2021-2022 Harvard

[wysdoc]

Thank you to @kokoriko and @Habber22 for sharing this year's questions!

Summary of the various Harvard tracks: Choosing an MD Track

2021-2022 Harvard Secondary Essay Prompts:

Harvard Medical School is committed to the enrollment of a diverse body of talented students who will reflect the character of the people whose health needs the medical profession must serve. The consensus is strong at HMS that the education of a physician is enhanced by diversity within the student body. At your option, please provide the following information not contained within the AMCAS application, to provide us with a more complete sense of your background:

A. Marital Status:
Married Single
Number and ages of siblings:
Number and ages of dependents:

B. Are your parents/guardians Harvard Medical School alumni (MD or MD-PhD) or faculty members?
Yes No

C. How many hours per week did you devote to employment during the academic year?
Freshman:
Sophomore:
Junior:
Senior:

D. If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.

E. If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (4000 character maximum)

(optional) The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.) (4,00 character maximum)

The interview season for the 2021-2022 cycle will be held virtually and is anticipated to run from mid-September through January 2022. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, please leave this section blank.
---------------------------

If applying to HST (Health Sciences & Technology Track):
Instructions: The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as transformative physicians who will shape the future practice of medicine. Our students come from the full spectrum of disciplines including biological, physical, engineering and social sciences. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches. The unique HST pre-clinical curriculum prepares students well for the HMS clinical education while also emphasizing disease mechanisms and preparing students to solve critical unmet needs in medicine and healthcare (ranging from novel diagnostics and therapeutics to applications of ‘big data’ and systems engineering). Please focus on how your interests, experiences and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities). Limit your comments to the equivalent of one page of single-spaced text with a font size of 10 or 12.
----------------------------------------------
If applying MD/PhD:

• Briefly list your research interests/areas; use keywords only. This information is not binding. (100 characters)
• Please list publications, indicating for each whether it is published, submitted/under review, or in preparation. Limited to 1,000 characters (including spaces).
• Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in your chosen program of study at Harvard. What experiences led you to your research ambitions? Concisely state your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Briefly indicate your career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. Health Policy applicants should indicate the concentration(s) and policy area(s) of interest. For other Social Science PhD Programs, please refer to Program Details for any additional instructions pertaining to this essay.

Good luck to everyone applying!

Interview feedback:

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[rainbowpremed]

For those considering applying, here's the previous cycle's secondary questions:

• If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
• If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (4000 character maximum).

 

[NormalUsername42]

So we all shootin' our shots?

 

[Daydreamer2020]

So we all shootin' our shots?

I know I am!

 

[BRTC200]

For those considering applying, here's the previous cycle's secondary questions:

• If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
• If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (4000 character maximum).

I also have down these additional prompts from when I applied this past cycle:

• G. The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.)
• Our interview season runs from mid-September through January. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, leave blank.

For HST:

• The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as transformative physicians who will shape the future practice of medicine. Our students come from the full spectrum of disciplines including biological, physical, engineering and social sciences. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches. The unique HST pre-clinical curriculum prepares students well for the HMS clinical education while also emphasizing disease mechanisms and preparing students to solve critical unmet needs in medicine and healthcare (ranging from novel diagnostics and therapeutics to applications of ‘big data’ and systems engineering). Please focus on how your interests, experiences and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities). Limit your comments to the equivalent of one page of single-spaced text with a font size of 10 or 12.

For MD/PhD

• Briefly list your research interests/areas; use keywords only. This information is not binding. (100 characters)
• Please list publications, indicating for each whether it is published, submitted/under review, or in preparation. Limited to 1,000 characters (including spaces).
• Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in your chosen program of study at Harvard. What experiences led you to your research ambitions? Concisely state your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Briefly indicate your career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. Health Policy applicants should indicate the concentration(s) and policy area(s) of interest. For other Social Science PhD Programs, please refer to Program Details for any additional instructions pertaining to this essay.

 

[MedIsCool314]

Do people who apply for Harvard get automatically considered for HST by filling out the secondary for it or is there a step prior to be considered?

 

[chickenturkeyboi]

@MedIsCool314 You check a box to apply for HST on the secondary and submit the HST essay. No other step before or after.

 

[deleted1037524]

In-state MD, secondary received.

