Hello, new to MPH interest

[hughesn2]

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Hello, I am new to the outlook of an MPH program. I was originally attempting to apply to med school. I got my MCAT scores back and realized there is no way I can get accepted. I am quite a pessimistic when it comes to grades and getting accepted. I am awaiting interviews for Med schools, but doubt I will receive any acceptances.
I am a fifth year senior at Michigan State with a major in Physiology. I have always wanted to go into medicine, but I do fear that I would not make the cut even if I do get accepted. I know it is not the smartest idea to sell yourself short. After talking to a classmate about her acceptance into an MPH program it does sound very interesting. After doing research I realized an MPH program sounds VERY VERY optimal in careers that I do feel as if influence me well.

My question includes the process of applying. I understand that I would take the next year off and not even apply until the 2015 class. Of the programs how many of them usually accept a student with a 3.20 GPA. I do regret my major b/c I have taken 6 420+ level courses in which have been based on class rank where you are competing with approximately 100 of the 200 students (or 50 of 80 in two classes) will most likely graduate with honors at MSU, which is above a 3.65 cGPA.

I am really just stressing out about my future since I feel like a failure in my major. How difficult is it to get accepted into a program, preferably one not in the Western United States. I love statistics and after researching noticed Bio-statistics and Epidemiology which interest me, but my fear is that these are very hard careers to find.

ANY insight on a Masters of Public Health and the job occupation would be great. I plan on looking more here about this career path.

 

[kutmasta]

Getting into a MPH program is not as intensive/competitive as you may think. A 3.2 GPA can get you into some decent schools on the East coast, provided you are competitive elsewhere (work experience, standardized testing, LOR, SOP, etc.) Some schools also take the MCAT in lieu of the GRE, but since you said your MCAT score was not competitive, taking the GRE might be a better choice.

Biostats and Epi (sometimes lumped together) are two of the more marketable concentrations in public health, especially in terms of pay. I haven't seen a shortage in demand for these types of specialties in the field, but then again, it's dependent on where you look. Do know that if you wish to pursue the epi/biostats path, you should be comfortable with math and computer programming, especially since a good portion of your future will be spent using statistical analysis packages such SAS or R. Obviously this'll all be part of your education, so you don't have to know this stuff right off the bat, but you should know what you're getting into. Your GRE quant score will also be taken more into consideration than your verbal, compared to other concentrations in public health.

Why would you take the next year off? The application process just opened, and some schools accept applications as late as June and July. Are you still in school? Anyways, I hope this helped a little. Good luck!

 

[hughesn2]

Well, I have wanted to be a doctor since Sophomore year of HS. I always thought I knew why other than just money, but I really thought that I don't really think I have the brain to be a doctor. My Physiology degree has kinda shown me that I am not as smart as all my friends and family think I am. I really don't feel as if I am competitive enough to get into a med school.

All day I have been studying my Physio and also researching MPH programs. One of my classmates just got accepted to Saint Louis' program, so I was under the impression that the application period started months ago. Back in my Freshmen year when I was looking at other plans other than pre-med I wanted to go into Statistics, but my parents told me to do more research. I actually find Bio-statistics VERY VERY interesting, but my issue is that I wonder if the MPH degree could get you a career any better than an M.S. in Bio-statistics.

I do feel as if I could do very well on the GRE since I am amazing at math and understand the verbal section well enough in my mind.
I am currently at Michigan State for one more semester and plan on graduating in December. For me, the hardest part is that I have to think about this more than a couple days and actually tell my parents I don't want to become a doctor anymore. I would rather realize that now than after I finish a whole semester and blow $30K for a whole years tuition.

One thing during researching was that there are many MPH or Programs of Public Health that are NOT accredited, like Michigan State's which is just online for some reason.

 

[kutmasta]

Trying to get into medical school with a 3.2 GPA will be hard, but it's not impossible. In the end, if you feel you have a real interest in biostats then you should pursue it. No use waking up and dreading going to work/school everyday because you don't enjoy what you do. Your parents may be disappointed about not receiving free medical advice in the future, but it's not like dropping out of school to pursue a career in chiseling sculptures. There is a very viable career in biostats. In terms of choosing between a MS, MSPH, or a MPH, here's a link that'll help distinguish them and assist in your decision (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=644314).

You're correct in that there are many public health programs that are no accredited. There are also many schools that have accredited programs that don't have their own public health schools. I believe there is a thread somewhere on this forum explaining the pros between accredited and non-accredited, so you should look into that. My general understanding is that it's always better to go to an accredited program so you won't be missing out on some job opportunities in the future that require accreditation. Also the quality of education is supposed to be better, but I can't attest to the veracity of that statement.

