Overview
You can begin your studies in the summer or fall term following your admittance into the PMP. Due to the sequential nature of course offerings, you cannot begin in a spring term.
Most premedical/predental/pre-veterinary students will need two years to complete their program requirements, although depending on their credit assignment some are able to do so in one year and a summer.
Most pre-PA students will need between two and three years to complete the program.
You cannot be enrolled as a candidate in the Premedical Program and another Harvard Extension School degree program simultaneously. However, existing ALB and ALM biology degree candidates can ask to receive premedical advising from the Premedical Program office.
Enrollment Requirements
Admission enrollment. Once admitted in April, you need to register during the upcoming summer or fall term. If you do not, your admission will be rescinded, and you’ll need to re-apply to the program the following year.
Continuous enrollment throughout the program. Once you begin your studies, you must maintain continuous enrollment (fall and spring) in Premedical Program coursework throughout the program. Courses for the PMP must be taken for a letter grade — registering only for a non-credit option will be considered a failure to register.
You are welcome to take HES courses that are neither PMP core nor elective courses, but they will not be considered for continuous enrollment. Enrollment during the summer semester and January term is optional and is not required to maintain standing in the program.
Failure to register during a fall or spring semester or dropping/withdrawing from all courses in a single semester without approval of the program director, will result in your being voluntarily withdrawn from the program.
This withdrawal would be nonpunitive; it is not a disciplinary action. However, if you wished to return to the program, you would need to reapply and go through a new admission process and decision.
Minimum enrollment for sponsorship. If you plan to seek sponsorship, you must remain enrolled in Premedical Program coursework for at least one academic year (fall/spring semesters) following admission to the program.
Program completion timeline. Premedical/predental/pre-veterinary students are required to complete the program within two years. Pre-PA students are required to complete within three years.
If you need more time to complete the program you will need program director approval for an exemption with the acceptance of conditions that you continue to meet with a premedical program advisor at least twice per semester to have your course selection and plan of study approved.
Only students who are making satisfactory academic progress will be granted an additional year. Requests for additional time beyond three years (four years for pre-PA students) are not ordinarily approved.
Once you complete your credit assignment, your program participation will automatically end, along with program privileges, such as Harvard University ID card access, unless you are deferring sponsorship for a year.
Deferring for sponsorship. Premedical and predental students may remain eligible for sponsorship for one year beyond program completion, as long as they remain enrolled in Premedical Program coursework at Harvard during that year.
Repeat Policy
This policy refers to repeating courses previously completed at Harvard Extension or Summer Schools; it does not refer to courses previously completed at another institution.
If you repeat a course that you have already taken at HES/HSS and that has already counted as credit towards program progress, then program credit will not be awarded for the second attempt.
Even if there are multiple offerings of the same course with different course numbers, courses that cover identical content are considered repeat courses. For example, a student will not receive credit for CHEM E-17 and E-27 if they have already taken CHEM S-20AB.
Repeated courses will appear on your transcript.
Please contact the program if you have questions about how to avoid registering for repeat course work.
Leave Policy
Non-Medical Leave Policy and Procedure
Petitions to take a semester off from the program for a non-medical reason are considered on a case-by-case basis. Speak to one of the program advisors. If granted, you’ll be given a firm deadline to complete the program, which cannot exceed three years (premedical/predental/pre-veterinary)/four years (pre-PA).
Medical Leave Policy and Procedure
If you have a documented health or medical issue that requires a modification of, or reasonable accommodation to, the continuous enrollment and/or completion policy, then you need to proactively work with the Accessibility Services Office (ASO) to request a medical leave.
ASO will help make appropriate arrangements for the duration of the leave as well as plans to return and ensure compliance with all academic rules. ASO will engage in an individualized and interactive assessment, which may require consultation with others at the University, as appropriate. With prior permission, ASO may also require consultation with your healthcare providers.
Medical Leave Procedure
Requesting a Medical Leave
Contact the ASO as soon as a health or medical issues arises, as HES does not ordinarily alter academic policies after the fact.
Extensions to the completion deadlines are not ordinarily granted beyond one additional year as successful completion of courses within a certain period of time is a fundamental academic requirement.
Returning from a Medical Leave of Absence
To return from a medical leave of absence, the ASO will require documentation that the circumstances that led to your leave have been satisfactorily addressed and you are ready to resume your studies.
ASO will engage in an individualized and interactive assessment, which may require consultation with others at the University, as appropriate. With prior permission, ASO may also require consultation with your healthcare providers.
The ASO will make the decision whether to allow you to return and determine the conditions for your return based on (1) the best available objective medical evidence and (2) consultation with others at the University, which may include the Harvard University Health Services, the Dean of Student Policy and Governance, or the Administrative Board, as appropriate.
Course Registration
If you request a medical leave while currently registered for courses, the Accessibility Services Office (ASO) will work with the Registrar’s Office to determine a fair and equitable resolution to your registration status, which may include a drop for a refund, if early in the term, or late withdrawal grade, if later in the term.
Leave Enrollment and Registration Policies
While on leave, your premedical program status will be inactive, and your ID card will not be valid. You are not eligible for loan deferments or financial aid, nor are you able to work at HES as support teaching staff or a faculty aide. You cannot attend HES or University-wide student events, participate in student groups, or use student services.
Leave Student Conduct
All students on leave are reminded to maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct. Any pending disciplinary matters must be resolved before a student on a medical leave of absence will be allowed to return.
