Letter of Recommendation Requirements
HMS strongly prefers a committee letter from a pre-medical advisory committee. If the applicant's undergraduate institution does not have a committee, three or more individual letters are required. A typical package includes two science faculty letters and at least one letter from a supervisor who can speak to non-academic qualities such as service, empathy, or leadership. HMS typically accepts up to six letters through AMCAS.
Who Should Write Your Letters
The most useful letters come from faculty who taught the applicant in upper-level science courses or supervised independent research, and from mentors who observed the applicant in clinical, service, or leadership settings. Letters that describe specific observations, concrete examples, and meaningful comparisons to other applicants carry more weight than letters focused on grades alone.
How to Submit Letters to Harvard Medical School
Letters are submitted through the AMCAS Letter Service. The Harvard secondary application may include specific instructions about letter types or the committee letter requirement. Review those instructions carefully each cycle because requirements can change.
Tips for a Strong Letter Package
For applicants applying from institutions with pre-medical committees, begin the committee letter process well before the application cycle opens. Committee letters often require their own interviews, essays, and transcripts. Individual recommenders should be given at least six to eight weeks to write a thoughtful letter.
Verify current requirements: Medical school admission requirements change by cycle. Always confirm letter requirements directly on Harvard Medical School's official admissions website and through the current AMCAS instructions before submitting your application.