2008-2009 Harvard Secondary Application Thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter thegreenlight
  • Start date Start date
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Status
Not open for further replies.
I got an invite Nov 5th and to this day, I still can't believe it.... I am just so excited!!... Just thanking God for this.. Does anyone know what percentage of interviewees they accept?
 
FuturDocteur said:
I got an invite Nov 5th and to this day, I still can't believe it.... I am just so excited!!... Just thanking God for this.. Does anyone know what percentage of interviewees they accept?
Click to expand...

240 out of 1029 last year. Gluck!
 
im not applying this year but i was just wondering if harvard asks if your family is affiliated with any part of the university or only the medical school. also, if you have strong legacy that is still involved with the school(regional interviewer for undergrad) and no connection whatsoever to the med school, would that help at all? thanks to anyone who responds and congratulations to everyone applying! this is exciting to watch 🙂
 
Made of Dreams said:
im not applying this year but i was just wondering if harvard asks if your family is affiliated with any part of the university or only the medical school. also, if you have strong legacy that is still involved with the school(regional interviewer for undergrad) and no connection whatsoever to the med school, would that help at all? thanks to anyone who responds and congratulations to everyone applying! this is exciting to watch 🙂
Click to expand...

There are so many extremely qualified applicants for so few spots that I can only imagine having ties to the undergrad school wouldn't make any difference. But, this is just speculation, I don't actually know.
 
Made of Dreams said:
im not applying this year but i was just wondering if harvard asks if your family is affiliated with any part of the university or only the medical school. also, if you have strong legacy that is still involved with the school(regional interviewer for undergrad) and no connection whatsoever to the med school, would that help at all? thanks to anyone who responds and congratulations to everyone applying! this is exciting to watch 🙂
Click to expand...

I find it unlikely that HMS would care about a relative associated with another part of the university, unless said relative was a professor in the sciences. It will, however, help if you yourself attended Harvard College, and you do have the chance to say that on your application.
 
Has anyone sent them an email letting them know that you are going to be in Boston for another interview (or I guess just in the area for any reason)? Did they respond? Did you get an interview? I'm thinking about trying this.
 
they aren't going to put your app above others just because of an in the area email.

If you are already reviewed and granted an interview but just haven't been notified yet, then that might work, but since Harvard is non-rolling I don't see the point.
 
It won't hurt to send it, long as you do it politely, but I was just trying to say don't expect to hear anything back. You may, but it is not likely. They probably know that, if they don't grant you your wish, and decide to interview you later, you probably will fly back to Boston again...
 
Haha, it is Harvard after all! Maybe I'll wait a little longer because I don't want to look presumptuous??? Oh man.
 
hey guys, I'm new here.

anyway, I was hoping to get your opinion on whether I have a shot at getting an interview with Harvard.

I'm Canadian and I'm currently finishing up my last year studying Systems Design Engineering.

Got 33 on my MCAT 9 VB 12 PS 12 BS, and P

Got 3.75 on Sci GPA, 3.54 on AO GPA (all those engineering courses have been a GPA killer), and 3.63 overall.

Published a paper on a optical imaging device that I designed in my first year for interstitial cancer monitoring using a high resolution optical imaging modelity

worked in cardiac MRI imaging research

Currently working on a new imaging device combining intravascular ultrasound and optical imaging to guide cardiac intervention procedures


I don't have great academic record, but do you think they would take a look at your experiences and research?

thanks for your inputs, cheers.
 
you should post it in the "what are my chances" sub-forum, start a new thread there you will get more views
 
So is there any consensus as to the cut-off from complete email to interview invite? 4-6 weeks?

Friday marks the 6-week mark for me... looks like I'll be saying adieu to harvard early :lame:
 
No idea, I've been complete since 9/30. I believe shemarty got it at around 8 weeks mark but I can't check since mdapps is down

Edit: nvm it was 5 weeks for her, I figured she was complete at Harvard in mid July or something 🙂
 
I'm terrified of their admissions office too. But I may just bother them one last time tomorrow to see what the deal is. But it's getting pretty late in the interview season now... they stop in Feb. I think. And interviews scheduled now are late Dec. at the earliest I'm pretty sure. So I feel this is the end of the road.
So it goes.
 
