How to get into Harvard?

How do you get a Summa cumlaude at Harvard Medical School?

• I thought Harvard medical school, like a lot of medical schools, had a pass fail system. So how does a medical student get a summa cumlaude at harvard medical school? Also, how does one get a cumlaude or a magna cumlaude at harvard medical school?

• Answer:

  The first two years are satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Third and fourth-year are graded with marks of high honors, honors, satisfactory or unsatisfactory. "Honors in a Special Field The MD degree with Honors in a Special Field (cumlaude, magna cumlaude, summa cumlaude) is awarded to graduating degree candidates who have performed original and meritorious investigation in a medically related subject and have demonstrated ability, scholarship, and special knowledge of the field of which the chosen subject is a part. An original thesis, describing basic or clinical research or other scholarly investigation (e.g., social sciences, ethics, history of medicine) involving a minimum of four to six consecutive months (often more, in the experimental biological sciences), must be submitted and will form the basis for an oral exam. The MD Honors Thesis must be distinct from any prior or concurrent graduate-level thesis (e.g., MPH, PhD). Candidates must speak with one of their Society Research Fellows, fill out a Statement of Intent no later than the first week of October in the expected graduation year, and submit their full proposal to the Manager of Honors in a Special Field in the Office of Student Affairs. The thesis submission deadline is during the first week of February. Oral examinations are held from February through April. Please see Section 1.07, MD Degree with Honors in a Special Field, for more information. To be considered for honors, a student must be in good standing at the Medical School." http://hms.harvard.edu/content/203-grading-and-examination