Policies

Admissions Policies

Harvard Medical School

Diversity Commitment

The strong and consistent policy of Harvard Medical School is to value and treat all members of the community with respect; to provide a bias-neutral and emotionally safe environment conducive to learning and working and free of all forms of abusive or demeaning communication; and to ensure equal access to rights, privileges, and opportunities without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, or veteran status. Harvard is committed to a diversity of views and to principles of free inquiry and expression; all members of the Harvard community have the right to hold and vigorously defend and promote their opinions. Ultimately, HMS seeks not to negate, overlook, deny, or simply to tolerate the qualities that distinguish among us but instead, to understand, recognize, appreciate, and indeed, to celebrate our differences.

Harvard Medical School Diversity Statement
 

Transfer and Advanced Standing Students

Harvard Medical School does not accept applications for transfer or advanced standing. Applications from students who have matriculated in another medical school will not be considered, regardless of the reason for leaving the other program.

Technical Standards for Medical School Admission, Continuation, and Graduation
 

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report Availability

The University is required by federal law (The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 U.S.C. 1092(f), known as the “Clery Act”) to publish an Annual Security Report and an Annual Fire Safety Report.

The Harvard University Police Department publishes the Annual Security Report, which includes information about the HUPD, how to report a crime, HUPD’s crime prevention programs, substance abuse, sensitive crimes, emergency notifications, and other important information about security and HUPD services on campus. It also contains three years of statistics on reported campus or campus-related crimes. A hard copy of the Annual Security Report may be obtained by contacting the Harvard University Police Department at 1033 Massachusetts Avenue, 6th floor, Cambridge, MA 02138. Phone: 617- 495-9225.

The Harvard University Environmental Health and Safety Department publishes the Annual Fire Safety Report, which includes fire safety polices, evacuation procedures, and fire statistics. A hard copy of the Annual Fire Safety Report may be obtained by contacting Environmental Health and Safety Department at 46 Blackstone Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. Phone: 617-496-7168.

Annual Security Report

Annual Fire Safety Report
 

Please see the HMS Student Handbook for more HMS policies.

Association of American Medical Colleges

Please see AMCAS Application Policies.

Applicants and medical schools have complementary responsibilities in the annual medical school application and admission processes.

The AAMC offers the following recommendations to ensure that applicants are afforded timely notification of the outcome of their medical school applications and have timely access to available first-year positions and to ensure that schools have no unfilled positions in their entering classes. These recommendations are distributed for the information of prospective medical students, their advisors, and medical school personnel.

AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants

AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols for Admission Officers

Falsification, omission, or discrepancy in application materials, including incomplete or invalid financial transactions, as well as any irregular behavior during the administration of the MCAT, will be investigated in accordance with AAMC Policies.

Policies and Procedures for Investigating Reported Violations of Admission and Enrollment Standards

AAMC Policies Regarding the Collection, Use, and Dissemination of Medical Student and Applicant Data

US Department of Education

HMS Privacy Policy

You can view Harvard Medical School's privacy policy  by clicking the link below:

HMS Privacy Policy

EU/EEA Privacy Disclosures

Users Located in the European Economic Area

If you are located in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway (the "European Economic Area"), please use the following like for additional information about ways that certain Harvard University Schools, Centers, units and controlled entities, including this one, may collect, use, and share information about you: EU/EEA Privacy Disclosures

Consent Regarding Sensitive Personal Data

During the application process, you and others, such as recommenders, may provide Harvard Medical School with certain kinds of personal data about you that some laws regard as sensitive and deserving of special protection (“Sensitive Personal Data”). For example, in Europe, Sensitive Personal Data can include personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership; genetic or biometric data; data concerning health; data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation; and personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences. You can find further information about how Harvard Medical School uses personal data of individuals in Europe in the admissions process using the following link:  Consent Regarding Sensitive Personal Data

By submitting an application, you consent to Harvard Medical School’s processing Sensitive Personal Data about you in order to evaluate your application for admissions and your eligibility for financial aid, if applicable. Sensitive Person Data about you also may be processed for other purposes permitted by applicable law.

Annual Copyright Disclosure

You can view Harvard University's Annual Copyright Disclosure by clicking on the following link:

Annual Copyright Disclosure