Harvard Medical School Secondary Essays: The Ultimate Guide (2025)

The Harvard Medical School secondary essays are one of the most important parts of your Harvard Medical School application. The prompts remain consistent year over year, which makes this a good set of secondary essays to pre-write. While the number of essays is limited, each carries significant weight. Harvard expects applicants to be self-driven, motivated to improve healthcare, and capable of making meaningful contributions to the medical school community.

This guide explains each prompt, outlines what the admissions committee is looking for and offers strategies for writing essays that are clear, specific, and grounded in your experiences.

What Is Harvard Medical School?

Harvard Medical School (HMS), founded in 1782, is one of the most respected medical institutions in the world. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, HMS is part of Harvard University but does not have a hospital of its own.

Instead, students receive clinical training through a network of top-tier affiliated hospitals such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and others.

These affiliations provide access to diverse patient populations, groundbreaking research, and real-world medical challenges, offering students a broad and rigorous clinical education grounded in academic medicine. HMS offers three main MD training pathways. The Pathways Program, which makes up the majority of the entering class, emphasizes active, case-based learning and early clinical exposure, preparing students for transformative careers in medicine.

The Health Sciences and Technology (HST) Program, run jointly with MIT, is designed for students with strong backgrounds in quantitative sciences and research. It focuses on disease mechanisms, systems biology, and biomedical innovation, preparing students to address unmet medical needs. A smaller cohort is admitted into the MD/PhD program, designed for students who plan to become physician-scientists. These tracks reflect the school’s commitment to training not just future clinicians, but also leaders in science, public health, policy, and education.

Each year, Harvard receives thousands of applications—6,856 for the Class of 2028 alone—and admits only 165 students. The average GPA is 3.9, and the average MCAT score is 520.42, with students coming from 57 colleges, 35 states, and 7 countries. Despite its competitive admissions process, HMS maintains a strong commitment to access and inclusion: 17% of students come from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine, and 72% receive financial aid, with an average scholarship of $60,403. The school is also recognized for its efforts to reduce student debt, with average graduating debt nearly 40–45% lower than the national average. Harvard Medical School is not just looking for academic excellence—it looks for students who are ready to lead, contribute to the medical community, and improve healthcare at every level.

What to Know About the HMS Secondary Application

Once you submit your AMCAS application and designate Harvard Medical School (HMS), you will automatically receive a secondary application—regardless of your GPA, MCAT score, or other metrics. This is standard for HMS and not an indication of competitiveness. Every applicant who meets the basic requirements is invited to submit a secondary, which makes these essays the real starting point of the Harvard admissions review.

The Harvard Medical School secondary application includes a limited number of prompts, but each one is open-ended, has a generous character limit (up to 4,000 characters), and is carefully evaluated. These responses are your opportunity to go beyond the resume and show who you are, how you think, and how you plan to contribute to the medical school community. Whether you're discussing a personal or family background, research experience, or your future in medicine, every response is expected to be intentional and well-developed.

Important Details

• Application Fee: $100 (waived if you have an AMCAS fee waiver)
• Format: All submissions are online via the HMS admissions portal
• Word Count: Prompts are character-based, not word-based (typically 4,000 characters per response)

Failure to submit your secondary application by the stated deadline may result in your application being reviewed without it, which can severely impact your chances. HMS does not grant deadline extensions.

HMS Key Dates for the 2024–2025 Cycle

Note: All interviews will be held virtually. The format is consistent with recent years and allows for broader accessibility regardless of applicant location or travel limitations.

Who Should Apply

Harvard encourages applications from candidates across a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including those who have taken gap years, pursued non-traditional academic paths, or brought perspectives shaped by significant challenges, unusual socioeconomic factors, or other aspects of personal background. These elements, along with your prior academic achievements, can and should be addressed thoughtfully in your secondary essays to enhance your application.

For applicants interested in research-heavy careers, the HST MD program has a separate essay requirement. If you’re applying to both Pathways and HST, you’ll need to complete both sets of prompts, with a clear understanding of what makes each program distinct.

Visit the Harvard Medical School Submitting an Application

Harvard Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts (2025)

The Harvard Medical School secondary application includes multiple prompts across three application paths: Pathways MD, HST MD, and MD/PhD. While the number of essays is limited, each carries weight. All responses must be thoughtful, and specific, and show your potential to contribute to the medical school community.

