Sponsorship

The sponsorship composite letter is not necessary for pre-veterinary or pre-PA students. For pre-PA students, a composite letter is not recommended. Physician Assistant/Associate schools typically require a specific number of recommendation letters; the composite letter only counts as a single letter, regardless of how many individual recommendation letters it includes.

Sponsorship Requirements

Once you are admitted to the Premedical Program, you must meet the requirements listed below to qualify for sponsorship:

• Complete your assigned number of credits with grades of B or higher in specific medical sciences courses at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School. The assignment (made at point of admission) is based on your undergraduate GPA and prior experience in the sciences, and reflects what we believe will be required to make you a competitive applicant to medical or dental school.
• Remain enrolled in either core or elective PMP coursework for at least one academic year (Fall/Spring semesters) following admission to the program. Students may defer sponsorship for up to one year after completing their PMP credit assignments; students deferring sponsorship must continue to enroll in at least one PMP course per semester to maintain sponsorship eligibility.
• Students who need to complete core prerequisite courses must take these classes on campus to be eligible for sponsorship. (Students who have completed core prerequisite courses are also urged to take elective courses on campus whenever the option is offered, as most professional schools have a strong preference for in-person coursework whenever possible.)
• Hold an advising meeting with the Premedical Program office at least once every semester. We need to get to know you as an individual in order to write a strong, personalized letter. It is critical that you meet with us often and attend as many PMP webinars and on-campus events throughout the semester as possible.
• Notify the Premedical Program (hcp@Extension.Harvard.edu) in writing of your intent to apply to medical or dental school, listing courses completed and courses to be completed, no later than September 30 of the year preceding application. For example, if you are planning to apply during the summer of 2025, then you must indicate your intent to pursue sponsorship by September 30, 2024.
• Finish all prerequisites by the end of the summer in which you are applying to medical or dental school. (Note that summer completion will delay your sponsorship letter until summer grades are released in late August; students are strongly urged whenever possible to complete their requirements by the end of the spring semester.)
• Earn a MCAT/DAT score in the 75th percentile or higher, both overall and in all subject categories.
• Pay the $500 sponsorship fee.

Failure to meet any deadline or requirement may delay or prevent sponsorship of your application for that year.

If you delay or defer your medical school/dental school application beyond your completion of the program, you remain eligible for sponsorship for one year, if and only if, you continue taking Premedical Program courses at Harvard during that entire year.

Advising note: It is important to stress that, even with sponsorship, you should manage your expectations of gaining acceptance into medical/dental school. As you know, professional school acceptance committees place a strong emphasis on academic performance. In addition to an MCAT/DAT in the 75^th percentile or higher, you must also have a competitive combined undergraduate and program GPA as well as extracurricular clinical and/or research experiences. If your grades or MCAT/DAT scores need improvement, or if your clinical/extracurricular portfolio is weak, you are advised to wait a year to apply while you work on improving these sections of your application.