Pre-med students from any university can add Harvard to their resumé and medical school application with a summer program or post-bacc masters. If you’re not limiting yourself to Harvard, read our list of best summer research programs or our guide to post-bacc programs.
5 Harvard Programs for Pre-Meds
1. Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program
The Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program is a 10-week research program designed for undergraduate students underrepresented in science and medicine. Students conduct lab research with Harvard Medical School faculty and participate in research and career development seminars. This program also provides a stipend for housing and travel.
2. Master of Medical Sciences in Immunology
The Master of Medical Sciences in Immunology program is a 2-year graduate program designed for students interested in medical immunology. Students take graduate level coursework in clinical sciences. They also develop a research thesis and conduct lab research with Harvard Medical School faculty. Completing a graduate program in the medical sciences is a great way to demonstrate ability to succeed in rigorous medical coursework, especially for students who may have a less than perfect undergraduate GPA. Read our full list of best post-bacc programs here.
3. Summer Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health
The Summer Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health is a 10-week research program designed for undergraduate students underrepresented in science and medicine with an interest in the public health sciences. Students direct their own lab research project with Harvard faculty on a public health topic of their choice with opportunities ranging from infectious disease to diabetes to cancer. This program also provides a stipend for housing and travel.
4. Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Summer Scholars Program
The Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Summer Scholars Program is a 10-week research program designed for undergraduate students interested in molecular medicine. Students conduct lab research with Harvard Medical School faculty and participate in research and career development seminars. This program also provides a small stipend.
5. Summer Undergraduate Program in Immunology
The Summer Undergraduate Program in Immunology is a 10-week research program designed for undergraduate students interested in immunology. This program is intended especially for students from colleges lacking a strong immunology department. Students conduct lab research with Harvard Medical School faculty and participate in research and career development seminars. This program also provides a small stipend.
Final Thoughts
Students from any university can develop experiences and connections with Ivy-league institutions like Harvard. These networking opportunities can seriously impact a medical school application. For students whose science GPA is less than ideal, summer research experience can help demonstrate an understanding and competence in biochemistry and molecular biology. For students who really need a GPA boost, completing a pre-med masters program can help make up for low undergraduate grades. Read more here for our ultimate guide to pre-med post-bacc programs.
