What should I do?

[shnick23]

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Hey everybody, I am in the need of advice. Public Health has recently become my area of interest and I am now looking into MPH programs. I have a 3.56 GPA, 150V 147Q and little experience. I am looking to apply for next year. However, there is a new program opening that has applications due on July 1, for this fall. How should I proceed these next couple months? Should I focus solely on raising my GRE score or should I try to gain experience in the field (probably volunteering)? Which do you think is more important?

Any advice would be a huge help I am kinda lost at the moment,

Nick

 

[hopefulchanger]

Hey everybody, I am in the need of advice. Public Health has recently become my area of interest and I am now looking into MPH programs. I have a 3.56 GPA, 150V 147Q and little experience. I am looking to apply for next year. However, there is a new program opening that has applications due on July 1, for this fall. How should I proceed these next couple months? Should I focus solely on raising my GRE score or should I try to gain experience in the field (probably volunteering)? Which do you think is more important?

Any advice would be a huge help I am kinda lost at the moment,

Nick

I personally think experience is more important than your GRE score.

 

[ebp]

I'm not sure what percentiles those scores put you in, but it also probably depends on the program you are applying to. An Epi or Biostats program will want a higher quant score, but something in community health might be ok with a lower quant score if you have experience as well. Maybe give a little more on your background and what you are looking to do, so people can give you more tailored advice.

That being said, experience will only help you, and I definitely encourage you to get experience if you don't have much right now.

 

[shnick23]

Well I am more interested in health and human behavior, or community health. I was original a pre-pt so I have volunteer experience in a central processing department, and also an outpatient clinic. I also have some meals on wheels volunteer experience and little things like that, but nothing in the direct field. I should have some good letters of reference, my current employer, the meals on wheels boss, and hopefully a teacher in the program. I am just worried that my GRE score could really hold me back.

Thanks for all your help...

 

[kutmasta]

You have a pretty good GPA. Don't let your GRE scores and lack of experience hold you back from getting into top schools. Study for the GRE during the summer and see if you can get an internship for PH experience while you're at it. It's not necessary to have work experience to get into a program but it certainly helps. A decent-strong GRE score + more work experience will only increase your chances. Wait for the next application phase so you won't be so limited in what schools you apply to. Good luck!

 

[TennisFan013]

If the application isn't due until July you should apply anyway. Is it to start in the fall? Would you be ready? What program are you talking about?

Make sure to speak with someone in admissions to see if they haven't already been filling the program on a rolling basis, and also make sure that your score of 147 wouldn't automatically raise a red flag for admissions. Almost every school says competitive applicants are in the mid-high 150's, and some even say there is a 150 or 50th percentile MINIMUM for admission. It's doubtful that this is the case, but if it is, you could easily retake the gre ASAP. Three points is an easy correction to make, and you have a solid GPA.