Which schools have the lowest admit rate?

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jjright212

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I know Columbia's is very high (close to 70% according to the FAQ on their website). Are all PH schools like that?
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definitely not. harvard has something ridiculous like 5-6% admit rate. unc is about 40%.

it varies from school to school as well as the program/department.
 
where do you guys find these stats? i could only find for university of washington on their website.
 
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I would expect Harvard to be low since it tends to be a final degree institution, and typically rejects anyone without a master's degree or doctorate level degree.

Admit rates of 45%+ are pretty damn high, you must admit.
 
i see thank you
do you know at all about columbia or yale?
 
if you interpret the numbers as simply a percentage, then yes, i'd agree that the admit rate is extremely high, especially when we're used to columbia's 12% undergraduate admittance rate.

however, i think you'd need to consider the fact that graduate school is essentially a self-selection process as well. individuals who apply are typically well-qualified, motivated students to begin with. therefore, there's no reason for schools to have to reject so many students, as opposed to undergraduate schooling, which typically sees a much larger applicant pool - many applying purely for the "name."

that being said, a high admittance rate doesn't mean that the school isn't selective.

for instance, unc and harvard are tied at 2nd best school of publich health according to us news report, yet harvard has a 4.5% admit rate while unc has approx 40% admit rate. harvard attracts a lot more applicants because of its name, and many of these applicants apply blindly.

because unc isn't as well known to the layman, you'd generally see an applicant pool that's more serious about their degree and have done research in their school selection rather than simply checking the designation box next to harvard on SOPHAS. taking that into consideration, those who ARE indeed admitted to harvard are not in any way less or more qualified than those admitted to unc. it's just a matter of less qualified individuals upping the supposed admittance selectivity.
 
That doesn't make sense to me. Most other top grad schools such as B-school, Med school and law school receive way more applicants that would be considered "high achievers" and yet manage to keep their acceptance rate below 10%.

Could it be possible that many PH schools are continuing the trend of many other graduate programs in this country, that are emphasizing increased returns for the school (more tuition) and placing less of an emphasis on creating great public health professionals?
 
jjright212 said:
That doesn't make sense to me. Most other top grad schools such as B-school, Med school and law school receive way more applicants that would be considered "high achievers" and yet manage to keep their acceptance rate below 10%.

Could it be possible that many PH schools are continuing the trend of many other graduate programs in this country, that are emphasizing increased returns for the school (more tuition) and placing less of an emphasis on creating great public health professionals?
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On the other hand, overall I would think public health is a less popular career choice than say medicine or law. Therefore, the high admissions rates may be the product of less applicants and the schools desire to maintain a certain class size. If a given school has 400 applicants, for instance, only admitting 10% would limit that class size to 40 students. I doubt any school could thrive with that number of students, especially when there are five concentrations within the MPH degree.

Just a thought.
 
plus usually those are statistics for the whole school. certain departments might be more or less selective. Some departments require work experience or MD/PhD degrees, limiting the number of people that can even apply. unless they provide recent specific statistics for each department (like unc does) i guess i wouldn't trust them.
 
going off of what bbas said, i think it's not fair to compare public health schools to medical schools, considering the former is a graduate program while the latter is a professional program. my argument about admittance rate not reflecting the quality of the school was meant for varying schools of public health, not an interdisciplinary look at all post-undergraduate schools.

perhaps this doesn't apply to all public health schools, but after talking to the schools that are ranked highly on the us news report, i'm under the impression that they do value quality over profit (e.g. quantity of students who can pay their tuition). the reason for this is graduate schools seem to offer a lot more aid or scholarship than professional schools (heard of that $200k bill after med school?). also, many of these schools have consistently tried to keep their programs small.

ultimately, what i'm trying to say is that the admittance rate should not reflect the quality of the school.
 
FYI, the admit rate is used as part of the formula US News uses to rank institutions and assess their "quality".
 
well that's interesting then. the admittance rate must not be weighted very much considering harvard and unc are ranked the same yet harvard is "more selective" ...

