MPH 2020: Applied, Accepted, Rejected, Waitlisted

[CareerChanger82]

Hey everyone,
Looking forward to Sophas opening for the Fall 21 applications but in the meantime I had a few questions maybe someone could answer.
1) I’m a career changer with a pretty solid career but not public health related- I’m looking into the next 30 years and can’t imagine doing what I’m doing now and considering either an MPH in health policy or applied Epi (pharmacoepidemiology and pharmaceutical policy) or a dual MBA/MPH. I’d love to work in pharma (for good not evil) does anyoneknow about the MBA/MPH - is it mainly focused on management?
2) GRE 162verbal 159 quant and 3.3 undergrad (16 years ago) and 4.0 quant post bac from Berkeley- 16 years in business and a ton of volunteer experiences. Any school recommendations? right now I’m focused on Vanderbilt- but don’t see a lot on here about them- and Yale as a reach.
Thanks guys!

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[Eyedontknowanymore]

Hi! I'm currently getting ready to apply for the Fall 2021 Cycle can anyone give me insight in their process with UMN and UWashington? Also, these programs don't require the GRE has anyone applied without a GRE score and got accepted?

 

[rap15]

Hi everyone! I'm currently a rising senior in undergrad planning on applying to MPH programs for Fall 2021. Right now, I am very interested in Brown's MPH in Maternal and Child Health. Does anyone have any insight/advice on Brown's MPH program? Especially for someone coming right out of undergrad and knowing it's a reach! Also, my GPA is 3.8 and I'm currently a PoliSci major

-Btw I'm also interested in applying to UNC, Emory, Tulane, Minnesota, BU, and either NYU or Yale

I considered applying for Brown’s MCH but ended up not because I didn’t want to leave my partner/the DC area.
It’s a very small program, compared to other schools. They have great connections with the Rhode Island Dept of Health and they are also not terribly far from Boston which is a great public health city. The part of Providence that Brown is in is absolutely the cutest.

I did notice you said you thought Brown would be a reach but keep in mind that acceptance rates for MPH programs are FAR higher than undergrad. Brown’s undergrad acceptance rate is obviously super low but their MPH might be more like 50%!

 

[Eyedontknowanymore]

UMN does not require the GRE for Epi anymore. I was accepted to the Epi MPH and submitted my application without GRE scores.

Would you mind sharing your stats please

 

[penpenclown]

Hi! I'm currently getting ready to apply for the Fall 2021 Cycle can anyone give me insight in their process with UMN and UWashington? Also, these programs don't require the GRE has anyone applied without a GRE score and got accepted?

"The U of M School of Public Health is not requiring the GRE for all master’s and doctoral degree programs effective for spring, summer, and fall 2021 admission.

• GRE scores will not be considered as part of the admission evaluation process.
• Previously reported GRE scores will be redacted and the School of Public Health will not accept scores reported through the GRE score-reporting service."

 

[Eyedontknowanymore]

"The U of M School of Public Health is not requiring the GRE for all master’s and doctoral degree programs effective for spring, summer, and fall 2021 admission.

• GRE scores will not be considered as part of the admission evaluation process.
• Previously reported GRE scores will be redacted and the School of Public Health will not accept scores reported through the GRE score-reporting service."

Thank you, but was looking for Someone’s particular experience with both schools such as stats, potential interviews/interactions with faculty, financial aid etc

 

[She-Hulk]

1. Chances of getting into a top program. It is easier in general to get into top public health programs, sometimes with little public health experience as the process is not super competitive like for some other fields. Due to coronavirus, a lot of public health related jobs, or at least jobs that MPHers might do like non-profits have been lost, I don't think it is guaranteed that public health funding will increase because of coronavirus, so I don't think people are flocking to get MPHs as even during a good economy it can be tough to find a public health related job.

