Introduction
For most medical school applicants, getting into Harvard University Medical School (HMS), ranked #1 for research by US News and World Report is considered a lofty goal. In the 2024-2025 year, we have had more students interview with Harvard Medical School than in any other previous year! We know what it takes to earn your way into Harvard.
Gaining admission to Harvard Medical School represents a pinnacle achievement in medical education. While the process is highly selective, understanding the requirements, programs, and what the admissions committee values can help you build a strong application. This comprehensive guide explores Harvard Medical School’s unique programs, admissions data, and application components, helping you navigate everything from crafting compelling essays to preparing for interviews. We’ll examine both the Pathways and Health Sciences & Technology (HST) tracks, breaking down what makes each program distinctive and how to determine which might be right for you.
We will also offer insider tips regarding what it takes to get into Harvard Medical School based on our own former interviewers input and our students’ experiences and outcomes.
Harvard Medical School Requirements
If you are interested in applying to Harvard, it is important to know the medical school’s requirements for admission. Harvard is moving towards competency-based admissions and values interdisciplinary coursework which is prevalent in today’s undergraduate curriculums. That said, Harvard Medical School still requires or prefers to see certain courses:
- Chemistry/biochemistry with lab – two full years. Must include inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. AP credit can substitute one semester of chemistry but must be substituted with a higher level course.
- Biology with lab – full year. If college credit earned using AP coursework, must take a full year of higher level biology with lab.
- Math – full year. Harvard encourages one semester of calculus and one semester of statistics (biostatistics preferred). (HST applicants should take higher level math courses – differential equations/linear algebra)
- Physics – full year. Physics with with lab is preferred (HST applicants should take calculus-based physics). AP credits can be used for one semester but must be substituted with one upper level semester.
- Writing – full year (humanities or social sciences). AP credit not accepted.
- Behavioral science coursework is encouraged.
Beat nearly 7,000 applicants and gain acceptance to HMS
Harvard Medical School Acceptance Rate and Harvard Medical School Interview Rate
Harvard Medical School interviewed 11.3% of applicants last year. As you can see, simply getting an interview is a huge accomplishment!
The Harvard Medical School acceptance rate was 2.7% which reflects the most recent data available. This number does not vary much from year to year.
Here is the data broken down:
- Harvard received 6,986 medical school applications.
- Harvard conducted 789 medical school interviews.
- In the past, Harvard accepted 222 applicants or 26% of applicants interviewed.
- There were 164 medical school matriculants.
- The overall Harvard Medical School acceptance rate is 3.1%.
Harvard accepts international and out of state students.
It may seem obvious, but, Harvard medical school values and expects academic excellence in applicants. Therefore, if Harvard is your goal, be sure to challenge yourself in your undergraduate coursework as much as possible.
When reviewing Harvard’s acceptance data, realize that the numbers are averages! Not everyone who gets into Harvard has a perfect GPA and MCAT! Below is the data for accepted students.
Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Majors
- Biology, chemistry, math, engineering: 58%
- Social sciences: 20%
- Double major: 16%
- Humanities: 6%
Harvard Medical School Race/Ethnicity
- Underrepresented in Medicine: 24%
Harvard Medical School Gender Identity
- 56% Women
- 42% Men
- 2% Different Identity
Harvard Medical School Average MCAT
- Average MCAT Score – 520.59 (range 515-525)
RELATED ARTICLE: LEARN MORE ABOUT MCAT SCORES
Harvard Medical School Average GPA
- Average GPA – 3.9 (range 3.79 – 4.0)
- Average BCPM GPA – 3.95 (range 3.74 – 4.0)
Related Video: Medical School Admissions Statistics – Tips to get into Medical School 2023-2024
Harvard Letters of Recommendation Requirement
Harvard allows applicants to submit up to six letters of reference with the following specifics from Harvard Medical School’s website:
- At least two (2) letters should be from professors in the sciences with whom they have taken classes.
- At least one (1) letter should be written by a professor who is not in the sciences.
- We should receive letters from all research supervisors for applicants to the MD-PhD program as well as applicants to the MD program.
