Chances at MPH

[ashbee87]

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I recently graduated from UAB with a Sociology degree. I have an extreme interest in public health and want to get an MPH. I am not a competitive applicant. I have numerous volunteer activities relating to public health but my GPA is extremely low (2.5...I was a biochemistry major for 3 years which damaged my GPA). I want to gain public health work experience and study for the GRE for a year or so.

My question is: Should I take classes at UAB's public health school or get a second bachelor's degree?

Thanks🙂

 

[ebadevil]

off the top of my head UAB's MHA is ranked something like 7 and MPH something like 17?? it is still a very good school if you can get into it... I don't see the benefit of a second bachelor's... it'll take forever and even then its not guaranteed that your GPA will go up all that much... that's just my opinion...

 

[abcabc1]

off the top of my head UAB's MHA is ranked something like 7 and MPH something like 17?? it is still a very good school if you can get into it... I don't see the benefit of a second bachelor's... it'll take forever and even then its not guaranteed that your GPA will go up all that much... that's just my opinion...

I agree... don't get a second bachelor's. If you want to take certain courses that maybe relevant to Public Health (i.e. Statistics, Regression, Linear Algebra, Calculus, Biology courses you haven't taken, etc) and get A's, that should help.

Besides that, you need to score high on the GRE.

 

[marcellabella21]

it all kind of deprends - where are you thinking about applying to?

 

[Narmerguy]

I agree... don't get a second bachelor's. If you want to take certain courses that maybe relevant to Public Health (i.e. Statistics, Regression, Linear Algebra, Calculus, Biology courses you haven't taken, etc) and get A's, that should help.

Besides that, you need to score high on the GRE.

Linear algebra is relevant to public health?

 

[JMM051]

Depending on the type of program (epi, biostats) math classes never hurt. Schools look highly on math/science classes in general.

 

[Reticent]

Linear algebra is relevant to public health?

I understand that it is useful for certain types of modeling. A course in Ordinary Differential Equations would probably be more useful though.

 

[Stories]

Linear algebra is relevant to public health?

I understand that it is useful for certain types of modeling. A course in Ordinary Differential Equations would probably be more useful though.

Linear algebra is critical for regressions. All variables are contained within matrices, so that understanding is necessary to understand how regressions work. This is important if you're interested in pursuing epidemiology or biostatistics at a level beyond the absolute basics.

 

[abcabc1]

Linear algebra is critical for regressions. All variables are contained within matrices, so that understanding is necessary to understand how regressions work. This is important if you're interested in pursuing epidemiology or biostatistics at a level beyond the absolute basics.

This is right. Remember... almost everything that SAS/R due involve Matrices but we don't see it. Matrix manipulation is what happens when the SAS circle keeps spinning around.

Like the above says, all of those equations are matrices. The y=Bo+...+Bnxn is all matrices. Try to review Chapters 5-6 in Kutner (ALRM) if you can.

 

[eckerd82]

I honestly believe in 90% of all cases a second bachelor's is a waste of time. Unless you're doing a complete 180 on careers....

I'd just take some science courses, score well in them, find a job in public health and take the GRE.

 

[ashbee87]

Thanks you all for the advice! I am interviewing for a Research position within UAB soon. It will give me more public health experience. I am also starting to study for the GRE.
Should I take undergrad science and math courses or stick with taking grad classes in the school of public health?

 

[abcabc1]

Thanks you all for the advice! I am interviewing for a Research position within UAB soon. It will give me more public health experience. I am also starting to study for the GRE.
Should I take undergrad science and math courses or stick with taking grad classes in the school of public health?

At this stage, I'd recommend taking undergrad Science/Math courses that can then be used to pad your undergrad GPA. You'll take the Graduate PH courses when the time arrives but, for now, try to raise your ugrad GPA.

 

[ashbee87]

Sorry...I did not state this before, but I want to go into Community Health or Health Behavior concentrations(because of my HIV/AIDS education and prevention work). I know I can't apply to top programs because of my gpa; therefore, I am looking at lower ranked programs.

If I did take a few grad courses, would it be calculated into current GPA or seperately?

Again, thank you for the advice!

 

[cocobobo]

Does UAB-SPH allow students to take classes as non-degree students or a certificate of public health? Usually the bar for these options are lower than a degree program. That can help you build your GPA and perhaps even earn credit that you can transfer into your MPH if and when you are accepted. If that is an option, you could just take the core intro classes for an MPH. By showing you can handle the workload of actual MPH classes, they would be more willing to accept you with a lower GPA. As to graduate and undergrad GPA, I am not sure how they handle that.

 

[varekai1018]

Sorry...I did not state this before, but I want to go into Community Health or Health Behavior concentrations(because of my HIV/AIDS education and prevention work). I know I can't apply to top programs because of my gpa; therefore, I am looking at lower ranked programs.

If I did take a few grad courses, would it be calculated into current GPA or seperately?

Again, thank you for the advice!

Ashbee, I wouldn't sell yourself short. I had a low UG GPA, and was accepted to several "top 5" schools (I put that in quotes because you'll find on this forum that the US News rankings aren't necessarily appropriate for public health). Due to the high costs of my top choices, and knowing that I'd most likely end up working with an NGO, I ended up going to a smaller program that covered my tuition (through TA/RAships).

It sounds like you already have some great experience under your belt, and taking a year or so off to work/study for the GRE won't hurt. Public health loves people who show dedication to the field, and you're off to a great start.

Good luck!

 

[ashbee87]

Ashbee, I wouldn't sell yourself short. I had a low UG GPA, and was accepted to several "top 5" schools (I put that in quotes because you'll find on this forum that the US News rankings aren't necessarily appropriate for public health). Due to the high costs of my top choices, and knowing that I'd most likely end up working with an NGO, I ended up going to a smaller program that covered my tuition (through TA/RAships).

It sounds like you already have some great experience under your belt, and taking a year or so off to work/study for the GRE won't hurt. Public health loves people who show dedication to the field, and you're off to a great start.

Good luck!

Thank you so much Varekai! I have decided to retake 2 courses(Biology and Calculus II) that I did bad in. If I do well , my GPA will go up to about a 2.7. Then I plan to take a few public health classes.

Varekai, may I ask which program you are in?

 

[varekai1018]

Thank you so much Varekai! I have decided to retake 2 courses(Biology and Calculus II) that I did bad in. If I do well , my GPA will go up to about a 2.7. Then I plan to take a few public health classes.

Varekai, may I ask which program you are in?

That sounds like a great idea, Ashbee! I'm sure you'll find that you'll be just fine in the public health world. 🙂

Of course - I went through Temple University's MPH program in community health... and I'm starting a DrPH program in health policy (focusing on migration/border health policy) at U of Arizona in the fall.

Feel free to PM me if you ever have any questions/concerns!

 

[ashbee87]

That sounds like a great idea, Ashbee! I'm sure you'll find that you'll be just fine in the public health world. 🙂

Of course - I went through Temple University's MPH program in community health... and I'm starting a DrPH program in health policy (focusing on migration/border health policy) at U of Arizona in the fall.

Feel free to PM me if you ever have any questions/concerns!

That's funny you attend Temple because its one of my top choices!!!! I will have to PM you or you can PM about the program!!!