2. In the past, people would go to higher ranked public health schools thinking that the connections and location helped, though public health is a local-regional issue often and I don't think there is a general push to get grads from top programs, mostly you go to school where you want to live, people who recruit have noted here that they looked at hard skills for a job, such as with a computer language or stats skills first. If it is easy to get into a top program, then that wouldn't necessarily mean that they are super selective and you're getting an elite pool of talent per se, many very excellent students go to cheaper state programs, a higher price doesn't mean a better education. I think for a lot of people who love public health as a field, they want to go to a top place like JHU just to have that experience . . . with campuses closing due to covid, it isn't clear that it is worth it to attend a very pricey online education, essentially you get very few opportunities, none of the campus amenities, and basically you are paying extra for the upkeep of a campus and to pay the salary of faculty who you don't see. Not an equitable proposition.

3. Some people might get the MPH, work for a bit in public health, then think about the DrPH. In theory you could go straight through, but I feel that experience matters in public health as the classroom instruction can be less than rigorous.

4. Some programs are geared towards part-time work. Do you want to live in Boston in the future? Even at Harvard large numbers of students are turning down the school as they want full tuition, but you can't go to the campus, a lot of these masters programs are money makers for schools, but if the extra cost doesn't mean a better chance at getting a job and if there is a glut of MPHers then you have to sort of treat them like used cars salesmen, apparently BU offers a "posthumous degree" for concerned students (I guess there is Student Life and Student After-Life), Boston University announced students can still receive their degrees after they die, but the school says it has nothing to do with the pandemic.

Hi all! I am new to SD and not sure if this is the right forum. I saw that "What are my chances" thread was pretty old and thought I would post here.

I am looking for advice and someone to knock some sense into my head, to make sure I am thinking this straight.

Below are my stats -

Undergrad School: Engineering
Graduate School: M.S in Management from Top 25 business school, MBA from top 10 business school.
GRE: Not taken yet but averaging: 155Q: 155V on Magoosh.
Experience/Research:

- 20 years of varied experience - Initially in technology(5 years) and then moving into strategy and management consulting (5 years), and finally ending up doing people-related strategies (last 10 years).

- Extremely limited experience in PH - Got exposed to public health through some wonderful work, partnering with Harvard, a couple of years ago, and maintained the interest.

- I am currently going through a graduate certificate program and getting myself grounded in foundational courses at a decent PH school.

- I am looking at doing a PhD or a DrPH and have had conversations at HSPH, JHU, UNC, and a couple of others.

Interests: Research or become a change agent working on mental health and worker well-being issues. I can complement my years of human capital experience and bring diverse thought-leadership.


Questions:

1) What are my chances of getting into one of the leading part-time programs - JHU/UNC.

2) While I may have a fairly good chance of getting into the local state univ and pay resident fees, is it worth going for the top ones and paying the exorbitant amount (20K for state school vs 70K)?

3) I am unclear about what I want to do with PH and open to senior leadership roles as well as research. Any thoughts on which is "better" Ph.D. or DrPH?

4) Given that I can most likely do only a part-time program, is the MPH-Epi at HSPH a good option?


Thanks in advance.

Z.

 

[zubear]

1. Chances of getting into a top program. It is easier in general to get into top public health programs, sometimes with little public health experience as the process is super competitive like for some other fields. Due to coronavirus, a lot of public health related jobs, or at least jobs that MPHers might do like non-profits have been lost, I don't think it is guaranteed that public health funding will increase because of coronavirus, so I don't think people are flocking to get MPHs as even during a good economy it can be tough to find a public health related job.

2. In the past, people would go to higher ranked public health schools thinking that the connections and location helped, though public health is a local-regional issue often and I don't think areas a general push to get grads from top programs, mostly you go to school where you want to live, people who recruit have noted here that they looked at hard skills for a job, such as with a computer language or stats skills first. If it is easy to get into a top program, then that wouldn't necessarily mean that they are super selective and you're getting an elite pool of talent per se, many very excellent students go to cheaper state programs, a higher price doesn't mean a better education. I think for a lot of people who love public health as a field, they want to go to a top place like JHU just to have that experience . . . with campuses closing due to covid, it isn't clear that it is worth it to attend a very pricey online education, essentially you get very few opportunities, none of the campus amenities, and basically you are paying extra for the upkeep of a campus and to pay the salary of faculty who you don't see. Not an equitable proposition.

