Have questions about Harvard?

[ckow]

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If anybody has any questions about Harvard, please feel free to post them on the FORUMS on harvardASDA.org.

Everyone on the Harvard ASDA board (and the rest of the student body) would be happy to help answer your questions. So, if you're a pre-dent looking for advice/information directly from HSDM students...or if you're an incoming 1st year with questions about the dorms/vandy, boston, books, classes, pbl, etc.....feel free to ask us!

I absolutely loved my 1st year at HSDM and would love to help anybody out if I can (and I know the rest of us would say the same)!

For those of you starting the application process, good luck with everything! 🙂 and for those of you preparing to enter dental school this fall, i hope you have a wonderful first year!

 

[bor0000]

Thank you, very nice site! As a predent that doesnt even know yet what schools he'll be applying to, i dont feel i should waste space on that website. but perhaps ask questions.
1) what is their minimum gpa, is there anybody that was interviewed with 3.4-3.5?
2) also pretty much all of my classes are in the sciences. the only other non-science class is a C+ in accounting. i only took 1 english class at some school over the summer and i dont plan to take any more english classes untill my senior year. i.e. i am now taking only the science classes in the fall and in the spring. Will harvard(and any other dental schools-columbia) want me to have taken english before applying?
3) for some reason i cant think of any more questions

 

[ckow]

Yes, there are people with 3.4-3.5 that are interviewed and accepted. HSDM admissions isn't just about your GPA (we have many many well-rounded students with terrific experiences that can attest to this fact). It's really about the student as a whole. That's why I think the personal statement and interview are so important. Literally, I am constantly amazed by how wonderful the people are around me. Not only are they smart, but more importantly they are really genuinely kind, extremely generous with their time, and they love to help others. (For example, during exam time, emails are being sent out with study sheets, lecture notes, etc....it's really very cooperative and relaxed.) These are people that you want to hang out with even after class...and I think the HSDM admissions committee really takes care to look at the applicant as a whole to make sure that it's not just GPA that determines whether someone is accepted.

As for your second question, there's a link online at the HSDM website that tells you all the courses you are required to take to apply.

Thank you, very nice site! As a predent that doesnt even know yet what schools he'll be applying to, i dont feel i should waste space on that website. but perhaps ask questions.
1) what is their minimum gpa, is there anybody that was interviewed with 3.4-3.5?
2) also pretty much all of my classes are in the sciences. the only other non-science class is a C+ in accounting. i only took 1 english class at some school over the summer and i dont plan to take any more english classes untill my senior year. i.e. i am now taking only the science classes in the fall and in the spring. Will harvard(and any other dental schools-columbia) want me to have taken english before applying?
3) for some reason i cant think of any more questions

 

[hokiedds]

I am applying a year early and won't have my undergrad degree by the time I matriculate, but I do have reasonably good stats and plenty of experience. Do you know of anyone at Harvard that got in a year early? I dont want to waste the money and time to apply if they wont consider me seriously. Thanks.

 

[Profchaos]

I really doubt it.

They require a degree prior to matriculation

 

[ItsGavinC]

If anybody has any questions about Harvard, please feel free to post them on the FORUMS.

Everyone on the Harvard ASDA board (and the rest of the student body) would be happy to help answer your questions.

Cool. Thanks for the link and welcome to SDN.
👍

 

[dino_flagellate]

I have a question...

What lives underwater and goes moo?

cowfish?

What's black and white and red all over?

 

[Bellingham]

Hey Everyone,
I'm also an HSDMer and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the school.

 

[atrill]

Hey Everyone,
I'm also an HSDMer and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the school.

Hi Bellingham
I am very excited to be starting this fall with class of 2009.
I have a wife and son with maybe one more on the way eventually.
I am very interested in learning more about how to afford this with a spouse that isn't employed. I know it is possible and many have done it before me. I'm just nervous because I am uninformed. I'm guessing loans will not cover everything, and my family is not rich... so how is it done?

