Should I mention MPH in personal statement?

[medadvicewanted]

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Should I mention that I am accepted into an MPH program through a medical school which I will do during the gap year as part of "continuing education"? I have also taken post-bacc courses which I briefly mention as what I did to raise my academic credentials after graduating due to low GPA

 

[faceplantjae]

Should I mention that I am accepted into an MPH program through a medical school which I will do during the gap year as part of "continuing education"? I have also taken post-bacc courses which I briefly mention as what I did to raise my academic credentials after graduating due to low GPA

I think you need to be careful in this situation. It is a catch 22. I say this because the med school that you are currently doing your MPH, or prospective dental school, might frown upon the fact that you just started this program. This is considered a professional school, and within health care, and might seem to some as competition. Especially, if you are not going to complete the degree. Plus, your current school will not like the fact that you are using them when they could give that spot to someone who is going to complete the program and benefit the local community.

On the other hand, prospective dental schools, will love the fact that you are doing this program. None the less, all of your academic transcripts must be sent to the dental school in your application. So they will know about it and all of your "post-bacc" studies. I think what you need to do is be able to explain why public health and how it pertains to dentistry. If this is what you truly want to do, then complete the degree, then apply to dental school. Then say you want to do public health dentistry and they will eat that up.

But, that is my two cents, and ultimately it is your decision and only you know best what suits your life, education, and future career.

good luck.

 

[jeffity]

This is a one-year program, right? I don't see why they'd care. You'll be done before dental school status. If your grades suck, maybe they'd wonder why you're not going with a science masters. But I don't see how this would be bad. MPH vs DMD/DDS doesn't compare. If anything, it will complement your dental degree.

 

[medadvicewanted]

Yes Jeffity it is a 1 year program so I didn't think it would cause any trouble like the previous person stated. I do plan on finishing the program before starting dental school, not leaving it there. When I mention it in the statement I say that I am doing it to learn more about how public health is involved with all facets of health care, including dentistry and will help immensely in terms of giving back to the community with things such as free dental clinics, etc.

 

[archonsbk]

Instead of just one year, mine is a 2 year long program, which can be accelerated as just one year for medical students, but I am doing it for 2 years while doing research and volunteering for the community. I am starting my Master's in Public Health in this fall and the program is supposed to be done in 2015 Spring and I will be applying for dental schools in 2014 summer so that once I finish my Master's, I can start the dental school in the fall of 2015.

If you are applying for this cycle though, I am wondering whether your grades in the fall for your MPH will be transferred. I thought the interviews usually begin from July to December and you usually get the grades by late December or early January. But I am not an expert though. Good luck!