Harvard Medical School Acceptance Rate

There are many reasons why getting into Harvard Medical School (HMS) is a dream shared by a large number of premed students: the school’s prestige (it consistently ranks first in U.S. News medical school rankings), the school’s incredible array of clinical and research opportunities, and access to a strong personal and professional network. This article will discuss Harvard Medical School Acceptance Rate and more.

If you’re like the majority of medical school applicants, Harvard is a long shot at best. The numbers of matriculants are among the best, the admission rate is frighteningly low, and the institution has a peculiar aura about it that makes you question who exactly makes up this unique student body.

Tuition and scholarships at Harvard Medical School 

The first-year tuition at Harvard Medical School will be $66,284 in 2021–2022. The entire first-year cost of attendance is $99,416 when fees, insurance, and housing expenses are taken into account. 

While those figures are impressive, HMS also offers some of the best financial help in the country. Each year, over 73 percent of Harvard medical students receive financial help, and the class of 2020 finished with an average medical school debt of $106,877, which is significantly lower than the national average for both public and private medical schools. In 2020, the average scholarship award at Harvard Medical School was $51,841.

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Acceptance Rate at Harvard Medical School 

For the most recent 2019-2020 entering class, the Harvard Medical School acceptance rate was 3.3 percent. This figure does not change significantly from year to year. The following is a breakdown of the data: 

• Harvard received 6,815 applications for medical school. 
• Harvard conducted 948 interviews with medical schools. 
• Harvard accepted 227 applications, or 24% of those that were interviewed. 
• A total of 165 medical school matriculants were present. 
• The overall admittance rate at Harvard Medical School is 3.3 percent. 
• International and out-of-state students are accepted at Harvard. 

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Although it may seem self-evident, Harvard Medical School places a high weight on academic quality in applicants. If you want to go to Harvard, make sure you challenge yourself as much as possible in your undergraduate studies. 

When looking at Harvard’s acceptance statistics, keep in mind that the figures are averages! Not everyone who gets into Harvard has an A+ GPA and a perfect MCAT score! The data for accepted students is listed below.

MCAT Average at Harvard Medical School (2021) 

• 520 is the average MCAT score (range 513-525) 
• GPA at Harvard Medical School (2021) 
• 3.94 average GPA (range 3.74–4.0) 
• 3.94 average BCPM GPA (range 3.69–4.0) 

Letters of Recommendation from Harvard Requirement 

According to the Harvard Medical School website, applicants can submit up to six letters of recommendation, with the following details: 

• At least two (2) letters from science teachers with whom they have taken coursework are required. 
• A professor who is not in the sciences should write at least one (1) letter. 
• All applicants to the MD-PhD program, as well as applicants to the MD program, should provide letters from their research supervisors. 
• If the additional letters are from research supervisors, applicants may surpass the maximum of six (6) letters. 
• If applicants want to add more letters of recommendation to their premedical advisory committee evaluation packet, they should count the packet as one (1) letter toward the maximum of six (6) letters. 
• Employer letters of recommendation are not required, although applicants who have been out of school and working should have a letter provided from their place of employment.

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Curriculum of Harvard Medical School 

The Pathways Program, which enrolls 135 students each year, is Harvard’s more traditional and primary medical school program. This is a case-based medical school curriculum with early clinical exposure and a research assignment at the end. 

Furthermore, Harvard has a collaborative program with MIT called the Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program, which is a demanding curriculum created exclusively for individuals with an interest in quantitative research and enrolls 30 students each year.

Getting into Harvard Medical School 

When applying to Harvard Medical School or any other highly competitive medical school, the key is to have deep, long-standing, and meaningful involvement in which you have made major contributions and excelled. In the end, Harvard is seeking candidates who have the potential to become medical leaders. So, presuming you have the numbers to be considered for Harvard Medical School, where should you shine in order to stand out during the application process? 

Research 

Harvard’s first-year medical students have a whopping 99 percent research experience, making research a necessity for Harvard applications. Furthermore, the more advanced your research, the more likely you are to stand out during the admissions process. It’s a plus if you can demonstrate national or international recognition through publications or talks.

Volunteering in a medical or clinical setting or in the community 

To be competitive, we recommend substantial involvement in medically linked community work, work with various demographics, and work with underserved communities. 

Clinical experience/shadowing of a physician 

88 percent of students had shadowed a physician. As a result, obtaining as much exposure to various professionals in various medical environments will help you stand out. Despite the fact that Harvard is a research-oriented institution, they value primary care experience. 

Volunteering in the Community 

Finally, 81% of students participated in various sorts of community service.

Application and Timeline for Harvard Medical School 

So, how can you make yourself stand out during the application process? Make sure you include a thorough personal statement and job and activities section in your AMCAS application. You should also prioritize writing your Harvard secondary essays. Interestingly, Harvard’s secondary essay questions aren’t very precise, asking you to write about what you’ve done if you’ve already graduated and to explain any significant components of your background and identity that aren’t addressed elsewhere in your application. 

• June is the deadline for submitting an AMCAS application. 
• Harvard begins sending out secondary applications in July. 
• September is the month of interviews. Begin 
• AMCAS deadline is October 15th. 
• The deadline for final additional documents is October 22. 
• AMCAS transcript deadline is October 31. 
• Interviews end in January. 
• All admissions choices are revealed in early March. 
• April 30: Admitted applicants who expect to enroll at HMS must select the “Plan to Enroll” option in their AMCAS application Choose Your Medical School feature.