TupacalipseT96 said:
I'm terrified of their admissions office too. But I may just bother them one last time tomorrow to see what the deal is. But it's getting pretty late in the interview season now... they stop in Feb. I think. And interviews scheduled now are late Dec. at the earliest I'm pretty sure. So I feel this is the end of the road.
So it goes.
Click to expand...

I received my your application is complete on Dec 1st, even though that bad boy was complete back in August.
 
I've been complete for 11 weeks. Looks like a pre-interview rejection. 🙁
 
my invite came a lil over 6 weeks after i was complete..
 
I submitted it in July, emailed them in early September and somebody replied saying "your application is complete." Then, in late September, I got the official "complete" email, so i just assume they didn't actually look at my application before then. So effectively, I was complete on 9/30.

I had called them a few times between 9/30 and when I got the invite, but the answer was always "you could be invited anytime between now and February..." So, I think the only thing anybody can do is wait. They won't tell you anything else about where you stand.

good luck!
 
MedSchoolGirl19 said:
Has anyone sent them an email letting them know that you are going to be in Boston for another interview (or I guess just in the area for any reason)? Did they respond? Did you get an interview? I'm thinking about trying this.
Click to expand...

I think you should go for it. I'm going to do it. There's nothing to loose, really.


AtG
 
I asked and HMS doesn't really do anything for applicants (I currently live 9k miles from Boston so I have a long ways to go). They basically told me to wait and that's it...no "we'll put something in your file"...etc that I got from other schools.

(I have interviews at Stanford, JHU, Columbia and other strong research schools so its not like my application is terrible....I hope...:scared:)
 
can nebody talk about their interview experience? e.g. how u traveled, where you stayed (host/hotel?) how ur interviewers were. how the interviewees were.

i believe you just got back shemarty, how was it?
 
What up doc said:
can nebody talk about their interview experience? e.g. how u traveled, where you stayed (host/hotel?) how ur interviewers were. how the interviewees were.

i believe you just got back shemarty, how was it?
Click to expand...

I'm not back yet, flight's tomorrow night (Sunday night). I took a bus up from new york because I was there for Columbia. i recommend it (Mega Bus, Bolt Bus would also work). i stayed with a student host in vanderbilt hall. Interviewers were very relaxed and conversational. One student and one faculty, but some ppl have two faculty. The saturday interview session was very compressed so the interviews were all in the same building. we didn't have to trek across town to go to the interviewers offices, which is what you normally have to do.

After the interviews, 2 other interviewees and i took the subway over to the undergrad campus, ate some of the best ice cream ever (at JP Licks - I highly recommend it), and walked around. Then my friend from high school who goes to the undergrad school showed me around the undergrad campus area some more, and I'm going to go and explore Boston a bit more tomorrow morning. Then, flying out sunday night.
 
shemarty said:
I'm not back yet, flight's tomorrow night (Sunday night). I took a bus up from new york because I was there for Columbia. i recommend it (Mega Bus, Bolt Bus would also work). i stayed with a student host in vanderbilt hall. Interviewers were very relaxed and conversational. One student and one faculty, but some ppl have two faculty. The saturday interview session was very compressed so the interviews were all in the same building. we didn't have to trek across town to go to the interviewers offices, which is what you normally have to do.

After the interviews, 2 other interviewees and i took the subway over to the undergrad campus, ate some of the best ice cream ever (at JP Licks - I highly recommend it), and walked around. Then my friend from high school who goes to the undergrad school showed me around the undergrad campus area some more, and I'm going to go and explore Boston a bit more tomorrow morning. Then, flying out sunday night.
Click to expand...


thanx a lot shemarty....do u think ur interview went well? how were the students?
 
What up doc said:
thanx a lot shemarty....do u think ur interview went well? how were the students?
Click to expand...

The students were all really nice. There was a holiday party at Vandy Hall on Friday night, so I went w/ my student host. I got to chat with some students there, and they all seemed to love HMS. The ones who led the tour were also really friendly and had great things to say. Everybody said that since the curriculum was p/f, it wasn't very competitive or stressful. Yes theres a lot of material and a lot of work, but it wasn't a negative environment, it seems.

