MPH 2020: Applied, Accepted, Rejected, Waitlisted

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Hi, I have a question about the SOPHAS. Since I'm still an undergraduate student, my counselor said that I will not have an official transcript, so can I just send my unofficial transcript to SOPHAS? or I must apply for the official one? Thank you! And congrats to everyone who receives the offer!
I just took the SOPHAS instruction sheet (found under your transcript tab I believe) to the registrar and they were able to send mine to SOPHAS digitally. I believe if you are accepted somewhere you'll have to submit an official one with degree received
 
eager to hear what you find out! I'm going to apply to Temple's online MPH (so I can keep working) but if I get in and then need to decide within three weeks...
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).
 
Hi all! Longtime lurker here, excited to be hearing back (hopefully) soon 🙂

For any other Brown applicants out there, have y'all heard anything? I don't think I ever got a confirmation email or any communication re: my application from them as of yet. Curious to see if anyone else has.
 
I just got an email this morning saying that I've been accepted to CUNY SPH for my MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health for Spring 2020!!!! (Which is weird since I applied for Fall 2020...) This is my first acceptance and I'm super excited! I hope to hear back from more programs in the coming weeks and I'm wishing the best of luck to all of you!
 
here’s my status update..

Received an acceptance from Hopkins & GW both MHA!

-Boston Univ application portal says they’ll notify me in one week

-Apps complete and under review from UMich, Yale, Columbia, Harvard, NYU

-Nothing from Emory.

Ooh thanks for the BU tip! I hadn't checked their portal in a while but I have the same message
 
I emailed Boston about the notice on the portal that says they’ll get back to us in one week because it’s been more than a week for me. They said they’ll start sending out decisions next week...
 
Hi all! Longtime lurker here, excited to be hearing back (hopefully) soon 🙂

For any other Brown applicants out there, have y'all heard anything? I don't think I ever got a confirmation email or any communication re: my application from them as of yet. Curious to see if anyone else has.

I got a confirmation email saying that decisions would be released in 8-12 weeks. I submitted my app on 12/1!
 
Hi all! Longtime lurker here, excited to be hearing back (hopefully) soon 🙂

For any other Brown applicants out there, have y'all heard anything? I don't think I ever got a confirmation email or any communication re: my application from them as of yet. Curious to see if anyone else has.

My application went under review at Brown about 1.5 weeks ago.
 
I emailed Boston about the notice on the portal that says they’ll get back to us in one week because it’s been more than a week for me. They said they’ll start sending out decisions next week...

When did you receive portal information? The last thing I received from them was the supplemental app. with the one or two questions, and that was on Nov. 20.
 
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).

oh man, that is not ideal. I think that means I’m going to have to wait...but I don’t want to wait too long since then they might run out of space! Kinda makes me reconsider even applying to them
 
When did you receive portal information? The last thing I received from them was the supplemental app. with the one or two questions, and that was on Nov. 20.
By portal, I meant the supplemental app page! It had a message that said “you’ll be hearing from us soon” in big letters and said they’d get back to me within a week with an update on my application.
 
By portal, I meant the supplemental app page! It had a message that said “you’ll be hearing from us soon” in big letters and said they’d get back to me within a week with an update on my application.

Ah okay! Yeah, I hope we hear back soon. A friend of mine that applied last year said she heard back around this time. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information because their initial Email states that Fall 2020 apps wont go under review until January, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
 
oh man, that is not ideal. I think that means I’m going to have to wait...but I don’t want to wait too long since then they might run out of space! Kinda makes me reconsider even applying to them
I’m going to ask for an extension and I’ll let you know what they say about that too! I’m going to say at the very least I need one until they have financial aid info for me but I would prefer March 1st.
 
Ah okay! Yeah, I hope we hear back soon. A friend of mine that applied last year said she heard back around this time. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information because their initial Email states that Fall 2020 apps wont go under review until January, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Wait so all of you almost hearing from BU applied for fall 2020 not spring?! Their admissions site makes it seem like it’s not rolling and everyone who applied by the deadline will have equal priority. Should I be applying soon?
 
here’s my status update..

Received an acceptance from Hopkins & GW both MHA!

-Boston Univ application portal says they’ll notify me in one week

-Apps complete and under review from UMich, Yale, Columbia, Harvard, NYU

-Nothing from Emory.
Did you apply to spring semester for BU? Or fall 2020?
 
Last edited:
I received my scholarship for GWU for $32k this morning!

I also got an email from Emory today about creating a portal on OPUS, but after filling out the information on that website, they said that my information isn't on file. Should I give it a couple days and try again, or contact Emory?

same here for emory, but i'm going to try it again tomorrow/friday and email them over the weekend if it doesn't work.
 
For those of you that are worried about the BU supplemental saying you'll hear back in a week: I applied to the PhD program in epidemiology and mine also says that, which I highly doubt is true!
 
As the application deadlines for many MPH programs near, I am beginning to get nervous about my candidacy, especially my lack of research. With that being said, I am interested in Maternal and Child Health Policy as opposed to epi, etc. Any tips are helpful! Thanks in advance and good luck to you all!