@wysdoc
Secondary prompts:
Harvard Medical School is committed to the enrollment of a diverse body of talented students who will reflect the character of the people whose health needs the medical profession must serve. The consensus is strong at HMS that the education of a physician is enhanced by diversity within the student body. At your option, please provide the following information not contained within the AMCAS application, to provide us with a more complete sense of your background:

A. Marital Status:
Married Single
Number and ages of siblings:
Number and ages of dependents:

B. Are your parents/guardians Harvard Medical School alumni (MD or MD-PhD) or faculty members?
Yes No

C. How many hours per week did you devote to employment during the academic year?
Freshman:
Sophomore:
Junior:
Senior:

D. If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
Character Count Meter4000


E. If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine.(4000 character maximum)

The interview season for the 2021-2022 cycle will be held virtually and is anticipated to run from mid-September through January 2022. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, please leave this section blank.


HST Essay:
Instructions: The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as transformative physicians who will shape the future practice of medicine. Our students come from the full spectrum of disciplines including biological, physical, engineering and social sciences. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches. The unique HST pre-clinical curriculum prepares students well for the HMS clinical education while also emphasizing disease mechanisms and preparing students to solve critical unmet needs in medicine and healthcare (ranging from novel diagnostics and therapeutics to applications of ‘big data’ and systems engineering). Please focus on how your interests, experiences and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities). Limit your comments to the equivalent of one page of single-spaced text with a font size of 10 or 12.

Edit: Habber22 pointed out that I missed the optional COVID essay (06/30/2022, 12:30pm)

**Add**
The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.) (4,00 character maximum)

 

[NormalUsername42]

+1 IS secondary

 

[Habber22]

In-state MD, secondary received.

@wysdoc
Secondary prompts:
Harvard Medical School is committed to the enrollment of a diverse body of talented students who will reflect the character of the people whose health needs the medical profession must serve. The consensus is strong at HMS that the education of a physician is enhanced by diversity within the student body. At your option, please provide the following information not contained within the AMCAS application, to provide us with a more complete sense of your background:

A. Marital Status:
Married Single
Number and ages of siblings:
Number and ages of dependents:

B. Are your parents/guardians Harvard Medical School alumni (MD or MD-PhD) or faculty members?
Yes No

C. How many hours per week did you devote to employment during the academic year?
Freshman:
Sophomore:
Junior:
Senior:

D. If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
Character Count Meter4000


E. If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine.(4000 character maximum)

The interview season for the 2021-2022 cycle will be held virtually and is anticipated to run from mid-September through January 2022. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, please leave this section blank.


HST Essay:
Instructions: The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as transformative physicians who will shape the future practice of medicine. Our students come from the full spectrum of disciplines including biological, physical, engineering and social sciences. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches. The unique HST pre-clinical curriculum prepares students well for the HMS clinical education while also emphasizing disease mechanisms and preparing students to solve critical unmet needs in medicine and healthcare (ranging from novel diagnostics and therapeutics to applications of ‘big data’ and systems engineering). Please focus on how your interests, experiences and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities). Limit your comments to the equivalent of one page of single-spaced text with a font size of 10 or 12.

**Add**
The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.) (4,00 character maximum)

 

[deleted1037524]

**Add**
The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.) (4,00 character maximum)

My bad, thank you for adding it!

 

[artist456]

Is it weird I haven’t gotten the Harvard secondary if I submitted my primary May 27 in the morning?

 

[deleted1106140]

Is it weird I haven’t gotten the Harvard secondary if I submitted my primary May 27 in the morning?

haven't gotten mine either and also submitted on first day.

 

[MrPankow]

haven't gotten mine either and also submitted on first day.

The two in this thread are in state so maybe thats why? Assuming you guys are OOS

 

[Habber22]

The two in this thread are in state so maybe thats why? Assuming you guys are OOS

+3 for being IS and having received a seconadary

 

[deleted1106140]

Is it frowned upon to only use 1000 characters or so out of 4000 for the optional essay, rather than not writing anything at all?

 

[NormalUsername42]

Is it frowned upon to only use 1000 characters or so out of 4000 for the optional essay, rather than not writing anything at all?

If those 1000 characters add something relevant and important to your application and another 3000 characters could not help to better explain that addition and would really only be fluff, then you’re fine!

 

[namaste2022]

OOS secondary received

 

[1800avogadro]

For online coursework, does this also pertain to courses taken remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

 

[deleted1074206]

Secondary received OOS...also same question as above ^^^

 

[BobaaaK]

Secondary received

 

[serotonin1]

For online coursework, does this also pertain to courses taken remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Secondary received OOS...also same question as above ^^^

Last year's thread had people call to confirm that yes, you should still list them as completed online!

 

[Morningnight]

OOS secondary received

+1 OOS secondary received.

 

[Billie Rubin]

Anyone else having an issue in which all of your LORs have been marked as received, but the LOR category in the Home tab still has the red exclamation next to it?

