fairyqueen

I have one application submitted. It won't be complete until my recs submit their letters. Everything else is officially in. The application Im working in just needs one more LOR submitted and a photocopy of my official GRE scores (on too of them being sent straight from ets) and it will be ready to submit. I'm nervous. I will be biting my nails for months to come.

I'm glad I didn't say a name in my SOP! I'm still on the fence about having the call made. It just feels wrong, but then my ambition starts whispering in my ear. Lol. Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it.

My GRE is 320. The minimum for one is 290 and the other is 310. I was aiming for 330. I don't know if I want to spend another $200. Luckily, I have a close friend who was an English major and another that works as an editor for a newspaper. I made them edit my SOPs. I tried to highlight the good in my SOP. I even mentioned possible research interest. I really want to study nosocomial infection sources within radiology departments. Trust me. You don't want to know where some of the X-ray cassettes have been. Thanks for the positive thoughts. I'm gonna be worrying until May or later.

I'm applying to 2 different MPH programs in my area. I have sumitted one application. The second school that I havent submitted yet, happens to have employed a close family member. This family member was head of an entire department (undergrad, and graduate). They worked there for many years. In fact, when they retired the school BEGGED them to stay. For years now the university has begged this person to come back. This family member has given me their blessing to mention them, and even offered to call the admissions department and the head of public health. In my SOP for this school I didnt mention the fact that I'm related to this person. I'm having a moral dilemma about whether or not to name drop them. This program doesnt interview. This family member and I have different last names, and there would be no way to connect us if it wasnt mentioned. Would mentioning this relative in my SOP be just giving myself an edge over other applications, or playing dirty. I can't quite bring myself to name drop. My friends are 50/50 in their advice. Maybe strangers can help?

I have a rather unique situation (to me anyway). I went to a big out of state school. Double Science degree (180 credit hours), worked throughout undergrad, did clubs, volunteered and did an internship. I graduated with a horrible gpa. Many factors went into it. Family, Financial, and every other type of problem all at once. I graduated into the economic decline, and of course couldnt find a job because I had "too much hands on experience for an entry level job". I spent a few years making my job hunt my job. I only managed to get jobs not related to my fields. So I went back to school. I decided to go into health care. I did my research and spoke with family in the medical field and decided that x-ray was for me. The only rad tech program near me was a 2 year Associates degree program. I began last Fall. I have realized that to move up within the hierarchy of a radiology department and hospital that I will need a Master's degree. I have maintained a 4.0 in my xray program. I currently have a combined GPA from both BS and AS degree programs of 2.75 (which sucks I know...). I'm class president, SGA president, have a statewide internship, have gotten the last year and a half of school paid for through merit/academic scholarships, and I was chosen to get a trip to Las Vegas for a national conference completely paid for (with a living stipend). I have lead/orgnized multiple philanthropy events for my program. We have done supply drives for domestic abuse shelters to food drives to breast cancer walks. I have spent well over 1000 hours working in urban hospitals which include a Level 1 trauma hospital. I have had exceptional reviews from the hospitals. I took my GRE and got a servicable score. It was higher than both programs that I am applying to require. I have been chosen to be on an advisory panel which meeting each semester with represnetatives from our clinical sites. I was also chosen to meet with SACS representatives when they came for a site visit as part of my college's accreditation renewal process. I have been asked by the head of an EXTREMELEY revered University about an hour and a half away to come talk to their students about all of the awards and accolades that I have received over the last year and a half to encourage them to apply themselves to their field of study outside of the classroom. Is it possible that my work over the past 2 years, although at a 2 year institution, will help make up for my past at a 4 year college? I won many of my awards and positions over students at big name 4 year schools that have great academic reputations. In my SOP I made sure to highlight my national and state recognition in my current field. It at least shows an upward trend, but I'm scared that ad comms will take one look at the school that I have attended over the last 2 years and scoff at me. I am applying for MPH programs with hospital/healtcare management concentration options. I have already submitted one application that is due May 1 2013. My thought being that getting it in 6 months early will make my application stand out (in a good way). I will be submitting the second application in the next couple of weeks. So let me have it. Have I done enough to redeem myself? Or do i have some solid rejections in my future?