New requirements to enter Harvard in 2016

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ttran1490

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Hi all,

I guess I am one of those who is dreaming big. I'm planning to apply to Harvard med school next summer for class entering fall 2016. I checked the course requirement and found out that they have new set of requirements. Every courses in this new set of requirements seem to have biology related (chemistry, physics and maths). I'm a bit nervous right now because I already graduated from College and attending school of Public Health this fall, so to fulfill these new course requirement seem to be impossible. Even if I'm still in college, this new requirement still seem very hard to achieve because I can't find courses in physics or chemistry that has biology practice problems as part of its program. Besides, are courses in chemistry that focus heavily in writing counted toward expository writing requirement? Does this whole new requirements mean me and other graduated students from college have no chance of applying to Harvard medical school after 2016?

For more information about the new set of requirements, please visit the link below:
http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission

Thank you
 
Or that the new curriculum seems to be loosening the requirement and making it more flexible, not making it more cumbersome like the OP believes 🙄. They are even willing to consider lab research with PI to satisfy the lab requirement rather than 1 year of bio, chem, orgo, and physics lab.
 
I suggest you read the "new" requirements again, carefully. There's no drastic change, just the inclusion of biochem, which you will need for the new MCAT anyway. The rest is just their fancy way of saying they're going to be more flexible with what courses fulfill the requirements.

You will be fine course-wise if you have:
1 year biology
1 year general chem
1 year organic chem
biochem
1 year physics
1 year math (including calculus)
Writing and English
Associated labs for the science courses, or relevant scholarly research.

You do not need to go out and find a physics course that emphasizes biological concepts. Don't take what they're saying so literally.
 
Thank you very much, that really helps. Each of us has different undergrad experiences so I'm glad they are more flexible as you said. Also, please someone help me to explain what they have in section 6: "Analytical and writing skills/Expository Writing"
On my transcript, there are two full courses having ENG as prefix. They have reading and writing, yet I think I achieved analytical and writing skills through my time in analytical chemistry, instrumentation methods, advanced inorganic chemistry, quantum mechanics etc...Do you think that would be ok? I never taken any writing course in English department
 
ttran1490 said:
Thank you very much, that really helps. Each of us has different undergrad experiences so I'm glad they are more flexible as you said. Also, please someone help me to explain what they have in section 6: "Analytical and writing skills/Expository Writing"
On my transcript, there are two full courses having ENG as prefix. They have reading and writing, yet I think I achieved analytical and writing skills through my time in analytical chemistry, instrumentation methods, advanced inorganic chemistry, quantum mechanics etc...Do you think that would be ok? I never taken any writing course in English department
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"Writing Flags" or equivalents are probably part of your Uni core curriculum. They probably just want to see that, yes, you did in fact write something before your PS. The writing you do in science classes is a joke compared to upper-division philosophy/logic/history/english but I don't think Harvard would reject you. It says on there that they would like to see 16 hours+ of liberal arts classes on the transcript but it's not a requirement. Again, I wouldn't take all of this literally, it's more like guidelines.
 
ttran1490 said:
Hi all,

I guess I am one of those who is dreaming big. I'm planning to apply to Harvard med school next summer for class entering fall 2016. I checked the course requirement and found out that they have new set of requirements. Every courses in this new set of requirements seem to have biology related (chemistry, physics and maths). I'm a bit nervous right now because I already graduated from College and attending school of Public Health this fall, so to fulfill these new course requirement seem to be impossible. Even if I'm still in college, this new requirement still seem very hard to achieve because I can't find courses in physics or chemistry that has biology practice problems as part of its program. Besides, are courses in chemistry that focus heavily in writing counted toward expository writing requirement? Does this whole new requirements mean me and other graduated students from college have no chance of applying to Harvard medical school after 2016?

For more information about the new set of requirements, please visit the link below:
http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission

Thank you
Click to expand...
If you don't have a real story that makes your life truly unique then you better have some truly unique and amazing ECs along with illustrated research potential and/or achievements. This is on top of a high GPA/MCAT.

