MPH 2020: Applied, Accepted, Rejected, Waitlisted

[mph_student_2020]

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Just got accepted to Pitt for Health Policy and Management!!

 

[Nicolascorrea]

Did you have to apply to the programs separately, or did they have an MPH/MBA option in SOPHAS?

There is an MBA/MPH option in SOPHAS but you need to apply to Yale SOM too. If you are accepted just to one program you can stay in that one. I have not even applied to the MBA yet

 

[gbr101]

In at UNC health policy!

 

[milligans]

In at UNC health policy!

When did you submit your application? Also how did they notify you?

 

[gbr101]

When did you submit your application? Also how did they notify you?

Submitted on SOPHAS 11/26, completed supplemental app on 12/2. They emailed me with a link to view my decision letter!

 

[levothyroxine]

University of Michigan said they received my application when I emailed them but I never got a link to the wolverine access formation?
Will they email me when a decision has been made?

 

[VincentWph]

My school was able to send an official transcript of what I’ve taken so far. If your school uses a clearing house or transcript service this will be a similar case. It’ll just show your currently enrolled courses as “in progress” or “enrolled”.

Thank you! I already mailed them with my official transcript, my counselor told me that our school system only need unofficial one, so I thought they are the same.
Hope everyone receive the offer they want!

 

[mph2020epi]

I am interested in infectious disease epidemiology and I have already got accepted into GW and Tulane's epidemiology programs (still waiting to hear back from Emory, Columbia, Yale, and Boston). Does anyone have any insight as to which schools are better for ID epi specifically?

 

[doubtfox]

Just got invited for an interview from Columbia HPM. Any advice??

 

[sploosh]

I am interested in infectious disease epidemiology and I have already got accepted into GW and Tulane's epidemiology programs (still waiting to hear back from Emory, Columbia, Yale, and Boston). Does anyone have any insight as to which schools are better for ID epi specifically?

I think the answer to this question will largely depend on if you're interested in HIV or if you're interested in the other suite of infectious diseases (cholera, typhoid, etc). For example, our first-year ID Epi coursework has a very strong focus in the non-HIV infectious diseases (stuff like outbreaks, ID dynamics, etc) that tend to surprise people who join the ID track wanting to study HIV more specifically. Can't speak to GW and Tulane, but just wanted to give you this heads-up to keep in mind!

I wouldn't be worried about lack of research experience. MPH is a professional degree - the expectation is you're coming in to advance your career in your field. You have a lot of relevant experience. Emphasize that - esp. your VISTA position. Focus less on the less important stuff. (College service positions are fine to put in SOPHAS and on your resume, but admissions committees for MPH programs are more interested in professional experience. Stuff like your 2-week trip to Cambodia is also ~fine~ to list, but if you're going to talk about it, only do so in the context of a great story or a moment of learning - not as a vital component of your background). Be specific about what you learned from these positions that made you want to pursue an MPH. Talk about what skills you've gained that you want to refine and what skills you don't have yet that the MPH can give you.

You have very very clear interests as well, that's a strength. Most people come into these programs saying they want to study nutrition or global health. You're already thinking about ACEs and sequelae of SUD. Talk about these in your personal statement.

Don't be afraid to tailor, too. E.g., NC is a state trying to pass Medicaid expansion - it's worth mentioning this in your UNC app to show you've done your homework.

Just curious, any reason you're applying to MCH at UNC and HPM everywhere else?

Guybrush knows what they're talking about! (By the way, are you liking UNC? My advisor did her PhD there and I really love her; there's some fantastic epidemiology methods work coming out of that school.)

 

[mph2020epi]

I think the answer to this question will largely depend on if you're interested in HIV or if you're interested in the other suite of infectious diseases (cholera, typhoid, etc). For example, our first-year ID Epi coursework has a very strong focus in the non-HIV infectious diseases (stuff like outbreaks, ID dynamics, etc) that tend to surprise people who join the ID track wanting to study HIV more specifically. Can't speak to GW and Tulane, but just wanted to give you this heads-up to keep in mind!



Guybrush knows what they're talking about! (By the way, are you liking UNC? My advisor did her PhD there and I really love her; there's some fantastic epidemiology methods work coming out of that school.)