Admissions requirements for Harvard Medical School 

Coursework: Prior to enrollment at Harvard, you must complete the following prerequisites: 

• One year in the lab in biology. Cellular and molecular biology should be included. 
• Chemistry: I worked in the lab for two years. Inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology should all be covered. 
• One year of physics. Although a lab is desired, it is not essential. (Applicants for the HST should take additional calculus-based physics courses.) 
• One year of mathematics, including calculus and statistics. (Applicants for the HST should study additional math courses like differential equations and linear algebra.) 
• One year of writing 
• Coursework in behavioral sciences such as psychology or sociology is also strongly encouraged at Harvard. In order to be a successful applicant, they also propose that you take courses in literature, languages, arts, humanities, and social sciences. 

Extracurricular activities: In many aspects, Harvard Medical School’s extracurricular activities are similar to those required or sought by other medical schools. Given the tough application pool and Harvard’s focus on attracting the top medical students, it’s critical to show a multi-year commitment to the activities that most interest you, as well as high success levels. 

To put it another way, ticking a few boxes—shadowing, patient exposure, community service, and research—isn’t enough. To build a clear theme and help your application stand out, you’ll want to dive deep into a few connected topics. 

According to MSAR, 99 percent of matriculants did research prior to enrollment, so while the Harvard Med School website “encourages” research, it is virtually a must. 

Patient exposure and shadowing: During their premedical years, the great majority of matriculants shadow physicians and obtain patient exposure experiences. 

Before being admitted, most Harvard medical students engage in meaningful and long-term community engagement and volunteer work. 

Letters of recommendation: HMS permits you to submit up to six letters of recommendation, but you must adhere to the following guidelines: 

At least two letters from professors of science (i.e., with whom you took classes for a letter grade) at least one non-science professor’s letter (i.e., with whom you took a graded class).

Your school’s committee letter/packet (if applicable) counts as one of your six-letter allowance.

Interviews 

Applicants will have two typical one-on-one interviews in addition to an orientation, lunch, and tour and class observation opportunities. There will be four interviews for students applying to the HST and MD/PhD programs. According to our students’ accounts, Harvard interviews are relaxed and chatty. Typically, interviewers will inquire about your background, experiences, and motivations. Indeed, one of our candidates who just interviewed at Harvard claimed it was the most delightful interview experience he has had thus far. 

What Is Harvard Medical School’s Undergraduate Acceptance Rate? 

The Harvard Medical School does not have a set admittance rate for undergraduates. It is crucial to note, however, that applicants who majored in science are not given any favor over those who majored in other fields. 

In general, HMS thinks that students can succeed in medical school regardless of their undergraduate major if they have had enough science preparation. As a result, students are encouraged to pursue a balanced, liberal education rather than specialized expertise. 

Furthermore, Harvard Medical School seeks individuals with diverse interests and abilities, independent of their undergraduate university. Ivy League applicants, on the other hand, do not have an admissions edge. As a result, students should enroll in an undergraduate college that will both academically and personally challenge them. 

What Is the Graduate Acceptance Rate at Harvard Medical School? 

Over 600 applications are received each year for the Harvard Medical School MD-PhD Program. Interview candidates are chosen primarily on the basis of a thorough examination of the application and supporting documentation. In addition, significant research and a strong academic background are required for selection. Unfortunately, some applicants may be asked to interview for medical school but not for the MD-PhD Program. 

Because admittance to the MD-PhD Program is extremely competitive, approximately 65-75 applicants are eventually contacted for interviews. The majority of those chosen for interviews had outstanding MCAT scores and strong letters of recommendation. 

The institution acknowledges an average of 12-14 individuals per year for full funding by the National Institutes of Health’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Grant after conducting the interview. 

We can deduce from the above that the acceptance rate for Harvard Medical School graduates is 2%. That is, only roughly 12 applications out of 600 are accepted into the school. The Havard Medical School Graduate interview rate, on the other hand, is 10-12.5 percent. That is, only roughly 65-75 applications out of 600 are invited for an interview.

What Is Harvard Medical School’s Undergraduate Acceptance Rate? 

The Harvard Medical School does not have a set admittance rate for undergraduates. It is crucial to note, however, that applicants who majored in science are not given any favor over those who majored in other fields. 

In general, HMS thinks that students can succeed in medical school regardless of their undergraduate major if they have had enough science preparation. As a result, students are encouraged to pursue a balanced, liberal education rather than specialized expertise. 

Furthermore, Harvard Medical School seeks individuals with diverse interests and abilities, independent of their undergraduate university. Ivy League applicants, on the other hand, do not have an admissions edge. As a result, students should enroll in an undergraduate college that will both academically and personally challenge them. 

What Is the Graduate Acceptance Rate at Harvard Medical School? 

Over 600 applications are received each year for the Harvard Medical School MD-PhD Program. Interview candidates are chosen primarily on the basis of a thorough examination of the application and supporting documentation. In addition, significant research and a strong academic background are required for selection. Unfortunately, some applicants may be asked to interview for medical school but not for the MD-PhD Program. 

Because admittance to the MD-PhD Program is extremely competitive, approximately 65-75 applicants are eventually contacted for interviews. The majority of those chosen for interviews had outstanding MCAT scores and strong letters of recommendation. 

The institution acknowledges an average of 12-14 individuals per year for full funding by the National Institutes of Health’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Grant after conducting the interview. 

We can deduce from the above that the acceptance rate for Harvard Medical School graduates is 2%. That is, only roughly 12 applications out of 600 are accepted into the school. The Havard Medical School Graduate interview rate, on the other hand, is 10-12.5 percent. That is, only roughly 65-75 applications out of 600 are invited for an interview.

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