Undergraduate School: Large Land-Grant University in Virginia (graduated 2019)
Undergrad GPA: 3.26/3.41
Major: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise | Communication Minor
GRE:Taking it next week, expect above average verbal score and average quant

Experience:
- Currently serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a state government agency's headquarters working on substance use disorder response and prevention
- Interned at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Housing and Patient Services
- Went on a 2-week-long medical brigade to Siem Reap, Cambodia where we held free clinics in rural areas
- Was a fellow for a state delegate's campaign (I am interested in policy)
- Interned for a local health department for one semester, worked on food insecurity
- Various leadership and service experiences throughout college

Letters of Rec: 1 from professor in major, 1 from current supervisor in state government, 1 from past internship supervisor at St. Jude - Director of the department

Interested in: Maternal and Child Health Policy - Adverse Childhood Experiences, parental substance use disorder, SUD/STI screening best-practices and biases for pregnant and parenting women, expanding Medicaid services to include wraparound services

Accepted:
Boston University (Maternal and Child Health), Emory (Health Policy), Colorado School of Public Health (Health Systems, Management, and Policy), George Mason (Health Policy)
TBD: Columbia (Health Policy and Management), GWU (Health Policy), UNC Gillings (Maternal, Child, and Family Health),
 
Last edited:
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?

As the application deadlines for many MPH programs near, I am beginning to get nervous about my candidacy, especially my lack of research. With that being said, I am interested in Maternal and Child Health Policy as opposed to epi, etc. Any tips are helpful! Thanks in advance and good luck to you all!

Undergraduate School: Large Land-Grant University in Virginia (graduated 2019)
Undergrad GPA: 3.26/3.41
Major: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise | Communication Minor
GRE:Taking it next week, expect above average verbal score and average quant

Experience:
- Currently serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a state government agency's headquarters working on substance use disorder response and prevention
- Interned at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Housing and Patient Services
- Went on a 2-week-long medical brigade to Siem Reap, Cambodia where we held free clinics in rural areas
- Was a fellow for a state delegate's campaign (I am interested in policy)
- Interned for a local health department for one semester, worked on food insecurity
- Various leadership and service experiences throughout college

Letters of Rec: 1 from professor in major, 1 from current supervisor in state government, 1 from past internship supervisor at St. Jude - Director of the department

Interested in: Maternal and Child Health Policy - Adverse Childhood Experiences, parental substance use disorder, SUD/STI screening best-practices and biases for pregnant and parenting women, expanding Medicaid services to include wraparound services

Applied:
Boston University (Health Policy and Law), Columbia (Health Policy and Management), GWU (Health Policy), George Mason (Health Policy), UNC Gillings (Maternal, Child, and Family Health), Emory (Health Policy), Colorado School of Public Health (Health Systems, Management, and Policy)
 
Does anyone know how BU sends out their rejection? is it by email, a rejection updated in their portal, or snail mail? just so I can be prepared for the worst
 
Does anyone know how BU sends out their rejection? is it by email, a rejection updated in their portal, or snail mail? just so I can be prepared for the worst
People on gradcafe were saying by email
 
Last edited:
I got my Emory OPUS login information, but it doesn't work (says my username or password is incorrect). I'm going to give them a call tomorrow but I am just so antsy about this whole thing. All I want to know is if I got in or not :scared:
 
My application went under review at Brown about 1.5 weeks ago.
I got
I got my Emory OPUS login information, but it doesn't work (says my username or password is incorrect). I'm going to give them a call tomorrow but I am just so antsy about this whole thing. All I want to know is if I got in or not :scared:
i haven’t gotten but advertisement emails from Emory so you’re a step ahead of me. And I submitted it over a month and a half ago.
 
Undergraduate School: Division I State School
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.66/3.93 (SOPHAS verified)
Major/minor: Double major in Biology and Political Science with minor in Chemistry
Grad GPA (if applicable): N/A (my medical school was Pass/Fail)
Grad studies (if applicable): Medicine (U.S. Allopathic)
GRE(including date taken): Did not take GRE. MCAT was an allowed substitution. Overall percentile 83% (89%/84%/76%)

Experience/research:
-3 years as an elected representative on student government
-3 years as a Board of Director for a non-profit foundation
-5 years of research
--2 publications (impact factor 5 & 12)
--Undergraduate thesis
--5 poster presentations at conferences
--2 literature reviews currently in process of being published
-Currently a resident
-Tons of volunteer experiences in medical and community
-Chapter author for a well known emergency medicine guide

Letters of Rec: my supervisor from my current position, one of my current faculty members, an associate director of my current program

Interested in: epi

Mainly did this because not many examples of current residents working in an MPH program while in residency.


Applied: Harvard (Online epi)
Accepted:
Rejected:
 
My application was just verified this morning due to a transcript issue that SOPHAS didn’t alert me of until a month post-submission! Excited for them to finally go under review— for those receiving acceptance & scholarship info from GW, how long did it take to hear after verification? Do you think the late arrival of my application will affect the time to hear?
 
Just contacted the admissions team from Yale. She replied that there will be no interviews as part of the admissions process and that we can expect our results 6-8 weeks after out submission. Best of luck to everyone!
 
Congrats!!! When did your app go under review? I also applied for Health Policy so I am hoping to hear back soon!
I got the email that it went under review on December 10th!
 
For the people who just got into Yale- Congratulations!!!! What department did you apply to/when did you submit your application
 
Top