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Anybody looking into the new USC online MPH program?
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I am applying to 8 schools and would like to cut this down, if possible:
LSHTM (Global Mental Health)
Harvard (MPH/Health Policy)
Berkeley (MPH/MPP in Health Policy)
UCLA (MPH/Health Policy/Global Health Certificate)
Boston U (MPH/Human Rights)
Yale (MPH/Health Policy/Global Health)
Columbia (MPH/Health Policy Global Health)
UCSF (Global Health Sciences)
I could care less about ranking. It is one of the luxuries of already having a doctorate. Right now, Yale and Columbia are likely to be taken off the list. I do not want to live in New Haven. Also, I have lived in New York for college, and loved it! I also matriculated to Columbia for a different degree, and I am very well aware of the public health building/campus. It is not pretty. (The physical learning environment to me is important.) The neighborhood and the city as a whole are non-issues. It is city life, after all. I am speaking specifically about the school of public health building.
I have otherwise lived or been to the other cities where the other schools on my list are located. Except for London, I have lived in all of them at one point or another - and London is possibly my top choice.
Any current/past students at CU or Yale? Any other applicants considering these two schools? Thoughts?
LSHTM (Global Mental Health)
Harvard (MPH/Health Policy)
Berkeley (MPH/MPP in Health Policy)
UCLA (MPH/Health Policy/Global Health Certificate)
Boston U (MPH/Human Rights)
Yale (MPH/Health Policy/Global Health)
Columbia (MPH/Health Policy Global Health)
UCSF (Global Health Sciences)
I could care less about ranking. It is one of the luxuries of already having a doctorate. Right now, Yale and Columbia are likely to be taken off the list. I do not want to live in New Haven. Also, I have lived in New York for college, and loved it! I also matriculated to Columbia for a different degree, and I am very well aware of the public health building/campus. It is not pretty. (The physical learning environment to me is important.) The neighborhood and the city as a whole are non-issues. It is city life, after all. I am speaking specifically about the school of public health building.
I have otherwise lived or been to the other cities where the other schools on my list are located. Except for London, I have lived in all of them at one point or another - and London is possibly my top choice.
Any current/past students at CU or Yale? Any other applicants considering these two schools? Thoughts?
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Hey all -
Currently I am a 1st year at Michigan for Health Management and Policy. A year ago, I was in your exact same position.
I just wanted to remind everyone interested in Hospital Administration/Consulting/Policy to strongly consider UMich.
If you come here, I can guarantee a few things: You will impressed by your peers, faculty and the loyalty of the Wolverine alumni. It is my humble opinion that those are the sole determining factors why Michigan is rated by Newsweek as #1 for Healthcare Management. It's not a big city environment. We don't have celebrities moonlighting as faculty. We don't have a major federal research organization in town. We're not the cheapest University and in order to get a scholarship, you will have to prove you deserve it. We make our name by where students are placed post-graduation and for internships. Plain and simple, the students here are amazing. I want you to come here, but also believe in candor and transparency.
Link: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankings...health-schools/healthcare-management-rankings
Regardless, good luck in your decisions. This is an exciting time and I wish you all the best.
Currently I am a 1st year at Michigan for Health Management and Policy. A year ago, I was in your exact same position.
I just wanted to remind everyone interested in Hospital Administration/Consulting/Policy to strongly consider UMich.
If you come here, I can guarantee a few things: You will impressed by your peers, faculty and the loyalty of the Wolverine alumni. It is my humble opinion that those are the sole determining factors why Michigan is rated by Newsweek as #1 for Healthcare Management. It's not a big city environment. We don't have celebrities moonlighting as faculty. We don't have a major federal research organization in town. We're not the cheapest University and in order to get a scholarship, you will have to prove you deserve it. We make our name by where students are placed post-graduation and for internships. Plain and simple, the students here are amazing. I want you to come here, but also believe in candor and transparency.
Link: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankings...health-schools/healthcare-management-rankings
Regardless, good luck in your decisions. This is an exciting time and I wish you all the best.
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I agree U Mich is a great program, but how do you like living in Ann Arbor?
BU has a "Human Rights" track? Sounds a little nonspecific, and more like a focus of international law.
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...yes, and it's awesome 🙂 BU is on the forefront of healthcare law, and the law school is ranked one of the highest in its health law curriculum. I am interested in health policy analysis in an international context and in the rights of individuals in "third world" countries to access health. I could go the traditional public health route, or I could take a different, more nuanced approached. 😉
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The number of applications varies. I think 6-8 is average, and much less (maybe 3-5) for those with advanced degrees.
