2013-2014 Harvard Application Thread

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Interviewed a few days ago. From my own experiences and talking to fellow applicants relaxed and conversational was the norm, although there seems to be a little bit of a stress interview here and there dependent on who you get as your interviewer. Also Boston is pretty awesome! Good luck everyone!
 
Is Harvard receptive to in the area emails at all?
 
McDoctor1 said:
Is Harvard receptive to in the area emails at all?
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Based on the interview, Harvard is completely uninterested in making things convenient for their candidates. That probably extends to in the areas, although it probably doesn't hurt to try.
 
JAbraham said:
Interviewed a few days ago. From my own experiences and talking to fellow applicants relaxed and conversational was the norm, although there seems to be a little bit of a stress interview here and there dependent on who you get as your interviewer. Also Boston is pretty awesome! Good luck everyone!
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Hey JAbraham, how was the Cambridge trip afterwards, lol?
 
McDoctor1 said:
Is Harvard receptive to in the area emails at all?
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I just sent one over the weekend and they were very polite but didn't promise anything. They said they'd note my travel plans in my file but that was it.
 
MSAR gives the total number of applicants interviewed. Any way to find out how many interviewed for NP vs. HST vs. MSTP?
 
wuzman said:
any recent IIs?
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I noticed last year that a bunch came out at the end if October and then another batch before Nov 15. We had the end of Oct rush so maybe some are coming this upcoming week...just making order out if chaos
 
How did people that got accepted feel after the interview? I was waiting outside for my faculty interview and the faculty member was inside with another student (ran about 15mins late) and they were just laughing and laughing. Made me feel super nervous when I walked in haha 🙁
 
How did people that got accepted feel after the interview? I was waiting outside for my faculty interview and the faculty member was inside with another student (ran about 15mins late) and they were just laughing and laughing. Made me feel super nervous when I walked in haha 🙁
 
Did anyone get an interview invite yesterday? It looked like from previous threads (both 2012-2013 and 2011-2012) that they send interview invites to people complete back in August on the third week of November...
 
smarts1 said:
Did anyone get an interview invite yesterday? It looked like from previous threads (both 2012-2013 and 2011-2012) that they send interview invites to people complete back in August on the third week of November...
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No one?
 
Has anyone received IIs for both NP and HST? If so, when were you complete?
 
I have a question here. Schools like Harvard, JHU, Duke are ranked highly in USN Research ranking and schools like UNC, U of Washington, U Mass are ranked highly in Primary Care. If I am not interested in Research or Primary Care and instead interested in practicing in other specialty, such as anesthesiologist or dermatologist, would I be better off going to first type of school or the second?
 
jfrwu said:
I have a question here. Schools like Harvard, JHU, Duke are ranked highly in USN Research ranking and schools like UNC, U of Washington, U Mass are ranked highly in Primary Care. If I am not interested in Research or Primary Care and instead interested in practicing in other specialty, such as anesthesiologist or dermatologist, would I be better off going to first type of school or the second?
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Doesn't matter. You'll change your specialty like you did your major in no time.
 
jfrwu said:
I have a question here. Schools like Harvard, JHU, Duke are ranked highly in USN Research ranking and schools like UNC, U of Washington, U Mass are ranked highly in Primary Care. If I am not interested in Research or Primary Care and instead interested in practicing in other specialty, such as anesthesiologist or dermatologist, would I be better off going to first type of school or the second?
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I sort of like to think that if you're seriously interested in research you'd be better off at a research oriented school or one that's more balanced between the two rankings. It seems like primary care rank isn't as important career-wise as the research rank is, because every med school has to provide a good baseline education in the basics of medicine or they'd lose there accreditation. The primary care ranking to me just indicates how much of a priority/how much money primary care specific programs get at that school over research focuses. Also, how much of the culture there is pro-primary care.

Personally, I'm hoping to attend a med school like UW (#2 and #12, research and primary care, respectively) or University of Virginia (#18 and #26, respectively) that has fairly balanced rankings for both so I can leave my options open.