Pathways MD Track Prompts

1. If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.

Limit: 4,000 characters

This question is required for applicants who are no longer enrolled in an undergraduate institution. It gives you the chance to explain how you’ve spent your time after graduation and how your experiences have prepared you for medical school. You should include:

• Clinical experience (include your role and responsibilities)
• Research or laboratory work (mention your contributions or findings)
• Community health initiatives or service
• Employment (state how many hours per week you worked)
• Coursework, additional certifications, or post-baccalaureate programs
• Travel, caregiving, or personal development activities
• MCAT retake preparation, if applicable

Expert Tip: Be concise, and specific, and show progression. Emphasize how your gap time helped you grow and become more prepared to succeed at Harvard Medical School.

2. If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity not addressed elsewhere in the application, that may illuminate how you could contribute to the medical school, and you would like to share it, do so here.

Limit: 4,000 characters

This is an optional essay, but it provides a key opportunity to give further information about formative life experiences that shaped your motivation, resilience, or worldview. You can discuss:

• Significant challenges in access to education
• Unusual socioeconomic factors
• Family background that impacted your education or outlook
• Identification with a minority culture, gender identity, or sexual orientation
• Growing up in a household that spoke a language other than English
• Attendance at under-resourced public schools

Note: Only respond if you have something substantial that wasn’t already shared in your primary application. Avoid repetition from your personal statement. Instead, briefly explain the context and connect it to your values, goals, or perspective on medicine.

3. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews.

Limit: 1,000 characters

This is a logistical question. Only answer it if you have a firm and unavoidable conflict that will affect your availability between mid-September and January when interviews are held virtually. If there are no restrictions, leave the section blank.

HST MD Program Essay

The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard Medical School and MIT. It offers a distinct preclinical education tailored to students interested in combining medicine with research, engineering, and data science. This program is designed to train transformative physicians through coursework that emphasizes disease mechanisms, systems engineering, and quantitative and analytic approaches. The program aims to solve critical unmet needs in medicine by preparing students to address significant gaps through innovative solutions such as novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and the application of big data.

Prompt: Please focus on how your interests, experiences, and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities).

Limit: 4,000 characters

This prompt is designed to see how well you understand the unique structure of the HST MD program and whether your academic and research background fits with its goals. The pre-clinical curriculum prepares students to work in small, research-heavy HST classes alongside graduate students in science, tech, or social sciences. Focus on:

• Your academic strengths in science, math, engineering, or data
• Specific research projects, especially those involving novel diagnostics, computation, or interdisciplinary methods
• Skills you’ve developed: coding, statistical modeling, systems thinking
• A clear goal to address critical unmet needs in medicine
• Your readiness to contribute to both the HMS clinical education and research innovation

Avoid generic praise of the program and do not list specific HST faculty. Instead, show how your preparation matches the program’s structure and expectations.

MD/PhD Essay Prompts

These questions apply if you're applying to the combined MD/PhD program. Each response helps the admissions committee understand your long-term research interests and whether you're prepared to succeed in a dual-degree track.

1. Briefly list your research interests (keywords only).

Limit: 100 characters

Examples:

• “Neurodegeneration, translational neuroscience, public health policy”
• “Cancer biology, immunotherapy, biomedical engineering”

Use relevant keywords that reflect your focus.

2. List publications and their status.

Limit: 1,000 characters (including spaces)

Be concise and include:

• Title
• Authors (use your initials)
• Journal name
• Publication status: published, under review, or in preparation

Example: J. Smith, L. Johnson. “CRISPR Applications in Oncology.” Nature, 2023. (Published)

3. Describe your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree at Harvard. Include your past work, motivation, and career objectives.

Limit: 1,000 words

This is your opportunity to present a clear narrative:

• What inspired your research interest?
• What work have you already done in your field?
• What are your long-term goals in medicine and research?
• How will Harvard support those goals?

Note: Be direct. Show how your background and aspirations align with Harvard’s resources and focus areas in health sciences, policy, or basic science.

How to Approach the Harvard Medical School Secondary Essays

Every response should demonstrate thoughtfulness, clarity, and alignment with Harvard’s mission. You don’t need to write perfect prose, but each sentence should serve a clear purpose.