Also, where is a good place to live? We are looking in the Medford/Malden/Cambridge area... somewhere near the T or commuter rail. Which is better for students... buying or renting... commuter rail or T?

Lastly, what's the best way to go for dependant health insurance? State health care?

Thanks, in advance, for the help anyone can offer.
Ideally, I would like to get in touch with someone in the same situation so I can learn from their experiences.

Respectfully,
atrill

 

[drat]

Hey atrill --

I will be a first year as well and just got a 2 bd apartment in Brookline, a 1.3 mile walk to HSDM (and also on the "D" line and 60 bus), this past weekend. I looked into buying a condo, and it's quite expensive. The quality I would want was >$300,000 for a mid-sized 2 bd which just wouldn't be affordable while I attended school. I think it would be a wise investment, though. . .but that's a different story. I'm not an expert of Boston by any means but know Medford and Malden are typically more affordable than Cambridge and Brookline. I did not look at apartments there and don't know much about the public transportation in those areas -- so I'm pretty worthless.

Also, in my experience, although I am independent from my parents (been working for 3 years), I was required to have a cosigner (or a guaranteer or something like that) for my apartment since I will not have a job. The same might be true for you if your spouse will not be working. Additionally, I tried to go the "cheap-o" route by getting an apartment w/o going through a realtor. (Finders fees are typically 1 month's rent). This sucks, especially for people who don't live in Boston now. Make a few appointments with a couple of different realtors. It'll cost you about $2000 but will save you from a major migraine.

I do know 4 Harvard med students who live in Cambridge and commute to the Longwood area by bus. Cambridge is doable.


Best of luck to you! I look forward to meeting you and your family!!
drat!

Hi Bellingham
I am very excited to be starting this fall with class of 2009.
I have a wife and son with maybe one more on the way eventually.
I am very interested in learning more about how to afford this with a spouse that isn't employed. I know it is possible and many have done it before me. I'm just nervous because I am uninformed. I'm guessing loans will not cover everything, and my family is not rich... so how is it done?

Also, where is a good place to live? We are looking in the Medford/Malden/Cambridge area... somewhere near the T or commuter rail. Which is better for students... buying or renting... commuter rail or T?

Lastly, what's the best way to go for dependant health insurance? State health care?

Thanks, in advance, for the help anyone can offer.
Ideally, I would like to get in touch with someone in the same situation so I can learn from their experiences.

Respectfully,
atrill

 

[ckow]

Hi Atrill,

I actually lived in the dorms ("Vandy"...short for Vanderbilt Hall) last year and will be doing the same this upcoming year...so I'm unable to offer you some good advice. However, I just emailed 3 of my 1st year classmates (oops...i guess 2nd year now) who are married and living off campus (2 with kids) to see if they can come on sdn (or the harvardasda.org forums) and answer your questions.

I can say, however, that cheap parking is hard to find around the longwood area...there's a parking garage but it's not a viable option for everyday...so if you live far away then you'll probably want to take public transportation which can be quite a hassle from places such as medford and malden etc. I used to live in Somerville so I'm somewhat familiar with how far away those places you mentioned are.

I just sent out the email to the "off-campus" people...so wait a bit for their response....

Good luck with the transition to Boston! We're excited to have you coming! 🙂

~ ckow

Hey atrill --

I will be a first year as well and just got a 2 bd apartment in Brookline, a 1.3 mile walk to HSDM (and also on the "D" line and 60 bus), this past weekend. I looked into buying a condo, and it's quite expensive. The quality I would want was >$300,000 for a mid-sized 2 bd which just wouldn't be affordable while I attended school. I think it would be a wise investment, though. . .but that's a different story. I'm not an expert of Boston by any means but know Medford and Malden are typically more affordable than Cambridge and Brookline. I did not look at apartments there and don't know much about the public transportation in those areas -- so I'm pretty worthless.