Sorry, just to clarify who is "our". Also, yes I am interested in non-HIV infectious diseases, but I am more interested in the statistical modeling aspect of ID epi as opposed to focusing on one specific disease.

 

[Holliday1812]

Congrats! I am still waiting for a response. I recently changed my track from Epi to Health Promotion and behavioural sciences after talking to a Epi professor! And I haven’t heard from them. I am a little worried about how long they might take since a new admissions committee is reviewing my application.

You could probably always reach out to them if you are concerned! But it is still early in their process so I wouldn't worry 🙂 Good luck and I am sure you will hear back relatively soon!

 

[Holliday1812]

Here is what they said:
"Our 3-week deadline is standard for our graduate programs given the competitive nature of admissions to the program. Indeed, we aim to avoid over enrolling our program and, to that end, when we extend an offer of admission, we are “holding” that seat for the student - even for the online programs. So, we ask students to confirm their intent to enroll with a deposit within that window of time. I am not sure where the April 15 date may have come from, but I know every college/university may have different protocols. That said, if you think you’ll need more time to make your decision and deposit, I can certainly review such requests on a case-by-case basis and grant some limited extensions."

And about scholarships/financial aid:
"As far as scholarship funds go, you are absolutely right that such funding is extraordinarily limited. All applicants are automatically considered for scholarships at the time of application. Unfortunately, at the present time, a scholarship offer is not available from the MPH program. However, please know that we still believe you are a strong student and we would be thrilled to see you join the Temple University community. We do encourage all students to submit a FAFSA for the 2020-2021 academic year as there may be some financing options that are available to you to help cover the costs of your graduate degree."

Super disappointed about this... I may ask for an extension but I would need one until February at the least. Seems a little ridiculous that they require you to accept or deny without any sort of information in regards to FAFSA (which I filled out in October, so they have it).

Thanks for sharing. I have been speaking with them about their online programs but after reading this I think I may be passing on that application and fee.

 

[sploosh]

Sorry, just to clarify who is "our". Also, yes I am interested in non-HIV infectious diseases, but I am more interested in the statistical modeling aspect of ID epi as opposed to focusing on one specific disease.

Sorry, I meant at Johns Hopkins! That's where I go. So I know I'm not the best person to answer your question anyway!

 

[Ccgmph2020]

Into UNC for global health

 

[gbr101]

University of Michigan said they received my application when I emailed them but I never got a link to the wolverine access formation?
Will they email me when a decision has been made?

I would ask them about that. The link for wolverine was in the same email that said my application had been received.

 

[Cardoor]

Anybody heard back from UT Health Houston yet?

 

[rap15]

Anyone attending the GW financial aid webinar today, can you take some notes and report back? I can’t attend because of work 🙁

I’m really interested in:
1) why we have to do the CSS profile (my parents feel that if they give their info, I won’t get any aid, even though I will be funding my education myself)
2) how we go about asking for more aid

 

[mph_md2021]

You could probably always reach out to them if you are concerned! But it is still early in their process so I wouldn't worry 🙂 Good luck and I am sure you will hear back relatively soon!

Thank you! 🙂 I hope I hear back from them before the holiday.

 

[Nicolascorrea]

Just got invited for an interview from Columbia HPM. Any advice??

Same here

 

[honeybee77]

Anyone attending the GW financial aid webinar today, can you take some notes and report back? I can’t attend because of work 🙁

I’m really interested in:
1) why we have to do the CSS profile (my parents feel that if they give their info, I won’t get any aid, even though I will be funding my education myself)
2) how we go about asking for more aid

so you’re saying we have to fill out our parents info in FAFSA even if we are independent students?

 

[sclason1]

Just heard back from a friend who is a first year student at Yale. He said admin is going ot be sending admission out this week. This is in line with recent postings (some acceptances have already been sent out), but they are going to continue sending out almost all this week.

 

[#godogs]

so you’re saying we have to fill out our parents info in FAFSA even if we are independent students?

No you don't for the FAFSA.