=)
 
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According to Peterson's Guide Harvard is as followed
for the Dep. of Population and International Health in the School of Public Health


Student Population:
67 (42 women); includes 12 minority (3 African Americans, 7 Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 2 Hispanic Americans) 26 international.
Student Statistics:
Average age 30. 146 applicants, 41% accepted, 28 enrolled.


here it says its a 41% acceptance rank which would be in line with UNCs program as well.
 
J. Hopkins Department of International Health General Info


Student Population:
197 full-time (159 women), 7 part-time (4 women); includes 36 minority (4 African Americans, 1 American Indian/Alaskan Native, 25 Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 6 Hispanic Americans), 58 international.
Student Statistics:
Average age 27. 376 applicants, 46% accepted, 68 enrolled.



Harvard's School of Public Health General Info

Student Population:
1,039 (610 women); includes 185 minority (47 African Americans, 5 American Indian/Alaska Native, 101 Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 32 Hispanic Americans) 267 international.
Student Statistics:
Average age 33. 1,644 applicants, 43% accepted, 467 enrolled.
 
GW Department of Global Health General Info


Student Population:
94 full-time (82 women), 87 part-time (69 women); includes 77 minority (35 African Americans, 31 Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 11 Hispanic Americans), 7 international.
Student Statistics:
178 applicants, 81% accepted.


Here it says 81% accepted
 
PH schools have high acceptance rates for multiple reasons which don't necessarily equate to educational quality. First, they receive far fewer applications than B-schools, law schools, or med schools. Taking a cursory look, the average PH school receives anywhere between one hundred to at most a couple thousand applications. Compare this to med schools which receive between a couple thousand to over ten thousand applications a year. PH acceptance rates will be higher due to this fact alone. Secondly, many PH schools are self-selective in their applications. Schools like Harvard, Hopkins, Northwestern, UPenn, among others, require matriculants to already hold an advanced medical degree. By that nature, the applicants themselves would already be prescreened and very competitive. This is not to say that PH schools are extremely difficult to gain admission to, just some perspective when reading deceptively high admissions numbers.
 
Leejwwc said:
Secondly, many PH schools are self-selective in their applications.
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So true - I think this is particularly true with programs in Health Admin/Mgmt. These programs are a lot more competitive than other public health areas because graduate earning potential is a lot better. Name carries a LOT of weight in the business world, and thus getting that Harvard degree carries weight simply because of the name that is attached. So the program you are applying to also makes a difference in how competitive it is to get in.

Interestingly, while most PH schools have female > males, most Admin/Mgmt programs have males > females, so I imagine females applying to these programs have a competitive advantage.
 
Harvard's Department of Health Policy and Management General Info


Student Population:
169 (98 women); includes 28 minority (9 African Americans, 1 American Indian/Alaskan Native, 16 Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 2 Hispanic Americans) 28 international.
Student Statistics:
Average age 35. 224 applicants, 30% accepted, 48 enrolled.
 
Hey johnnyquest2009,

Thanks for the stats. I'm curious though, is this from a book? I went to the Peterson's guide website and couldn't seem to see all this info. Thanks!
 
Reimat said:
Interestingly, while most PH schools have female > males, most Admin/Mgmt programs have males > females, so I imagine females applying to these programs have a competitive advantage.
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Not necessarily. Emory's Department of Health Policy and Management is 81% female. Other HPM departments at schools such as Ohio State have similar numbers as well (70% female).
 
Nope, its from their website. Once you click on a program, you scroll down to Student Outcomes and click on that link. (note though: If you want to just know the whole schools stats search for public health, but if you want to know a certain department, in the search you need to click that instead. So if you wanted to know Harvard's general stats, click on MPH, but if you want to know its International health stats, click on that, the submit the search)
 
johnnyquest2009 said:
Harvard's Department of Health Policy and Management General Info


Student Population:
169 (98 women); includes 28 minority (9 African Americans, 1 American Indian/Alaskan Native, 16 Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 2 Hispanic Americans) 28 international.
Student Statistics:
Average age 35. 224 applicants, 30% accepted, 48 enrolled.
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I couldn't find those stats on the site - but do they list how that breaks down for the different degrees (i.e. how many are doing MPH vs. MS. (80 + 42.5 credit) vs. PhD)?
 