Expert Tips:

• Show evidence of impact in clinical, research, service, or leadership roles.
• Use plain language. Avoid abstract mission statements and focus on real experiences.
• Connect your work to Harvard where relevant (e.g. interest in cross-registration at Harvard Business School or Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
• Tailor each essay to the track you're applying to—Pathways, HST, or MD/PhD.
• Use active voice and cut filler.
• Think like the reader: What do you bring to the medical school community that most applicants don’t?

Note: Your goal is to help the reader understand what you’ve done, why it matters, and how it prepares you to contribute to Harvard Medical School and the future of medicine.

Common Essay Mistakes to Avoid

1. Repeating your personal statement

Don’t use your secondary essays to rehash stories or ideas from your personal statement. These essays are a chance to show a different side of your experience, go deeper into something you only briefly mentioned, or highlight qualities that haven’t come through yet.

2. Giving generic answers without real examples

Avoid broad statements like “I want to help people” or “I value teamwork” unless you back them up with clear, specific examples. The admissions team wants to see how your values have played out in real situations—not just hear buzzwords.

3. Talking about challenges without showing how you responded

If you write about personal or family background, hardship, or anything related to identity or access, don’t stop at describing the situation. Focus on how you handled it, what you learned, and how it’s shaped your path to medicine.

4. Only talking about Harvard’s prestige

Naming Harvard’s reputation, famous faculty, or rankings won’t help your application. The admissions committee already knows those details—they want to see why Harvard’s specific programs or values align with your interests and goals.

5. Only focusing on what Harvard can give you

It’s easy to fall into the trap of writing only about what you hope to gain from Harvard, but it’s just as important to show what you’ll bring. Whether it’s a research background, leadership, community involvement, or something else—make it clear how you’ll contribute.

Sample Essays and Resources

For examples of strong Harvard Medical School secondary essays, review sample responses that demonstrate clear structure, personal insight, and alignment with the prompts. Look for essays that provide specific examples, reflect on impact, and connect past experiences to future goals in medicine. Good samples often highlight leadership, research, service, or personal background in a way that’s relevant to Harvard’s values. Use these examples to understand tone, organization, and how applicants effectively respond within the character limits.

Harvard Medical School Admissions Statistics (2025 Cycle)

The following admissions data is based on the most recent publicly available information for the Harvard Medical School Class of 2028.

Notes:

• HST MD Program enrollment (30 students) includes applicants with strong quantitative backgrounds and research experience in science, engineering, and technology.
• The MD/PhD cohort is typically 14 students, participating in either the Pathways or HST tracks.
• Debt figures are based on AAMC data for U.S. medical schools and reflect significantly lower average debt for HMS graduates compared to both public and private institutions.

Visit the Harvard Medical School Admissions Statistics

Final Thoughts

Harvard Medical School is looking for more than strong stats—it admits students who are academically excellent and ready to lead, innovate, and improve the future of medicine. The secondary essays are your chance to show how your personal background, experiences, and goals align with Harvard’s values. Whether you’re applying to the Pathways track, the HST MD program, or the MD/PhD path, your responses should be specific, reflective, and grounded in real actions and outcomes. Take the time to write clearly, answer each prompt directly, and show what you’ll contribute to the medical school community—because that’s what stands out.

Work With a Harvard Application Coach

Want expert feedback on your Harvard secondary essays? Work with a medical school admissions coach who’s helped applicants get accepted to Harvard and other top programs. A coach can help you choose the right stories, structure your responses, and refine your writing to make sure your strengths come through clearly. Whether you’re aiming for Pathways, HST, or the MD/PhD track, personalized support can make a difference.

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FAQs

Does Harvard have secondary essays?

• Yes. Harvard Medical School requires all applicants to complete a secondary application that includes several essay prompts. These essays allow applicants to expand on their background and experiences, and fit with the school’s mission.

Does Harvard Medical School send secondaries to everyone?

• Yes. All applicants who submit a verified AMCAS application and designate Harvard will automatically receive a secondary application, regardless of academic metrics.

How many secondary essays per medical school?

• At Harvard, the number of secondary essays depends on the program(s) you apply to. Applicants to the Pathways MD track usually complete 2–3 essays. Those applying to the HST MD or MD/PhD programs will answer additional program-specific prompts.

What is the lowest MCAT Harvard accepts?

• Harvard does not publish a strict MCAT cutoff but accepted students typically have very high scores. The average MCAT score for the incoming class is 520.42. While a slightly lower score may still be considered in context, scores well below this range are less competitive.