newbie, please help!!!

[heyhey20]

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hey everyone!

I was just wondering if you guys could help me out with a few questions...I recnetly graduated from a UC school with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Anthropology with a 2.56 gpa. I've worked as a pharmacy technician for 6 years, voluntered at my school's health education department and I have become very interested in public health. I've done research on the schools and such, but I want some direct help from students that have gone through the application process. I am currently studying for the GRE, but I'm concerned that my gpa will prevent me from getting into an MPH program. Any help advice? Do you know of people with low gpa getting into an MPH program? I would appreciate any feedback.

thanks in advance guys!!

 

[xscpx]

I'm not sure, but I would think your best bet would be to apply to MPH programs that are not research based and are usually for professionals. They tend to be more lenient on requirements. I know my school's MPH is fairly easy to get into (except for epi and biostats)

From their site:
1. An applicant must have one of the following (A, B, or C):

1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
   • “B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student working for a degree, OR
   • “B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper division undergraduate student working for a baccalaureate degree.
2. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a previous graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
3. The equivalent bachelors and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution.

(Note: Undergraduate applicants to the Accelerated Public Health Education MPH program are an exception and must consult the specific department advisor.)

2. All applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam or an equivalent taken within five years preceding application AND must meet the following criteria:

• • MPH applicants must submit minimum GRE scores (defined in the GRE Scores Table below) OR a minimum “B” average (GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale)
  • MSPH and MHA applicants must submit minimum GRE scores (defined in the GRE Scores Table below), AND a minimum “B” average (GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale).

So if you do well on the GRE it could make up for your GPA. Also, if your GPA was higher with only your junior and senior years calculated, that would get you in as well. By what I was told by the councilors there, the MPH at USF is meant primarily for professionals and meant to be a terminal degree. (No thesis required) Because of this they are much more lenient. They also offer weekend and online courses. By what they told me, it would take quite a bit of effort to be rejected. That being said, some of their programs are more difficult ot get into than others. I know that the epi and biostats departments require higher stats than they post and accept far fewer admitants. Some of the other departments have no cap on admissions.

My advice is to figure out what you want to specialize in. If you wanted to do epi or biostats you are going to need to retake some classes and raise your GPA quite a bit. But figure it out and start calling the schools you are interested in. Talk to them. You aren't the only person in such a predicament and they are much more qualified to help you.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Stories]

xscpx is right on the dot.

The only thing I could add to that is: apply to any place you'd be happy living. MPH is not a degree where there's a ton of rejections (unless it's Harvard's Master of Science program in Epi) because it's definitely one of those "high demand" fields. It's also not the most rigorous or difficult program (even in epi or bs).

You never know and there aren't any "real" "hard" cutoffs for GPA and GRE. Just do your best and that's all you can ask for!

PS. Your experience should count for quite a bit.

 

[Coconut Lizard]

I graduated with a 2.85 gpa and got accepted to Emory, Umich, and Columbia.