MPH Fall 2016: Applied, Accepted, Waitlisted, Rejected!

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hey all! Do the deadlines mean submitted by or verified by? I applied to Columbia PhD in Sociomedical Sciences, and submitted my app today, I was having SOPHAS trouble for the past few weeks, so had to call them and have them fix it and submit it.

Also, anyone else applying to PhD programs from undergrad?
 
I'm going to submit my apps soon and I was wondering-- Why do they ask for your race? Can this hurt you or help you? I mean, a quick Google search of my name will tell people that I am white. So leaving it blank, probably not a good idea either? What do you guys think of this?
 
OxBakerTriumphant said:
I'm going to submit my apps soon and I was wondering-- Why do they ask for your race? Can this hurt you or help you? I mean, a quick Google search of my name will tell people that I am white. So leaving it blank, probably not a good idea either? What do you guys think of this?
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Do they give you the option to not answer? I know that some people are uncomfortable disclosing their race for whatever reason. I have applied for several jobs over the past six years, and they have always included a "decline to state" or some other thing that allows you to not answer. As far as I know, the only reason job applications ask for such demographic information is for research purposes. I'm sure that SOPHAS is doing it for the same reason. It is your choice whether you want to answer it or not. I always do, since I don't really care.
 
Undergrad School: Boston University
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.34/3.80
Major/Minor: Health Science/ Public Health and Philosophy
GradGPA (if applicable): N/A
Grad Studies (if applicable): N/A
GRE Verbal: 161 Quantitative: 161 Writing: 4.5
Experience/Research (please, be brief):
3 month internship at the World Health Organization in the Pandemic and Emerging Diseases Department
6 month internship at AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts doing Development, Corporate Relations and Foundations
Resident Assistant at BU
Lab Assistant at BU
Various Hospital Volunteering
Applied: Various Epi programs (12/1) (communicable disease and global health focused if available) at Arizona, UNTHSC SPH, UTHSC SPH, Tulane, UAB, USF, WashU, Michigan, Columbia, and BU
Accepted: Tulane (12/8), UAB (1/7), BU (1/14), UNTHSC (1/14), Michigan (1/15), WashU (1/31), Columbia (2/11), Arizona (2/29), USF (3/2)
Rejected: UTHSC (1/14)
Attending: University of Michigan
 
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Undergrad School: Top 10 Public University
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.6/3.8
Major/Minor: Public Health (Minor: Biology)
GradGPA (if applicable): N/A
Grad Studies (if applicable): N/A
GRE Verbal: 162 Quantitative: 160 Writing: 5.0
Experience/Research (please, be brief):
1 year Founder/president of school's international medical outreach organization
2 years as Editor/writer for university's undergraduate research journal
1 month international UN internship
4 months Undergraduate teaching assistant for lower division public health course
9 months Scientific intern (physiology) at pharmaceutical company
1 year Lab Assistant at 2 different research groups (pending manuscript with Nature)
Gilman Scholarship (US Department of State) recipient
Recipient of undergraduate summer research grant
Experience presenting research posters at 3 conferences (biology and public health experiences)

Applied: UC Berkeley (epi/bio), UC Los Angeles (epi), Columbia (epi), Yale (chronic disease epi), University of Michigan (epi), Emory University (global epi), Boston University (epi)
Accepted: University of Michigan (global health epi) 1/22, Boston University (w/ 15k merit award) 1/28, Emory 2/4, UC Berkeley (epi/biostats) 2/10, Columbia 2/11, UCLA (3/something?), Yale (Feb)
Rejected:
Waitlisted:
 
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Undergrad School: MBBS from a medical college in Mumbai ? India
Undergrad GPA: 3.14
Grad Studies (if applicable): medicine
GRE verbal 156 quant 154 AWA 3.o
Other Test Toefl : 109
Experience/Research

3 months internship UK
3 months internshipUSA
6 months research
Maternal and child health educator and Volunteer physician since 10 months at the Red Cross society of India.
RMO since 9 months at a local hospital and research institute.