3. Some people might get the MPH, work for a bit in public health, then think about the DrPH. In theory you could go straight through, but I feel that experience matters in public health as the classroom instruction can be less than rigorous.

4. Some programs are geared towards part-time work. Do you want to live in Boston in the future? Even at Harvard large numbers of students are turning down the school as they want full tuition, but you can't go to the campus, a lot of these masters programs are money makers for schools, but if the extra cost doesn't mean a better chance at getting a job and if there is a glut of MPHers then you have to sort of treat them like used cars salesmen, apparently BU offers a "posthumous degree" for concerned students (I guess there is Student Life and Student After-Life), Boston University announced students can still receive their degrees after they die, but the school says it has nothing to do with the pandemic.

Thank you!!! I realized that my post was in the older list. I am moving it to the 2021 list. Thank you again!

 

[hokiegirl30]

Undergraduate School/School type: Large research university in Virginia
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.64 (Honors College Scholar and Magna Cum Laude)
Major/minor: Exercise Science/Integrative Health and Wellness
Grad GPA (if applicable):
Grad studies (if applicable):
GRE(including date taken): Took 8/2019, unsure if I'll submit them (average scores)

Experience/research:

• Contact tracer for NYS COVID-19 Initiative; recently promoted to a school specialist where I work with the local LHDs to coordinate contact tracing for K-12 schools in the area
• 4 years sports medicine aide for division I athletic team (~1500 patient care hours)
• 3 years leadership (secretary/vice president) for ~150 person club
• 1 year basic science research focused on cardiometabolic disease
• 1 year clinical biomechanics research focused on injury prevention in collegiate athletes
• Translational Obesity research fellowship through NIH (grant award winner)
• Emergency Medical Technician (VA and NY)—looking to use this for COVID-19 testing job
• 1 year teaching assistant for exercise physiology
• 1 year review board advocate for students with disabilities department
• 3 years special olympics first aid volunteer

I was previously on a pre-physician assistant track (explains patient care/emt hours)

Letters of Rec: Current Supervisor (Deputy Regional Manager for NYS Contact Tracing Initiative), Cardiometabolic Lab PI, NIH Fellowship Director (Implementation Scientist), Professor that I TA'd for (also PI for clinical biomechanics research)

Interests: Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Public Health Nutrition and Physical Activity

Applying: SUNY at Buffalo, SUNY at Albany, Vanderbilt, University of North Carolina, George Washington
Accepted:
Rejected:
Waitlisted:
Attending:

 

[yougotnojams]

Hi all!
In your opinion, aside from GWU, NYU, Columbia, and U of Minnesota, what are good community health / health promotion programs and schools?

 

[EggYellower]

Hi everyone! I am a college senior graduating this school year and I am applying to health related Masters. Here’s my info:


Undergraduate School: Top public university in the US
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.63/3.7
Major/Minor: double major in mathematics and philosophy
GRE(including date taken): Taken 10/04/2020, V 169, Q 170, AW 4.5

Experience/research:
1. Summer internship at an experimental health alliance in Chengdu, China (3 months)
2. Research assistant at a top Chinese University for a report on the aforementioned health alliance (1 year)
3. Research assistant at a top US University for a report on Chinese nursing homes, mainly collecting statistics and doing stats tests (6 months)
4. Part time research for an insurance company on the UK NHS system (3 months)




Letters of Rec:
1. Prof who supervised my research on Chinese nursing homes
2. Prof who aupervised my research on the health alliance
3. Former employer for my internship at health alliance, director of a hospital in China
4. TA at my university who knows me but not by much.


