Journalist: Competitive for MPH?

[journalist]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have a background in journalism, so I am interested in behavior public health/communication. I am trying to decide between two months of hardcore GRE studying/applying to schools vs. waiting another year to apply. I feel i have only scratched the surface when it comes to researching programs out there, and to fully research everything would take a good three months, which would suck up any time spent actually applying to programs.

My Info:
Undergrad: BA in Journalism, minor in Psychology (with courses in research methods/statistics)
Work experience: 2.5 years working as an editor at a newspaper
Volunteer work: 9.5 months teaching English in South America
GPA: 3.9 (received a full ride merit scholarship in undergrad)
GRE: have not taken yet, but if I study like crazy in the next month, I *may* be able to get a 400 quantitative, 500 verbal (I suck at multiple choice but will rock the writing portion)

I have found several programs of interest, with the top being an MHS at Johns Hopkins fairly new program of Health Education and Health Communication:
http://www.jhsph.edu/dept/hbs/degrees/mhs_behavioral_sciences/

Would I be a competitive candidate for this? Or should I wait a year and try to get even better GRE scores, as well as do more extensive research on programs, and maybe even gain work experience in the field?

Also, if waiting is recommended, what jobs/work opportunities would anyone suggest in the field of public health communication that I would be qualified for that I could pursue as I wait?

A thousand thankyous for any advice anyone is able to provide!!

 

[Lynzbr77]

Journalist - although I cannot speak for JHSPH or the admissions committee of any school of public health, I can speak to your options in health communications.

First, yes you will probably be competitive. But you need to focus on studying for and taking the GRE (no way around that).

Second, health communication is a specific field and many public health programs employ health communication specialists. You may also consider a position as a public information officer at a local health department. Experience as a journalist and academic training in public health, while not a guarantee, will set you on the right path.

Third, health education is different, but also a great field with lots of career options. In fact, health education programs have their own certification exam, CHES.

Finally, if you are looking for something that ties public health and journalism together, visit our school, the Colorado School of Public Health. We offer programs at three Colorado public universities. And we have a MPH focus area in health communication. You gain the foundation of public health from public health professors, but have the benefit of concentration courses taught by journalism faculty. (We also offer a MPH in community health education) http://publichealth.ucdenver.edu

Good luck!