I think my interviews went fine, but it's always impossible to extrapolate, and I don't want to get my opes up. I feel like I did the best I could have. I don't regret any of my answers. I can't think of better answers than what I said on the spot. My interviewers were really nice and the conversations were very casual and low-stress. I got to emphasize the points that I wanted to, and I didn't have to discuss anything that I was uncomfortable or unfamiliar with.
 
yay.. congrats shemarty!
when i was interviewing, the tour guides made a point of saying that you should not judge HMS based on the quality of the interview day..its very bare bones. but they also said, once you get in, even for a revisit, its a 180 degree change
 
Yeah I think the interview day is really what you make of it.

Unfortunately I spent most of my downtime sneaking in some studying for finals, but I know some other interviewees on my day explored the medical center area more, sat in on classes etc.

Oh yeah and I'd definitely recommend staying in Vandy if you can or at least stay at a hotel within walking distance...the T seems like it can be a bit...unreliable lol
 
Last edited:
I interviewed on a Saturday so the day wasn't as "bare bones." 1 hour of down time, during which a small group of us went out to walk around campus together. Maybe that left me with a better impression than if I had been running around on my own that day.

Yes, I definitely recommend Vandy if you can find a host. The location is really convenient, and you have more chances to talk to students the night before. The other interviewees said they had trouble finding a host this weekend because it's right before final exams. I stayed with a 1st year who was a classmate from college. I'm sure come January all the students would be happy to host.
 
Harvard definitely had THE nicest professors out of all the schools I have interviewed with. The NP interview was really chill, very conversational. The HST interview was a bit more tough, since it was a panel interview.
 
What up doc said:
can nebody talk about their interview experience? e.g. how u traveled, where you stayed (host/hotel?) how ur interviewers were. how the interviewees were.
Click to expand...

Like others said, there isn't much to the NP interview day. I wish they had planned more stuff considering that they ask you to be there at 8 in the morning and some (myself included) don't get out of the final interview until 5:30. Luckily I work down the street so I got almost a full 8 hours on the clock! I think other interviewers were bored. Maybe bring a book or something.

My NP interviewers were super friendly - I think my conversations were them were the most pleasant part of the day. I had 2 faculty members - one was involved in the first 2 years of teaching and one was involved in 3rd year rotations. Some applicants need to go to the hospitals for their interviews. I had to trek to MGH. They will give you cab fare but it's still kind of a pain. Interestingly, the HMS interviewers are not supposed to ask you anything that isn't stated on your application. For instance, my interviewer said he couldn't ask me anything about healthcare because I didn't write anything in my application that would suggest I know anything about healthcare. Don't know if all the interviewers follow that rule.

Staying with a host would definitely be easiest. Vandy is right across the street and hotels in Boston are pricey!! A hotel in the Fenway or Longwood Medical Area would be within walking distance of the school. A hotel downtown would require you to take the green line subway. But, the T really isn't that bad (runs frequently, is cheap) if you need to use it.

If you are interviewing for HST, then definitely be prepared for a tougher interview. It was the most stressful one I've had to date. Know your research back and forth...and then know some more.
 
For those that interviewed, do you know when we get to hear by? Also admissions didn't mention anything about thank you letter policies and I was wondering if anyone knew about that. Thanks.
 
zpiff said:
For those that interviewed, do you know when we get to hear by? Also admissions didn't mention anything about thank you letter policies and I was wondering if anyone knew about that. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Everyone who interviews hears back on the same day in March. Harvard is non-rolling.
 
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
 
BravesFanMD said:
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
Click to expand...

Maybe your clinical experience was lacking? It seems like you're background is in physics, so maybe the "average" volunteering didn't show a commitment to medicine? I don't know, I'm just speculating based on your very short summary.

This process can be seemingly random at times. Penn didn't want to interview me, *shrug*. Congrats on Hopkins, it's a great school 🙂
 
you are complaining about harvard when you have an acceptance at JHU, just sayin 😀

Perhaps the admissions didn't think you were a good fit or something. Maybe it was arrogance in your personal statement? 🙂
 
BravesFanMD said:
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
Click to expand...


Don't worry about it, there's a reason why people recommend appying to many schools, you just never know. Is your app fine? I just found out last week that even though they emailed me that I was complete back in late September, they never received my money.

but hey! If you don't want your Hopkins acceptance give it to me!:laugh:
 
BravesFanMD said:
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
Click to expand...


Did you physically get a rejection? It depends on when you were complete. Sometimes it takes a long time b/c so many people apply (7k this year). I have a friend who hasn't gotten his yet but I think he will eventually.
 