Interested in: international health policy, health economics

Applied:
1. Harvard MS In Global Health and Population
2. JHU MHS in health economics
3. Columbia MPH
4. Stanford Master of international policy

I am really nervous right now as it is approaching the application deadline and I have no idea how hard it is to get into the aforementioned programs. Could you guys estimate my chance of getting into one of those programs, and if any, advices for my application? Thank you very much!!

 

[kwebb164]

I've officially submitted my deposit for CUNY! I was already leaning towards it because I've been thinking about deferring/online classes/etc. and didn't want to take out an extremely high amount of loans for another program that could have a semester (or semesters) online anyways - but last night I was notified that I received a scholarship from them! CUNY is super flexible so I know if I wanted or needed to, I could start in the spring and/or go part-time. I'm really excited to go there and if anyone else is going, hmu!

Curious how it is going? I am in the decision phase and CUNY is one of my top 2.

 

[heyimhere]

Does anyone know how long it takes Brown to get back to you?

 

[vzr05]

Does anyone know how long it takes Brown to get back to you?

Last year my application was verified on 11/6/2019 and I was accepted to Brown on 1/15/2020. Hopefully they’ll start sending decisions this coming week!

 

[mwilson99]

Does anyone know how long it takes Brown to get back to you?

I believe 8-12 weeks after they receive your application.

 

[jimin_]

Anyone here ended up going to georgetown for an MS in global health? I'm interested in applying late - I'm trying to understand the difference between GW and GT. The faculty seems really impressive at georgetown

 

[jimin_]

Is there anyone willing to connect that did columbia ph in hpm - and someone in columbia popfam - i'm thinking of changing depts

 

[new_here]

Does anyone know what programs do DC employers prefer hiring from? Federal agencies mostly. But also consulting firms

 

[mph_md2021]

Did anyone hear from the BU Global Health MPH program yet? 😢

 

[Kroy_Wen]

Is it a bad idea/foolish/ maybe even offensive to inquire about more funding from the University of Michigan if I already received a 75% tuition scholarship? I've been told that closed mouths don't get fed and the worst they could say is no, but I also realize that I'm pushing it with how generous they have already been. Thoughts?

were you successful in appealing for more than 75%

 

[dnaligase]

I am so sorry to post here again but it seems like this is the most active thread and I really need help ASAP. If anyone here is kind enough to answer any of the questions below I would be so thankful.

1. If I submitted my SOPHAS application without LORs by around end of Feb (LORs could take a few weeks to over a month) how long would it take for schools to get and evaluate my app?

2. Do top schools realistically admit people after their priority deadline has passed? How common is this? Some schools I’m currently looking at: Columbia, Emory, Michigan, BU, Berkeley, UCLA, GWU, Yale, Pitt, USF, Brown, UPenn

Also if there are any top schools that don’t have priority deadlines or where they particularly don’t matter as much please let me know! Also if any schools give out scholarships late, I know it’s a long shot but just thought I’d put it out there!


3. Is there a “top tier” for MPH programs? If so what schools are in that tier and is the quality of education and job placement significantly better for top tier compared to tier 2 and beyond? Sorry still learning

4. Any tips on what schools typically look for in their personal statement/what should I highlight? I know public health experience is good, but any other tips??

5. Is there a significant difference in quality of education and job placement between an in person and online MPH program? I’ve noticed a lot of top schools have online MPH programs also, and with multiple start dates. Is this still a legit MPH or is it a money making scheme? Is it worth applying to online programs?

6. Any big things I should avoid talking about in my app or avoid doing in general during this app process?? I was premed for college and only decided to switch to MPH recently.. should I avoid mentioning this and if so how do I craft my narrative?

Literally any other tips or advice would be appreciated as well! Thank you!!

 

[Whatif19]

Just got off the waitlist Harvard MPH-45 Health Policy!

Hey! Would you mind sharing what date did they mention on decision letter about the waitlist decision. I am waitlisted this year for health management, they mentioned I’ll get a decision by May 1st week. Is there any chance to get it before April 15th?