The CSS profile is a separate financial aid profile run by the College Board that GW (and maybe other schools idk) use to determine institutional need-based aid. Also in my opinion it's a terrible system since it's geared for undergrad, you have to pay to create the profile, have multiple profiles if your parents are divorced, and just overall it just doesn't make much sense for grad programs, but that's a rant for another time.

 

[GlobalOrthoLover]

Undergraduate School: Average continental European university
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.68
Major/minor: Medicine (BSc in Medicine)
Grad School GPA 3.83 / Professional credits 3.74
Major/minor MD (graduated 2016), MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy (graduated 2019), MMed in orthopedic surgery (ongoing)
GRE (including date taken): V155 (68%), Q163 (82%), AW4.0 (57%) (7/6/2019)

Experience/research:
- currently 4th year resident in orthopedic surgery
- Elective exchange during 1 month in pediatric surgery in 2nd year of residency in Algeria
- Several clinical electives and rotations during med school: DR Congo (3w), Togo (2 mo), India (1mo), Sudan (3w), Kenya (3w)
- Participated in volunteer projects in The Gambia (4x2w), Togo (3w), Uganda (3w)
- Funded all of my undergrad and grad school extra-curricular projects by working in a nursing home during weekends

- Currently conducting research on access to care, influencing socio-economic factors and clinical outcomes of clubfoot care in LMIC, 2 studies ready for IRB submission in Pakistan, 1 study in Bangladesh that has been presented 4 times with a poster at international conferences (incl world conf surgery and world conf ortho) and in the phase of writing an article
- Editor of the chapter "lower limb trauma" in a major reference guide for medical practitioners in LMIC

- 2 years experience peer-elected class president during my Bachelor degree
- 2 semester of tutoring math to high school students from low socio-economic backgrounds
- Elected university representative in the general assembly of our national public health association
- Chair of a global surgery working group at a major international medical association, focusing on research, education and advocacy
- Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion - Steering Committee member at the European Public Health Association
- Founder and president of our national Medical Students Association, that later became a full member of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
- Workshop facilitator at various international IFMSA meetings, invited speaker at a public health summer school in Iran
- Attended several high-level meetings at the EU, UN, WHO, (including world health assembly and sustainable development goals discussions) as an IFMSA representative
- Founder of an international exchange project in public health for Ugandan and European medical students in Northern Uganda

- 3 mo Internship with our permanent mission in Geneva, following up on the 2014-16 Ebola Outbreak for our government, attending several high-level conferences and meetings with our national delegation
- 6 mo research internship at the health dpt of the UN agency for palestine refugees in Jordan, looking into socio-economic factors determining antibiotics prescription behaviour in refugee camps

publications: 1 letter to the editor (1st author), 1 abstract publication in The Lancet (1st author), 1 letter to the editor (2 author) under review

Letters of Rec: (1) Residency chairman co-authored with my clinical supervisor during residency at the best pediatric teaching hospital in the country, (2) professor who supervised my thesis research in international relations, (3) research supervisor in clubfoot research in Pakistan (who is also a lecturer at Harvard center for Global Health Delivery in Dubai), (4) Head of dept and research supervisor at UNRWA HQ in Jordan, (5) Ambassador at Geneva permanent mission and embassy and internship supervisor during my diplomatic internship in Geneva

Interested in: Global Surgery, Health policy, Surgical health systems in LMIC

Applied: Harvard - GH, JHU school-wide, Berkeley - HPM , Columbia - HPM
Accepted:
Rejected:
Waitlisted:
Attending:


Excited to be a member of this forum. I've been following up for quite some years now, and finally found the courage this year to apply for an MPH at my dream school, Harvard.

I have some minor questions, I was hoping you guys could help me out with.
- Do international applicants get rejection or acceptance letters on the same rolling basis like domestic applicants? Starting to worry a bit since I haven't heard anything about a Columbia interview yet 🙁
- Has anyone heard anything back yet from Berkeley?
- Did I aim to high with only applying to top-10 schools?

- And then my most pressing question at the moment, I recently got accepted for a 2-year research fellowship at Harvard Medical School for the term 2020-2022. Updating this in SOPHAS might harm my non-Harvard applications. But do you think it might be a good idea to let the Harvard admissions office know? Or could this potentially harm my Harvard application as well, considering they may think I'm less dedicated to the MPH now.

