MPH applicant with exceptional circumstnaces

[catwizard]

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I am currently an undergrad at a well-respected private college in southern California. I'll graduate in december of 2014 and my GPA currently sits at 3.91 and I plan on applying to graduate schools (MPH) programs. sounds okay? Here's the issue: about six years ago I attended a large state university and flunked out due to an eating disorder. I went to treatment for about year and doing really well with my recovery and slowly made my way back up by attending community college, doing well and getting into my current university ( they knew of my past situation). What do I do for grad school as to not completely obliterate my chances of getting in? I think that my story is really uplifting but I am so worried that schools will not.


I've looked *everywhere* for stories similar to mine and I can't find any so this is my last hope

 

[Darth Doc]

You have a good GPA now. You have a reasonable explaination. Do great on the GREs and see what happens. If you get in, you'll move on with your dreams. If you don't, then worry about looking for a job in your field. Get more life experience and try again.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Hey, I'm an MPH student. It's a great field. You have an explanation, you've shown a strong improvement. If I recall correctly, and nothing major has changed, the SOPHAS application is a bit like the med school application in that you apply to most schools through a centralized application. You enter all of your coursework and grades in and it calculates your GPA. It might separate out your attempts at the degree, but regardless you will show a strong upward trend. That's really going to help you.

Don't discuss your grades or eating disorder in your personal statement though unless it is a strong driver for why you want to be in public health. That's what the personal statement should address, why public health. There's another section where you'll be able to explain your situation with failing out due to your health issue. I had to use this section to explain some stuff related to a health issue myself.

My school has different majors for the MPH and the acceptance criteria are pretty different among them. So do your homework after you kick butt on the GRE. Then apply broadly and only to accredited programs.

If you haven't stumbled across it, there is a forum on here for public health students and applicants where you can find more info about applying and whatnot. They are a bit saner like us nontrads. Good luck!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/public-health-degrees-masters-and-doctoral.94/