Hello, thank you so much for the advice! I definitely agree that I need to prioritize my MCAT score, especially for schools like Harvard and Yale.

One of my biggest concerns right now is research. Research opportunities at UTSA can be difficult to get into, especially since some labs prioritize students with prior research experience or students who are not pre-med. I’ve also had some transportation limitations because I don’t currently have a driver’s license or a car, which has made it harder to pursue opportunities outside of UTSA.

I’m hoping to find a way to get involved in research and build meaningful, sustained experience over the next couple of years. I really appreciate your advice!

Ya ofc. Look elsewhere too, not just at utsa. While I attended a t10 undergrad with a plethora of research opportunities that I took advantage of, I also went to other places around the country during the summers. It doesn’t also have to just be wet lab research

I can't find the HST essay on the platform? Does it not exist? Are the only essays gap year employment and combined degree?

Under 'page 2' did you select the HST option under 'Programs of interest' ? it might only appear after you select that first

I did, but nothing popped up

How quick did they send out secondaries for everyone? Decided to shoot my shot and just added it to AMCAS

Title: International applicant with no research experience interested in Harvard Med School

Hi everyone! I’m an international student completing my undergraduate degree in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, and I’m hoping to apply to MD programs. Harvard Medical School is a school I’m very interested in, but I also understand that admission is extremely difficult, particularly for international applicants.

Honestly, I’m trying to figure out how realistic this goal is for me and what I would need to do to become a competitive applicant.

For context, I currently have around a 3.7 GPA, am working toward a 515+ MCAT, and have clinical, volunteering, and leadership experiences. However, I currently have 0 research experience, which is one of the areas I’m most concerned about.

For people who have applied to Harvard, especially international applicants:

How significant of a disadvantage is having no research experience at this point?

How much research experience would you recommend building before applying?

Does research need to result in publications/posters, or is meaningful involvement in a lab enough?

How important are clinical and non-clinical experiences compared with research?

How much does being an international/F-1 student affect the admissions process?

If you were in my position, what would you prioritize over the next 1–2 years?

And honestly, would you consider Harvard a realistic reach for someone with my current profile, or an extremely unlikely option?

I’m genuinely looking for realistic feedback, even if the answer is that I have a lot of work to do. I’d rather know that now and use the next couple of years wisely than build my application around unrealistic expectations.

Thank you!

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