But, I do think it's harder to do rockstar level research at a school that doesn't prioritize research highly or doesn't have as much money to throw at it. It doesn't mean you can't do it, it just means there may be less opportunity.
 
Yay congrats, that is awesome!!! Do you mind sharing which dates are available?
 
Deleted (though probably not the way we're supposed to, if that exists)
 
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Sorry, but you should stop complaining. You are qualified, but you are not guaranteed anywhere.
 
apptempo said:
Hello all, I'm hoping for advice and just signed up for SDN (after many months of use) only to make this post. Thank you in advance for any help!

Simply, I am not receiving the interview invites I hoped to -- including to Harvard -- though am still doing reasonably well (9 invites from 18 secondaries, 1 acceptance). I know so much goes into schools' assessment of applicants and feel silly for having a "problem" with how things are going. I am definitely grateful for the opportunities I've been given. In all honesty, though, I am also becoming disappointed that my top choices have remained silent.

I completed secondaries mid-August with the following: MCAT 40, GPA 3.97, lots of research, volunteering, leadership etc; non-traditional applicant; not URM. The point: now that it is late November, is it fair to assume something I don't know about (e.g., my letters) is causing problems, i.e., my application to not be regarded as highly? Any thoughts at all greatly appreciated -- thank you again!
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yankees26 said:
Sorry, but you should stop complaining. You are qualified, but you are not guaranteed anywhere.
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I don't think its fair to simply dismiss this as complaining. We all have dream schools and most of us work hard to increase our chances of acceptance there. You have incredible stats, but that doesn't guarantee acceptance. You had to turn in 3 LOR to most medical schools and even if all of them were ok (if they were all bad, i don't think you would get any II at all), i don't think that would be the reason you haven't received an II from your top picks. I think its more likely your ECs and essays were not unique enough, especially the essay. I feel like the essay if an opportunity to really shine and speak to your character, maturity, and passion in a very unique way. no one else will have your essay. I feel these qualities are what help most schools find the "fit" students, but then again, this is just my opinion.
 
Ebrithill said:
I don't think its fair to simply dismiss this as complaining. We all have dream schools and most of us work hard to increase our chances of acceptance there.
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This IS complaining. Person may have couched his/her language in "hope", but the tone/overall content of the post is filled with entitlement. 9 Interview Invites, but no Harvard/Stanford. Boo hoo.
 
Ebrithill said:
I don't think its fair to simply dismiss this as complaining. We all have dream schools and most of us work hard to increase our chances of acceptance there. You have incredible stats, but that doesn't guarantee acceptance. You had to turn in 3 LOR to most medical schools and even if all of them were ok (if they were all bad, i don't think you would get any II at all), i don't think that would be the reason you haven't received an II from your top picks. I think its more likely your ECs and essays were not unique enough, especially the essay. I feel like the essay if an opportunity to really shine and speak to your character, maturity, and passion in a very unique way. no one else will have your essay. I feel these qualities are what help most schools find the "fit" students, but then again, this is just my opinion.
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Thank you so much for your feedback! What you're saying makes a lot of sense and matches the other advice I've heard. I really appreciate your insight and agree.

And don't worry about the other response to my comment, it's OK -- I know how frustrating this process can be and can't blame someone for letting it boil over. Also, as I commented on the one other thread I posted to, my post was probably ill-considered. I choose this specific forum because I thought other applicants with comparable numbers might have appropriate perspective. Yet, I didn’t think about how it might offend other applicants who are (also) working very hard but have not been as lucky. I suppose my post was a result of being cloistered from other applicants and insufficient consideration. Anyways, I deleted it (possibly incorrectly). No intention to offend anyone -- good luck to you all.
 
solitarius said:
This IS complaining. Person may have couched his/her language in "hope", but the tone/overall content of the post is filled with entitlement. 9 Interview Invites, but no Harvard/Stanford. Boo hoo.
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No intention to offend; please see my comment above.