Interested in: Maternal and child health and community / health promotion MPH programs

Applied:all MCH and or health behavior programs Emory, Columbia , BU , GW, Tulane , UNC , UIC , USF , U Pitt, Minnesota

Accepted: GW , Tulane , USF

Rejected: U Pitt

Waitlisted:

I'm worried that since I received a rejection from U Pitt - for their behavior and community sciences MPH program - should I lose hope to be accepted to competitive programs ranked higher up like Emory or UNC ? Kindly help. Disappointed and nervous.
 
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mumbaimedicine said:
I'm worried that since I received a rejection from U Pitt - for their behavior and community sciences MPH program - should I lose hope to be accepted to competitive programs ranked higher up like Emory or UNC ? Kindly help. Disappointed and nervous.
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You have two acceptances. Not really sure why you are nervous. Yes, rejections can be disappointing, but you can't expect to go through a major application process and not get rejections. This why they are called reach schools, because you have a 50/50 chance of getting in. You should be sighing with relief that you can at least go somewhere (and they are both top 15 programs), not giving up all hope. It baffles me that so many applicants are obsessed with getting into the top programs. This is not a top 5 or bust process, any program that is CEPH accredited is a good program. Instead of panicking about Columbia and UNC, do some research and decide whether you want to live in DC vice New Orleans. In fact, I really hope you get into USF and/or UIC, as they have the lowest tuition rates of all the programs you applied to. I've never been to Chicago, but my Dad has gone on several business trips there and he says it's a great place. Anyway, do not lose all hope, celebrate your acceptances, and most importantly, STAY POSITIVE.
 
Pudu2009 said:
You have two acceptances. Not really sure why you are nervous. Yes, rejections can be disappointing, but you can't expect to go through a major application process and not get rejections. This why they are called reach schools, because you have a 50/50 chance of getting in. You should be sighing with relief that you can at least go somewhere (and they are both top 15 programs), not giving up all hope. It baffles me that so many applicants are obsessed with getting into the top programs. This is not a top 5 or bust process, any program that is CEPH accredited is a good program. Instead of panicking about Columbia and UNC, do some research and decide whether you want to live in DC vice New Orleans. In fact, I really hope you get into USF and/or UIC, as they have the lowest tuition rates of all the programs you applied to. I've never been to Chicago, but my Dad has gone on several business trips there and he says it's a great place. Anyway, do not lose all hope, celebrate your acceptances, and most importantly, STAY POSITIVE.
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Thank you so much. This gave me a reality check and also better perspective.
 
PHAspirations thank you! You were right, I was able to get my application in to Berkeley. Good luck with your applications, too.
 
On the Columbia app, they asked for a Skype username if we have one. Does anyone know if they conduct interviews for everyone, or is it just an option?
 
Here goes nothing!

Undergrad School: top 50 university
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.58
Major/Minor: cultural anthropology and international affairs major, health science minor
GradGPA (if applicable): 3.50
Grad Studies (if applicable): intro to epidemiology + biostatistics courses as a non-degree student
GRE 158V, 148Q, 4.0AW - not the best unfortunately
Experience/Research (please, be brief):
  • 6 month internship helping low-income individuals/families access health care, employment, public assistance, and housing
  • 6 month internship in health care governmental affairs and advocacy
  • 1.5 years as a summer intern, hired afterward as a part-time research assistant in women's health policy at a top-tier hospital; experience with state and national health care policy; co-authored a policy brief
  • Currently 1.5+ years as a research assistant in minority health disparities; experience with federal grants, IRB, human subjects research, community-based participatory research; co-authored a peer-reviewed publication; presented poster at a research symposium
  • Senior year qualitative research paper on immigrant restaurant worker health and nutrition
  • Various intercultural volunteer/leadership experiences from college

Interested in: social/behavioral health, community-based research, urban health & the built environment
Applied: Berkeley MPH/MCP (12/1), BU MPH (12/30), Columbia MPH (12/30), Tufts MPH/MA urban planning (1/15)
Accepted: Tufts (1/25 for MPH, 2/19 for MA, 17.5k tuition scholarship for MA), BU (1/28, 15k merit scholarship), Columbia (2/11)
Rejected: UC Berkeley (3/16)
Waitlisted:
 
