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Harvard Medical School

From Student Doctor Network Wiki

Contents 1 Overview 2 General Information 3 US News & World Report Rankings 4 Student Body Profile 5 Admissions 5.1 Contact Information 5.1.1 MD Program 5.1.2 MD/PhD Program 5.2 Process 5.2.1 Application Overview 5.2.1.1 Criteria 5.2.1.2 Screening 5.2.1.3 Required Recommendation Letters 5.2.1.4 Additional Courses 5.2.1.5 Additional Information 5.2.2 Primary Application 5.2.3 Secondary Application 5.2.3.1 MD 5.2.3.2 MD/PhD 5.2.4 Interview Overview 5.2.4.1 Notification 5.2.4.2 Pre-Interview On Hold 5.2.4.3 MD Interviews 5.2.4.3.1 Accommodations 5.2.4.4 MD/PhD Interviews 5.2.4.4.1 Accommodations 5.2.5 Travel Information 5.2.5.1 Airport Information 5.2.5.2 Driving to School 5.2.5.3 Bus 5.2.5.4 Subway 5.2.5.5 Recommended Hotels 5.2.6 Admissions Overview 5.2.6.1 Post-Interview On Hold 5.2.6.2 Waitlists 5.2.6.3 Acceptance/Matriculation 5.3 The Down-Low 5.3.1 Pre-Interview 5.3.2 Interview Day 5.3.3 Post-Interview 6 About the School 6.1 Curricula 6.1.1 MD: New Pathway 6.1.1.1 Teaching Styles 6.1.1.2 Anatomy 6.1.1.3 USMLE Preparation/Results 6.1.2 MD: Health, Sciences, and Technology (HST) 6.1.2.1 Teaching Styles 6.1.2.2 Anatomy 6.1.2.3 USMLE Preparation/Results 6.1.3 MD/PhD 6.1.3.1 Medical Years 6.1.3.2 Graduate Years 6.1.4 MD/MPH 6.1.4.1 MPH Year(s) 6.2 Finances 6.2.1 MD Finances 6.2.1.1 Cost of Attendance 6.2.2 MD/PhD Finances 6.2.3 Financial Aid 6.3 Match List 6.4 Affiliated Hospitals 6.5 As A Student 6.5.1 Student Housing 6.5.2 Student Activities 6.5.3 Libraries 6.5.4 Good Study Areas 6.5.5 Best Places to Buy Stuff 7 Useful Links

Overview

Introduction to school. Brief history. Focus of medical school. Describe the student body.

Note: Copywritten information is not to be posted to this site!

General Information

• Full Name: Harvard Medical School
  • Pronunciation: HAR-VARD
  • Other Possible Names: Harvard Med, HMS
• Established: 1782
• Dean: Joseph B. Martin, MD, PhD
• University Affiliation: Harvard University
  • Private
  • Religious Affiliation: None
• Location: Boston, MA Map
  • Nearby cities: Providence (1hr), New York (4 hrs)

• School Colors: Crimson (Red)
• School Mascot: Crimson, Pilgrims
• School Motto: Veritas
• Known for: Very difficult to get into, lots of NIH funding, lots of famous faculty, in a good city
• Connected to Undergraduate Campus: No

US News & World Report Rankings

US News & World Report Rankings Website

• For 2007:
  • Research: 1
  • Primary Care: 25

• For 2006
  • Research: 1 (+/- 0)
  • Primary Care: XX (+/- X)

• For 2005
  • Research: 1 (+/- 0)
  • Primary Care: XX (+/- X)

Student Body Profile

For 2006

• Total Enrollment: 739
• Class size: 166
  • In-state:
  • Out-of-state:
    • Preference to In-state Applicants: No
  • Average Number of Incoming MD/PhD Students: 12
• Average MCAT of Entering Class: 11.7
  • MD/PhD: [##]
• Average GPA of Entering Class: 3.76
  • MD/PhD: [#.##]
• Male: 78 (47%)
• Female: 88 (53%)
• % Single/Available (approx): ??
• Average entering age: 23

