MHA decisions

[BocaKM]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

I am currently an undergrad and getting a major in business and economics. I am very interested in a MHA program after studying this for a long time and then going on base and seeing how it works in the military world. I am on an Air Force Scholarship and will be commissioning after the MHA program if accepted to one. I am a Virginia resident and would like to stay relatively close to home preferably the east coast or surrounding states. I have a 2.9 and should be a 3.0 after this year finishes. I goto a military school and this could help with leadership experience as well as Air Force but i have no work experience in the field or any full-time employment. I was wondering which programs would best fit me? I am leaning towards VCU but i would not like to have only one choice any advice to help me become a better candidate for these MHA program would also be helpful.
Thanks
​

 

[BocaKM]

Also with this i was wondering if i am a likely candidate for VCU will schools such as UNC are an achievable reach for me since VCU seems to be a smaller school then say UNC or UMich

 

[ffpickle]

I think you have a shot at each of those schools with a strong GRE score.

If you read through these threads, you'll see that relevant experience is often a critical factor as well.

 

[BocaKM]

oh ok so do you think that the GRE is better to take then the GMAT? I see that some experience is helpful but i think that a lot of these programs dont need mandatory experience and with commissioning it is best for me to apply now then later.......so would the GRE help me in these schools or would the GMAT have just enought weight as the GRE?

 

[tcf4141]

I would take the GMAT. Especially if you might want to get an MBA in the future. This way you only need to study for 1 standardized test (GMAT) not both the GRE and the GMAT. I am studying for GMAT for MHA programs now. I am doing this because an MBA in the future is definitely a possibility for me. Also, I only found 1 top MHA program that won't accept the GMAT, that school is University of Pittsburgh. All other MHA programs I have looked at will accept either GMAT or GRE.

 

[BocaKM]

thanks for the advice. Yea i am still a sophomore and i would really like to see the possibility of UNC or VCU and the GMAT seems like a reasonable test compared to the GRE. do you think that the GRE is a harder test or that the GMAT would be easier to take besides the opportunity of an MBA?

 

[tcf4141]

I would think the GMAT would be better if you are studying business. This is because you will build the thinking skills that are relative to the GMAT. The GRE requires tons of vocab memorization which I think is harder than reasoning through a problem as is the case with the GMAT. The math is tricky on the GMAT but does not go past Trigonometry/Probability/Statistics. Most questions have a tricky to them. I am taking a Kaplan course this summer that will hopefully teach me where the tricks are. If you need advice or help, PM me and we can talk.

 

[harmonica]

In my opinion, decide if you want an MBA (then take the GMAT), or decide if you want an MHA (then take the GRE). There's some overlap between the two tests, and you could always take both to cover your bases, but generally business schools will require GMAT and schools of public health will require GRE.

Can't really say anything about your chances of getting in to places - personally, I went to grad school at UNC and I can say the MHA is pretty competitive there and there's definitely a tendency to take undergrads preferentially from UNC. That being said, high quality (high grades, research, work experience, very compelling personal statements & interviews) from non-UNC schools do get in straight out of undergrad. Generally, I was surprised by the number of people they accepted straight out of undergrad.

In terms of work experience - having some (especially in a hospital or clinic) will help you immensely to get in to programs, but if you do get in without work experience it just means you'll have to make it up after graduating. From my time there, people that came in to grad school got higher placement positions after graduating, and people without any relevant work experience got lower placement after graduating until they could spend a few years to build up experience.