how many MPH schools/programs are you applying to?

[milosavljevic]

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Hello,

I apologize if this question has already been discussed elsewhere.

I am currently applying to MPH schools and programs, and am trying to decide on exactly which ones to apply to (I know I'm a little late in the game, but I would still like to apply this cycle). On average, how many MPH programs do applicants apply to? From other threads that I read, it seems like people are interested in an average of 5-6, but that's just based on my limited readings through SDN.

Many (but definitely not all) of the programs that I am interested in have online applications via SOPHAS, which lists their prices as follows:

One designation: $115.00
Two designations: $155.00
Three designations: $195.00
Four designations: $235.00
Five designations: $275.00
Each additional designation above five is an additional $40.00

Based on these figures, it does get a little pricy if someone wants to apply to more than 5 or 6 schools. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to narrow down my preferences? Besides viewing program websites, looking at SDN, reading the program descriptions, and finding schools and professors that fit my similar interests (global health), I'm not sure what else to base my choices on. Right now my list is at about 20, which I think might be a little excessive (and expensive). I also haven't been able to visit any schools as of now.

Thank you for any help in advance.

 

[bd2010]

What I'm going to do is pay for the designations that have earlier due dates and the schools I really want to go to. The schools that have really late due dates (like April or May) or Rolling Admissions I'll add on later.

I spoke with a lady from SOPHAS and she said that you won't have to restart the fee schedule if you add schools after it's been submitted and paid for. The baseline is $115 and every school after that $40. I'm hoping that I'll get accepted into at least one school that I would actually attend so that I can knock a few off of my list.

 

[gpersaud]

I only applied to one SPH because I was restricted by location and cost, but the most important thing to consider when applying to MPH programs is if it has the concentration you want to pursue. For instance, if you want to focus in health ed, don't apply to a school that doesn't have that program, even if it has a good name! Programs with Epidemiology and Biostats are at virtually every school, but if you want to focus on something like Global Public Health, not every school has it. If you aren't sure which program you want to focus on, then I would choose a school that has a variety of programs that you can choose from after you take the core courses. I hope this helps!

 

[mzblue]

so far, 4 schools on sophas, one non-sophas school. I think i'll just try these 5. if i don't get in, then i'll try again.

 

[awkwardturtles]

I'm applying to 5. Anything more seems to be overkill -- at least that's what my advisor said.

 

[JMM051]

I applied to 6 last year. My original list had probably 20 two. Through a few different methods for weeding out schools I narrowed that number from about 20-13-9-6. A few different things I did was really decided what areas of the country I found acceptable/unacceptable to live in. Also, since I am on the east coast was I REALLY ready/able to move to the west coast. That definitely helped shave a few schools off the list. I also really looked into each program. My broad interest is Community Health Education, particularly in MCH/Reproductive/Sexual Health. I cut out some schools that I was on the fence about that only had broad CH programs. From there I made my "final list" and thought long and hard about what programs I was only applying to because I thought I would get in vs. the programs I would really like to attend.


There is no formula, the "right" amount is different for everyone but I would guess that 5-10 is probably the average amount. I had a friend that applied to 16 (yes, 16...she wasn't sure what her options were).

 

[intlhealth2010]

I have a list of 6 schools, but will most likely end up only applying to 5.

 

[Epi2013]

I originally had a list of 12, but I narrowed it down to 6 based on which schools had the specific program that I want to study, their location, how likely I was to get in, if I could really see myself there, and how much they cost versus how much I thought I would get out of them. I did end up applying to some pretty expensive places, but I think that they are worth the money compared to a school with a program that isnt as good. Also, unlike many others who applied to schools close to home, I applied to ones that were further away because I want to get out of the Midwest and the schools there did not have what I was looking for.

My list is: Boston U, Columbia, Emory, GW, Tulane, and Yale. (I guess I don't have any west coast schools, but I couldn't see mysef at UCLA and didn't think Berkeley or UWash seemed like a good fit).

 

[chriskyk]

I'm applying to USC, NYU, Yale, Emory, Tufts and Dartmouth.

Seems like many people are applying for Yale. Does anyone know anything about the selection process? I want to gather more opinions