You are right, money is an issue for many of us, including myself. I think I have decided to apply to them all, anyway, but not all at once. I will likely apply later in the application cycle to those schools that are lower on my ranking.
...but as a random shot in the dark, I would drop Yale and Columbia 🙂
BU's law school is ranked #5, in terms of healthcare law, but I wouldn't necessarily translate that law school ranking to a public health degree. For the simple reason that if somebody wants a heavy in human rights issues, I'd figure they'd go for the J.D, or even J.D./MPH, versus just an MPH. By trying to say that a two-year MPH provides an education in "human rights" sort of makes it look like a couple upper division public health/human rights law courses were mixed into the curriculum.
First and foremost, I'd want to have demonstrated with the MPH that I have obtained a set of practical skills, i.e. Epi, Biostats. Human rights issues are interesting, but they vary greatly by country, and certainly somebody with an MPH wouldn't be considered an expert in human rights by any means.
Also, given how publicized human rights issues are, I would figure that most MPH'ers know a great deal about human rights violations, lack of human rights, etc, effect public health issues in developing countries. If you've been paying attention to the literature and the news, it is sort of hard not to understand a good deal about this topic.
Is this just the case of a school trying to market a novel concentration that sort of just takes advantage of a couple of health law classes?
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I have a doctorate. I am applying to the human rights concentration, in part, because the courses align with the way I want my professional career trajectory to look like.
I am in a different stage of my career and education. I am not interested in the MPH as a way to earn "practical skills." While I believe in learning in-depth from the foundational courses common across MPH programs, I am not interested in the degree for its sake.
To say that human rights is "interesting," that they "vary greatly by country," and that someone with a MPH would not be considered an expert in the field - that is a naive approach and compartmentalized understanding of the broader, interdisciplinary discipline of public health. Human rights are universal by definition. Access to health varies by country, for instance, but the right to health should not. Knowing about human rights is different than developing, analyzing, and implementing them. We all know human rights, but not all of us do something about it. Also, for all intents and purposes, a JD/MPH is useless. The JD is sufficient to practice healthcare law or to participate in the legal areas of public health without the latter degree.
So, instead of asking me if there is "novelty" in the human rights concentration, I suggest you read up on the actual coursework.
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I think MPHers with a different concentration, such as Epi, will also be able to get a job at a given NGO, or other type of job, which deals with human rights related issues.
As we all know, career trajectories may change, (you yourself started with an PhD (MD?), perhaps the MPH wasn't always in the tea leaves?). Nonetheless, given how broad 'human rights' is, that could include a lot of specialized MPH work, practically, if not all, of the other concentrations as well.
Fair enough, but I would guess that most folks working on an MPH figure the degree will give them an edge when applying to certain jobs, and that it will help them obtain "practical skills", which employers find desirable. You can, of course, do work in, global health, "human rights", whatever, with a variety of MPH concentrations, and more often than not it is the work related experience and contacts you make that guide your career trajectory.
Having actually lived in developing countries where the government doesn't believe in human rights for some of its own people, it is much more precise to say that all governments should view human rights as universal for all of its respective citizens.
Is the case in practice? Of course not. But when you write about, "developing, analyzing and implementing them (human rights)", you should know that the rights a government bestows on its citizens are matters of law (often times international law), and usually at the highest level when it comes to "implementing" human rights. I think that the greatest friends of human rights are highly educated lawyers who work in the U.N., and at other governments and NGOs.
So, I really have to laugh if you think a JD/MPH is useless, especially when you think it is useless when it comes to human rights. Determining whether, how, what, human rights are ensured in a given country is a policy issue . . . made by policy makers, i.e. politicians, who very often have a legal degree. Plus, NGOs/governments will hire JDs, and probably especially JDs/MPHs to file lawsuits regarding human rights abuses, and to research these issues.
I have no idea what you are trying to say about access to healthcare. A right to healthcare, or to be healthy, is explicitly linked to a right to access to healthcare.
Certainly, 99% of MPHers believe that access to healthcare should be a human right, and many countries have healthcare provided for all through the government to fullfil what they believe is a basic human right.
When I say that a "human rights" concentration is novel, I am probably right as it sounds like something new or rare, as far as I know, in terms of an MPH concentration.
