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SHURP Application Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not a Harvard student. Am I eligible?
Yes indeed! Part of our mission is to give students at schools with limited research facilities the exposure to Harvard’s research environment.
I don’t have any research experience. Am I eligible?
Competitive applicants have at least a summer or semester of wet lab research experience beyond required class lab sections.
Is there a minimum GPA required?
Please check the Leadership Alliance website for this information.
I haven’t taken a molecular biology class. Can I still apply?
What the admissions committee is looking for is evidence that the applicant has enough understanding of contemporary molecular biology (including gene structure and function, transcription and translation, etc.), to be comfortable in the program. This usually means evidence of coursework that includes information about molecular biology. The name of the course is not important.
I’ll be graduating from college in June 2018. Am I eligible?
In order to be eligible, students must still be undergraduates during the summer in which they participate in the program. Therefore, if you will have received a B.A. or B.S. (or comparable) degree by June of 2018, you would not be eligible for SHURP. Students who are presently applying to graduate or medical school might find summer opportunities at the school that they decide to attend.
I will still be taking classes or finals when SHURP starts. Can I still apply?
We realize that some schools have spring semester schedules that conflict with the calendar that we are required to follow, and we try to accommodate students from these schools as best we can. In some cases, we can have students arrive after the program starts and stay for a full ten weeks. You are more than welcome to apply to SHURP, and if you are accepted, we and your home campus program directors and advisors can work to figure out an end-of-semester plan for you.
I’m not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Can I apply?
Because the program is funded by federal agencies, it is open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who can provide their I-551 card number.
I’m not eligible for SHURP. Can you suggest any other summer programs?
There are a number of other summer programs at Harvard. You can find a list of them here.
How do I apply to SHURP?
Apply through the Leadership Alliance. There are two Harvard programs, make sure to select "Medical Sciences." For more information about the Leadership Alliance, including the application process click here.
What’s the most important part of the application?
All parts of the application are important. The SHURP admissions committee is looking for:
How long should my personal statement be?
You must follow the guidelines specified by the Leadership Alliance.
I want to work with a specific faculty member. Should I mention that in my essay?
It's not necessary to indicate the specific faculty members you’re interested in working with, but it can be helpful to mention research areas that you are interested in and why you are interested in them. Sometimes, mentioning faculty as examples of researchers in areas of interest is useful.
We do not make decisions about the research placement of SHURP students until after they have been accepted into the program and have indicated their intention to participate. Then, we work closely with students and faculty on lab placements that will provide a good learning environment for the summer.
While it’s fine to discuss what you’d like to do or list names of faculty in your application, please do not contact them on your own.
When will I hear about admissions decisions?
The admissions committee reviews all complete applications after the deadline, February 1, 2018, and is not able to consider applications on a rolling basis. The committee makes decisions by late February. If you have been admitted we will contact you, by end of February through mid-March.
Can I submit an application after the deadline?
No, the admissions committee cannot review applications after the deadline of February 1.
I’m a pre-med student. Will there be an opportunity for me to study for the MCAT while participating in SHURP?
SHURP is geared to students pursuing research, rather than clinical, careers. SHURP is a full-time program and participants function more like research scientists, rather than hourly employees, and enjoy spending time in lab. We do not encourage students to take MCAT courses while participating in SHURP.
How much time do students spend in the lab? What other sorts of things do they do during the summer?
SHURP is a full-time program and participants function more like research scientists, rather than hourly employees. This could mean some time in the lab on evenings and weekends in order for a student to accomplish his or her own goals. SHURP students usually participate in their own lab’s group meetings. Students also participate in twice-weekly program sessions to discuss career development and their own research, along with some other group activities.
Do SHURP students attend the Leadership Alliance symposium?
Yes.
How are SHURP students funded during the summer, and what does the funding cover?
SHURP students are funded by federal grants. They receive a weekly stipend, housing, travel to and from the program, and a few meals every week. If you are funded by a federal grant at your home institution (MARC for example), you are still eligible to participate in the program, however, we may not be able supplement your stipend to the level other SHURP students typically receive.
Where do SHURP students live? Is there a meal plan?
All SHURP students live in school dormitories near Harvard Medical School. Over the last couple of years, SHURP students have lived in the Northeastern University dormitories, about a 10-minute walk from Harvard Medical School. There is no meal plan available, but there are plenty of grocery stores and dining options in close vicinity to the dorm. Students often have lunch with their lab members. Meals are provided at the twice-weekly program discussion sessions, as well as at some special events during the summer.
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