Admissions

• Programs Offered
  • MD
  • MD/PhD
  • MD/MBA (Masters of Business Administration)
  • MD/MPH (Masters of Public Health)
  • MD/MPP (Masters of Public Policy)

Contact Information

MD Program

• Dean of Medical Education: Jules L. Dienstag, M.D.
• Associate Dean of Admissions:
• Admissions Information Contact:
  • Address
    • Office of the Committee on Admissions
    • Harvard Medical School
    • 25 Shattuck Street
    • Boston, MA 02115-6092 Map
  • Website: http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/
  • Email: admissions_office@hms.harvard.edu
  • Phone: (617) 432-1550
  • Fax: (617) 432-3307

MD/PhD Program

• MD/PhD Program Director, Basic Sciences Track: Dr. Christopher A. Walsh, M.D., Ph.D
• MD/PhD Program Director, Social Sciences Track: Dr. Allan M. Brandt, Ph.D.
• MD/PhD Coordinator: Robin Lichtenstein, M.S.
  • Address
    • Tosteson Medical Education Center, Room 168
    • 260 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 Map
  • Website: http://www.hms.harvard.edu/md_phd/
  • Email: mdphd@hms.harvard.edu
  • Phone: (617) 432-0991
  • Fax: (617) 432-2791

Process

Application Overview

• Number of Applicants in 2007: Approximately 7,500 (tentatively according to admissions officer)
  • Number of MD/PhD Applicants in 2007: XXX
• Number of Applicants in 2006: 5,983
  • Number of MD/PhD Applicants in 2006: XXX
• Number of Applicants in 2005: XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • Number of MD/PhD Applicants in 2005: XXX
• Number of Applicants in 2004: XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • Number of MD/PhD Applicants in 2005: XXX

• Early-decision: No
• Baccalaureate/MD Accelerated Program (BS/MD): No

Criteria

• Applying for Entry in 2007
  • MUST Be In-state: No
  • Oldest MCAT Considered: 2003 for entry in 2007
  • Accepts AP Credits for Core Classes: ?Yes/No?
  • Accepts Community College Credit: ?Yes/No?

Screening

• Screens Applications Before Sending Secondary: No
  • Screening Criteria: None

Required Recommendation Letters

• MD Program
  • Science Professors (2)
  • Non-Science-Professors (1)
  • Research Mentors (all)
• MD/PhD Program
  • Science Professors (X)
  • Non-Science-Professors (X)
  • Research Mentors (X)
• Accepts Additional Letters (Max Total): Yes (6)
  • Note: Pre-med Advisory Committee counts as 1 recommendation

Additional Courses

• Recommended
  • Honors Courses
  • Independent Study/Research
• Required
  • For HST: Calculus-based Physics

Additional Information

* For general requirements, please see Prior To Applying - College

Primary Application

For Entry in 2007

• Service Used: AMCAS
  • Primary Fee: $30
• Earliest Submission Date: 06/01/06
• Deadline for Submission: 11/15/06

Secondary Application

Harvard usually takes its sweet time in sending back secondary applications. In 2006, secondary applications were sent out about 2 months after AMCAS began processing applications (6/1/06).

For Entry in 2007

• Secondary Fee: $85
  • Accepts Credit Card Payment Online: Yes
• Secondary Application Website
• Submission Method: Online
  • Format: Online
• Picture Required: No

MD

• Deadline for Submission: 11/15/06
• Secondary Application Questions
  1. Describe briefly how you selected your undergraduate school and major area of study. This space is limited to 900 characters.
  2. If you have already received your bachelor's degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation, and your plans for the upcoming year. This space is limited to 700 characters.
  3. List any academic honors or awards you have received since entering college. This space is limited to 600 characters.

MD/PhD

• Deadline for Submission: 11/15/06
• Secondary Application Questions
  1. Please list your area(s) of interest in graduate study. These may be general and/or specific: This space is limited to 270 characters.
  2. List names of those who will submit letters of recommendation in support of your application to the graduate program.
  3. Describe your research experiences, indicating any contributions that were chiefly your own. Please confine your text to this page. This space is limited to 4500 characters.