Also, in my experience, although I am independent from my parents (been working for 3 years), I was required to have a cosigner (or a guaranteer or something like that) for my apartment since I will not have a job. The same might be true for you if your spouse will not be working. Additionally, I tried to go the "cheap-o" route by getting an apartment w/o going through a realtor. (Finders fees are typically 1 month's rent). This sucks, especially for people who don't live in Boston now. Make a few appointments with a couple of different realtors. It'll cost you about $2000 but will save you from a major migraine.

I do know 4 Harvard med students who live in Cambridge and commute to the Longwood area by bus. Cambridge is doable.


Best of luck to you! I look forward to meeting you and your family!!
drat!

 

[ckow]

HokieDDS,

I took this from the HSDM website. (www.hsdm.harvard.edu) Hope this helps!

~ ckow

Requirements for Admission:

The majority of applicants have a bachelor's degree at the time of enrollment at HSDM. At least three years of college study are required for matriculation in the dental school. Students who wish to apply for enrollment after three years of college may do so if their undergraduate school agrees to grant a bachelor's degree after successfully completing the first year of dental school. However, this happens rarely.

I am applying a year early and won't have my undergrad degree by the time I matriculate, but I do have reasonably good stats and plenty of experience. Do you know of anyone at Harvard that got in a year early? I dont want to waste the money and time to apply if they wont consider me seriously. Thanks.

 

[cherry22]

Thanks so much, ckow, for offering your help! I will be in the class of 2009 and had a question about personal computers. I need to get a new laptop for dental school, and am thinking about buying a Dell because they have great deals. I never received any information about whether HSDM requires or recommends a particular laptop. Do they, or do they offer a discounted price on a certain computer? What type of computer do most HSDM students have?
Thanks!

HokieDDS,

I took this from the HSDM website. (www.hsdm.harvard.edu) Hope this helps!

~ ckow

Requirements for Admission:

The majority of applicants have a bachelor's degree at the time of enrollment at HSDM. At least three years of college study are required for matriculation in the dental school. Students who wish to apply for enrollment after three years of college may do so if their undergraduate school agrees to grant a bachelor's degree after successfully completing the first year of dental school. However, this happens rarely.

 

[ckow]

Hi Cherry22,

HSDM doesn't require or recommend any particular brand/type of laptop. They do have special "discounts" on certain computers (though i don't know how good these discounts actually are).

For general information on what you'll need at HSDM/HMS, check out this link: http://ecomputing.med.harvard.edu/

For information on "computer deals" for harvard students, check out this LINK: (this page is also linked off the harvard ecomputing link that i pasted above)

(Although most of these "deals" are for IBM computers, neither HSDM nor HMS recommend or require IBM computers at all...in fact, I don't know which classmates (if any) used this deal...but they're available if you are interested in them...i don't know, however, if they really are good deals or not...you'll have to do some homework about the prices...)

as for me, i have a desktop (i used to be a strictly laptop girl but i liked the fact that your money buys more when it comes to desktops)....i also have an old old old laptop that i sometimes (very infrequently) use when i want to study in the MEC (MEC is short for Medical Education Center...where we have most of our classes). But there are SO MANY computer labs in the MEC (and in the new dental building) that you really don't need to lug around your laptop).

In terms of taking notes on laptops in class....very very few people do it b/c we get powerpoint handouts...and it's honestly easier to take notes by hand in most of the lectures given what we're writing down. I say only 2 or 3 out of the 160 students (that's med and dental) in our classes (med classes) use laptops to take notes....and no one in our dental class uses a laptop to take notes...of course, keep in mind that i'm only a 1st year and that maybe this changes in the later years...so a second year will have to chime in with his/her advice...

anyway, let me know if you have any other questions...always happy to help! 🙂

~ ckow

Thanks so much, ckow, for offering your help! I will be in the class of 2009 and had a question about personal computers. I need to get a new laptop for dental school, and am thinking about buying a Dell because they have great deals. I never received any information about whether HSDM requires or recommends a particular laptop. Do they, or do they offer a discounted price on a certain computer? What type of computer do most HSDM students have?
Thanks!