Point is, having a high gpa/mcat along with lots of volunteering, shadowing, general ECs, some research etc. will not get you into Harvard. They look for people that bring something unique to the school or people that will be true leaders and innovators in medicine. Other top schools are in line with this as well. They want to develop the next future leaders in academic medicine and want people who will be successful in research. They aren't looking to output community doctors who just want the harvard name for its prestige.
 
@studentp0x: I agree that having high GPA/MCAT, volunteering, shadowing, general ECs, some research won't guarantee a slot at Harvard, yet as an applicant, I believe those are required criteria for the school to even take a look at my application before reading further at my other achievements. Everyone is unique, getting into Harvard won't make me better person than anyone else, please don't take my original post in the wrong way
 
ttran1490 said:
@studentp0x: I agree that having high GPA/MCAT, volunteering, shadowing, general ECs, some research won't guarantee a slot at Harvard, yet as an applicant, I believe those are required criteria for the school to even take a look at my application before reading further at my other achievements. Everyone is unique, getting into Harvard won't make me better person than anyone else, please don't take my original post in the wrong way
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I'm just saying that you shouldn't set unrealistic expectations for yourself because falling short may deliver a blow of disappointment. A lot of pre-meds start out aiming for Harvard or Stanford but then attend a low-tier MD or a DO school. In the end everyone becomes a physician.

Thing is, everyone isn't unique. There's a reason we call it "cookie cutter" applicants. Because you're making yourself equal to the thousands of other applicants. The typical volunteering/shadowing thing is needed along with GPA/MCAT to even have a shot at an interview at any MD school. I'm sure being a cookie cutter will have your application looked at for a few moments at Harvard, but no longer than that. They have applicants with some truly amazing 1 in a 1000 stories, top notch researchers who are also high level athletes, guys with long lists of quality ECs on top of a 42 MCAT, etc etc. Even then, you'll need lots of luck to get in. There's more qualified applicants than there are spots.

I think the type of person who achieves such things is naturally drawn to major involvements on top of natural academic success to extreme standards. Regardless though, if you get some good research down along with a high GPA and MCAT, you'll probably get into a top 15 school.
 
studentp0x said:
I'm just saying that you shouldn't set unrealistic expectations for yourself because falling short may deliver a blow of disappointment. A lot of pre-meds start out aiming for Harvard or Stanford but then attend a low-tier MD or a DO school. In the end everyone becomes a physician.

Thing is, everyone isn't unique. There's a reason we call it "cookie cutter" applicants. Because you're making yourself equal to the thousands of other applicants. The typical volunteering/shadowing thing is needed along with GPA/MCAT to even have a shot at an interview at any MD school. I'm sure being a cookie cutter will have your application looked at for a few moments at Harvard, but no longer than that. They have applicants with some truly amazing 1 in a 1000 stories, top notch researchers who are also high level athletes, guys with long lists of quality ECs on top of a 42 MCAT, etc etc. Even then, you'll need lots of luck to get in. There's more qualified applicants than there are spots.

I think the type of person who achieves such things is naturally drawn to major involvements on top of natural academic success to extreme standards. Regardless though, if you get some good research down along with a high GPA and MCAT, you'll probably get into a top 15 school.
Click to expand...

Calm your horses. If OP wants to aim for Harvard, let them. Getting in isn't like going to the moon, I know a couple people a few years above me who attended Harvard med and they did not need all those things you mentioned. Yes it's difficult and a degree of luck is involved, but it's not as caraaaaaazy impossible as some people here make it out to be. If you understand the risks and chances, there's nothing wrong with aiming high. Good luck OP!
 
Lucca said:
I said it before and I'll say it again: Lab requirements are horse **** if you can just get into a real lab and do hands-on, meaningful work. I'm glad Harvard agrees.
Click to expand...

