How to write Harvard Medical School secondary essays that get interviews
Harvard Medical School sends secondary applications to roughly 6,000 AMCAS applicants each year, but only 165 students matriculate. Your secondary essays are where you shift from being another qualified applicant to someone they want to interview.
Most applicants make the same mistake: they write generic responses that could work for any school. Harvard's prompts are designed to identify candidates who understand their specific mission and can articulate why they belong there. Here's how to write secondary essays that demonstrate genuine fit and move you toward an interview invitation.
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You've got the strategy for crafting Harvard-specific secondaries that connect your experiences to their mission. MedSchool Copilot's Writing Center helps you put it into practice with AI-powered guidance that drafts compelling essays tailored to Harvard's unique prompts.
School Resources
- Admissions Process
- Interview Day Information
- Pathways Course Descriptions
- Student Research Opportunities
Understanding What Harvard Medical School Looks For
Harvard Medical School seeks candidates who embody their core values of excellence, leadership, and service. Their admissions committee evaluates integrity, maturity, compassion, and concern for others, with demonstrated leadership potential and strong interpersonal skills.
When writing your Harvard secondary essays, highlight experiences that demonstrate:
- Academic excellence with a well-balanced background in sciences, humanities, and social sciences
- Depth of engagement in research, clinical, and community service experiences
- Evidence of initiative and meaningful impact in your activities
- Commitment to diversity and inclusion in healthcare
- Effective communication skills and cultural awareness essential for patient care
Tailoring Your "Why Harvard?" Essay
The "Why Harvard?" essay is your most critical secondary component. Skip generic statements about the school's reputation or prestige. Focus on specific programs, research opportunities, or clinical rotations that align with your career goals.
Research their curriculum thoroughly. Pay attention to their Pathways program and HST (Health Sciences and Technology) track. Reference specific initiatives or concentrations that interest you: their global health programs, research opportunities, or specialized clinical rotations.
Connect these program elements to your personal journey in medicine. Explain how these specific opportunities will help you become the physician you aspire to be. This demonstrates your knowledge of the institution and your thoughtful consideration of how you'll contribute to their community.
Crafting Compelling Diversity Essays
Harvard values diversity and inclusion, as evidenced by their commitment to training physicians who can serve diverse communities. When addressing diversity prompts, go beyond demographic characteristics.
Consider how your unique perspectives, experiences, and background have shaped your approach to medicine. Discuss how you've engaged with diverse communities and what you've learned from these interactions. Explain how your distinctive viewpoint will contribute to the learning environment at Harvard and ultimately make you a more effective physician.
Diversity encompasses many dimensions. Socioeconomic background, unusual life experiences, overcoming challenges, or unique skills and interests can all contribute to a compelling diversity essay.
Addressing Challenges and Resilience
Harvard's secondary application often includes prompts about overcoming obstacles or demonstrating resilience. When responding to these questions, be authentic but strategic.
Choose challenges that demonstrate growth and learning rather than simply hardship. Explain the situation concisely, then focus primarily on your response to the challenge, what you learned, and how it has prepared you for the rigors of medical education and practice.
Connect your resilience story to Harvard's values of excellence and innovation. Show how overcoming this challenge has prepared you to thrive in their program and contribute meaningfully to their community.
Final Review and Submission Tips
- Ensure each essay directly answers the prompt while showcasing aspects of your application not covered elsewhere
- Verify that you've incorporated specific references to Harvard's programs, values, and opportunities
- Proofread meticulously for grammar, spelling, and tone
- Check that your essays collectively present a cohesive narrative about who you are as an applicant
- Submit as early as possible while maintaining quality—aim for a two-week turnaround
Secondary essays are your opportunity to transform from a collection of statistics to a compelling candidate with unique contributions to offer. Take the time to craft responses that genuinely reflect your passion for medicine and specific interest in Harvard Medical School.
Start Your Harvard Essays Today
You've got the strategy for crafting Harvard-specific secondaries that connect your experiences to their mission. MedSchool Copilot's Writing Center helps you put it into practice with AI-powered guidance that drafts compelling essays tailored to Harvard's unique prompts.