By the way, you should look into SOPHAS if you haven't already done so.

 

[hughesn2]

Well it was PODIATRY med school, which is kind of a hidden gem which is why the GPA for acceptance is set pretty low. Not many apply or even know it exists as it's own med school program.
I don't feel as if I would dislike being a doctor, but the major I am in is full of JUST pre-med students and I look around an realize that these kids are all much more intelligent than me and understand the human body better than me. I just fear that I would not do well in med school. And I am not the only person in my major that feels this. Our advanced physio teacher actually told us on the first day that most of the students that are pre-med entering his class do not attend med school b/c the two semesters are based on a class rank which tend to ruin your GPA. His joke is that he is called the Joker around campus because "he makes medical school applications disappear" and then he laughs in a villain evil laugh thinking it is funny to give 30% of the class a 1.5 grade just because the class median entering GPA is above a 3.65

Thank You So much.

 

[samisab786]

have you considered exercise physiology or physical therapy (DPT) programs? I sometimes wish I would have picked that over my major. You can probably combien that with an MPH as well unless you would like to do an MPH alone.

 

[Solara]

Well, I have wanted to be a doctor since Sophomore year of HS. I always thought I knew why other than just money, but I really thought that I don't really think I have the brain to be a doctor. My Physiology degree has kinda shown me that I am not as smart as all my friends and family think I am. I really don't feel as if I am competitive enough to get into a med school.

I would still say do not give up your dream. If all you want to do is practice medicine, I would seriously consider looking into DO schools. I'm sure you may have already heard of them and may already have your own thoughts on it, but you absolutely do not need an MD to be a physician. I have so many friends who weren't able to get into allopathic medical schools, got into DO schools, and are extremely happy where they are right now because they know they will be practicing medicine.

I don't know on your thoughts about the MD vs DO degree and whether you feel you absolutely need the MD, but if all you want to do is be a doctor and practice medicine (e.g., you don't care about the subjective differences between how MD vs DO degrees are perceived), then you should look into the DO.

 

[hughesn2]

The point I am making is more that I always THOUGHT I wanted to be a doctor. To me there is a big difference between thinking you want to be a doctor and realizing you would actually be a good doctor. I really haven't enjoyed my major that well and have realized that I am not as intelligent in human physiology than I thought in my first 3yrs.

After researching the MPH program and talking with a couple people who went from pre-med mindset to MPH and it really does sound like something I would LOVE doing. Trust me, I know the difference between D.O. vs. M.D., but I haven't even planned on going into either. I only wanted to go into Podiatry (DPM) for the last couple years, before that P.A. route, and during HS it was either DPM or D.O.

Thanks for the advice though. I really have set my mind that I truly do want to go into an MPH program. It interests me and I do believe I would be really good at it

My whole question would be as to how difficult it is to get into a MPH program with a 3.20 GPA (and one more semester left) and will graduate with a B.S. in Physiology and a minor in Philosophy of History. My issue for why my GPA is so low is that at the beginning of my senior year it was a 3.35, but in my last two semesters I had 23 credits of 420+ level Physio and BioChem courses and 15 of those 23 credits were based on a class rank grading system in which the bottom 25% of the students automatically receive a 1.5 or 1.0, and among the students you are competing with over half of them assumingly will graduate with above a 3.60 GPA in my major.

 

[Solara]

I wouldn't say you have to be intelligent at human physiology or any basic sciences to get in. You just need to work hard. If you had a harsh curve in your classes, then getting a B or C in a class doesn't mean you're not intelligent and therefore can't be a doctor. I'm in medical school now, and sure, the pace is pretty fast, but the material isn't so hard. It just needs time investment and good time management.

The main point I want to make is that don't think you can't be a doctor or handle the high standards of some schools b/c you got Bs/Cs/Ds in some classes, especially due to the fact that there was a curve. I have friends who had 3.9 GPAs but couldn't break a 21 on the MCAT--some of them are now in DO school and well on their way to becoming physicians. They didn't let one # dictate whether they did or didn't have the multiple characteristics necessary to become a good doctor. These numbers are ways to screen out some people (which schools have to do sometimes), but aren't entirely "accurate" ways of saying whether someone will be able to become a good doctor or not.

But if you are interested in the MPH and truly believe that you can't become a doctor, I would say go for it. You can get into an MPH school with a 3.2 GPA pretty easily.

 

[hughesn2]

I just believe that I would be HAPPIER going down the MPH program than going to med school, waiting 2yrs for residency, and hope there is no residency shortage.

I feel as if going down MPH and hoping for a Bio-statistics & Epidemiology would lead to a happier lifestyle. For me, I have spent the last week thinking about this and this is the conclusion I have now came to. Now it is just how my parents will react or understand.