MCAT Letters of Evaluation Apply through AMCAS®

MCAT

Learn more about the MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination

All applicants are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). In April 2015, the AAMC launched a new version of the MCAT exam. Scores are reported in four sections:

  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Although HMS does not set a minimum grade point average or minimum MCAT scores, academic excellence is expected. Applicants must post their scores to their AMCAS application in order to be considered in the current application cycle no later than October 22, 2025. Information regarding this test and reporting scores to medical schools may be obtained through college premedical advisory offices or by writing directly to the MCAT Program at mcat@aamc.org.

Applicants whose MCAT scores are more than three years old must retake the test. HMS considers all valid MCAT exam scores during the application review process.

Letters of Evaluation

All letters of evaluation must be submitted to AMCAS. Applicants are allowed up to six (6) letters of recommendation in support of their application, but a minimum of three individual letters of recommendation or a committee letter are required. When considering the total number of letters to submit, please note the following:

  • At least two (2) letters should be from professors in the sciences with whom they have taken classes.
  • At least one (1) letter should be written by a professor who is not in the sciences.
  • We should receive letters from all research supervisors for applicants to the MD-PhD program as well as applicants to the MD program. Applicants may exceed the six (6)-letter maximum if the additional letters are from research supervisors.
  • If applicants wish to supplement a premedical advisory committee evaluation packet with additional letters of recommendation, they should count the packet as one (1) letter toward the six (6)-letter maximum.
  • We do not require letters of recommendation from employers, but if applicants have been out of school and working they should have a letter sent from their place of employment.

While we strongly recommend meeting the criteria listed above, these are not strict requirements. Ultimately, the letters applicants choose to include are up to their own discretion. Applicants should choose the letters of evaluation they believe will best support their application.

What happens if my letters of recommendation are received by AMCAS after the deadline?

Your materials will still be processed, but you will not receive any confirmation when your file becomes complete. We cannot guarantee that late letters will be included when your file is reviewed by the Committee. We begin reviewing incomplete files shortly after our final deadline, and files are reviewed on the basis of the materials on hand at the time they are presented to the Committee.

Apply through AMCAS®

The 2025-2026 AMCAS® application cycle for HMS is now open.

Information about the AMCAS® application

AMCAS®

Application to Harvard Medical School is made through AMCAS®, the American Medical College Application Service. The final deadline to submit the AMCAS® application is October 15, 2025. All applicants who submit the AMCAS® application will be eligible to file the HMS Supplemental Application. The link is emailed automatically to all AMCAS® applicants who designate Harvard on the AMCAS® form once the AMCAS® application is verified. A non-refundable application filing fee of $100 must accompany the completed supplemental application at the time of submission. This fee will be waived for all applicants who have been granted an AMCAS® fee waiver. No secondary applications for the first-year class will be accepted after October 22, 2025.

Application Submission

Early submission of application materials is encouraged because it assures sufficient time for obtaining premedical advisory committee evaluations and individual letters of evaluation. All letters of evaluation should be received by AMCAS® by October 22, 2025. Applications remaining incomplete after the HMS Secondary Application deadline of October 22, 2025, will be reviewed and acted upon on the basis of the application materials on file at that time. All application materials become the property of Harvard Medical School.

If you would like to provide an update to the Committee on Admissions, our office will accept updates through the “Application Updates” tab on the admissions portal. Applicants may provide two updates to the Committee.

Notifications

Applicants selected for interview will be notified by the middle of January. Offers of acceptance will be made from this group. All applicants will be notified of final decisions by the third week of March. Under no circumstances will decision information be released by telephone.

Only the Committee on Admissions has the authority to make offers of admission to Harvard Medical School, and this authority cannot be delegated to any other person, committee, or group. In order to be valid, an offer of admission must be signed by the Chairperson of the Committee on Admissions. All admissions decisions are final.