FAQ for Health and Medicine
Below is a list of questions frequently asked about Medical Schools:
FULL LIST OF FAQs
How many Harvard students does Harvard get into medical school each year?
The real answer is:....zero. Harvard does not get anyone into medical school; students are accepted to medical school based on their personal qualities, academic skills, experience, and motivation. The following is a partial list of factors that medical school admissions committees consider when evaluating applicants to medical school:
- Letters of evaluation
- Medical College Admissions Test scores
- Grade Point Averages (both science and overall)
- Personal interview
- Breadth of education
- Trend in college grades
- Research experience
- Community service
- Medically-related experience
- Potential for service to underserved communities
- Timing of application
- U.S. and state residency status.
For information on MCAT scores, GPA and concentration choice of accepted applicants, see the publication,
Medical School Admissions Data for Harvard/Radcliffe Seniors and Alumni/ae, located in the OCS Reading Room and revised annually.
Do I need to do research? Volunteer work?
Admissions committees at medical schools will be impressed by an applicant who has pursued an area in depth because she was excited and curious about that work. Although medical schools want to know that the student has tested her interest in medicine and has an understanding of the profession beyond her experience in the classroom, there is no checklist of activities that they look for in an applicant. A student who has written a history thesis and volunteered at Project Health at Boston Medical Center is just as likely to be accepted as someone who developed a biochem thesis from her continuing work in a biochem lab. Similarly, while medical schools expect most students to have experience working with people who need help, a hospital setting is not the only place to acquire this experience. Working in a nursing home, respite care, community health center, hospice, etc. provides students with invaluable experience in learning more about patients, health care workers, the health care system, and about themselves. It can help them answer the question, "How do you know you want to be a doctor?"
Similarly, research can take place in a science lab but it can also take place in a clinical setting or in the anthropology department. What is important is that the student develop skills in gathering and critically evaluating data. Involvement in research teaches students skills in perseverance, attention to detail, critical thinking -- all relevant qualities in a physician. (Note: for MD/Ph.D. applicants, substantial lab research is essential.) The point is to become involved in projects that you are passionate about, that allow you to explore and follow through on your interests.
How important are med school interviews?
Medical school interviews are an essential component of the admissions process, an opportunity for both the interviewer and the applicant to evaluate each other. From the perspective of the medical school admissions officers, the interview gives them a chance to assess whether you have the maturity, personality, and motivation to succeed in medicine. If you have reached the interview stage, this means that the admissions office knows you are bright, and likely to succeed in the academic work of medical school. In the interview, they are trying to find out what you are like as a person, if you are a match with their medical school and with the profession. Are you confident without being arrogant? Do you listen carefully? Will you be able to work with a diverse population of students and colleagues? Do you have realistic expectations of life as a physician? For the applicant, the purpose of the interview is not to anticipate every question in an effort to second guess the interviewer. Your task is to communicate your background and your goals in a straightforward, positive way. If you view the interview as an opportunity to show who you are, beyond your MCAT and GPA numbers, you will look forward to this chance to tell your story in your own words.
Should I retake the MCAT?
It depends on how you scored and why you didn't do well the first time you took the MCAT. Be honest with yourself about how well prepared you were at the time you took the test. If you know that you did not put enough effort into studying and that the score is not an accurate reflection of your abilities, it might be a good idea to take it again. However, for those students who truly felt prepared for the test, more studying won't necessarily improve their scores. The MCAT Program Office recommends retaking the MCAT only if:
- there is an unusual discrepancy between your college grades and MCAT scores
- your coursework in areas covered on the test was inadequate
- you misunderstood the directions or incorrectly recorded answers on the answer document
- you had a serious illness at the time of the test
- a member of a medical school admission committee recommended that you retest.
Be aware that retaking the MCAT carries some risk. Research has shown that retest increases are more likely for those examinees initially scoring 9 or below than for those who's initial score is 10 or above. In fact, many students find that their score on one of the subtests decreases upon retesting.