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Hey all! I've submitted my applications officially about a week ago and now here comes the hard part... all I have to do is sit back and wait! Does anyone know how long it usually takes to start hearing back from schools?
I know a lot of the schools start reviewing beginning of November, so would this mean Dec/Jan?
Thanks!!
I know a lot of the schools start reviewing beginning of November, so would this mean Dec/Jan?
Thanks!!
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Hi! I actually just submitted my application about the same as you. I'm thinking that we should start hearing back in mid December or January, as well. It varies depending on how quickly SOPHAS can get through your application and receive all materials. Good luck!
Ok so I am getting a little frustrated. I submitted my request for my ETS scores to be sent out using the codes given on the SOPHAS application portal and I did this around october 3rd. Sophas STILL hasn't received my scores and some of the schools I am applying to have due dates of December 1st and 3rd. Any suggestions as to what I should do ? Everytime I call they say they are updating GRE scores and to call back at the end of the week, so I am getting a little irritated.
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I sent my codes early September and they still haven't been updated on SOPHAS either. :/
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Is it possible that the schools have them? Scores are originally sent to the schools, and it is the schools' responsibility to send them to SOPHAS. (Yes, an inane practice.) But so long as the school has them, I think that's what matters. If ETS has sent them to the schools - which would have been w/in 3 weeks of the original request - then it should be at the schools.
Hi all!
I think I'm relatively knew to the public health search/application process on comparison to all of you which is why I'm looking for some advice!
I'm currently in the process of applying to MPH-Health Policy programs and would like some advice based off of what you think of my background and credentials.
I'm a new graduate ( undergrad from a top 2 public university in Biology and Foreign Affairs) with a GPA of 3.3 (I know, not amazing 🙁 ) and am scheduled to take the GRE in December and hope to do well in it ( I received a S in my MCAT writing and a 13 on my Verbal with minimum studying in comparison to how much I studied for Chem and bio)
I've had multiple experiences in health policy:
1) government and external affairs intern at top pediatric institution in Washingtpn DC where I had experiences preparing testimonies for Congressional hearings, tracked legislators, and am receiving a LOR from its External Affairs Director
2) worked this past summer as a health policy intern for a private health consulting firm in DC and dealt with clients such as the NIH, National Indian Health Board and JRDF
3) Currently work at a large opthalmology practice as an ophthalmic tech in a small town and serve a very diverse population of patients- this has taught me more than my experiences in DC about how much social, economic, and cultural contexts play a large role in disease control and prevention
4) 4 years as an undergraduate researcher at a cardiovascular research center LOR from the PI from the lab
5) teaching assistant for an undergraduate intro bio lab
6) Political science research assistant did research on Indian political parties and histories from the perspective of marginalized groups such as women, lower castes etc
7) Managing editor of a prominent undergraduate international affairs journal where I worked hard to recruit pieces concerning global health and developing areas
Finally, I have a huge passion for public health and policy that I hope to convey through my personal statements (while I know all of you here are passionate about the field!)
My biggest concern is whether my GPA is too low 🙁 I have been obsessing about Yale's MPH-health policy track but also love and am applying to GW, BU, Columbia, Tulane, and UMich
What do you guys think?? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and recommendations on any other great schools! 🙂
I think I'm relatively knew to the public health search/application process on comparison to all of you which is why I'm looking for some advice!
I'm currently in the process of applying to MPH-Health Policy programs and would like some advice based off of what you think of my background and credentials.
I'm a new graduate ( undergrad from a top 2 public university in Biology and Foreign Affairs) with a GPA of 3.3 (I know, not amazing 🙁 ) and am scheduled to take the GRE in December and hope to do well in it ( I received a S in my MCAT writing and a 13 on my Verbal with minimum studying in comparison to how much I studied for Chem and bio)
I've had multiple experiences in health policy:
1) government and external affairs intern at top pediatric institution in Washingtpn DC where I had experiences preparing testimonies for Congressional hearings, tracked legislators, and am receiving a LOR from its External Affairs Director
2) worked this past summer as a health policy intern for a private health consulting firm in DC and dealt with clients such as the NIH, National Indian Health Board and JRDF
3) Currently work at a large opthalmology practice as an ophthalmic tech in a small town and serve a very diverse population of patients- this has taught me more than my experiences in DC about how much social, economic, and cultural contexts play a large role in disease control and prevention
4) 4 years as an undergraduate researcher at a cardiovascular research center LOR from the PI from the lab
5) teaching assistant for an undergraduate intro bio lab
6) Political science research assistant did research on Indian political parties and histories from the perspective of marginalized groups such as women, lower castes etc
7) Managing editor of a prominent undergraduate international affairs journal where I worked hard to recruit pieces concerning global health and developing areas
Finally, I have a huge passion for public health and policy that I hope to convey through my personal statements (while I know all of you here are passionate about the field!)
