How strong do you need to be for harvard? (everything combined)

[crashblades]

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Hi so I have a 23AA, 24TS, 22PAT (21 and higher on everything). cGPA 3.64, science is probably higher.

EC. TA for 3 upper level science classes, paid tutor, currently a lab technician doing research, volunteering for dentist and research.

is this strong enough for harvard? I feel like i'm not good enough because I'm not a president of any clubs or stuff along those lines. (Leadership ability) Although I can argue that I was the team leader for a research team in undergrad still not president though... :-(

 

[NDPitch]

I'm pretty sure only God's children go to Harvard, haha. You're right, I think you need leadership and great things that make you unique. For example, my old RA got into Harvard. He was the president of the BioSci club for like 2 or 3 years, a bi-lingual minority, had a GPA of like 3.85 across the board, mid 20s on the DAT across the board, he was an RA, he did research, etc etc etc.

There's always exceptions but I'm probably saving my money to apply elsewhere, even if there's that rare chance that for some reason they like you more than someone with the insane stats.

 

[crashblades]

has anyone or does anyone know someone that got into harvard without any leadership experience or lacking in the extracuricular activities??

 

[Zbtb7]

has anyone or does anyone know someone that got into harvard without any leadership experience or lacking in the extracuricular activities??

What school do you go to?

Harvard takes 1 student from my school every few years. The usual profile is a really high gpa and DATs and extensive research experience (2+ years)->basically a candidate that you'd expect to self-select into an MD/PhD program. So from what my school has fed to Harvard over the years, they're looking for someone with a talent for research that would enter academia.

I think it's pointless to try to pinpoint what they're looking for though. Might as well apply and see if they choose you, pikachu!

 

[DoeAdeer]

A 4.0 from a 4-year university, 24+ DAT, and several research publications should get you into Harvard.

 

[Zbtb7]

A 4.0 from a 4-year university, 24+ DAT, and several research publications should get you into Harvard.

If you have several pubs (especially 1st author), you don't need a 4.0/24+. I had a friend with ~3.7 sci and 22 DAT who got accepted. He told me that they screen for people with intent to enter academia (and the best way to express this intent is through serious commitments in labs). I also met someone who got accepted after completing a PhD in the life sciences, further indicating the research focus of the school. They screen against people who want to use the school as a guarantee of specializing and then enter private practice. IMHO that's a waste of Harvard's limited (35) seats and takes from the dentistry people who advance the profession through R&D.

 

[crashblades]

well first author is impossible unless you already have a PHD. The most a person straight out of undergrad can get is 2nd author. I will most likely be getting a authorship in my lab (not 2nd coz I did not want to fight for it, felt it will benefit the other tech more than I would) and 2nd author in posters (kinda useless IMO)

also the problem is, I like clinical over research....

 

[Zbtb7]

well first author is impossible unless you already have a PHD. The most a person straight out of undergrad can get is 2nd author. I will most likely be getting a authorship in my lab (not 2nd coz I did not want to fight for it, felt it will benefit the other tech more than I would) and 2nd author in posters (kinda useless IMO)

also the problem is, I like clinical over research....

You get 1st author if you are the primary contributor of a paper. Your PI is listed last. I got a 2nd author pub because I was the secondary contributor. My friend drove her own research and got a 1st author pub. She did all of this her senior year of undergrad.

OP-how many hours of research will you have done by the time you apply?

 

[Biotage]

well first author is impossible unless you already have a PHD. The most a person straight out of undergrad can get is 2nd author. I will most likely be getting a authorship in my lab (not 2nd coz I did not want to fight for it, felt it will benefit the other tech more than I would) and 2nd author in posters (kinda useless IMO)

also the problem is, I like clinical over research....

Usually it falls to the discretion of the PI as to what order the names are placed. I've been the second of two co-authors for a prof who prefers to be first, and I've been the first author on a paper from a prof who prefers to always be last. I also do not have a PhD.