Interview Overview

• Automatic Interviews: No
  • Auto-interview Criteria: None
• GPA/MCAT Cut-offs: None (supposedly)
• Number Interviewed in 2006: XX,XXX
  • Number Interviewed in 2005: XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • Number Interviewed in 2004: XX,XXX (+/- XXX)

• More Information at the SDN Interview Feedback Site
• Purpose of interview: All applicants are equal, interview is deciding factor; applicants come in unequal, but can win points; make sure the applicant is alive and can form a sentence; etc.

Notification

• For Entry in 2007
  • Earliest Interview Notification for Entry in 2007: 09/15/06
  • Latest Interview Notification: First week of January
    • Notification Method: Email
  • Interviews Held: ##/##/##-##/##/##
    • Earliest Interview Date: ##/##/##
    • Latest Interview Date: ##/##/##

Pre-Interview On Hold

After you submit your secondary, Harvard will hold on to your application. If you are not selected for an interview, expect to not hear anything until the very end, when you may or may not get a rejection letter.

• Notifies Applicants of On-Hold Status: No
  • Method of Notificiation: N/A
• Reviews Applications: N/A
  • Likelihood of Getting Interview: N/A

MD Interviews

• Overview

Student interviews? Faculty interviews?

• Interviews Held On: Monday/Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays
• Commonly Asked Questions
  • Question 1
  • Question 2
• Advice
  • Check date for Red Sox games, you might be able to snag a ticket into America's oldest baseball park. It will also SIGNIFICANTLY affect you if you are driving while the get is starting/stopping (see below).
  • Good places to eat
    • Longwood Galleria - Just west of Children's Hospital
      • McDonalds, Beantown Burrito, Juicy Juilus (like Dairy Queen; smoothies), Cajun Cajun (free samples), Mr. Changs (Chinese), Sami's Wraps (Middle Eastern), Sbarro's Pizza, Subway, Red Barn Coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, Fishnet (Sushi)
    • Children's Hospital Cafeteria - Enter main entrance, make left, up the stairs, follow signs to floor below
    • Souper Salad (NW Corner of Longwood Ave and Brookline Ave)
    • Starbucks - Next to Vanderbilt Hall
    • Bono's (sp?) Wraps - Next to Vanderbilt Hall
    • Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizza (Italian) - First floor of the Karpinsky Building (Karp building), just north of Children's Hospital Entrance
    • Brigham & Women's Hospital Cafeteria - Follow signs on "The Pike" in BWH
    • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Cafeteria - Lower level of Dana Building
    • There is a Sami's Wraps and a Chinese Food cart in the traffic circle next to Vanderbilt Hall
  • Questions to ask:

Accommodations

• Student Hosting Available: Yes/No
  • Arranged by School: Yes/No

MD/PhD Interviews

• Overview

How many days? Describe typical interview program.

• • Number of Faculty Interviews (Non-Committee Members): X
  • Number of Faculty Interviews (Committee Members): X
  • Number of Student Interviews: X
  • Student Host Optional: Yes/No
  • Tour of School: Yes/No
    • Tour Led by: Student/Assistant/Faculty
• MD/PhD Interview Dates for 20##:
• Travel Covered ($): Yes/No
• Accommodations Covered ($): Yes/No
• Meals Covered ($): Yes/No

• Commonly Asked Questions
  • Question 1
  • Question 2
• Advice
  • Good Places to Eat (sit-down restaurants)
  • Questions to ask
    • Question 1
    • Question 2

Accommodations

• Student Hosting Available: Yes/No
  • Arranged by School: Yes/No

Travel Information

Airport Information

• Logan Airport (BOS)
• Best Method of Transportation from Airport: Subway

Driving to School

Driving can be tough in Boston - although the city is academically endowed, the roads are not labeled well and they move in mysterious ways. Drivers are notoriously aggressive and don't value turning on their blinkers. Pedestrians can be just as reckless - keep an eye out for marked pedestrian crossings, you MUST yield or else you get a ticket (not like other parts of the country). The Fenway area (just north of the medical school) has lots of roads that intersect at confusing angles and it is easy to get lost. Pay attention to the map for one way streets and make sure you know where you are going. Parking around Longwood can be tough and expensive. You could try parking at Children's Hospital, the Dana-Farber, or Beth-Israel parking garages. Your best bet may be to park a little outside the city and take a subway in.

