Admissions & Applications

Eligibility

As the Scholars in Science Program (SCSP) is a post-graduate training program, enrollees are required have an MD, DMD, or similar degree and be at or near completion of their clinical training. The program also is suitable for scientists with PhD degrees in clinical disciplines.

The two-year program is a full-time commitment (see section below, "Policy on Protected Time"). Program funding does not support stipends; therefore, most candidates are chosen from among those individuals who have been accepted into Harvard fellowship training programs. Individuals with salary support from career development awards (e.g., NIH K grants) are eligible. Applicants may be eligible for the Loan Repayment program (LRP) for clinical investigators, which provides for repayment of a portion of the educational loan debt. Information regarding the eligibility requirements and benefits of the LRP program may be obtained via the LRP website.

Policy on Protected Time

The SCSP requires a student to have 80% protected time during both years of the program. The SCSP is not prescriptive as to how the 20% clinical effort is comprised, as some training programs wish to intersperse outpatient and inpatient responsibilities. However, 80% protected time is critical to the student's success, given the time commitment required to pursue SCSP-related activities. As a rule of thumb, one half-day clinic involves more than 10% effort; indeed, many healthcare systems allocate 12.5% effort for each half-day clinic session to accommodate for out-of-clinic time (e.g., phone calls, medical refills, review labs). We anticipate that students will also attend clinical conferences in their divisions and departments, thus adding to their clinical time. Therefore we recommend, based on past experience, that a student have no more than one half-day clinic weekly or an inpatient rotation with equivalent time commitment, which is an allocation adequate for most trainees in ACGME-accredited programs to maintain their required clinical exposure.

Commitment to Diversity

The SCSP Committee on Admissions adheres to the Harvard commitment to a diverse student population, as reflected in the ethnic and economic backgrounds of the student body. The HMS Office of Recruitment and Multicultural Affairs recruits and provides supportive services to individuals from groups underrepresented in medicine.

Tuition and Other Costs

Tuition for required courses is covered by funds from Harvard Catalyst. Students needing more than 24 months to graduate are obligated to cover any costs associated with additional time in the program. Program funding does not support stipends, books, library fees, or other ancillary costs.

Preparing for Your Application

The link to the electronic application can be accessed by clicking on the "Apply" button on the Overview page. The first step of the application process is the data form. Once the data form is completed, all supporting documents (statement of intent, letters of recommendation, etc.) may be uploaded.

We suggest that you review the application and its requirements ahead of time in preparation for the final submission of your application, as the on-line application can be open for only a limited period of time and saving of partial applications is not supported. Each individual is allowed to submit only one application.

All requested information must be completed in full by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Print copies of applications and supplementary materials will not be accepted. Questions about the application process can be sent via E-mail to Jacob Jones.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted beginning on November 1, 2011, for the class commencing in July 2012. Applications received before this date will not be reviewed. All applications and supporting documents must be received electronically by 5:00pm on January 6, 2012. Any applications and supporting documents received after this deadline will not be reviewed.

Letters of Recommendation

Each applicant must submit three (3) letters of recommendation, including one from the mentor stating explicitly that s/he will be responsible for protecting 80% of the applicant's time and guaranteeing the applicant's salary support during the two-year program period.

Statement of Intent

As part of the application, applicants are asked to provide the following information:

• Section A. Describe the general area of research in which you are interested and your reasons for choosing this area. Limit your response to 300 words.
• Section B. Provide a general outline of the project(s) that you wish to complete during the tenure of your involvement in the program. Please provide as much detail as possible, including hypothesis, methods, and potential pitfalls. If you do not have a specific project in mind, describe in general what your project(s) might be. Limit your response to 700 words.
• Section C. What were your reasons for choosing your mentor? Limit your response to 200 words.
• Section D. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Limit your response to 300 words.
• Section E. Explain why you believe that the Scholars in Clinical Science Program will help you achieve these goals. Limit your response to 300 words.

Learn about the mentoring experience and about affiliated institutions and faculty.

To apply, please click the Apply button in the "At a glance" box at the top of the Overview page.