100 years biochemical sciences tutorial
How do I apply to MCO, and what if I have questions about the application?
Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences manages admissions applications, and more information can be found on their website. Please direct any technical question to their office.
When is the application deadline? Can I request an extension?
The application deadline is 5:00pm EST on December 1, 2026. No extensions will be granted.
What are my chances of being admitted with my particular background?
We cannot predict anyone’s chances based on a particular background. We receive hundreds of applications for few slots (cohort size is 10-15 students on average), and the strength of any given application often depends on the strength of the entire applicant pool in a given year.
Do you require a minimum GPA?
We do not have a strict GPA cutoff, but GPA is considered as one of many factors in your application. If you have special circumstances that may have affected your GPA, you will have the opportunity to note your individual situation within the application.
What if I haven’t taken all of the courses in your “recommended courses list”?
We do not have prerequisites. The list of courses reflects what most admitted students have taken, and completion of all courses on this list is not required for admission.
Do I need to contact faculty of interest before applying?
Securing a faculty advisor is not required for admission, as we are a rotation-based program. You are welcome to contact faculty of interest to learn more about their lab and their research in advance of applying, however this does not have any impact on your chances of admission.
How many international students do you accept?
We do not have a fixed number of slots for international students, and review both domestic and international students in the same manner.
What are the language requirements for admission?
Please refer to the GSAS’s full explanation about the requirements, and instructions for submitting test scores here. Please note that our program requires a minimum of 100 for the TOEFL exam and 7 for the IELTS exam. Please direct any questions about these requirements to the Admissions Office (admiss@fas.harvard.edu)
Do I need to secure funding before enrolling?
No, all incoming students are provided with financial aid covering tuition, health insurance, and a competitive stipend.
How much research experience do I need in order to be considered for admission?
We do not have a fixed minimum, but most incoming students have at least a year of
Can I share updates to my application after the submission deadline?
No. Out of fairness to all applicants, we review applications as they have been received as of the submission deadline.
Can I request a fee waiver?
Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility.
I have identified a few faculty of interest, but they are not in the MCO program. Should I still list them in my application?
Applicants should apply to the program(s) that faculty of interest are affiliated with, and where your research interests most closely align. Harvard has several life science PhD programs, so applicants should review each program to identify best fit before applying.