• Points North: Directions
• Points South: Directions
• Points West: Directions
• Points East: Directions
• Tolls
  • There is a toll right outside of the airport exit ($3.00).
• Roads to avoid
  • No matter which way you come, if you're driving its going to be tough.
• Heavy Traffic Hours
  • Before and after Red Sox games. It gets pretty crazy around Fenway and it trickles down into Longwood.
  • In the morning, traffic is bumper to bumper in Longwood although it does move steadily.
• Time to Arrival
  • Depends on where you're coming from. It takes about 15-20 to get to Longwood after getting off the Pike or I-93 on a good day.

Bus

• 66 Bus - From Harvard Square (Cambridge), will take you to Longwood and drop you off by Brigham Circle (entrance to Brigham and Womens Hospital). Enter BWH and ask for directions to the quad (someone could post these).
• XXXX Bus - I know there are others...
  • Cost: 90 cents, but just shove a dollar in the slot. The "T" system is switching over to pre-paid cards (Charlie Cards) and a price increase is expected soon.
• Frequency: About every 15 minutes, but they can run late/early.

Subway

America's oldest subway, affectionately known as the "T" (look for signs with a big white circle with a T in it [add photo]. You figure they would have gotten it right by now. Wrong. Although usually reliable, allot some extra time when traveling on the T. The closest stop is Longwood on the Green D line.

• From the airport: Exit the terminal into the traffic area. Look for signs (in blue) for the 88 bus to the Subway. Take the bus (comes ever 15 minutes or so; 5 minutes to subway terminal) until it stops (everyone will get off). Buy a Charlie Card for $5 so you can use it a few times and enter the station. Take the escalator up and over the tracks to the INBOUND side. Take the train to Government Center stop. Get off and go up the stairs. On your right will be the INBOUND Green line trains. Wait for one of the D Line trolleys to show up and get on it down to Longwood. When you get off, make a left up the hill (most people will go in this direction anyway), up to Longwood Ave. Make a left, over the bridge, and cross the Riverway carefully. Keep waking past Brookline Ave until you hit the traffic circle (about 3/4 mile). The HMS quad will be visible on your right. The administrative offices are in the main building with the flag on it.
• Useful information: Green because lines A-E run through Brookine (used to be grassy). Red line runs up to Harvard (Crimson). Blue line goes under water to the airport. Orange and silver lines were added later. The B line runs parallel to the Charles River and goes along Boston University undergrad campus. If you are using cash, fold it in half twice and stick it in the slot or else you will have some angry Bostonians yelling at you. The subway drivers can be testy, but fellow riders can help you get where you need to go.
• Cost: $1.25 (no change provided) everywhere except the Green D Line into the city (Leaving HMS to airport), where it is $1.50.
• Frequency: 15 minutes on average
• Time to Arrival: 45-60 minutes from airport (accounting for walking time)

Recommended Hotels

• Best Western - Tall building on corner of Longwood Ave and Brookline ($$) | Website
  • Address: ## STREETNAME ROADTYPE, CITYNAME, XX Map
• Hotel 2 ($$)
  • Address: ## STREETNAME ROADTYPE, CITYNAME, ?? Map

Admissions Overview

• Number Accepted in 2006: XXX
  • MD/PhD: XX
• Number Accepted in 2005: XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • MD/PhD: XX
• Number Accepted in 2004: XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • MD/PhD: XX
• Rolling Admissions: No
  • Begins Accepting for Entry in 2007: 03/15/07
  • Stops Accepting for Entry in 2007: ##/##/##
    • Notification of Acceptance by: Phone/Email/Website
      • Some Interviewers Call to Notify of Acceptance: Yes/No

Post-Interview On Hold

After the interview, notification that application is marked for post-interview "on-hold." This is typically for applicants the school may wish to consider again at a later date, however, they may wind up accepting you, putting you on a waitlist, or rejecting you in the end.