BravesFanMD said:
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
Click to expand...

Harvard is not just about your uGPA and MCAT score. They seek a certain type of student which you may or many not fit their profile. My guess is that you didn't. Not every student who has the academics is a good match for every medical school. My guess is that you were not a good match for Harvard based on your application and they rejected you.

Harvard has different admissions criteria from Hopkins. You got into Hopkins and you didn't get into Harvard. When I speak to my friends and colleagues who attended medical school there, community activism is one component that they look for and it doesn't seem that you have mentioned that you have this experience.

Harvard also looks for students who have excelled in something creative outside of medicine and research such as writing (remember Michael Creighton) etc. It doesn't look like you mentioned that experience either. Again, based on what I know about Harvard, you are outside of what they look for in a medical student in spite of your grades and MCAT score.

If you are not a good fit for whatever an admissions committee has set for their criteria, you can paint yourself with platinum and you won't get in. That's the criterion that you can't measure or put a number on in terms of admissions. In the end, this is a subjective process. If this was not the case, doing admissions work would be pretty easy for me. I could just line up the uGPA/MCAT scores and pick the top 145 from each year and offer admissions.
 
BravesFanMD said:
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
Click to expand...

You're not alone BravesFan. I'm in the same boat. I'm sure you had all the clinical experience yatta yatta yatta. It's just a fit thing. This process is very random. IMO, don't stress it -- they either were looking for something specific in apps that they didnt find in yours/mine, they found something that ruffled their feathers, or they lost your application (not likely, but you gotta wonder!). Either way, who cares. Hopkins is P/F first 2 years now. The main reason I'm still crossin my fingers for Harvard is to give me fin aid options. Else, take II for residency.
 
BravesFanMD said:
Hello everyone,

Quick question for you Harvard people. I applied there and I'm really surprised I wasn't even offered an interview. I'll be brief, but here is a summary of my stats:

GPA: 4.0
Major: Physics with a post-bacc that got me all my missing prereq's
MCAT: 40
LOR's:3 really good ones from professors I know personally
volunteering: average
research: a lot, mostly physics but some protein folding research too

Not saying I should get in or anything, but truthfully I'm shocked they didn't even interview me. I called to ask about my app status but they were rude to me and told me they don't give app updates. Am I missing something here (I was accepted at Hopkins...)?
Click to expand...

You are the opposite of me. Hopkins didn't even offer me an interview (not rejected yet though) however I got a Harvard interview early in the process and my interviews went really well. Some of my recommenders got called immeadiately after my interview to talk more about me.

This just speaks to the randomness of the process. Both you and I will do well but it is the minor differences between us that lead to different successes.
 
rowerlauren said:
You are the opposite of me. Hopkins didn't even offer me an interview (not rejected yet though) however I got a Harvard interview early in the process and my interviews went really well. Some of my recommenders got called immeadiately after my interview to talk more about me.

This just speaks to the randomness of the process. Both you and I will do well but it is the minor differences between us that lead to different successes.
Click to expand...

wow, does H do this for all interviewers. I sure hope so!
 
Thanks everyone for your input on my post. I wasn't implying that since I got into JHU I should get into Harvard, only offering it as evidence that my app in general didn't raise any red flags with adcomms. I guess you guys are right that I just wasn't a fit for them. Still seems strange though...
 
BravesFanMD said:
Thanks everyone for your input on my post. I wasn't implying that since I got into JHU I should get into Harvard, only offering it as evidence that my app in general didn't raise any red flags with adcomms. I guess you guys are right that I just wasn't a fit for them. Still seems strange though...
Click to expand...

Yea, I was accepted to Hopkins too, and still haven't heard from HMS. 🙁
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Harvard
5 6 7 8 9
Replies
412
Views
176K
moolala
M
chilly_md
2023-2024 Harvard
9 10 11 12 13
Replies
648
Views
237K
diabolicalbiologist
D
wysdoc
2022-2023 Harvard
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
735
Views
274K
ClashRoyaleKing
ClashRoyaleKing
G
2022-23 Northeast Ohio (NEOMED) thread
Replies
2
Views
2K
gabbythecat
G
wysdoc
  • Locked
  • Sticky
2024-2025 Alphabetic Index of Allopathic School-Specific Discussion Threads
Replies
0
Views
223K
wysdoc
wysdoc
Top