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rooti529 said:
Undergrad School: Public Ivy
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.33/3.30
Major/Minor: General Biology
GradGPA (if applicable): N/A
Grad Studies (if applicable): N/A
GRE (including date taken) or Other Test (if applicable): Taken 8/27/15: V 160, Q 155, AW 5
Experience/Research (please, be brief):
  • 1 summer research intern at an Entomology Lab
  • 1 summer internship at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • 1 year volunteer at University health center pharmacy
  • 1 year member of Student Government Association Health + Wellness Committee
  • Current intern at Melanoma Research Alliance of the Milken Institute
  • Current Asian-American and Pacific Islander Advocate Intern
  • Current Biology tutor

Interested in: Columbia, GWU, Boston, Emory, Yale, Pitt, UPenn, NYU (all Health Policy)
Applied: Columbia
Accepted:
Rejected:
Waitlisted:

A little worried about my GPA and not as much experience as others, hopefully everything works out though! 🙂
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My GPA was lower than yours when I applied, and I got into Columbia! Stay positive and hope for the best!
 
rooti529 said:
On the Columbia app, they asked for a Skype username if we have one. Does anyone know if they conduct interviews for everyone, or is it just an option?
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Are you going for the Health Policy and Management? From what I remember from last year, only HPM people had interviews when they applied to the school
 
healthismypassion1234 said:
I read some really awesome profiles here. Congrats everyone. it's amazing to see people who are really into public health and not just going into medical school.
ALSO important message. I've felt a little intimidated seeing some of these posts, to those of you feeling the same way, keep in mind that the more competitive/driven may be more likely to post!!! There a ton of applications that aren't represented here. Keep the faith!!!

Also, is it just me or is this years thread a little dead this year? Maybe more spots haha 😉
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Haha TBH, I posted my stats because I saw how helpful it was to browse through the previous year's. It helped me see where I stood and what possible weaknesses I had that I could then address in my apps. Hoping that my stats might help future applicants 🙂
 
healthismypassion1234 said:
anyone have any info on how columbia and yale are competitive/hard to get in for an mph in epidemiology? I really hope to get in for chronic disease epidemiology but i want to keep my hopes low.
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From what I know, Columbia looks at your quant score on the GRE as one of the major factors. Not that many people are in chronic disease epidemiology here, so that could work in your favor!
 
For those who have used SOPHAS professional transcript entry, how long has it taken for coursework to be entered? I submitted everything on 11/17 and am still waiting on the coursework to be entered...I know the SOPHAS site says it can take up to 15 business days, but I was hoping that would not be the case. Just anxious to get my app verified! :help:
 
Here are my stats. I'm applying largely to MPH/MBA combined programs. Good luck everyone!

Undergrad School: Top 40 university
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.78/3.75
Major/Minor: International relations/public health
GRE: 163V/161Q/5W
Experience/Research:
  • 1 year full-time coordinator for global HIV study
  • 1 year full-time Research Assistant on global health policy
  • 3 years part-time work experience in public health consulting and HPM research. 2 years as a resident assistant.
  • 3 years international thesis project on operations improvement at a rural clinic
  • Some volunteer experience
  • Two papers (one as first author), several posters/oral presentations
Applied: Johns Hopkins (MPH/MBA), Columbia (MPH), Boston University (MPH/MBA), Harvard (MPH), Yale (MPH/MBA), Emory (MPH/MBA)
Accepted: BU (MBA/MPH), Yale (MPH), Emory (MBA/MPH), Columbia (MPH)
Rejected:
Waitlisted:
 
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I submitted my application on the 1st, and I just received an email from SOPHAS notifying me that my coursework has been verified!
 
Submitted my Sophas app in september, still to hear back from any university

Doctor from India
7 months clinical work experience
3 years volunteering at an NGO
GPA: 3.04 as calculated my WES
GMAT: 640 V32(66%ile) Q45(63%ile) AWA 4.5
Applied: Yale MPH healthcare administration , BU MPH in HPM, JHU MHA, Columbia MHA, might also apply to university of south florida
Interview:
Waitlist:
Rejected:
Accepted:
Attending:
 
Has anyone heard back from Michigan? I was verified by SOPHAS in early November and my app was marked complete in mid-November!
 