- Applicants may exceed the six (6)-letter maximum if the additional letters are from research supervisors.
- If applicants wish to supplement a premedical advisory committee evaluation packet with additional letters of recommendation, they should count the packet as one (1) letter toward the six (6)-letter maximum.
- We do not require letters of recommendation from employers, but if applicants have been out of school and working they should have a letter sent from their place of employment.
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Harvard Medical School Curriculum
Harvard’s more traditional and primary medical school curriculum is called the Pathways Program in which 135 students enroll annually. This is a case-based medical school curriculum with early clinical exposure that culminates in a scholarly project.
In addition, Harvard has a joint program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) called the Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program which is a rigorous curriculum designed specifically for students with an interest in quantitative science and enrolls up to 30 students per year.
Harvard also has an MD/PhD program and last year 15 students enrolled.
Harvard Medical School Tuition
HMS Tuition = $71,032
72% of students receive financial aid.
The average scholarship amount received at Harvard Medical School among the class of 2028 was $60,403.
Harvard Medical School Personal Statement
Harvard participates in the centralized medical school application service called AMCAS. Therefore, you will not write a personal statement specifically for Harvard. Harvard will receive the personal statement you write for AMCAS which must adhere to the following instructions:
- The character limit for the AMCAS personal statement is 5,300 characters with spaces.
- The AMCAS personal statement instructions are as follows:
“Use the Personal Comments Essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Consider and write your Personal Comments Essay carefully; many admissions committees place significant weight on the essay.” Click here to read more about some questions that you may want to consider while writing the essay.
Harvard Medical School Work and Activities
Harvard Medical School does not ask you to submit a CV or resume. Instead, Harvard requires you to submit a centralized AMCAS application which requires you to write about your accomplishments in detail. These “work and activities entries” as they are called, are sent to Stanford as well as any other medical schools to which you apply through AMCAS.
Below are a few things you should know about the AMCAS work and activities.
AMCAS work & activities entries give you the chance to let medical schools know how much you’ve accomplished during your premed years.
- This section of the AMCAS application offers the opportunity to write about up to 15 activity descriptions that are up to 700 characters in length
- You can then select three of those activities as most meaningful activities which gives you an additional 1325 characters to elaborate on the activity.
We encourage you to use this space to your advantage, elaborating as much as possible about your roles, responsibilities, the insights you gained, as well as what you have learned from the experience. You should also write in detail about the impact or “difference” you have made through the experience.
Click here to read more about AMCAS Work & Activities Section (With Examples): The Ultimate Guide.
Getting into Harvard Medical School
The key when trying to get into Harvard medical school or any extremely competitive medical schools is to have deep, long-standing, and meaningful involvements where you have made significant contributions and had exceptional levels of achievement. Ultimately, Harvard is looking for applicants who show tremendous promise to become leaders in medicine. So, assuming you have the stats to be considered for Harvard Medical School, in what activities should you excel to distinguish yourself in the admissions process?
Harvard Medical School Extracurricular Requirements
Research
A whopping 99% of Harvard first year medical students had research experience which makes research a requirement for Harvard applicants. And, the more sophisticated your research the better chances you will have of standing out in the admissions process. Demonstrating national or world-wide recognition though publications or presentations, is a bonus.
Medical/Clinical Volunteer or Community Service Experience
By the same token, 87% of students had experiences in this category so, to be competitive, we suggest deep involvement in medically related community work, work with different populations, and work with underserved populations.
Medical/Clinical Paid Employment
49% of matriculants had paid medical or clinical employment which was an increase from 38% the previous year.
Clinical Experience/Physician Shadowing
91% of students had done physician shadowing. Therefore, gaining as much exposure to different specialists in different medical settings will help distinguish you. Even though Harvard is a research-focused school, they like to see exposure to primary care as well.
Community Service
Finally, 91% of students had other types of community service work.