I debated whether or not to say this, because it would be really easy to (also) take this the wrong way -- but since I was encouraged on my other thread to help others, too: it is so important to work on being non-judgemental as a physician (or future-physician). One reason I avoided SDN posts so long is because it seems like a very judgemental/ruthless place. I'm not saying those adjectives consistently apply to you, but I would recommend not letting your frustrations project onto your interpretation of others. Anyways, easier said than done, as the application process can be very stressful. Thanks and good luck!
 
apptempo said:
No intention to offend; please see my comment above.

I debated whether or not to say this, because it would be really easy to (also) take this the wrong way -- but since I was encouraged on my other thread to help others, too: it is so important to work on being non-judgemental as a physician (or future-physician). One reason I avoided SDN posts so long is because it seems like a very judgemental/ruthless place. I'm not saying those adjectives consistently apply to you, but I would recommend not letting your frustrations project onto your interpretation of others. Anyways, easier said than done, as the application process can be very stressful. Thanks and good luck!
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I answered you in the Stanford thread. And I'm not offended tbh. I reacted par for the course on SDN, standard fare really.

Good luck to you too. I'm sure you'll do great.


P.S. - I love SDN. From what I've seen, medical environments are similar to here. SDN is a great training ground on how to survive in a clinical environment.
 
solitarius said:
I answered you in the Stanford thread. And I'm not offended tbh. I reacted par for the course on SDN, standard fare really.

Good luck to you too. I'm sure you'll do great.


P.S. - I love SDN. From what I've seen, medical environments are similar to here. SDN is a great training ground on how to survive in a clinical environment.
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haha really (re the PS part)? hadn't thought of that either. maybe not the best compliment to medicine but not necessarily wrong...
 
Just to chime in on anyone who in in a similar boat as me and who has yet to hear back. I applied MD/PhD towards the end of October, but also for HST and NP programs. I was rejected to MD/PhD and HST but invited to interview for NP (about two weeks ago). So, for those applying to everything, it is not a bad thing! Good luck to everyone!!
 
In response to some posts above and just as a general reminder, you should all keep in mind that at any given school there are way more highly qualified applicants than there are acceptances available to give out. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the admissions process with the high number of applicants+high number of applications submitted per person. Lots of people who are going to become great doctors and accomplish incredible things will be rejected from somewhere - I advise against seeing this as failure and looking for the "reason" that this occurred because the truth is that in many cases there simply isn't a "reason." Don't fault yourself, and make sure you keep life in perspective throughout the process.
 
TheKDizzle said:
In response to some posts above and just as a general reminder, you should all keep in mind that at any given school there are way more highly qualified applicants than there are acceptances available to give out. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the admissions process with the high number of applicants+high number of applications submitted per person. Lots of people who are going to become great doctors and accomplish incredible things will be rejected from somewhere - I advise against seeing this as failure and looking for the "reason" that this occurred because the truth is that in many cases there simply isn't a "reason." Don't fault yourself, and make sure you keep life in perspective throughout the process.
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totally. philosopher kdizzle spittin some truth right there
 
Do people usually send LOIs to Harvard? Any success with this? I submitted in August and haven't heard anything. I know they don't send anything out until March but can I assume I've been rejected?
 
II today! I submitted 8/19 and scheduled for mid-December. I'm super shocked but very excited 🙂
 
cuttlefishy said:
II today! I submitted 8/19 and scheduled for mid-December. I'm super shocked but very excited 🙂
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What general region of the country of you from? (Harvard has regional committees that picks who gets an II depending on the area of the country you are from). And Congrats!
 
smarts1 said:
What general region of the country of you from? (Harvard has regional committees that picks who gets an II depending on the area of the country you are from). And Congrats!
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I live within a 15 minute drive haha. Convenient.
 
inycepoo said:
Doesn't matter. You'll change your specialty like you did your major in no time.
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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!
 
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