MPH MCAT and or GRE

[SphinxPhysician]

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CAn you apply to any MPH program with just your MCAT score? Or do you have to take the GRE?

 

[HrvatskiDoktor]

U of Minnesota and U of Michigan want GRE's.


One the bright side, if you've already take the MCAT, you'll barely have to study for the GRE and you'll rock it!!!

 

[Jolie South]

oh i don't know. i did it before i even considered med school, so i had the gre.

you might want to check the websites of the specific schools that you're interested in.

also, i would think submitting an mcat score instead of the gre would be a red flag that you might be using the public health graduate program as a means to improve your app for med school. there is no reason to ever take the mcat as someone interested in a career in public health.

 

[HrvatskiDoktor]

also, i would think submitting an mcat score instead of the gre would be a red flag that you might be using the public health graduate program as a means to improve your app for med school. there is no reason to ever take the mcat as someone interested in a career in public health.

Your point about the MCAT is true (although if you have already taken it most schools require you to report it). However, in my experience Public health schools LOVE getting doctors into their programs. If they get them before medical school, then they will become doctors who will hopefully practice using PH principles. There is also the research aspect...more PH researchers out there, the better soceity will be as a whole. So, I don't think that taking the MCAT will be a red flag for any PH school.

On a personal note, my letter of interest for my applications talked a lot about how my plans to go medical school led me down the public health path. And I know that my experiences in PH have made all of the difference in my 2 acceptances to med school so far!

Good Luck!

 

[MDRus]

your post hurts my eyes and ears.

 

[Jolie South]

Your point about the MCAT is true (although if you have already taken it most schools require you to report it). However, in my experience Public health schools LOVE getting doctors into their programs. If they get them before medical school, then they will become doctors who will hopefully practice using PH principles. There is also the research aspect...more PH researchers out there, the better soceity will be as a whole. So, I don't think that taking the MCAT will be a red flag for any PH school.

I think we absolutely need MDs in the public health world, but I think it would be more useful to do it concurrently or following the basic science years so that you could weave your MD knowledge in with what you are learning.

I did an MSPH in tropical medicine and then went into the field. If I had it to do over again, I would get more experience first then take the courses. I think I would have gotten a lot more out of the classes. (experience then MPH vs. MPH then experience)

There are also courses that I couldn't take advantage of because I didn't have clinical skills/knowledge. For instance, clinical management of the diseases that I studied. Now, I will have to go back and take more courses to get a tropical medicine certificate.

 

[Vihsadas]

U of Minnesota and U of Michigan want GRE's.


One the bright side, if you've already take the MCAT, you'll barely have to study for the GRE and you'll rock it!!!

That's not really true...
I mean don't get me wrong, the GRE is EASY, but you have to learn some new vocabulary and review your highschool math/geometry

 

[Mbekweni]

To apply directly to the MPH program you will need to take the GRE. For some MD/MPH programs you can apply directly to the med school with just the MCAT. I don't think schools would mind if you've taken the MCAT, but you will of course need to fullfil the basic requirements for the application.

I think that the MPH is a wonderful degree to have, and can lead to some amazing experiences. I'd highly recommend it. As for whether you should do an MPH before or after clinical experience...I'm not really sure. I've done mine before and have gotten a lot out of it. It's definitely helped with my med school applications, and has set up a course of research and volunteer projects that I'll continue to work with for a long time to come.

 

[Jolie South]

To apply directly to the MPH program you will need to take the GRE. For some MD/MPH programs you can apply directly to the med school with just the MCAT. I don't think schools would mind if you've taken the MCAT, but you will of course need to fullfil the basic requirements for the application.

I think that the MPH is a wonderful degree to have, and can lead to some amazing experiences. I'd highly recommend it. As for whether you should do an MPH before or after clinical experience...I'm not really sure. I've done mine before and have gotten a lot out of it. It's definitely helped with my med school applications, and has set up a course of research and volunteer projects that I'll continue to work with for a long time to come.

You can definitely use it without the MD, but the I'm just saying that at the time everything would have seemed more applicable if I'd had the experience and seen the effects/social conditions of the diseases that I had studied. I also would have known what particular classes within the different disciplines of public health to take to better do the work that interested me (i.e. project design, medical management of tropical diseases such as malaria, community health). My interests are less focused on stuff that you can do without an MD. I guess it depends on looking at what you are doing.

What interested me most during my Peace Corps service was trainings for healthcare professionals on correct protocols for malaria management as well as teaching them how to educate the public on prevention/early treatment.

 

[ashbrant]

U of Minnesota and U of Michigan want GRE's.

I was accepted to U Michigan's MPH program with only MCAT scores. And, my MCAT wasn't very good at the time (only 27P the first time I took it). I completed the HBHE program in April. I'm not sure if the other programs (Epi, HMP, etc.) require GREs.

 

[dally1025]

I was thinking applying to MPH programs last year and all of them said I could just submit my MCAT scores as long as I had a high score. I then asked what was considered a 'high score' and they told me a 26... So call before you spend the time and money on the GRE.

 

[martin41]

FYI: I got into Iowa's program with MCAT scores and no previous PH experience, never took the GRE.

 

[Nokternal7]

However, in my experience Public health schools LOVE getting doctors into their programs. If they get them before medical school, then they will become doctors who will hopefully practice using PH principles.

I feel that the public health community looks down upon MPH students who want to go into medicine. I'm not exactly sure why, but thats the feeling I got from both students and professors. Maybe they feel that you're using your MPH as a stepping stone into medical school. Unfortunately, they don't realize that an MPH won't make up for a low gpa or mcat score. Just my 2 cents.

 

[justabear]

hi, i'm also looking to do an mph program (starting this spring, 1.5 year program) before applying to med school during the next cycle. for everyone who also took this "path", do you think it matters what school you get your mph from? I've applied to texas a&m, bu, pitt, and gwu. any recommendations or advice? thanks! 🙂

 

[Psychotropic]

It is definitely possible to get into an MPH program with just the MCAT, without being a dual degree MD/MPH student. It just depends on the program. Believe me; I've done it. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[HrvatskiDoktor]

hi, i'm also looking to do an mph program (starting this spring, 1.5 year program) before applying to med school during the next cycle. for everyone who also took this "path", do you think it matters what school you get your mph from? I've applied to texas a&m, bu, pitt, and gwu. any recommendations or advice? thanks! 🙂

I don't think that it matters at all. If you get into all of them, pick the program that will best fit your MPH aspirations. I picked the MCH/Epi program at Minnesota based on the faculty, classes I could take and opportunities in women's health. Everything at Michigan was more research oriented than application oriented. Obivously, I love and respect research, but wanted the MPH for the applications rather than being a researcher.

Good luck with your decisions!

 

[LoveBeatles]

I think the rule of thumb is that you need the GREs

but many schools take the MCAT in lieu of them (just call and ask; I went to Columbia Mailman's open house, and they accept the MCAT)

*the MPH degree is indeed a wonderful degree to have (especially for doctors interested integrating observed health trends in hospitals into health policies..or even international health)