• Notifies Applicants of On-Hold Status: Yes/No
• Reviews Applications Again: ##/##/##
  • Likelihood of Getting Acceptance: Good/Moderate/Poor

Waitlists

• Ranked: Yes/No
• Tiers: Yes/No
• Average size:
• Movement Amount: High/Medium/Low
• Movement begins for 2007: ##/##/##

Acceptance/Matriculation

• Accept Offer Within (you may hold multiple acceptances until ##/##/##): XX weeks
• Second Look Weekend for 2007: TBD
• Classes Begin: ##/##/##
  • Note: More information in #About the School

The Down-Low

Section purpose: To provide useful information not found in books, adcoms, websites, etc. These are actions that have been rumored to help your chances in gaining admission to said medical school. Keep responses in bullet format, prose may be used in discussion section. Limit only to those that are most relevant and true.

For Suggestions and/or to Make Contributions: See/Edit Suggestions for The Down-Low

Pre-Interview

Interview Day

Post-Interview

About the School

Curricula

• Overview

General description of program. Describe any perks that are associated with curriculum. Any negatives?

• First-year: Courses taken
• Second-year: Courses taken
• Third-year: Courses taken
• Fourth-year: Courses taken

MD: New Pathway

• Time: 4 years
• Orientation Begins for Class of 2006: 08/21/06 for 14 days
• Classes Start for Class of 2010: 09/05/06
• Focus: General Medicine
• Block Scheduling: Yes/No
• Year Curriculum started: ####
• Requires Laptop: Yes/No
  • Laptop Provided by School: Yes/No

Teaching Styles

• Traditional Lecture: XX%
  • Days per Week: [Specify X of 5] - [Specify: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri]
  • Attendance Required: Yes/No
  • Videotaped: Yes/No
    • Available Online: Yes/No
  • Transcription Service: Yes/No
  • Total Time per Week:
• Problem-based Learning: XX%
  • • Days per Week: [Specify X of 5] - [Specify: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri]
    • Total Time per Week:

Anatomy

• Number of Students per Cadaver:
• Pro-sections: Yes/No
• Ventilation in Room: Good/Moderate/Poor

USMLE Preparation/Results

• Number of Weeks Given for Studying:
• Average Step 1 Score in 20##: XX (SD = XX)
• National Average Step 1 Score in 20##: XX (SD = XX)

MD: Health, Sciences, and Technology (HST)

• Time: 4 years, but many students take an additional year of research or transfer into MD/PhD
• Orientation Begins for Class of 20##: ##/##/## for XX days
• Classes Start for Class of 20##: ##/##/##
• Focus: Science/Quantitative Medicine, academic medicine
• Block Scheduling: Yes/No
• Year Curriculum started: ####
• Requires Laptop: Yes/No
  • Laptop Provided by School: Yes/No

Teaching Styles

• Traditional Lecture: XX%
  • Days per Week: [Specify X of 5] - [Specify: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri]
  • Attendance Required: Yes/No
  • Videotaped: Yes/No
    • Available Online: Yes/No
  • Transcription Service: Yes/No
  • Total Time per Week:
• Problem-based Learning: XX%
  • • Days per Week: [Specify X of 5] - [Specify: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri]
    • Total Time per Week:

Anatomy

• Number of Students per Cadaver:
• Pro-sections: Yes/No
• Ventilation in Room: Good/Moderate/Poor

USMLE Preparation/Results

• Number of Weeks Given for Studying:
• Average Step 1 Score in 20##: XX (SD = XX)
• National Average Step 1 Score in 20##: XX (SD = XX)

MD/PhD

• Average Time: X years
• Focus: Academic medicine, research-oriented careers
• Year Curriculum started: ####

Medical Years

• Medical school same as MD-only students: Yes/No
  • Additional Courses Taken During School Year:

Graduate Years

• Begin Graduate School: After MS2
  • Alternatives:
• Rotations Begin Summer Before School: Yes/No
  • Required: Yes/No
• Number of Rotations Required: X
• Can Complete Thesis in Subject Outside of Science: Yes/No
• Number of Required Publications: X
• Clinical Orientation Offered During Graduate Years: Yes/No
• Additional Sub-Programs Offered: Cancer Biology in Pathology, etc.

