Chances of Acceptance? Recommended Programs?

[phoenixnyc]

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Hi,

I graduated last year with a ~3.3 (double degree in English and Biochem Pharmacology), and recently took the GREs: 640 Verbal, 670 Quantitative, and 5.0 in Analytical Writing.

I've been working for a major science publisher for the past year, and have considerable leadership experience while at university; I also do some volunteering now for the Red Cross and a local non-profit. I want to apply for Fall 2009, and am mostly looking at IH and MCH programs; I'm also considering Disaster Management. Some schools I'm considering are: Tulane, Columbia, Washington, Emory, and UNC.

Will not having direct public health experience hurt? I know the schools I'm looking at are well-ranked (hard to tell if they should be reach schools, from what people say on the forums). What are my chances of getting into them? Are there any other schools/programs that you recommend that I should consider, that I'd be a good candidate for?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jlittlej]

Someone on an earlier thread posted to a report by whatever the association of schools of public health is called. See pg. 21:
http://www.asph.org/UserFiles/Data%20Report.2006.pdf

Acceptance rates look great compared to med school, other graduate programs, or even decent undergrad programs. Then again, it could be that a very large portion of the applicant pool is proven docs, nurses and well-qualified pre-meds. It's a self-selecting applicant pool.

Your stats and extracurriculars look good. I work as an EMT and also volunteer for the Red Cross, but I couldn't find any quality public health internships or experience. My county health department does have some jobs that hire people without MPHs but with BAs that look like they'd be quality experience, but they're full-time gigs. The MPH admissions people I talked to were cognizant of the fact that it's hard for people, especially those coming from undergrad, can't always acquire true public health experience.

 

[Generals]

You should be fine. If you're interested, don't rule out Harvard and Hopkins - they might be a bit more of a "reach", but they are not out of the question for you, and they are excellent schools. Also, it is ALWAYS a good idea to contact the schools directly - they will give you better information than anyone!

Hi,

I graduated last year with a ~3.3 (double degree in English and Biochem Pharmacology), and recently took the GREs: 640 Verbal, 670 Quantitative, and 5.0 in Analytical Writing.

I've been working for a major science publisher for the past year, and have considerable leadership experience while at university; I also do some volunteering now for the Red Cross and a local non-profit. I want to apply for Fall 2009, and am mostly looking at IH and MCH programs; I'm also considering Disaster Management. Some schools I'm considering are: Tulane, Columbia, Washington, Emory, and UNC.

Will not having direct public health experience hurt? I know the schools I'm looking at are well-ranked (hard to tell if they should be reach schools, from what people say on the forums). What are my chances of getting into them? Are there any other schools/programs that you recommend that I should consider, that I'd be a good candidate for?

Thanks in advance!