Heard from University of Michigan:

"Congratulations! You have been recommended for admission to the University of Michigan School of Public Health by the program reviewing your graduate application. Your admittance will become official upon certification by the School of Public Health's Office of Academic Affairs. Once your recommendation has been verified and confirmed, your status will be updated."
 
Hey guys! I was wondering if anyone could tell me what my chances are to getting into an MPH program!

Undergraduate School: UCLA
Undergraduate GPA/Major GPA: 2.9/ 3.2 (With a pretty good written explanation of the grades and a drastic grade shift after year 2).
Major: Pre-med biology
GRE: 159V (81%), 157Q (68%), 5W (90%)
Experience/Research:
  • 4 years working in UCLA gym, 2 years as a building supervisor- working with/helping plan and manage different health events
  • 1 year as the elected California State Leader for the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association planning recreation conferences/workshops and promoting recreation throughout the state of California
  • 2014-2015 UCLA Recreation Engagement Coordinator
  • Special Olympics World Games Logistics Assistant for the 2015 Summer World Games
  • Summer Research Assistant/Intern for the University of California (Agriculture Research)
  • 2 years- UCLA Recreation Student Leadership Advisory Committee
  • UCLA Recreation Hiring Committee Coordinator
  • UCLA Shot@Life Member- promoting vaccine awareness on campus and in the surrounding LA area by planning events/fundraisers, school presentations, and presentations to local legislators
  • UCLA Volunteer Day Student Leader
  • UCLA Club softball member
  • UCLA Student Wellness Commission- Health, Nutrition, and Fitness Committee
Applied: Community Health Sciences at University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, University of Arizona, San Diego State University
Accepted: Pitt! BU!
Rejected:
Waitlisted:

Would love if someone could tell me realistically what my chances are! Also, should I submit my apps now to the schools with deadlines in January because of the 4-6 weeks it takes SOPHAS to verify everything even though I have 3 professional evaluations turned in, but am still waiting to have the 2 academic evals turned in (professors are so slow!)?

Thanks guys! Appreciate any input/advice/recommendations!
 
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For those of you interested in the general acceptance rates of MPH schools, I found this 2011 Annual Report by ASPH that lists the percentages of accepted applicants and new enrollments for each school.

http://depts.washington.edu/sphnet/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/FINAL_ASPH-Annual-Data-Report-2011.pdf

Please note that the data is 4 years old and some schools may have drastically different numbers today. I compared the 2010 numbers with 2011 and they were generally the same give or take 3 percent.
 
Do many schools process applications as they come in? I was under the impression that the process would begin after the earliest deadline passed.
 
runtranquilo said:
This spreadsheet is giving me anxiety. I thought applying to mid-tier schools (ranked around 20-25) meant I had good odds with a 3.7 GPA, an okay MCAT and a premed-like list of ECs, but a 48% acceptance rate makes me nervous...

congrats to all accepted, just waiting on my LoRs to get verified!
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That's interesting, I had the opposite reaction; the fact that Columbia and some other top 10 schools accept ~ 50% of its applicants puts me at ease. As long as you have a good GPA, which you do, you should be good to go!
 
Hi everybody! Has anybody who has submitted recently (in the past week or two) been verified yet? I just started to submit (sent in two last night and about to send another), and am just wondering how long this is going to take!
 
hoping4mph2016 said:
Hi everybody! Has anybody who has submitted recently (in the past week or two) been verified yet? I just started to submit (sent in two last night and about to send another), and am just wondering how long this is going to take!
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I submitted on 11/30 and my app was verified by 12/2!
 
Thanks for the reply rooti529! That's awesome that it was so fast. By any chance did you submit any applications on different dates? I'm wondering if I have an app that has been verified, if I submit another one a week later will it be verified right away?
 
hoping4mph2016 said:
Thanks for the reply rooti529! That's awesome that it was so fast. By any chance did you submit any applications on different dates? I'm wondering if I have an app that has been verified, if I submit another one a week later will it be verified right away?
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Yup once one app is verified, the rest will update themselves a few hours after submission as being verified as well!
 
