Recommended Application Timeline
This timeline has been prepared to assist prospective applicants in planning for the application process. This timeline is for Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) only. If you are applying to other schools, please check with the respective admissions offices for their timelines. This timeline is what we would recommend in preparing for an application to HSPH, not a required timeline. The timeline is also available as a pdf document.
The application for admission will be available in September of the year you plan to apply. At this time, our application deadline is in early December. Please note that some programs have an earlier deadline. If you are applying for one of those programs, please submit all materials by the application deadline. We participate in the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS). We recommend that you submit all required documentation to SOPHAS (http://www.sophas.org/) at least 4 weeks prior to our application deadline.
January to April
-Investigate degree programs and application requirements by visiting:
Application and Eligibility Requirements
-Begin researching scholarships, fellowships, and external financial aid. Apply for these by the respective deadlines. You may start your search by clicking here.
-Begin preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (see http://www.gre.org/)
-If required, begin preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (http://www.toefl.org/) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (http://www.ielts.org/).
-Schedule GRE General Test to be taken no later than October for paper-based exams and November for computer-based exams to allow time for the official score reports to arrive.
-If required, schedule the TOEFL Test to be taken no later than October for paper-based exams and November for computer-based and/or Internet-based exams to allow time for the official score reports to arrive.
April to August
-Continue researching degree programs, course offerings, and faculty.
-Begin thinking about your statement of purpose and objectives:
-Why do you want to pursue this degree program?
-What attracts you to Harvard School of Public Health?
-What will you contribute to the program?
-What do you hope to do after the program?
-Visit our recruitment calendar online.
-Initiate conversations with your recommenders.
August
-Request unofficial transcripts from all U.S. colleges and universities attended for data entry purposes.
September
-The Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application opens.
-Create an account and begin your application.
-Generate SOPHAS transcript request forms to be sent to all post-secondary institutions attended both U.S. and international.
-Remember to request transcripts for any college-level courses you took while in secondary school.
-Request references from your recommenders.
-Continue working on the application for admission.
October and November
-Submit application for admission by early-to-mid-November.
-You may submit your application to SOPHAS and have all supporting credentials follow.
-Continue to monitor your SOPHAS portal to make sure that all required documents have been received and that your application has been mailed to HSPH.
December
-Application submission deadline.
-Continue to monitor your SOPHAS portal to ensure that your application has been sent to HSPH.
January
-Begin applying for financial aid. Submit financial aid application by the posted deadline.
-Continue to monitor your SOPHAS portal to ensure that your application has been sent to HSPH.
-Once we receive and process your SOPHAS application, you will receive e-mails from us directing you to log into a site to check on the status of your application.