Grades vs Public Health Exp. Your expertise needed

[dr1989]

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Most of the schools Im looking to apply are out of state (in order from top 3 down)
1. Boston Uni
2. Columbia
3. George Washington
4. UCLA
5. USC
6. Univ of Michigan
7. Univ of Maryland
8. Univ of North Carolina
9. Buffalo
10. Univ of Illinois
11. Univ of Texas


BS Biology, cGPA 2.67 (overall with my first 2.5 years being at a cc prior to transfer)
(worked full time support myself and also had some family medical issues towards senior year-lucky to have graduated on time!)

received As in upped div classes like molecular bio, genetics and physics

Took a summer class at UCLA, got a B
Now signed up for 16 units at a cc (non-fluff courses, mostly public health/law related)

Ill also be using the time to study for the GREs.

Work Experience/ECS
-ER scribe for 3+ years at acute trauma hospital (very familiar with medical terminology, procedures and can get solid LORS from MDs)
-Opened up/led pre dental club at uni
-Interned for 1+ year at UCLA Dental School, working with the oral pathologist
-Committee member for Relay for Life, nonprofit Cancer org. Spent 8 months planing it with chair member-raised 40K


Overall:
Is it smart for me to be taking classes at a cc right now? (uni is too exp at this time and i needed to do something with the bad gpa)
Would a high GRE balance out a low gpa (3.0 may be the high end of it for me by calculation)
Am I naive to think I have a chance this upcoming cycle, esp since most programs are top notch
Should I consider an informal post bacc program? Im slightly hesitant as id rather not add more debt than i already have

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and reply 🙂

 

[dr1989]

over 130 views and no reply? 🙁

someone please help a sista out

 

[364462]

Most of the schools Im looking to apply are out of state (in order from top 3 down)
1. Boston Uni
2. Columbia
3. George Washington
4. UCLA
5. USC
6. Univ of Michigan
7. Univ of Maryland
8. Univ of North Carolina
9. Buffalo
10. Univ of Illinois
11. Univ of Texas

You have a lot on your list. I encourage you to reflect further on what you want, how you want to get it, and why. This, I hope, will help in shortening your list. I encourage you to do this because (a) it will save you money - EACH application cost A LOT - and (b) I believe most people really only want to go to a handful of programs, with the rest on their list as "back-ups" or "maybes." My sense is that many folks usually apply to anywhere between 4-8, with 5-6 being common.


BS Biology, cGPA 2.67 (overall with my first 2.5 years being at a cc prior to transfer)
(worked full time support myself and also had some family medical issues towards senior year-lucky to have graduated on time!) Anything in the GPA 3.5 neighborhood is considered competitive, although that is not to say that you cannot be competitive in other areas. The personal statement is - well - personal. I believe that folks who have gone through a lot, particularly family issues, have a lot to convey, have a lot to speak about in their narrative. So, if you are comfortable with speaking about your personal experience, I think you have a great (and inspiring) story to tell about your college experience and doing well despite the family challenges. Kudos to you!

received As in upped div classes like molecular bio, genetics and physics I would mention this (along with the courses you are taking at a CC). It shows analytical skills, quantitative potential, and commitment to the field.

Took a summer class at UCLA, got a B
Now signed up for 16 units at a cc (non-fluff courses, mostly public health/law related)

Ill also be using the time to study for the GREs. Your competitiveness as an applicant is, in part, dependent on the department/field you want to pursue. You can imagine it would be difficult to be admitted to an epidemiology department for someone with limited quantitative background - again, that is not to say you cannot be competitive in other areas, as well. Have you thought about which area you want to pursue?

Work Experience/ECS
-ER scribe for 3+ years at acute trauma hospital (very familiar with medical terminology, procedures and can get solid LORS from MDs)
-Opened up/led pre dental club at uni
-Interned for 1+ year at UCLA Dental School, working with the oral pathologist
-Committee member for Relay for Life, nonprofit Cancer org. Spent 8 months planing it with chair member-raised 40K All these are remarkable achievement and fodder for an excellent statement of purpose/personal essay. It shows initiative, passion, and commitment.


Overall:
Is it smart for me to be taking classes at a cc right now? (uni is too exp at this time and i needed to do something with the bad gap) What is the concern? That you are taking classes (period) or that you are taking them in a CC? If you believe that the classes are useful, then I don't see why not. The CC vs Uni, for me, is a non-issue.

Would a high GRE balance out a low gpa (3.0 may be the high end of it for me by calculation) To some extent, yes, particularly given the circumstances in which the GPA was achieve (i.e., family difficulties). When your GRE is high (which to me is above 165+ in the new version), and all things being equal (i.e., not sick that day, well prepared, nothing hanging over you, etc.), the GRE may be taken as more of an "accurate" reflection of your overall abilities (which, of course, is a gross generalization, but we will indulge the "value" of standardized tests). Don't forget, you have excellent experience, as well. Those, too, balance things out.

Am I naive to think I have a chance this upcoming cycle, esp since most programs are top notch Again, this, in part, has to do with which department you wish to apply. I encourage you to use the Search function at the top and look at "Applied/Accepted, Fall 2012" or something like that. It will show last year's applicants' data/statistics, and many applied to BU, Columbia, and the other schools on your list. It's a crude way to compare, but it should give you a good sense of your competitiveness. The chances of merit/scholarship aid at BU is higher when you apply early. This is my sense from that forum thread I mentioned earlier. Columbia is not an impossible reach, but Columbia is easier to get into than UCLA (totally my own opinion - and again, depending on department/focus/concentration). BU is considered by some as a "back up," but it has an overall great program. (If you care for rankings, it is "better" than Yale.) That said, I think BU is in your range, and they are competitive on my list. (See mine below, as my signature.) UofMichigan can also be difficult, but not impossible. My sense is that Michigan is research-oriented in its approach (though not always - again, overgeneralization). The other schools on your list I am not aware of. Are you in/from California? Have you thought about UCI, SDSU, LLU, Berkeley?

Should I consider an informal post bacc program? Im slightly hesitant as id rather not add more debt than i already have Very VERY important to think about. You are right, no sense in accruing more debt. You should accrue debt because you are certain of the direction. Do NOT accrue debt in a state of ambivalence.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and reply 🙂

Good luck! 🙂