Is it possible at all to apply to the MPH program of either Johns Hopkins or Harvard without 2 years of experience after undergrad (or without the doctoral/medical degree)? Has it ever been done before? As an undergrad, I've: interned with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland for 4 months, interned with the CDC in Atlanta for 4 months, done medical work/public health work in India, Peru, and Bangladesh. I've also been awarded about $8000 in grants to do research projects in public health in 2 of the 3 aforementioned countries. I graduate in May and have always been interested in these two schools. While I don't have 2 years experience, I don't know if what I've done in undergrad could be tantamount to those 2 years experience. (I do not want to do the MsPH degree, and I've already considered other MPH schools that don't require these 2 years experience).
Is it possible to apply for JH or Havard School of PH w/o 2 years experience?
- Thread starter teslaph
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You have great public health experience and appear to be a competitive applicant. No one can stop you from submitting an application. Getting an offer for admission is a different question.
Both clearly state that it is a requirement to have the advanced degree and/or extensive experience after graduating from college. I think it will be difficult to find straightforward answers regarding whether or not someone similar to your situation was ultimately admitted. Schools do not show that kind of data - if they keep one at all. And those admitted rarely return to this forum. I recommend writing e-mails to the schools and explaining your situation. I have written to both (on a different matter), and both are responsive.
You can certainly take a risk and submit an application given your credentials. However, it is also taking a risk at not following directions which are clearly stated on their application instructions. Is this something to think about when admissions members read your application?
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Yes but for different degrees. I know Hopkins has a MHS that doesn't require work experience. I never looked at Harvard closely but I'm pretty sure they have something similar. As porkbunsrule mentioned though, its debatable whether or not your experiences would be considered enough for the MPH at both schools. Honestly just email the admissions departments for the discipline you're interested in and ask. If they say no about the MPH then apply for a different degree that doesn't require work experience. Good luck!
No, both schools are very strict with those requirements for MPH. I'm at Hopkins now, and you can pursue the MHS or ScM without two years--MHS is more practice-oriented akin to MPH, the ScM is more research-oriented, though in reality both are treated exactly the same by faculty and the administration. Harvard has the S.M. program which is equivalent to the MPH experience at other schools. Honestly, though the letters don't say MPH, it doesn't really matter to employers and doctoral programs.
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I did my 2-year Master's at HSPH and all the people I met who were in the 1-year MPH program were either MD's or third-year med students They say on the website that experience can substitute, but as far as I know, they seem to rarely actually do that.
