2013-2014 Harvard Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad.
PinkyandtheBrain said:
Really? I've been a neuroscience major since I walked in the door at University of Rochester and never once thought about switching majors. I plan on specializing in either neurology or neurosurgery and I highly doubt I'd change my mind. Not all of us are as undecided as some!
Click to expand...

Well supposedly Rochester med school also has a very strong neurology program. 😉 Many Rochester med students match into neurology.
 
nemo123 said:
Well supposedly Rochester med school also has a very strong neurology program. 😉 Many Rochester med students match into neurology.
Click to expand...
Yeah, when I interviewed there two weeks ago they def. talked about neurology. U of R med is my top choice for sure! It is a really good program.
 
PinkyandtheBrain said:
Really? I've been a neuroscience major since I walked in the door at University of Rochester and never once thought about switching majors. I plan on specializing in either neurology or neurosurgery and I highly doubt I'd change my mind. Not all of us are as undecided as some!
Click to expand...

While I don't doubt at all that you will eventually specialize in neurology or neurosurgery, I would say that choosing a medical specialty is a very different decision than choosing a major - it's your career, potentially for the rest of your life. A major might be correlated with what you end up doing, but for most people, it's not even that. Furthermore, as students we at least have an idea of what to expect from a given major; coursework is coursework after all. On the other hand, it's much more challenging to gain insight into various medical professions and specialties because of all the barriers out there and simply because of the complexity of medicine - I certainly have little grasp of what being a doctor in X specialty is really like. With all this in mind, an extremely important thing is to stay open-minded with regards to specialties because things are going to change - whether it's you, or whether it's the specialty itself, or whether it's your perception of the specialty. Some people like you know what they want to do - and that's great! But my two cents is that there are at least 10 factors that should go above intended medical specialty when choosing a medical school - it really shouldn't be a significant factor.
 
TheKDizzle said:
While I don't doubt at all that you will eventually specialize in neurology or neurosurgery, I would say that choosing a medical specialty is a very different decision than choosing a major - it's your career, potentially for the rest of your life. A major might be correlated with what you end up doing, but for most people, it's not even that. Furthermore, as students we at least have an idea of what to expect from a given major; coursework is coursework after all. On the other hand, it's much more challenging to gain insight into various medical professions and specialties because of all the barriers out there and simply because of the complexity of medicine - I certainly have little grasp of what being a doctor in X specialty is really like. With all this in mind, an extremely important thing is to stay open-minded with regards to specialties because things are going to change - whether it's you, or whether it's the specialty itself, or whether it's your perception of the specialty. Some people like you know what they want to do - and that's great! But my two cents is that there are at least 10 factors that should go above intended medical specialty when choosing a medical school - it really shouldn't be a significant factor.
Click to expand...
The last sentence here is the crux. I couldn't agree more as I continue to gain insight into the practice and pursuit of specialties post med school.
 
Killing it, K
kyamh said:
😱 Just got an interview email from both NP and HST!:soexcited:

Stats on MDApps, completed secondary on October 1st, interviews scheduled for mid-January 😎
Click to expand...
Killing it, Kyamh!
 
kyamh said:
😱 Just got an interview email from both NP and HST!:soexcited:

Stats on MDApps, completed secondary on October 1st, interviews scheduled for mid-January 😎
Click to expand...

Congrats!
 
smarts1 said:
I wonder if this means this is the end for those of us complete in July/August...
Click to expand...
What makes you say that? I don't think they go in order when reviewing applicants--well, perhaps they do, but not so much when they invite. Seems relatively sporadic to me (or maybe this is my desperate, wishful thinking)...
 
Seifu2011 said:
What makes you say that? I don't think they go in order when reviewing applicants--well, perhaps they do, but not so much when they invite. Seems relatively sporadic to me (or maybe this is my desperate, wishful thinking)...
Click to expand...

Because everyone with interview invites now seem to be September or later... It seems like everyone complete from July and August who are getting an interview invite already got one in October and November... 🙁
 
smarts1 said:
Because everyone with interview invites now seem to be September or later... It seems like everyone complete from July and August who are getting an interview invite already got one in October and November... 🙁
Click to expand...
I would say it's clear that they have reviewed our apps at least once and decided to hold off on giving an interview, but that doesnt mean you can't get one later!
 
narf693 said:
I would say it's clear that they have reviewed our apps at least once and decided to hold off on giving an interview, but that doesnt mean you can't get one later!
Click to expand...
This!
 
narf693 said:
I would say it's clear that they have reviewed our apps at least once and decided to hold off on giving an interview, but that doesnt mean you can't get one later!
Click to expand...

Seifu2011 said:
This!
Click to expand...

But it looks like they came back and gave those people IIs in late October and November... 🙁 Hope they prove me wrong though! 🙂
 
I guess Kyamh would know how dates seem to be left. @kyamh, how many interview dates were available when you were signing up?
 
