program, HMS encourages taking one year of math, including calculus and statistics (preferably biostatistics). Moreover, HST applicants should have upper-level mathematics coursework.
• Writing - Students must complete one year of coursework featuring expository writing, with an emphasis on analytical and writing skills. This requirement doesn’t accept AP credits.
  
  

You can fulfill laboratory experience in biology and chemistry through active participation in faculty-mentored research. The completion of these prerequisites isn’t mandatory for submitting your application, but you must complete them before matriculation.

Harvard Medical School GPA, MCAT, GPA, and Admission Rate

The admissions process for the class of 2027 at Harvard Medical School was highly competitive. The school received a total of 6,986 applications, out of which 789 candidates were interviewed. Ultimately, only 222 applicants were admitted. For the class of 2027, Harvard Med’s acceptance rate was approximately 3.2%. The class eventually enrolled 164 students, including 15 in the MD-PhD program. Moreover, 58% of admitted students had a science major.

In terms of academic performance, admitted students had an MCAT average of 520.59, broken down into: 

• 130.24 for BBFL
• 129.08 for CARS
• 130.41 for CPBS
• 130.86 for PSBB

Furthermore, the average GPA of admitted students was 3.9.

How to Write Your HMS Essay

After completing your AMCAS application, you’ll need to write several secondary essays specifically for Harvard Medical School. These essays are crucial as they allow you to demonstrate how your background aligns with HMS, beyond what is conveyed in your general medical school personal statement and the AMCAS Work and Activities section.

The secondary essay prompts for HMS require thoughtful and comprehensive responses.

For example:

"If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation." (4000 characters)

This prompt is relatively common in medical school applications, but HMS offers a generous 4000 characters (approximately 500 words) for your response. This space indicates that Harvard expects a detailed and reflective essay, not just a brief overview.

To effectively respond to this question, it's essential to present a clear narrative or thesis that outlines your activities post-graduation. Whether you've pursued careers within or outside of healthcare, Harvard expects you to articulate a purposeful journey. Describe any goals, plans, or questions that guided your choices after graduation, how these experiences have shaped you, and importantly, how they have prepared you to be a better physician. 

Harvard Medical School Letter of Recommendation Requirements and Guidelines

Applicants can submit up to six letters of recommendation to enter Harvard Medical School. Here are some guidelines you should follow:

• At least two letters should be from science professors with whom the applicant has taken classes.
• At least one letter should be from a non-science professor.
• Letters from all research supervisors are required for MD-PhD applicants and encouraged for MD applicants. You may exceed the six-letter limit if the additional letters are from research supervisors.
• Letters from employers are not required but are suggested if you've been working after school.
• If you’re using a premedical advisory committee evaluation packet, it counts as one letter towards the six-letter maximum.
  
  

Applicants should choose letters they believe will best support their application. It's important to note that while these guidelines are strongly recommended, they are not strict requirements.​

HMS Eligibility Restrictions

Harvard Medical School has several eligibility restrictions for its admissions process:

• Undergraduate Requirements- You are required to complete at least three years of college work and a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation. 
• Number of application cycles- You can only apply a maximum of two times. Bear in mind that incomplete application attempts count toward this two-time maximum.
• Matriculation at another medical school-  You won’t be eligible for admission if you have matriculated in any other medical school. This includes students who enter medical school directly from advanced secondary school in other countries.
• Completion of advanced degrees- You should apply in the year you plan to matriculate. Candidates pursuing advanced degrees that can’t be completed prior to matriculation will be rejected, except in cases where deferred admissions are granted.
• NIH Graduate Partnership Program (GPP)- Candidates participating in the NIH GPP are only considered in the year they intend to matriculate at HMS.
• Transfer or advanced standing students- HMS doesn’t accept transfer or advanced standing students into the MD Programs.

All required prerequisite coursework must also be completed before matriculation.

Are International Students Eligible to Apply to HMS?

Students from outside the United States or Canada must supplement their education with at least one year of college or university training in these countries. Foreign students without a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an institution in these countries are rarely accepted. Moreover, they must demonstrate fluent and nuanced proficiency in English.

HMS Application Timeline 

To be admitted to HMS, you must submit your application a year before your first academic year. The admissions timeline typically follows this schedule:

In the second quarter of the year:

• Early May: The AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) application opens.
• Early June: The AMCAS application becomes available for submission.
• Early July: The HMS secondary application opens and becomes available for submission.

In the third quarter of the year:

• September: The interview process begins.
• October 15: This is the final deadline to submit the AMCAS application.
• October 22: This is the final deadline for the HMS secondary application and all accompanying materials (such as letters of recommendation, MCAT scores, etc.).
• October 30: This is the deadline for AMCAS transcripts. 

First quarter of the following year:

• January: Interviews conclude.
• Early March: All admissions decisions are sent out via email on the same date, whether candidates are accepted, declined, or waitlisted. Financial aid materials are also sent to candidates who are accepted or waitlisted for admission. In this case, families should file tax returns, FAFSA, and Need Access applications as soon as possible.

Let’s Put You on the Path to Harvard Medical School

Embarking on the journey to Harvard Medical School can be complex, and it's important to demonstrate why you are an ideal candidate. This process often starts during your freshman year of college, and at Premed Catalyst, we are here to guide you through it.

Premed Catalyst is dedicated to getting premed students options to medical school. Our focus is on helping you build a strong foundation and narrative that stand out to enhance your medical school application.

We offer personalized mentorship and advice tailored to your unique journey. To join us, fill out a quick form (it'll take less than two minutes) and take the first step towards putting on the white coat!