katethekitcat

I'm also applying for a MPH (MS at a few places). Wow! SOPHAS verified your application fast. Nice I'm applying to: Boston University Jefferson School of Population Health Tulane University of Illinois at Chicago University of Iowa (MS) University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Pittsburg Possibly a PhD afterward, but I want a few years of work experience first. Are you going for epidemiology?

I think it's because they do a bunch of GPA calculations for the school. Once they verified my GPA, it showed up in a bunch of new ways - GPA per year, per major, per upper-level courses, etc. By standardizing it, they save each individual school a LOT of time going through your transcript themselves. It may take 4 weeks on their end, but it means every individual place you apply doesn't have to go through 2,000 transcripts - which might take them eight, nine, ten weeks. SOPHAS has a system and the staff to deal with an influx of transcripts, but individual schools do not. It speeds up the process in the long run. Every person who applies is on a different credit system, different quarter/semester/trimester system, but SOPHAS standardizes that to make it easier to compare applicants. That being said, SOPHAS often made me want to pull my hair out.

Congrats!!! Now I wish I'd applied to JHU just so I would have heard back from somewhere!

No one can predict your chances of getting into a "top" MPH program. So much depends on whether or not you're a good fit for the program in question, who else is applying that year, etc. No one part of your application is going to make or break your chances of admission. Focus most on what you can control - your personal statements, etc. - attend the virtual fairs and reach out to programs you're interested in, and you should be fine. A "top" program isn't as important as finding one that fits your interests. My top choice isn't ranked well nationally overall, but is #1 in its specific (very niche) area. What works best for you is most important, and each school can give you a better idea of if you'll be admitted.

At this time of year, it doesn't. I submitted my application September 14 and actually had it UNsubmitted back to me twice (my college was on a trimester system and it made converting the units AWFUL), and it was verified and mailed by October 7. The 4-6 weeks is during January/February when all the deadlines are and everyone is submitting last minute. Basically, a live person sits down and compares your official transcript to the coursework you entered, so it takes a while.

I would suggest contacting schools that have programs you're interested in. Your profile might be a perfect fit at one school but not meet the requirements for another. Tell them what you're looking for and share your background. They can give you a much better answer to whether or not you're qualified, and, again, the answer will be different for each school.

Yes, this is related to public health. Really, anything can be related to public health - what matters is how you describe the work in your personal application. Even if it's not something directly in the traditional public health field, explain how the ideas and skills relate. You're applying to the field to learn more about it and begin a career; you're not expected to already be proficient, just demonstrate an interest. Solid explanation will go further than any one previous experience.

SOPHAS must actually be starting mailings in October - all of mine were mailed today.

If you want to apply, go for it. It's not about "should I apply," it's about finding a program that fits what you want and will consider your experience and fully-rounded application. A place that automatically eliminates you just because of GPA probably isn't a great environment to get a master's in anyways.

Will you be going to any of their open houses? Just heard from U of Minnesota: they ARE reading applications without SOPHAS mailing them. The epidemiology department begins reviewing on Dec. 1 and takes 6 weeks to decide; the environmental health department did NOT specify a date - maybe they look at them right away?

I'm in that all-I-can-do-is-wait phase, but I'm curious when people are beginning to hear back. SOPHAS application verified October 10 (they un-submitted it twice first, otherwise it would have been done September 15) - however, it looks like they won't begin mailing it until mid-November? Applying to: BU, U of Iowa, Minnesota, Pittsburg, Michigan; Tulane, Yale (all infectious disease/epi programs). Tulane e-mailed me today (10/15) and said they are reviewing my application, but I don't know if other programs look at applications before SOPHAS officially "mails them out." Other timelines? What are people hearing?

This is just my personal opinion, I don't know about UIC specifically, but unless you are already an established, working professional just looking to gain some additional information, online programs are NOT worth the money. They don't demand the same type of effort, "class discussion" is awful and composed of trite, "I-have-to-post-for-credit" posts," and you just finish without a true mastery of the subject. I did an online program at an Ivy-league quality university (a professional certificate, not a master's degree) in medical writing because I didn't want to take the days off work necessary to complete the program in-person; now I wish I had. Online programs are just ways for the university to make money. Just my experience, though, maybe some people have others.