Advice for a hopeful MPH student

[MphHopeful4eva]

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Hi, I am thinking about applying to Public Health School next year, and wanted to take some non-credit course before I start. I especially want to do this since I did not have the most stellar undergraduate GPA (but I have several relvant experiences in college and have worked in clinical research jobs for the past 8 months). Also, I am very interested in applying to Maternal Health/Women's Health programs.

 

[MphHopeful4eva]

Hi, I am thinking about applying to Public Health School next year, and wanted to take some non-credit course before I start. I especially want to do this since I did not have the most stellar undergraduate GPA (but I have several relvant experiences in college and have worked in clinical research jobs for the past 8 months). Also, I am very interested in applying to Maternal Health/Women's Health programs.

I just read over this and realized that I forgot to ask my question. Does anyone have a suggestion for what courses I should consider? Thanks.

 

[temp22]

Hey there,

If your GPA is a weak point, I would consider taking a core course such as Epidemiology. Regardless of your intended concentration, you should make sure that there is a quantitative component to the course, since your GPA is what's lacking. Your other extracurriculars will speak to your interest in your desired field.

Most public health graduate programs will allow you to take a course as a non-degree seeking student. This will also allow you to receive a grade, and possibly apply it towards grad studies. Taking a 'non-credit' course won't help much if you don't receive a grade.

Again, I would suggest that you take a graduate level course, but there may be some merit to taking an upper-level undergrad science course. Or, there may be some graduate-level diploma programs that you can take courses from. I know Hopkins has some distance courses, and these would look great on an application.

What range is your GPA? Is it below 2.5? Below 3.0?

Most PH schools highly value work experience, so make sure you beef this up over the next year, and really emphasize this in your statement of purpose.

Oh, and don't forget to focus on the GRE. Scoring well may compensate for your GPA, and will at least give you something to argue with (a Stats course isn't a bad idea either).

Good luck!

 

[SMUrandy]

I just read over this and realized that I forgot to ask my question. Does anyone have a suggestion for what courses I should consider? Thanks.

Howdy,
I believe it could depend on which areas you feel you need to know you've improved or have the capability to do graduate work. Might not hurt to look into a stats or research methodology course.

Good luck to you.

 

[MphHopeful4eva]

Howdy,
I believe it could depend on which areas you feel you need to know you've improved or have the capability to do graduate work. Might not hurt to look into a stats or research methodology course.

Good luck to you.

Hey thanks, for your advice. I will definitely look for a stats course. It seems that quantative is very important for public health.

Hey there,

If your GPA is a weak point, I would consider taking a core course such as Epidemiology. Regardless of your intended concentration, you should make sure that there is a quantitative component to the course, since your GPA is what's lacking. Your other extracurriculars will speak to your interest in your desired field.

Most public health graduate programs will allow you to take a course as a non-degree seeking student. This will also allow you to receive a grade, and possibly apply it towards grad studies. Taking a 'non-credit' course won't help much if you don't receive a grade.

Again, I would suggest that you take a graduate level course, but there may be some merit to taking an upper-level undergrad science course. Or, there may be some graduate-level diploma programs that you can take courses from. I know Hopkins has some distance courses, and these would look great on an application.

What range is your GPA? Is it below 2.5? Below 3.0?

Most PH schools highly value work experience, so make sure you beef this up over the next year, and really emphasize this in your statement of purpose.

Oh, and don't forget to focus on the GRE. Scoring well may compensate for your GPA, and will at least give you something to argue with (a Stats course isn't a bad idea either).

Good luck!

Hey, thanks for your advice. My GPA was a 2.79, it was mainly because I was pre-med. However my major GPA was a 3.43 (I switched majors in my junior year). I will definitely look into an Epi course or at least a quantative course. I recently took the GRE and my scores were not so hot. I had a 530 Verbal and 620 Math. I will definitely seek out a graded non credit course.

 

[ebp]

Hey there,

If your GPA is a weak point, I would consider taking a core course such as Epidemiology. Regardless of your intended concentration, you should make sure that there is a quantitative component to the course, since your GPA is what's lacking. Your other extracurriculars will speak to your interest in your desired field.

Most public health graduate programs will allow you to take a course as a non-degree seeking student. This will also allow you to receive a grade, and possibly apply it towards grad studies. Taking a 'non-credit' course won't help much if you don't receive a grade.

Again, I would suggest that you take a graduate level course, but there may be some merit to taking an upper-level undergrad science course. Or, there may be some graduate-level diploma programs that you can take courses from. I know Hopkins has some distance courses, and these would look great on an application.

What range is your GPA? Is it below 2.5? Below 3.0?

Most PH schools highly value work experience, so make sure you beef this up over the next year, and really emphasize this in your statement of purpose.

Oh, and don't forget to focus on the GRE. Scoring well may compensate for your GPA, and will at least give you something to argue with (a Stats course isn't a bad idea either).

Good luck!

I agree with this. I had a 2.8 in undergrad (thinking I could be a Biology major). I have 6 years of work experience with 3 years of direct service experience in the field I am interested in pursuing. I also took a stats course through a grad school type program here in DC. Unfortunately my GRE scores weren't super, so I think that definitely hurt my app, but I did get in to grad school.

If you're going to take a class, take one where you get a grade. You want to show the admissions committee that you can do well and make sure it has a quantitative focus. Then focus on your work experience - build strong experience that is specific to the programs you are applying to. Put a lot of thought into who you have write your letters of rec and maybe give them details you would like them to focus on - emphasizing the skills your programs would be looking for.

Good luck!

 

[waystinthyme]

you may want to look into a Public Health Certificate program. some schools of public health offer them, and they give you a chance to a take a variety of graduate level public health courses. usually the programs are year-long, and will allow you to prove that you can succeed academically at the graduate level.

here is a link to UNC's program: http://www.sph.unc.edu/nciph/certificate/

-waystinthyme

 

[MphHopeful4eva]

Hey, thanks for your advice. I will definitely look into UNC, I am actually a little bit familar program since I went to the rival school just down the road🙂. But seriously I will definitely look at that, thanks for the suggestion

you may want to look into a Public Health Certificate program. some schools of public health offer them, and they give you a chance to a take a variety of graduate level public health courses. usually the programs are year-long, and will allow you to prove that you can succeed academically at the graduate level.

here is a link to UNC's program: http://www.sph.unc.edu/nciph/certificate/

-waystinthyme