johnnyquest2009 said:
Nope, its from their website. Once you click on a program, you scroll down to Student Outcomes and click on that link. (note though: If you want to just know the whole schools stats search for public health, but if you want to know a certain department, in the search you need to click that instead. So if you wanted to know Harvard's general stats, click on MPH, but if you want to know its International health stats, click on that, the submit the search)
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Wow johnnyquest2009! Thank you so much for that information ... it seemed so elusive until now! 🙂
 
1. Chose a Graduate School Subject Area: Health-Related Prfessions
2. Choose a Graduate School Program: Health Services Management
3. Degree/Award Level: Master's
4. Location: Mass.

This will give you a list of about 20 something schools. Click on Harvard and then on Student Outcomes

I hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the statistics above. I saw Yale's stats for general public health with a 71% admit rate??? That was higher than USC-Columbia, another school that I applied to, that I didn't think would be more difficult to get into than Yale. I couldn't find percentages for Albany. I really don't believe I have a better chance getting into Yale over Albany or USC-Columbia.😕
 
amers said:
Thanks for the statistics above. I saw Yale's stats for general public health with a 71% admit rate??? That was higher than USC-Columbia, another school that I applied to, that I didn't think would be more difficult to get into than Yale. I couldn't find percentages for Albany. I really don't believe I have a better chance getting into Yale over Albany or USC-Columbia.😕
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I'm not sure what Yale is ranked, but i know they don't have a very good public health school. Just because the name is good, doesn't mean the program is
 
Yale is ranked 14th


1. Johns Hopkins University (MD) 4.9
2. Harvard University (MA) 4.7
University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill 4.7
4. University of Washington 4.5
5. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor 4.2
6. Columbia University (NY) 3.9
7. University of California--Berkeley 3.7
University of California--Los Angeles 3.7
9. Emory University (GA) 3.6
10. University of Minnesota--Twin Cities 3.5
11. University of Pittsburgh 3.4
12. University of Texas--Houston Health Sciences Center 3.2
13. Boston University 3.1
Yale University (CT) 3.1
15. University of Alabama--Birmingham 3.0
16. Tulane University (LA) 2.9
University of Illinois--Chicago 2.9
18. St. Louis University 2.5
University of Iowa 2.5
University of Massachusetts--Amherst 2.5
University of South Carolina 2.5
 
johnnyquest2009 said:
1. Chose a Graduate School Subject Area: Health-Related Prfessions
2. Choose a Graduate School Program: Health Services Management
3. Degree/Award Level: Master's
4. Location: Mass.

This will give you a list of about 20 something schools. Click on Harvard and then on Student Outcomes

I hope this helps.
Click to expand...


That did help! Thanks for sharing that website. I can't believe I never stumbled upon it before.
 
All kinds of data from Schools of Public Health are available from ASPH in their Annual Data Report: http://www.asph.org/UserFiles/Data Report.2006.pdf

It includes acceptance rates, male/female ratios, number in each department, etc.

Drexel has the lowest acceptance rate, at 29.6% (mainly cause their program is pretty small), then Berkeley at 36.6%.
 
Does anyone know if/how Harvard's summer MPH programs may differ from the data (seems to be based on fall enrollment, which is for full-time students)?
 
WantAnMPH said:
All kinds of data from Schools of Public Health are available from ASPH in their Annual Data Report: http://www.asph.org/UserFiles/Data Report.2006.pdf

It includes acceptance rates, male/female ratios, number in each department, etc.

Drexel has the lowest acceptance rate, at 29.6% (mainly cause their program is pretty small), then Berkeley at 36.6%.
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That's also very heplful. Thank you.
 
thanx a lot for the acc. percentages posts!!!!

I am applying for MPH in feb. is that really dumb i guess? r my chances really low? any schools suggestions?
 
There are quite a few schools that are still accepting applications for the Fall 2008 class, so you could be okay...Tulane and GWU are just two that I can think of off the top of my head. However, if you are a competetive applicant and are interested in some of the schools whose cycles have already closed, you might not want to sell yourself short by applying with really limited options. Instead, you might consider waiting till Spring or next Fall....food for thought.
 
rajju077 said:
i am applying in Feb as well
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really?! where r u applying? and do u know what concen. are harder to get in?

