t_mph

I think this post is great for motivation/inspiration! I am a Public Health major who struggled for various reasons in undergraduate, ended up taking a 3 year break after having been enrolled for 4 years. After returning to school, it took me 1 year (2 summer semesters, fall and spring) to complete my degree. I ended my college career earning a GPA of 3.5 for fall and spring and a 4.0 for the 2 summer semesters. My major GPA was always above a 3.0 regardless of other difficulties I had in school and I was accepted into Eta Sigma Gamma, the national health education honorary. Still, my cumulative GPA was only a 2.65. I took the GRE's and placed in the 91% for verbal, earning a 161..I didn't do too well in math earning a 147. My combined GRE score of 310 left me in a relatively competitive range for MPH applicants. I applied for the Spring 2014 MPH programs at the University of Southern California, George Washington University and the University of Alabama. With great recommendations and a strong personal statement, I have earned admissions to USC and GWU, still waiting to hear back from UAB but 2/3 wouldn't be bad! I think taking a break and performing strong upon my return demonstrated a growth, maturity and ability to work well at a graduate level. My GRE scores and recommendations helped as well. Don't be too discouraged, there are a lot of paths to graduate education!