MD/MPH

• Time: X years
• Orientation Begins for Class of 20##: ##/##/## for XX days
• Classes Start for Class of 20##: ##/##/##
• Focus: [Pick: General Medicine; Science/Quantitative; Public Health; Other]
• Year Curriculum started: ####

MPH Year(s)

•  ??

Finances

MD Finances

• Cost of Living in Boston: Very Expensive
• Need Car: No

Cost of Attendance

• Information for Class of 2010, First-year
  • Tuition: $37,200
  • University Health Services Fee: $1,390
  • Lodging & Utilities (Vanderbilt Hall): $6,825
  • Food (estimate): $2,400
  • Personal & Other (estimate): $3,500
  • Student Health Insurance: $1,216
  • Computer Maintenance Fee: $0
  • Protective Clothing Fee: $0
  • Car Insurance & Maintenance: $0
  • Disability Insurance: $63
  • Matriculation Fee: $35
  • Education Materials Fee: $375
  • Total (approximate): $58,000

MD/PhD Finances

• Stipend Amount: $##,####
• Need Car: No
• Houses/Condos Affordable with Stipend: No
• Paid-for Second Look Weekend: Yes/No

Financial Aid

• Requires
  • FAFSA Required: Yes
    • FAFSA School Code: E00472
  • College Scholarship Service Required: Yes
    • College Scholarship Service (CSS) School Code: 3445
• Financial Aid Coordinator: Mr./Mrs. XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX [1]
  • Address:

Financial Aid Office

Harvard Medical School

150 Gordon Hall

25 Shattuck Street

Boston, MA 02115

• • Phone: (617) 432-1575
  • Fax: (617) 432-4308
  • Email: financial_aid@hms.harvard.edu
  • Financial Aid Website

• Offers Financial Aid: Yes
• Percent Receiving Aid: 76%
• Average Indebtedness of Graduates: $110,587
• Scholarships
  • Scholarship A (#): $###### for X time
  • Scholarship B (#): $###### for X time
• Other Financial Aid Opportunities:

Match List

Information for Class of 2###

• Percent Matching Top Choice:
  • MD/PhD:
• Percent Matching Top Three Choices:
  • MD/PhD:
  • Match List
  • MD/PhD Match List

Affiliated Hospitals

• Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Address: , Map
  • Type: Private
  • Number of Beds:
• Brigham & Women's Hospital
  • Address: , Map
  • Type: Public/Private
  • Number of Beds:
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Address: 44 Binney Street Boston, MA 02115 Map
  • Type: Public/Private
  • Number of Beds:

As A Student

Student Housing

• On Campus Housing: Yes
• Subsidized Housing in Boston: No
  • Cost:

• Areas Where Most Students Live
  • Longwood
    • Description
    • Amenities
  • Fenway
    • Description
    • Amenities
  • Brookline/Brookline Village
    • Description
    • Amenities
  • Cambridge (Central and Harvard Squares)
    • Description
    • Amenities

Student Activities

• Bars
• Clubs
• Music
• Movies
• Sports/Outdoors
• Student Groups
  •  ???AOA, Free clinic, IM Sports, etc.

Libraries

• Countway Library (Main Library)
  • Address: , Map
  • Hours
• Benacerraf Library
  • Address: , Map

Good Study Areas

• Coffee shops
• Bookstores

Best Places to Buy Stuff

• Harvard Coop
• Amazon.com

Useful Links

• The Student Doctor Network (SDN)
  • SDN Forums
  • SDN Interview Feedback
• Post-Baccalaureate Program
• Harvard Graduate School
• Link
• Link
• Link

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