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2014-2015 Harvard Medical School Application Thread
Started by gettheleadout
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I'm entering this year as an HST student (non-MD/PhD) so I might not be too much help until later on in the year, but if you have any questions I will do my best to help or find someone who can. I applied both NP and HST but ultimately chose HST for a variety of reasons.
And good luck to everyone applying! It's a whirlwind. If y'all have any questions about the application process, don't hesitate to message/ask me!
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I wouldn't think it does! They send a secondary to everyone who applies
Same here. Letters not received, although other schools received them immediately.
Okay good. I didn't want to be the only one!
Will it be frowned upon if I only apply for the NP pathway and not HST even though I have a significant research background?
still no secondary here...
Me neither. But i still have 5 secondaries to do so i guess I shouldn't complain.
Would it hurt, for the optional essay, to put in a pre-written autobiography with interesting factors from my background but no absolutely crazy obstacles? Or, is it safer to just leave it blank? Would it be silly to expand upon obstacles mentioned lightly in the primary or leave such expansion to be discussed in a possible interview?
No. The NP and HST applications are evaluated independently by different committees. They won't care if you don't apply for the other program. I actually know a few people that got into only NP program primarily because of their significant research background, so no worries!
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A pre-written autobio would most likely not address the question, so I would leave that out. For the obstacles, as long as you are bringing a fresh perspective that hasn't really been touched upon in your primary, feel free to include it. It may be safer to include those obstacles in your optional essay as long as it's high quality and you can write a decent amount, since it's not guaranteed such obstacles will be mentioned during the interview.
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No secondary yet 🙁
Good to know someone else is in the same boat. I haven't gotten one either and I was verified 6/11.
Apparently they send them in batches but i just dont get why they wouldnt just send them all at once since everyone gets one...
batches by gpa and mcat? what kind of batches we talking? still havent received mine.
This is a bit frustrating. I've had my essays pre-written for weeks, but I still haven't gotten a secondary.
well since some people have received them already it appears to be in batches. i don't know if they're by mcat or gpa though. the cynical paranoid side of me wants to think that but i don't know for sure.
either way its frustratinggggg 🙁
I added them last Wednesday. Got secondary the following day. Check your junk mail or something?
From another thread, I understand you're applying mstp? Because I'm applying mstp and haven't gotten one either.
Since the school is non-rolling, I wouldn't worry too much about not receiving it yet. Everyone will get it eventually 😀
That is correct.
Same here. They were received at 1 in the morning haha. Somebody working there is a night owl.
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I haven't either and was verified on 07/03/14.
Still nothing. I was verified 6/16 🙁
I called them this afternoon and they said they are still in the process of sending them out. He didn't give me any details on ow they were distributing them but he said that we should receive it by the end of the week!
Thanks for calling and sharing! 🙂
Thanks so much for calling for us! I was starting to worry
Finally got my secondary! Verified since 6/3
+1
Harvard sent me a letter in the mail encouraging me to apply because I am "economically disadvantaged" or because I "self-identify as a member of a racial or ethic group historically underrepresented". Neither of those things are true, and I didn't put that information anywhere in my application (I double checked). Any ideas as to what I should do? I think they have me confused with someone else or something..
Finally got mine at 6:38! Hang in there!
Finally. Received and submitted. Hope they enjoy reading my essays right before rejecting me! 
It's here!
To those of you who have gotten in and/or have written the secondary already, how long were your essays?
I think mine was something like 2500 or 3000 characters. I figured I'd rather be concise than ramble just for the sake of filling up space.
You know you've completed a lot of secondaries when 2500/3000 characters sounds short
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I got the same letter, right after the MCAT scores were released. And it's not true for me either. I just applied anyway!
i was wondering if i should mention it on the secondary.. or just let it go and possibly have a better chance at an II 😛
Verified 6/10, no secondary. Do they need to have my MCAT score to send one? Scores will be out Tuesday
I did the same. Wrote about something really important to me, but not in their list.
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