 

[levothyroxine]

I would ask them about that. The link for wolverine was in the same email that said my application had been received.

I emailed them so many times already and they never get back to me.. I have no idea what to do!

 

[letseep]

Just heard back from a friend who is a first year student at Yale. He said admin is going ot be sending admission out this week. This is in line with recent postings (some acceptances have already been sent out), but they are going to continue sending out almost all this week.

Checking my email frantically all day hoping that this is true!!

 

[globalhealthgirl95]

Just heard back from a friend who is a first year student at Yale. He said admin is going ot be sending admission out this week. This is in line with recent postings (some acceptances have already been sent out), but they are going to continue sending out almost all this week.

Do you know if this is for all of the concentrations?

 

[#godogs]

Anyone attending the GW financial aid webinar today, can you take some notes and report back? I can’t attend because of work 🙁

I’m really interested in:
1) why we have to do the CSS profile (my parents feel that if they give their info, I won’t get any aid, even though I will be funding my education myself)
2) how we go about asking for more aid

If anyone is participating I’d also love some info on what was said please! I was going to listen in but I just got a meeting scheduled right in the middle of it! And I’m really curious if we have to complete the CSS profile before or after admission, because I don’t want to pay for and go through that if I don’t have to.

 

[sclason1]

Do you know if this is for all of the concentrations?

That's what he said. Again, its all second hand but I hope its true.

 

[vzr05]

The Yale suspense is killing me!

 

[wildcat44]

The Yale suspense is killing me!

I feel like they would release decisions once a week but idk

 

[vzr05]

I feel like they would release decisions once a week but idk

I figured yesterday got the ball rolling and they would start sending decisions sporadically like GW but who knows! 2pm (EST) feels late for a Friday so I don’t feel very optimistic for today

 

[seehunde]

If anyone is participating I’d also love some info on what was said please! I was going to listen in but I just got a meeting scheduled right in the middle of it! And I’m really curious if we have to complete the CSS profile before or after admission, because I don’t want to pay for and go through that if I don’t have to.

Same! If someone could post it here rather than sending a DM, I’m sure there are lots of us who can’t make it that’d be appreciative 🙂

 

[CarissasWeird]

Notes for GWU Financial Aid Info:

Cost of Attendance: "a reasonable budget," cannot award more than this reasonable estimate for costs associated with education, used to determine maximum aid eligibility (this is greater than just tuition and fees) Includes housing and cost of living.

Merit Aid: Your application is used to determine merit-based aid, varies between $7,500 to $30,000 per year, you will receive an award email with award requirements (Dec 15th deadline for this)

Need-Based Aid: CSS Profile with College Board determines need based aid, if you're under 26 parent info is included, varies from covering 25% of need to 50% of need, school code is 9608. Differs from FAFSA in that FAFSA considers you independent once you are a grad student, while CSS requires you to be 26 to be considered independent. "Small fee associated with this" -- can reach out to office to make sure this is useful for you. Doesn't help if you are doing an online program!

First Generation Grant: For first person in family to attend college, indicated on SOPHAS application, varies between $3,000 and $5,000

Tauber Scholarship: For family history of service in WWII, can send email to [email protected] with Tauber Scholarship in subject line.

GA Opportunities: Various opportunities to work with professors as a GA/GRA and receive a salary, hard to do before you actually start, usually after 1st semester. Be proactive and take time to get to know professors and their projects to determine which projects would be of interest.

Coverdell Fellowship: For former Peace Crop volunteers, total funding package of $30,000 over 2 years, separate application that is sent yo you within 2 weeks of receiving your admissions notice, for more info email Assistant Dean Heather Renault at [email protected]. Don't get Coverdell and merit-based.

Yellow Ribbon Program: Enhanced education benefits thru the VA (maximum contribution of $31,150) can visit Military and Veteran Services website for more info.