I have a good gpa w/ ok gre 1100 and lots of experience in health care (2yrs), any thoughts?
 
Dunaneer, thanx!

I have pretty good app. gre 1100, 3.6 with 2yrs of experience, so I will go ahead and apply b/c to tell u the truth I am sick of working in mundane jobs!

I love MPH just want to pick a area that has good job market, what do u think? also anyone know of where to get help for personal statement for MPH?
 
para said:
Dunaneer, thanx!

I have pretty good app. gre 1100, 3.6 with 2yrs of experience, so I will go ahead and apply b/c to tell u the truth I am sick of working in mundane jobs!

I love MPH just want to pick a area that has good job market, what do u think? also anyone know of where to get help for personal statement for MPH?
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for my own personal statement help, i bought this book, i forget the name right now cuz im at work, but it had alot of great examples of PS that people wrote for admittance into ivy league med schools, law schools, and different types of grad schools. some PS were really heartfelt and sad and some were humorous and generally interesting. and it wasnt expensive at all.
 
snoofle said:
for my own personal statement help, i bought this book, i forget the name right now cuz im at work, but it had alot of great examples of PS that people wrote for admittance into ivy league med schools, law schools, and different types of grad schools. some PS were really heartfelt and sad and some were humorous and generally interesting. and it wasnt expensive at all.
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really, thanx, if u can please let me know the name.
 
  • Drexel : ROLLING ADMISSION
  • Saint Louis : 1st July 2008
  • Loma Linda : MPH : 9/15/2008
  • Texas A&M : 1ST MARCH 2008
  • Tulane : 15th APRIL 2008 (MHA); MPH: Rolling
  • SUNY-Albany : 1st APRIL 2008
  • University of Texas--Houston Health Sciences Center : 15th March 2008
You could apply to these programs still, they have late deadlines and are all ranked decent. I'd still say that you apply asap, its tedious,the application process and especially tough if you are working full time.

I've 2 years work ex too and I know what you mean by mundane jobs! Good Luck!

 
Yup there are some good schools that are beyond th 1st feb deadline.
I am a international Medical Graduate, so i guess that count for a little experience in health care, infact major experience i might say. I am applying to MPH : Epidemiology track, because i am most interested in Research activities apart from being a general physician. And i have a experience in Research in 2 years as well.
 
Kang said:
  • Drexel : ROLLING ADMISSION
  • Saint Louis : 1st July 2008
  • Loma Linda : MPH : 9/15/2008
  • Texas A&M : 1ST MARCH 2008
  • Tulane : 15th APRIL 2008 (MHA); MPH: Rolling
  • SUNY-Albany : 1st APRIL 2008
  • University of Texas--Houston Health Sciences Center : 15th March 2008
You could apply to these programs still, they have late deadlines and are all ranked decent. I'd still say that you apply asap, its tedious,the application process and especially tough if you are working full time.

I've 2 years work ex too and I know what you mean by mundane jobs! Good Luck!
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lol THANK YOU Kang!! ya w/ bach. in bio, dumb-butt jobs are so unfair--the pay especially. THe Houston one has passed I am pretty sure though... and does anyone know if LomaLinda is biased w/ religion b/c that's what I heard for med school there?
 
Anyone heard of the good and/or bad of NYMC,Florida schools,UNT ? thanks
 
para said:
lol THANK YOU Kang!! ya w/ bach. in bio, dumb-butt jobs are so unfair--the pay especially. THe Houston one has passed I am pretty sure though... and does anyone know if LomaLinda is biased w/ religion b/c that's what I heard for med school there?
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LOL I know!! I got really worried one day thinking I wont get in anywhere so I looked up on all schools I cud apply to after I've receiving all my rejections!! I am totally the reservoir of loser information, ask me more! 😛

You should look at places with rolling admissions, they take in applications till a whole lot later. Minnesota/Michigan/Cornell all have late deadlines too. Try them if you wish! No idea on LomaLinda..why would they be biased with religion tho?
 
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