My biggest concern is whether my GPA is too low 🙁 I have been obsessing about Yale's MPH-health policy track but also love and am applying to GW, BU, Columbia, Tulane, and UMich
What do you guys think?? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and recommendations on any other great schools! 🙂
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I will be submitting apps in increments. (I am not about to shell out $400 in one sitting.) I know that SOPHAS verifies for a period of time. But does anyone know if the verification period is shorter with subsequent applications?
I imagine they verify the whole application at the first go around (i.e., the first app(s)). It seems silly to me to be verifying the same material if we could not change or add new information on the app itself anyway. I should be OK with the deadlines even with the verification period but wanted some thoughts folks may have on this. Thanks! 🙂
I imagine they verify the whole application at the first go around (i.e., the first app(s)). It seems silly to me to be verifying the same material if we could not change or add new information on the app itself anyway. I should be OK with the deadlines even with the verification period but wanted some thoughts folks may have on this. Thanks! 🙂
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If everything is already verified and you add another designation, they'll send it out with the next mailing. I applied to 5 schools, which were sent out earlier this week, and added a 6th yesterday. Since everything has already been verified, my new application will be sent out with the next mailing. All I had to do was ask ETS for another score report, so at the very least, that is what will take the longest when it comes to getting a complete application in. I'm not worried about SOPHAS' timeline anymore at this point.
One thing I did notice was that I got an email from Tulane on Friday (last week) saying my app had been received, but SOPHAS has the mail date as this past Wednesday, so THEY actually might be a little delayed in updating their applicant profiles. I don't know how that happened, but...it did!
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Me too; I sent mine in September. It seems many others are in the same situation. I called SOPHAS and they said that there is a problem with the scores that were requested before mid-October. They are investigating the issue with ETS and should solve it by next Wednesday. So don't worry. Also, if you haven't yet, I recommend visiting/liking their Facebook page for updated info. I find it very useful because you can see what questions other applicants ask SOPHAS, and they reply promptly. Good luck!
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Hello everyone! I just have a quick question. When it comes to deadlines, is everything suppose to be verified and everything by the deadline, or are we just suppose to turn everything in before the date?
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Opinions will vary on this, but here is my understanding. It is the second point you are making: All materials must be turned in to SOPHAS by whatever deadline the programs outline. In fact, some programs specifically state that they consider the date of submission to SOPHAS as the day they consider it submitted to the program. Schools know that we do not have control over the verification period of the application portal. The recent responses here about "missing" GRE scores from ETS is a case in point. Also, SOPHAS sends materials to schools on a particular weekly mailing. If the due date is on a Monday, but SOPHAS's weekly mailing is that Friday, I do not see how it is fair for the programs to ask that everything be verified by their date since it is out of hands.
However, it goes without saying that the earlier the better. My suggestion is if you have all necessary information completed and have at least one school designation, then e-submit. This will facilitate the verification ASAP and sooner than if you had waited to complete all school designations. After the verification on the first go-around is complete, subsequent verifications are not needed. The school designations will simply be mailed in the next weekly mailing. And remember, there are certain things you can leave "blank" (i.e., rec letters) and still be OK to e-submit. Do not wait for these materials - and trust that they will arrive there. With a little combing through the fine print of schools, some will state which date they consider the submission date - the date to SOPHAS versus the date from SOPHAS.
Good luck!
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For Columbia, when they say that they want the letters of rec online, do they mean submit it online through sophas or email the letters straight to them?
I'm pretty certain that you need to submit the recommendations through SOPHAS. I haven't heard of any SOPHAS-affiliated programs that asks you to submit them directly to the schools.
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I agree with the previous poster's response, you only have to submit through SOPHAS.
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So, just clarifying because I'm being paranoid:
We send an official transcript (using the transcript request form) to SOPHAS. We do NOT need to send and official transcript to each school. Right?
We send an official transcript (using the transcript request form) to SOPHAS. We do NOT need to send and official transcript to each school. Right?
