NerdyGal25

thank you! yeah the uc schools all have strict deadlines but who knows if i actually even stand a chance? GW is my biggest hope of getting in though-they seem to be more forgiving and look at upward gpa trends.

most of the mph programs I will be applying to have a priority deadline of dec 1st i am taking an extensive load of upper division classes to increase my postbacc gpa-so i can show adcom that i have what it takes academic wise the grades for fall semester wont be up until mid december. so i will have to submit my application with a transcript that shows my classes as pending/in progress if i want to apply by the priority deadline would it be better for me to apply after the priority deadline if it means i can submit my application with a transcript that will have my final grades in? i really do not know how the adcom deals with classes that are pending-and of course i want to maximize my chances. right now my post bac gpa is at a 3.2 and after this semester it can be at a 3.6 (if i continue to do well!) so whats the best option for me? apply priority with application that lists my classes in progress or wait until i get the final grades in?

^i actually did not get in anywhere last year. this will be my second try and (hopefully) i will be getting in somewhere.

^how did you do in your upper div classes? applying to epi track programs requires high math grades. your quant score is decent (better than mine) with that said i will tell you that i applied to GW last year with a 2.7 uGPA for MPH in epi and was rejected. I had experience (although not research based like you) and looking back-I realized that it was not the right public health emphasis for me. Epidemiology is perhaps the most competitive track and I think your best bet is to do either a formal or informal post bacc and show the admission committee you can get good grades. take upper division and graduate classes if you can. i know it can be disheartening to hear that and you can still apply and give it a shot-i did. but in reality chances are slim. so start preparing yourself for the next cycle and signing up for classes to show an upward trend. it's what i did: since last year i have taken 60+ units and have a post bacc gpa of 3.59. thats a huge jump from my undegrad 2.7 gpa. this is the kind of trend you want the admission committee to see (hopefully everything else is intact for you-you seem to have good experience as well as decent GRE scores.) but you can always still apply! the worst thing to happen is you wont get in this time. it wont hurt you nor change your current situation.

^thank you for the links! there are two events/volunteering programs that caught my eye so I will definitely follow up on that i just hope i have a good chance this year. if i get rejected a second time i may have to put my dreams of pursuing an mph on hold and work a full time job

hello everyone longtime lurker, first time poster. some background info: -this fall will be my 2nd attempt at applying for my MPH in social healthcare. the first time was a total shot in the dark with one application sent out (George Washington University) and low stats -between last year and this year i have taken 61 units and managed to do fairly well on top of working a demanding full time job. here are my stats: undergrad gpa (biology): 2.7 post bacc gpa: 3.59 (including: epidemiology, stats, calculus) cumulative: 3.01 GRE: 151V, 150Q (sadly i do not have time with my school load/work to try and retake this) -intern at UCLA dental school (getting a LOR from faculty there) -2 years committee chair member/volunteer for relay for life/american cancer society -employee at an emergency room for 3+ years (the top docs are writing me amazing LORs) -involved in various community service projects/headed many health/science clubs during in college (senior year i really got involved in school) so far i have a handful of schools in mind: UCs (irvine, la, berkley), USC, GWU, BU, Drexel and Columbia. I am trying to focus only on the SOPHAS accredited schools but still try to apply broadly so that i have a shot somewhere- i really limited myself the first time! when i attended the info session at UCLA the officer encouraged me to apply because of my improvement BUT then the officer at UC irvine basically told me they screen applicants by looking at those that have a min 3.0 undergrad gpa. for some reason i was under the impression that all UC schools would follow the same guideline The first time I applied I had amazing LORs which I can get again but my gpa was 2.8 cumulative. Will that 3.0 cum make a difference? -should i start doing cold calls to schools and ask them if their program takes conditional acceptances? i have heard this one or twice but am not too familiar -i also have heard that if you reach out to professors/faculty at your program of interest it could help once they start looking at the apps. although i feel like this is a hit or miss approach it sucks trying to do well and stay motivated when alot of schools base you off of your undergraduate record Any advice/words of wisdom? Any help would be much appreciated! Will send good vibes your way