Member 9351811 said:
Congratulations! When did Hopkins confirm they received your application / what was the turn around time?
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I submitted my SOPHAS application by 1st November. JHSPH ensured me 3/4 days after my e-submission that they received my application and it may take around 8-10 weeks to process their decision. But it took only 4 weeks for me. I guess it is due to my early submission.
 
I'm definitely entering frantic email checking mode. I submitted all applications in mid-November, so while I know that even the schools with early, rolling admissions are unlikely to send decisions at this point, it hasn't stopped me from refreshing my email repeatedly! Reading through some of the posts in the MPH Fall 2015 thread also hasn't helped...

Has anyone received their Emory OPUS registration information yet? I received the "we have received your application" email about a week ago -- most other schools that require additional applications or registrations (UNC, UMich, etc) sent the follow up emails almost immediately after confirming receipt of the application, so I'm just starting to worry that the OPUS email got lost. But I also don't want to annoy the admissions office if it's fairly typical for there to be a lengthy delay in the OPUS registration emails being sent.
 
Hi everyone, I submitted my apps to U-Mich and UNC Chapel Hill on 12/2, and my apps to: Emory, Drexel, and Temple the next two days. This morning I got an email saying my coursework was verified and when I click Program Status everything is green and says verified, and I can't hover over it anymore to see the recommendation letters individually & coursework. I was actually worried the first two wouldn't be verified by the deadline so I'm pretty happy right now but my question is, how do I know that my LOC were verified, as I never got a separate email about them? How can I be sure everything is verified if I can no longer hover over it because nothing comes up? I'm sorry if this is a very confusing question, I just get a bit of anxiety about this process.
 
OxBakerTriumphant said:
Hi everyone, I submitted my apps to U-Mich and UNC Chapel Hill on 12/2, and my apps to: Emory, Drexel, and Temple the next two days. This morning I got an email saying my coursework was verified and when I click Program Status everything is green and says verified, and I can't hover over it anymore to see the recommendation letters individually & coursework. I was actually worried the first two wouldn't be verified by the deadline so I'm pretty happy right now but my question is, how do I know that my LOC were verified, as I never got a separate email about them? How can I be sure everything is verified if I can no longer hover over it because nothing comes up? I'm sorry if this is a very confusing question, I just get a bit of anxiety about this process.
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There is no separate email for when your letter of recs get verified. Your application was fully verified and you should expect an email from each school thanking you for applying and that they're reviewing the material.
 
aurorablue62 said:
I submitted my SOPHAS application about a month ago, but is anyone else having trouble getting their transcript to SOPHAS? My registrar supposedly mailed it WITH the request form about 3.5 weeks ago but I've called SOPHAS and they still haven't received it, so I sent another one on Monday, but I'm worried something is happening in between. Does it normally just take a long time for SOPHAS to process the transcript? At what point should I start to really worry?
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It took about one week for my transcript to be sent and verified. That's strange for yours to be taking so long! Or maybe I'm a special case; I'm not sure.
 
Undergrad School: Public University
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.23
Major/Minor: Public Health
GradGPA (if applicable):
Grad Studies (if applicable):
GRE (including date taken) o
11/20: 152 Q/ 153 V /3 AW (Planning to retake in two weeks)

Experience/Research (please, be brief):

Resident Assistant for 3 years

Research Intern at Health Department

3 month volunteer at Needle Exchange Program

2 month volunteer at breast cancer research study

Office assistant for 3 years

Internship at health department starting next January till May.

2 research articles currently being peer reviewed


Interested in: Infectious DiseaseEpidemiology
Applied: Emory(12/8) , Tulane(12/8), Columbia(12/8), Boston(12/8), George Washington (12/8)
Accepted:
Rejected:
Waitlisted:


SOPHAS hasn’t received the transcripts from the community colleges that I attended during the summer, but two of my references are in. I really hope that does not affect my application considering the fact that the application deadline for GWU is 12/15.

Also, I hope it’s not too late to retake the GREs.
 
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