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Yup.
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Thanks for replying everyone!
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Just submitted my application (MHA) to UNC, Cornell and Ohio State. Thinking about submitting one to Scranton later on.
MHA
GPA:3.4
GRE: V156/Q157
Good work and volunteer experience.
I'll keep everyone updated. Good luck to all!!
MHA
GPA:3.4
GRE: V156/Q157
Good work and volunteer experience.
I'll keep everyone updated. Good luck to all!!
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Yes and no. Some schools want transcripts too.
Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk 2
Backtracking a little, but exactly a week after I got my email from Tulane saying that they received my app I got an email for an interview. So make sure to keep an eye out for that! 🙂
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I've been asking a lot of questions recently, so I apologize for that, but I have one more 
So I should I include some of my other extra curricular activities in my Work/Experience section? I am a member of the pep band for my school and I was the president for one year, and vice president for another. I am also a staff writer for my school newspaper.
Also, is it fine to leave the other relevant information blank? What kind of information did you guys include here?
Thanks again!
So I should I include some of my other extra curricular activities in my Work/Experience section? I am a member of the pep band for my school and I was the president for one year, and vice president for another. I am also a staff writer for my school newspaper. Also, is it fine to leave the other relevant information blank? What kind of information did you guys include here?
Thanks again!
I might include those activities in the Community and Volunteer section since they relate more to your school community. I'm not so sure they fit very well in the Research and Work Experience section.
Does anyone know if SOPHAS waits until all recommendations, transcripts, scores come in before they mail the the applications? Or do they send them to schools as they are received?
Does anyone know if SOPHAS waits until all recommendations, transcripts, scores come in before they mail the the applications? Or do they send them to schools as they are received?
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Does anyone know what an acceptable time frame is to follow up with schools to check the receipt of letters of recommendation, resume, etc.?
My school sent my resume, LORs and transcript via USPS priority mail on 11/8. A couple professors here have told me to send an email this Thursday or Friday, but I feel like giving the grad school just a week to get everything and add it to my file is unreasonable.
My school sent my resume, LORs and transcript via USPS priority mail on 11/8. A couple professors here have told me to send an email this Thursday or Friday, but I feel like giving the grad school just a week to get everything and add it to my file is unreasonable.
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I've been asking a lot of questions recently, so I apologize for that, but I have one more
Also, is it fine to leave the other relevant information blank? What kind of information did you guys include here?
Thanks again!
Extracurricular activities and work experience are two different things. If it does not fall under research/work experience or community/volunteer service, then I would exclude it. There is "other relevant information," and perhaps this is a place where you can include your particular information. Otherwise, your resume/CV should be sufficient.
The FAQ states: An application is complete when SOPHAS receives the e-submitted application, payment, a transcript from each U.S. institution listed in the Colleges and Universities Attended section, and at least TWO (2) completed recommendations. Once an application is complete and the coursework has been verified by SOPHAS staff, then the application will be placed into the next weekly mailing to the applicant's designated schools of public health.
...in other words, yes it waits until all of the materials is complete and verified.
I do not understand. Did you not apply through SOPHAS? Or do you mean to ask when is it acceptable to ask grad schools if they have received your SOPHAS materials? Or are you asking about schools that do not participate in SOPHAS? Please clarify.
...but to generally answer your questions, I think 1 week is a bit too soon, especially during high periods (i.e., now through December). Some programs are good about updating students individually. (See responses above regarding Tulane.)
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I'm sorry I should have been more clear. I'm asking about schools that do not participate in SOPHAS.
"Please note that your application cannot be processed until SOPHAS has received your e-submitted application, along with payment, at least TWO (2) complete letters of reference, and all of your U.S. transcripts."
It's written 'U.S. transcripts'.
What about international transcripts? Will SOPHAS wait for those to come in before sending the application?
I sure hope not! It takes ages
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"Please note that your application cannot be processed until SOPHAS has received your e-submitted application, along with payment, at least TWO (2) complete letters of reference, and all of your U.S. transcripts."
It's written 'U.S. transcripts'.
What about international transcripts? Will SOPHAS wait for those to come in before sending the application?
I sure hope not! It takes ages
Yes.
I strongly suggest you contact the admissions office at Hopkins about this.
I asked the SOPHAS Facebook page the same question, and they responded:
"SOPHAS does not wait on international transcripts before processing and mailing your application."
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Great! Even better!