Harvard Medical School Application and Timeline
So, what can you do to set yourself apart in the application process? Be sure you write a thoughtful AMCAS personal statement and work and activities section. You should also make composing your Harvard secondary essays a priority. Interestingly, Harvard’s secondary essay prompts are not very specific and ask you to write about what you have done if you have already graduated and to explain any important aspects of you background and identity not addressed elsewhere in your application.
- June: Submit AMCAS Application
- July: Harvard starts sending out secondary applications. Click here to view Harvard Medical School secondary essay prompts.
- September: Interviews Begin
- October 15: Final AMCAS deadline
- October 22: Final supplemental materials deadline
- October 31: AMCAS transcript deadline
- January: Interviews conclude
- Early March: All admissions decisions released
- April 30: Admitted students planning to enroll at HMS must select the “Plan to Enroll” option on the Choose your Medical School tool in their AMCAS application.*
Harvard Medical School Interviews
In addition to an orientation, lunch, and tour and class observation opportunities, applicant will have two traditional one on one interviews. Students applying for the HST and MD/PhD programs will have a total of four interviews. Based on our students’ experiences, Harvard interviews are low pressure and conversational. Interviewers typically ask questions about your background, experiences, and motivations. In fact, one of our applicants who recently interview at Harvard said is was the most enjoyable experience he has had on the interview trail thus far.
Getting into Harvard Medical School: Insider Tips and the Admissions Process
Initial Review Phase
After receiving your complete application package (AMCAS application, secondary materials, and recommendation letters), Harvard faculty conduct a holistic review. Rather than using strict GPA or MCAT cutoffs, they consider all aspects of your application – even applicants with metrics below typical ranges may receive interview invitations if other elements of their application demonstrate exceptional qualities.
Keys to Success in Getting Past the Harvard Medical School Review Phase
Academic Excellence Plus Impact
Strong candidates demonstrate:
- Outstanding academic performance
- Deep engagement in research, clinical experience, advocacy and/or service work
- Leadership roles in organizations
- Meaningful community contributions
- Innovation in their chosen activities
Depth Over Breadth
Successful applicants typically show:
- Sustained commitment to key projects
- Measurable results from their work
- Initiative in creating new programs
- Ability to balance multiple responsibilities
- Growth in their roles over time
Compelling Written Materials
Application materials should demonstrate:
- Clear passion for medicine
- Personal growth through experiences
- Understanding of healthcare challenges
- Authentic voice and perspective
- Ability to reflect meaningfully on experiences
Beyond the Numbers
Standout candidates often have:
- Unique approaches to challenges
- Evidence of problem-solving skills
- Strong interpersonal abilities
- Cultural awareness and sensitivity
- Clear vision for their medical career
Interview Structure
Selected candidates participate in two interviews, typically with:
– HMS-affiliated physician faculty members
– Occasionally, senior medical students serving on the Admissions Committee
Both faculty and student interviewer evaluations carry equal weight in the process. Interview assignments are based primarily on scheduling availability.
Post-Interview Evaluation
- Each interviewer provides:
- A detailed narrative assessment (typically three paragraphs)
- Discussion of candidate strengths
- Interview insights
- Comprehensive application review
- Numeric overall rating
Subcommittee Review
Applications undergo review by subcommittees organized by undergraduate institution, with Harvard College students grouped by House affiliation. This structure enables:
- Consistent evaluation standards
- Understanding of institutional context
- Comprehensive assessment of candidates
Final Committee Review
The main committee makes final decisions through:
- Review of all application components
- Discussion of interviewer assessments
- Input from subcommittee chairs
- Assignment of final ratings
- Ranking of candidates
Admission Offers
Final decisions are based on:
- Overall application ranking
- Available class positions
- Program fit and diversity goals
This systematic approach ensures fair consideration regardless of interview timing during the admissions cycle, with waitlist offers following the same ranked system.
Final Thoughts
Harvard Medical School obviously has the luxury of selecting students from an outstanding pool of applicants. If your MCAT and GPA are excellent (517 and 3.8 or higher) or there are other extenuating circumstances about your background that distinguish you, try applying. Many people in medicine consider HMS the best medical school in the country so do what is within your control to make yourself a competitive applicant!
