PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! very important

[sigmablu]

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ok so I have been looking through these forums all day and now I feel like I have no chance in hell of getting into a MPH program. I graduated with a BA in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry. My undergraduate GPA was 2.82 and my GRE was somewhere between 640-680 I don't remember its so bad. I hate standardized test. The only reason my gpa is so low is because I had a lot of family issues through out most of my undergrad. I graduated high school with a 3.8 and had an ACT of 27 college made me feel dumb.

Anyway I have 7 years of pharmaceutical experience 5 years retail, and 2 years clinical. I have a lot of volunteer and community service events under my belt. I also have experience in lots of mentor programs for under represented youth. I have such a strong passion for the public health field. I want to focus on community oriented public health. I hope to someday be a public health specialist at a Health Department or some sort of a public health administrator.

Reading through this forum makes me feel like its not so likely. I was thinking that I could take a year at UMUC (University of Maryland University College) I know is not the best school but I can for sure get into a program there. I can gain some sort of knowledge in healthcare administration and hopefully find work to build up work experience and then apply to the University of Maryland College Park to their public health program the next year.

I know my stats don't prove it but I have such a passion for this field and I don't know what I will do if I can't get my MPH!! I thought about getting a second BA in Public health to help me out and void that 2.82 gpa but I keep hearing that its a waste of time and money and I don't have lots of money.

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME HONEST ADVICE I FEEL SO LOST NOW!!!

 

[sigmablu]

Please someone reply, i need to see the point of view from a person who is already in the program or from someone who struggled but still made it eventually.

 

[LiteBear2011]

Sigmablu,

Take a DEEP breath and relax a little bit. It's going to be tough to get into an MPH program, but you're not looking at impossible quite yet.

The undergraduate GPA is not great, but it's not bad either. It obviously won't be a big selling point in your application portfolio, but you can work around it. I think the biggest thing that helped me (I had a 2.9; and I'm going to the University of Michigan) was that I didn't try to hide it or make excuses (family issues, tough time adjusting, blah blah). I tried to own up to my shortcoming and really focus on something that you seem to have (passion for the field and wanting to return something to the community) when writing my personal statement. This being said, the most important tool you will use is the personal statement. This is where you have to shine and convince AdComms that you're going to shine if they take a chance on you.

As for the GRE, here's my advice. You really need to get a combined score of 1000+. I know it sounds impossible, but I'm big on this "you will find a way to make it happen if you want something bad enough" mantra. I would try and train myself, much like I would prepare for an athletic competition. I have no doubt you can do the math (considering your major and minor). You just need to get comfortable with that. Shoot for maybe a 650+ on the Quantitative section. As for the verbal, I didn't do so great on that (around 500). I don't think you need to be stellar on this section. To prep for this, I read a lot (newspapers, books, magazines) and looked up words I did not know to try and build my vocabulary. Prep books are also good resources for words and practice problems. Take home message: you just need to practice, practice, practice-- this, I feel, will make you feel comfortable and hopefully you won't be too worked up when you actually take the test.

I wouldn't do the second bachelor's in PH; that might be a waste. There are examples of people who have taken some classes at their local SPH and did well in those classes. That to me seems to be the best thing to do, demonstrating that you can handle the academic workload by actually taking graduate level classes. Other people might have more insightful things to say about this.

Your EC experiences will help you sooooo much. You have plenty to write about; I'm sure you have an interesting story to tell. Just let the admissions people know that you have real-world experience and how you think getting an MPH will enable you to change the world. Obviously, be realistic (you aren't God) but really sell yourself.

I personally don't think you have a lost cause on your hands; it'll be tough, but so are all the things worth pursuing in life. I think you just need to do is calm down (not panic), write a stellar personal statement, and shoot for 1000+ on the GRE. You can do this, just believe in yourself a little.

 

[mezmerized7]

Sigma,

YOU WILL BE FINE. In my opinion, doing a second bachelors WOULD BE a waste of time. I think you can start applying and aim high for the GRE. Use a prep book. I don't think you need a class for this. Quantitative isn't bad at all but make sure you study the words for the Verbal. You have a lot of experience outside of the classroom, which I think admission committees for MPH programs value very highly. Where I went, I was maybe one of three or four students who enrolled in the program straight out of college. If you have any other questions, you can PM me.

All the best, work hard and watch things happen.👍

 

[LiteBear2011]

Another thing. Apply early and to many schools to maximize your chances.

 

[umw2010]

also go the few open houses over the summer and talk to them and tell them ur stats and ask them wat they think