Women Admitted to Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School faculty voted to recommend admitting women students in 1943 because the World War II draft depleted applications from qualified male students. The Harvard Corporation voted against the recommendation. 

In 1944, 153 women applied as students to Harvard Medical School, and as a result, the faculty again recommended to admit women students. On June 4, 1944, the Harvard Corporation voted to accept women in the 1945 medical school freshman class.

Eighty-eight women applied to the Harvard Medical Class of 1949. Twelve women were accepted and matriculated in the Class of 1949.Women students were initially accepted on a ten-year trial basis. Gender parity was reached among incoming Harvard Medical School classes in 1994.