Federal Loans: FAFSA is required, school code is 001444. Unsubsidized loans ranging between $20,500 and $33,000, additional eligibility may be available for the summer term, interest rate of 6.08$. Can accept/decline on GWeb account. Need to complete MPN/entrance counseling. If starting in Fall, do 2020-2021 FAFSA, but for earlier, do 2019-2020. Graduate PLUS loans allows for up to the cost of attendance, soft credit check, 7.08% interest rate. Need to complete Supplemental Graduate Loan Questionnaire for PLUS, with separate MPN.

Private/Alternative Loans: You choose your lender, consider variable vs. fixed interest rates, better rate with cosigner, requirements for forbearance/deferment, discounts for good grades. Not discount for Federal Loan forgiveness.

You can schedule 30-minute appointments (phone or in person) on their financial aid website under "contact." Can direct Financial Aid questions to [email protected] and Admissions Questions to [email protected].

Q&A:

-Differences between Masters/PhD/DrPH program financial aid: Masters applicants automatically considered for merit based, then need-based if you send in CSS. Might be invited to apply to scholarships. Doctoral applicants have a different financial aid package. Masters should get their financial aid within 2 weeks (send an email if you don't get it in this time frame) while Doctoral applicants usually get them sooner. Whether or not you get a scholarship you should get an email.

-Merit Based vs Need Based: Fees that don't have to be paid back. "Good money." Exhaust this first before thinking about loans.

-CSS (when, age 26...?): The day you turn 26, that's when you're considered an independent student (don't want your parent info). If you fill-out the CSS when you are 25.5, you still have to include your parent info. You can wait until you are admitted before completing it to. You can also reach out before doing so if they decide you don't need to spend the money on it if it won't benefit you.

-If you don't get merit your first year: Won't be reconsidered for merit for subsequent years, but you can apply to specific scholarships. You can get need based aid in subsequent years though (for instance, if you turn 26).

-Are international students eligible for need based/merit based aid: Yes, all students are eligible.

-How are merit awards determined? Take into account all statistics (undergrad/grad/professional/international GPA, GRE score). Inputted into a formula.

 

[EGATA123]

Thank you very much for the information.
Does the merit aid require a separate application or all applicants are automatically considered?

anQUOTE="CarissasWeird, post: 21449087, member: 1013093"]
Notes for GWU Financial Aid Info:
(Will edit as this goes on)

Cost of Attendance: "a reasonable budget," cannot award more than this reasonable estimate for costs associated with education, used to determine maximum aid eligibility (this is greater than just tuition and fees)

Merit Aid: Your application is used to determine merit-based aid, varies between $7,500 to $30,000 per year, you will receive an award email with award requirements (Dec 15th deadline for this)

Need-Based Aid: CSS Profile with College Board determines need based aid, if you're under 26 parent info is included, varies from covering 25% of need to 50% of need, school code is 9608. Differs from FAFSA in that FAFSA considers you independent once you are a grad student, while CSS requires you to be 26 to be considered independent. "Small fee associated with this" -- can reach out to office to make sure this is useful for you. Doesn't help if you are doing an online program!

First Generation Grant: For first person in family to attend college, indicated on SOPHAS application, varies between $3,000 and $5,000

Tauber Scholarship: For family history of service in WWII, can send email to [email protected] with Tauber Scholarship in subject line.

GA Opportunities: Various opportunities to work with professors as a GA/GRA and receive a salary, hard to do before you actually start, usually after 1st semester. Be proactive and take time to get to know professors and their projects to determine which projects would be of interest.

Coverdell Fellowship: For former Peace Crop volunteers, total funding package of $30,000 over 2 years, separate application that is sent yo you within 2 weeks of receiving your admissions notice, for more info email Assistant Dean Heather Renault at [email protected]

Yellow Ribbon Program: Enhanced education benefits thru the VA (maximum contribution of $31,150) can visit Military and Veteran Services website for more info.

Federal Loans: FAFSA is required, school code is 001444. Unsubsidized loans ranging between $20,500 and $33,000, additional eligibility may be available for the summer term, interest rate of 6.08$. Can accept/decline on GWeb account. Need to complete MPN/entrance counseling. If starting in Fall, do 2020-2021 FAFSA, but for earlier, do 2019-2020. Graduate PLUS loans allows for up to the cost of attendance, soft credit check, 7.08% interest rate. Need to complete Supplemental Graduate Loan Questionnaire for PLUS, with separate MPN.

