Harvard Medical School: MCAT & Admissions

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Admissions statistics

Median MCAT: 521
MCAT range (25–75): 517–524
Median GPA: 3.97
GPA range (25–75): 3.90–4.00
Science GPA: 3.96
Acceptance rate: 2.5%
Interview rate: 9.6%

Median MCAT by section

Chem / Phys: 130
CARS: 129
Bio / Biochem: 130
Psych / Soc: 131

Acceptance rate by residency Premier estimate

In-state applicants: ~3.5%
Out-of-state applicants: ~2.4%
Overall (reported): 2.5%

We split this school's overall acceptance rate into residency estimates using Premier's model of in-state vs. out-of-state selectivity and applicant mix, smoothed across schools. It reflects typical residency preference, not a guaranteed outcome — and it's an estimate, not an officially published in/out-of-state rate.

vs US MD matriculants: MCAT +9.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.16 (nat. 3.81). MCAT 10/25/75/90 percentiles, median, and acceptance/interview rates are publicly sourced.

MCAT range by residency Premier estimate

My MCAT score see where you fall

Matriculants	10th	25th	75th	90th
Combined	516.9	517	524	526.1
In-state	516.9	517.9	523.4	525.4
Out-of-state	516.9	519.4	524.1	525.9

The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. We use this school's published 25–75 range as-is and model the hidden tails and the residency split — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.

Class profile

Entering class size: 165
Public / Private: Private
Setting: Not reported
% Out-of-state: Not reported
Orientation: Research-oriented

Research vs. service orientation

Service / primary careBalancedResearch

Research-oriented (99/100) — Top NIH-funded ecosystem, MSTP MD-PhD + MIT-HST research track, #1 U.S. News Research school; no primary-care mission

Course exams

Core clerkship exams are NBME-standardized “shelf” subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across MD schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.

Cost & aid

In-state tuition

$76,828

Out-of-state tuition

$76,828

Cost of attendance: $121,950
Avg. graduate debt: Not reported
Secondary fee: Not reported
% receiving aid: 72%

Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, cost 2026-2027; class stats Entering Class of 2025). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page.

Prerequisites & requirements

Typical for US MD programs — confirm this school's exact list.

Biology: 1 year with lab
General Chemistry: 1 year with lab
Organic Chemistry: 1 year with lab
Biochemistry: 1 semester (recommended/required)
Physics: 1 year with lab
English / writing: 1 year
Math / statistics: 1 semester–1 year (varies)
Psychology & Sociology: Recommended for the MCAT

Required tests

MCAT — required
CASPer: not required
AAMC PREview: varies — verify

Letters of recommendation

A committee letter, or 3–5 individual letters
Typically 2 science faculty + 1 non-science
A letter from research/clinical mentors strengthens the file

Application timeline (AMCAS)

AMCAS opens

Early May

Submit primary (rolling — submit early)

Late May – June

Secondary applications

June – August

Interviews

August – March

Acceptances begin (rolling)

Oct 15 onward

Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.

What this school weighs

GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
Clinical experience & shadowing
Research experience
Community service & volunteering
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement & secondary essays
Interview performance & mission fit
State residency (especially at public schools)

Secondary essay prompts (2024-2025)

⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.

If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. (4000 characters maximum)
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 that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, or other aspects of your personal or family background to place your prior academic achievements in context or provide further information about your motivation for a career in medicine or the perspectives you might bring to the medical school community. (4000 characters maximum)
Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during the virtual interview season. (1000 characters maximum)

Interview

⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.

Format: Traditional

Two traditional, conversational interviews (typically one faculty and one student), conducted virtually; personal and open-ended rather than canned, with moderate stress and a focus on motivation, research, ethics, and fit with HMS.

Questions applicants report

Why do you want to go into medicine?
Why Harvard?
What are your hobbies?
Explain your research to me as if I were very young or very old and had a limited science background.
What is a challenge you've faced and what did you learn from it?
What was the last book you read?

Key facts

Degree: MD
Type: Private
Location: Massachusetts
Region: Northeast
Interview format: Traditional
Preclinical grading: Not reported
Licensing exam: USMLE
Oldest MCAT accepted: Scores must be from a test taken within the past three years
International applicants: Considered
DACA applicants: Considered
Early Decision: Not offered
Deferral: Allowed

Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US MD programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What MCAT score do I need for Harvard?

Harvard Medical School has a median MCAT of 521 (typical accepted range about 517–524). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (517) is a reach without other strengths.

What GPA does Harvard require?

The median accepted GPA is about 3.97 (roughly 3.90–4.00). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.

What are the prerequisites for Harvard?

Like most US MD programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.

Is Harvard hard to get into?

Its acceptance rate is approximately 2.5% — highly competitive for US MD programs.

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