When I confirmed my interview there were about 7 dates open throughout mid-January
 
Kinch said:
When I confirmed my interview there were about 7 dates open throughout mid-January
Click to expand...

Well guess that really means its pretty much the end for the rest of us. :/
 
smarts1 said:
Well guess that really means its pretty much the end for the rest of us. :/
Click to expand...

They only post a handful of interview dates at a time. When I interviewed in the fall only three weeks worth of dates appeared. The dates visible has nothing to do with the end of the interview period.
People are very fast to jump to despairing conclusions around here.
 
SN12357 said:
They only post a handful of interview dates at a time. When I interviewed in the fall only three weeks worth of dates appeared. The dates visible has nothing to do with the end of the interview period.
People are very fast to jump to despairing conclusions around here.
Click to expand...

But don't they interview only to mid-January?
 
Kinch said:
When I confirmed my interview there were about 7 dates open throughout mid-January
Click to expand...

I actually didn't get to choose my dates, they were assigned in the initial emails.....though that could be because I am interviewing for both NP and HST so they scheduled a spot for me on two consecutive days. :shrug:
 
Seifu2011 said:
Pretty sure they interview until the end of Feb.
Click to expand...

Didn't the secondary say that interview season is from September to January? I remember there being a question whether we would be out of country or anything during that period...
 
nemo123 said:
Didn't the secondary say that interview season is from September to January? I remember there being a question whether we would be out of country or anything during that period...
Click to expand...

This is exactly what the secondary says. Its coming down to the line! Still hoping for an invite.
 
nemo123 said:
Didn't the secondary say that interview season is from September to January? I remember there being a question whether we would be out of country or anything during that period...
Click to expand...
7franks said:
This is exactly what the secondary says. Its coming down to the line! Still hoping for an invite.
Click to expand...

My bad, guys. They interviewed till end of Feb last year.
 
Does Harvard notify rejected applicants before March, or whenever it is that they give out acceptances?
 
aspirantmed said:
Does Harvard notify rejected applicants before March, or whenever it is that they give out acceptances?
Click to expand...

All in March. Because of this, some people in previous years had told Harvard that they were withdrawing their app from interview consideration in late February lol (except they still ended up getting rejection letters in March).
 
Last edited:
Can you describe your interview experience? Did you send any updates post-interview (or an LOI)?
 
7502 said:
Can you describe your interview experience? Did you send any updates post-interview (or an LOI)?
Click to expand...

From my MDApps:

"I had one of my best interviews here in my opinion - my interviewer was clearly very well trained and super friendly. I felt like I was able to put my best foot forward in this interview. My other interview was average at best. The interviews really aren't different from those at other schools, so don't prepare for them or treat them differently."

I purposely left out specifics because variation between interviews is huge and I don't think specific experiences are useful in this context. My interviews each lasted about 30 minutes. One of the interviewers had reviewed my file, the other had chosen not to until after the interview.

No interview thank-you letter, no updates post-interview, and no LOI.
 
nemo123 said:
Hmm maybe they shortened their interview season this year?
Click to expand...

According to a recent update from admissions, the plan is to hold the last set of interviews during the first week of February. Good luck to you all! Let me know if you have any questions about HMS, etc.
 
II just now! I am beaming!

3.9/35 OOS (midwest)
non-URM

complete 10/16

Looks like there are still some IIs to be handed out.
Good luck all!
 
7502 said:
Can you describe your interview experience? Did you send any updates post-interview (or an LOI)?
Click to expand...

I had one faculty member and one student, and both of them lasted an hour-plus. I thought the student interview went really well but the faculty member was pretty expressionless. And I forgot to wear a tie -- can you imagine?! Somehow, they let that slide. 😉
I didn't send any updates post-interview (my interview was in December anyway), and I didn't send in a letter, which I thought would look ridiculous at Harvard (which isn't to say this is everyone's first choice by any means, but just that it seems pretty unnecessary).
 
II this morning for NP. Complete 10/22...dates available are Jan 14th, 17th, 21st, and 23rd...
 
whiteshadodw said:
HST rejection, NP invite. 17th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, and 28th available.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about the HST Rejection, but congrats on NP! That's awesome!. Are you a MD only applicant or a MD/PhD applicant? Also, could you provide your completion date? I am trying to figure out whether HST only rejects MD/PhD applicants at this time point in the cycle or if they do MD only as well.

edit: ok, I just realized your mdapps said MSTP. Would you happen to know the case for MD only?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Harvard
5 6 7 8 9
Replies
410
Views
178K
iloveharvard
I
chilly_md
2023-2024 Harvard
9 10 11 12 13
Replies
648
Views
238K
diabolicalbiologist
D
wysdoc
2022-2023 Harvard
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
735
Views
275K
ClashRoyaleKing
ClashRoyaleKing
G
2022-23 Northeast Ohio (NEOMED) thread
Replies
2
Views
2K
gabbythecat
G
wysdoc
2021-2022 Harvard
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
591
Views
256K
deleted938190
D
Top