 

[serotonin1]

Anyone else having an issue in which all of your LORs have been marked as received, but the LOR category in the Home tab still has the red exclamation next to it?

Me, I would give it until later today or tomorrow! On my other portals, time has resolved the issues

Edit: letters are checked off and complete 7/7

 

[Measher809]

if you are submitting individual letters through interfolio does that count as "third party packet" or "from the letter writers to amcas"

 

[deleted1037524]

For online coursework, does this also pertain to courses taken remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Emailed them, they said yes: List all courses that were fully or partially online (including hybrid).

edit: typos

 

[brown_skin_girl]

OOS secondary received

 

[deleted1037524]

Yay I already submitted and did not include those COVID hybrid courses

I'm sure you'll be fine! It seemed like it was not a huge deal, just a small part of their 'holistic review'.

 

[palmtrees1234]

I'm assuming employment hours is only for paid employment? I.e. would I not include research "jobs" where I wasn't paid or unpaid internships?

 

[Morningnight]

if you are submitting individual letters through interfolio does that count as "third party packet" or "from the letter writers to amcas"

Isn't there a third option "individual letters sent from the letter writers to AMCAS?"

 

[Measher809]

Isn't there a third option "individual letters sent from the letter writers to AMCAS?"

yea that was the second option I put lol

 

[overnightoats4ever]

yea that was the second option I put lol

For Interfolio I put packet of letters from a third party vendor?...

 

[Morningnight]

yea that was the second option I put lol

My bad, totally read that wrong haha. I think it would be what the previous poster said "packet from third party vendor"

 

[sleepypremed22]

OOS received and submitted! having the word "Harvard" in my inbox makes me feel fancy

 

[yeehaw1999]

For the hours of employment section of the secondary broken up into freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years, what is an academic year defined as? Trying to figure out where to put summer employment hours

 

[sleepypremed22]

For the hours of employment section of the secondary broken up into freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years, what is an academic year defined as? Trying to figure out where to put summer employment hours

I interpreted it that you don’t put summer employment hours, only ones during the academic year’s semesters

 

[lupomed123]

If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
^ I've graduated from undergraduate but currently in graduate school. Do I fill out this section?

 

[MrPankow]

If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
^ I've graduated from undergraduate but currently in graduate school. Do I fill out this section?

Yes

 

[premed-int'l]

Anyone having trouble with paying the fees? Mine keeps getting declined :/

 

[deleted1074206]

are the secondary questions really optional/have there been successful applicants who have not answered any of the essay questions? I feel like none apply to me

 

[deleted555445]

If you apply HST and pathways, are you being reviewed completely separately for those, or is it the kind of thing where you can only be accepted into HST if you're already accepted into pathways?

 

[medicalapplicant46]

are the secondary questions really optional/have there been successful applicants who have not answered any of the essay questions? I feel like none apply to me

I am in the same boat but scared turning it in is like taking a $100 bill and flushing it down the toilet... Help!

 

[are_u_not_entertained]

If you apply HST and pathways, are you being reviewed completely separately for those, or is it the kind of thing where you can only be accepted into HST if you're already accepted into pathways?

From their website: "Application to both tracks in no way prejudices the chance of acceptance to either one."

This phrasing seems to indicate that you are reviewed for admission to HST and Pathways separately, should you select both. The above would also suggest that acceptance into one has no bearing on acceptance into the other!

 

[deleted555445]

From their website: "Application to both tracks in no way prejudices the chance of acceptance to either one."

This phrasing seems to indicate that you are reviewed for admission to HST and Pathways separately, should you select both. The above would also suggest that acceptance into one has no bearing on acceptance into the other!

That's how I read that too, but wanted to check to be sure. Thanks!

 

[KnightDoc]

I am in the same boat but scared turning it in is like taking a $100 bill and flushing it down the toilet... Help!

For just about everyone, it is, but, as they say with the lottery, you gotta be in it to win it!

 

[Orims]

That's how I read that too, but wanted to check to be sure. Thanks!

I got rejected from HST but got my Pathways interview invite in the same day. I think they review HST and Pathways application independently but roughly at the same time.

 

[deleted555445]

I got rejected from HST but got my Pathways interview invite in the same day. I think they review HST and Pathways application independently but roughly at the same time.

Awesome, looking forward to getting rejected by both on the same day.

 

[Gwynbleidd]

IS and still haven’t received a secondary….big sad

Edit: And just realized I never even added Harvard to my schools on AMCAS. Starting the cycle out well 🥴

 

[DOadvice]

Being IS or OOS is not relevant in admissions to Harvard and like schools.