I agree but science majors cant graduate without them
 
ttran1490 said:
Hi all,

I guess I am one of those who is dreaming big. I'm planning to apply to Harvard med school next summer for class entering fall 2016. I checked the course requirement and found out that they have new set of requirements. Every courses in this new set of requirements seem to have biology related (chemistry, physics and maths). I'm a bit nervous right now because I already graduated from College and attending school of Public Health this fall, so to fulfill these new course requirement seem to be impossible. Even if I'm still in college, this new requirement still seem very hard to achieve because I can't find courses in physics or chemistry that has biology practice problems as part of its program. Besides, are courses in chemistry that focus heavily in writing counted toward expository writing requirement? Does this whole new requirements mean me and other graduated students from college have no chance of applying to Harvard medical school after 2016?

For more information about the new set of requirements, please visit the link below:
http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission

Thank you
Click to expand...
You so did not understand what they posted:

Before:
  • 1. Biology
One year with laboratory experience is the minimum requirement. Courses taken should deal with the cellular and molecular aspects as well as the structure and function of living organisms.

Advanced placement credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement; upper level courses should be taken if students have been granted advanced placement credits.

After:
  • 1. Biology
The required 1-year biology course should be devoted to genetics and cell biology and should emphasize human biology (signal transduction, basic pharmacologic principles, homeostasis and feedback, an introduction to hormone receptors, neuronal signaling, and immunology). Because biology is the most elegant expression of chemistry, physics, and mathematics, computational skills that tie these previously separate disciplines together should be emphasized.

The focus on genetics should include nucleic acid structure and function, genetic recombination, and mechanisms of gene expression in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, i.e., molecular biology/genetics); the study of cell biology should include subcellular organization, differentiation, cellular metabolic function, energy transfer, structure-function relationships, reproduction, and membrane properties. Preparation in biology should place more of an emphasis on human biology and on principles of systems biology.

Although a formal year-long course that covers these concepts will meet this requirement, other innovative approaches (including interdisciplinary courses taught together with biologically relevant physical sciences) that allow students to master these “competencies,” independent of discrete courses and semester time commitments, are encouraged and will be considered.

Advanced placement credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement; upper level courses should be taken if students have been granted advanced placement credits.
 
Espadaleader said:
HMS will launch new curriculum fall 2015. Following Duke's model.
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Wait so also 1-yr preclinical and then Step 1 for Harvard? (Couldn't find anything online)
 
Lucca said:
Atye but they are keeping the old curriculum in parallel and making admission separate for both aren't they? You could probably shed some more light on New Pathway.
Click to expand...

No, no. For class entering in 2015 NP will be permanently changed to a one year format. This is what was said at second look.
 
I don't know the full details accept one basic science year like Duke.
 
Espadaleader said:
I don't know the full details accept one basic science year like Duke.
Click to expand...
Heard the same, it is basically just like Duke, but the change is only for NP, not HST. This really surprised me because as much as HST talks about training physician scientists, it seems like NP is becoming the better option if you want time to do research.
 
skippysuperstar said:
Heard the same, it is basically just like Duke, but the change is only for NP, not HST. This really surprised me because as much as HST talks about training physician scientists, it seems like NP is becoming the better option if you want time to do research.
Click to expand...

Word, with this change HST is the option for chumps lol. But they do have that scholar/mentor program as well. Not that I'll ever be qualified enough to get into this school so I guess its watev
 
skippysuperstar said:
Heard the same, it is basically just like Duke, but the change is only for NP, not HST. This really surprised me because as much as HST talks about training physician scientists, it seems like NP is becoming the better option if you want time to do research.
Click to expand...
It's about the funding, though, right? Will NP get any of that?
 
moop said:
It's about the funding, though, right? Will NP get any of that?
Click to expand...
In terms of outside funding (e.g., HHMI), NP v. HST shouldn't matter. In terms of the MIT funding mechanism, I haven't heard any details....
 
skippysuperstar said:
In terms of outside funding (e.g., HHMI), NP v. HST shouldn't matter. In terms of the MIT funding mechanism, I haven't heard any details....
Click to expand...
I thought the advantages were finding and MIT resources.
 
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