Not much work experience??

[honeybadger11]

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Hi everyone,

I'm planning on applying to public health schools for behavioral/community health this fall. My concern is that I have very minimal experience working or volunteering in public health (mostly because I'm applying right out of undergrad- I'll be a senior this fall).

Do you think this will greatly impede my chances of getting in to the top schools? I have leadership, work, and volunteering experience that are social justice related but not specifically public health.

Thanks so much!!! (sorry if this belongs in another thread...this is my first post here so I wasn't sure.)

 

[deleted462159]

Try to spin your experience as best you could or discuss what it taught you, how it motivated you to pursue the field, etc. I don't know what your social justice experiences entail, but I think most can be framed in a community-related context (albeit not directly related to health). Since you still have a year (or at least a few months til applications), you can also start volunteering at a community health center, etc. In my opinion though, you should be fine.

 

[honeybadger11]

thanks!! By social justice I meant my experience as an RA and an internship in Japan working with people with disabilities. I've also volunteered at a hospital and served on the board for an organization that promotes healthy eyesight. I don't really have time to get a position somewhere before I apply since I'm looking to be accepted for 2013, but I think I should be able to spin what I have now in a public health way. 🙂 🙂

 

[egg12]

It partially depends on what you consider a top school and your other stats. I don't think the work experience will be a problem at all and you can explain how what you've learned will apply to your field in your personal statement.

I got in to all of the schools I applied to for epi straight out of undergrad this past year and would consider my relevant work experience minimal. I worked in optometrist's office as an assistant and I was lucky enough to get a public health internship through my university at the state health dept (this was after I submitted my apps). I sent out an email to the schools I applied to letting them know about the updates, so it may not be too late for you to get some experience depending on the opportunities that are available to you (which I know can be scarce for undergrads).

Good luck!

 

[honeybadger11]

Thanks for the advice! I know that the very top schools like johns hopkins, unc, harvard require a few years of work experience, so I don't think I'm going to even apply to those. My gpa is pretty good I think (3.5), and my gre should be alright (but I haven't taken it yet), so fingers crossed! I would really like to go to Michigan (where I currently attend undergrad) or Columbia. 😀

 

[EpiWin]

Thanks for the advice! I know that the very top schools like johns hopkins, unc, harvard require a few years of work experience, so I don't think I'm going to even apply to those. My gpa is pretty good I think (3.5), and my gre should be alright (but I haven't taken it yet), so fingers crossed! I would really like to go to Michigan (where I currently attend undergrad) or Columbia. 😀

Each of those schools you list (JHU, UNC, Harvard) has a masters (M.S. M.S.P.H., etc.) program that is identical in scope and curricula to MPH programs elsewhere. It might be worthwhile to look into those and see if they match your interests!

 

[2013MPH2013]

Hi,
I don't think it really matters. Most of the people in my program came right from undergrad or had one or two years experience (not even public health related). If you are going to a program that is heavy into research versus an applied program, it matters even less. They are more interested in your potential to be a superior student and personal motiviation. I think one of the differences is your GRE scores and grades are less important if you have work experience because they can evaluate you on factors other than scores, etc. That is just my observation though.
Good luck!

 

[honeybadger11]

thanks! that helps a lot 🙂