Private/Alternative Loans: You choose your lender, consider variable vs. fixed interest rates, better rate with cosigner, requirements for forbearance/deferment, discounts for good grades. Not discount for Federal Loan forgiveness.

You can schedule 30-minute appointments (phone or in person) on their financial aid website under "contact." Can direct Financial Aid questions to [email protected] and Admissions Questions to [email protected].
[/QUOTE]

 

[CarissasWeird]

@EGATA123 Applicants are automatically considered for merit aid!

 

[snemph]

I just got into Michigan's MPH in Epidemiology!!!

 

[AdGradMPH]

Admitted to UT Health for Health Promotion! I submitted 12/1 and finalized letters of Rec on 12/9 so they’re definitely turning apps around quickly. Yay for a first acceptance ☺️

 

[levothyroxine]

I just got into Michigan's MPH in Epidemiology!!!

Congrats! When was your app verified and sent for review?
And did they send you an email or did you have to check the wolverine access to find out?

 

[mph_md2021]

Admitted to UT Health for Health Promotion! I submitted 12/1 and finalized letters of Rec on 12/9 so they’re definitely turning apps around quickly. Yay for a first acceptance ☺

Congratulations!!

 

[Cardoor]

Admitted to UT Health for Health Promotion! I submitted 12/1 and finalized letters of Rec on 12/9 so they’re definitely turning apps around quickly. Yay for a first acceptance ☺

Congrats!!! Do you mind telling me when your application was verified by SOPHAS?

 

[Cardoor]

Congrats!!! Do you mind telling me when your application was verified by SOPHAS?

Admitted to UT Health for Health Promotion! I submitted 12/1 and finalized letters of Rec on 12/9 so they’re definitely turning apps around quickly. Yay for a first acceptance ☺

Additionally, when did they email you letting you know they received your app? I'm getting a little worried because I submitted my app on 12/1 as well.

 

[mph_md2021]

Additionally, when did they email you letting you know they received your app? I'm getting a little worried because I submitted my app on 12/1 as well.

Me too!

 

[AdGradMPH]

Additionally, when did they email you letting you know they received your app? I'm getting a little worried because I submitted my app on 12/1 as well.

Sophas verified me 12/4 and I got an email login from UT on 12/6, then they confirmed letters were submitted by 12/9. If you submitted everything in to SOPHAS it may be worth reaching out to them.

 

[snemph]

Congrats! When was your app verified and sent for review?
And did they send you an email or did you have to check the wolverine access to find out?

Thank you!!! I submitted 11/29, was verified 11/30 and got an email that I was under review/to create a username 12/3. My portal still isn’t updated to show that I’ve been accepted, but I received an email from the assistant dean this afternoon congratulating me!

 

[KweenAf]

Emory just routed my application for review! Now for the emotional turmoil of waiting 3 - 6 weeks for a decision

 

[OMGhanna]

Emory just routed my application for review! Now for the emotional turmoil of waiting 3 - 6 weeks for a decision

same here! fingers crossed it’s under 3 weeks though!

 

[gbr101]

Emory just routed my application for review! Now for the emotional turmoil of waiting 3 - 6 weeks for a decision

Same! Last year's forum had some people being accepted on 12/17 and 12/19🙂 Hopefully we hear back early next week!

 

[uk__med]

Under review at Emory!

 

[bittybettysmith]

Which public health school has the lowest acceptance rate for its full-time, residential MPH programs? UNC for out-of-state applicants? Harvard? Yale? Hopkins?

Additionally--although it is very unlikely such statistics are publicly available-- what are the chances of getting accepted into top 5 programs as a non-MD? It seems like Hopkins and Harvard, for example, set the GPA and GRE bar much lower for their MD applicants than for their non-MD applicants. A person with an MD can have astonishingly mediocre GRE scores and still get into one of those schools whereas a person who doesn't have an MD might have 90th percentile scores and STILL not get accepted... I have noticed this trend in previous years' Student Doctor Network threads.