syl.tutu

I did make the deadline to UCLA but only 3 hours before it was due so close call! Good news is that I just got an acceptance letter today from UCLA. I really thought it was long shot but really happy I applied anyways. I would encourage you to apply @biscuitbitty - I had to do my own research for a minor but I got in contact with professors afterwards asking them if I could be a part of their projects. I came at a good time too because they hired me for a semester. Most of them are happy to get free assistance and you do learn a lot from them!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT! People can be such downers telling the rest of us that we don't have a high chance. The top-ranked schools are overated and I have no interests in competing with people whose lives revolve around the value of prestige rather than meaningful goals in life.

Thanks for your advice! I wouldn't say my GPA is horrible as it's above minimum for the schools applying (and above the average in some) but it's not as competitive as I like it to be. I pretty much gave up my GRE score. I'm well too far into the application process to wait another year but as you said, my profile would defintely be improved if I did. I'm applying to these programs for their curriculum, structures and how appropriate they are for where I want to go with my career. They all have great training and research background so I wouldn't mind ending up with any one of them. I can't deny that the top schools have their perks but the rest aren't too shabby either. If this isn't my year then you'll see me again in 2016

It's that time again! Just want to start a thread where we can share the nervewrecking experience. I'm currently applying for an MPH to UCLA, University of Minnesota, University of Colorado Denver, UMass Amherst, Oregon State, UI Chicago, University of South Florida. A little discouraged due to my low GPA and VERY low GRE but I have extensive experience here and there locally and globally. Also, I'm coming straight from undergrad with public health background. The statement of purpose is still in the work with the 1st deadline coming up very soon so I don't know how strong it's going to be in the admission panel's perspective. I've just been bombarded with school, research, and a job of which I hope will pay off because they are all public health related. Anyone going through similar experience?? I'd like to hear

Holy smokes!! My first apps are due December 1st but I haven't submitted mine yet because I need a little more time to tweak over things as well as finzalizing my personal statements. If it takes up to 4 weeks to verified then I am officially screwed...I saw some words of reassurance up there that late November is alright but doesn't that mean I'll be submitting my apps later than Dec 1st aka priority deadline?

Thank you The research/field experience really get to me as I'm approaching my senior year and have yet to have any. I tend to suck at SOP too so we'll see how that goes. Good luck on your endeavors!

Thank you! This sounds very comforting. I'm just worried that my lack of research and work experience make it difficult if my stats aren't high rocket

Any advice on these stats? I just realize I have a quite low major/cumulative GPA to be competitive but I'm not applying until next year so I'm spending another year raising them, right now this is a realistic number by the time I'm done Cumulative GPA: 3.5 Major GPA (Public Health): 3.3-3.4 Minor (International studies) GPA: 3.892 Going to take the GRE but I'm not the greatest test-taker so most of my test scores will probably average or a little lower than average. I have a lot of international experience which is nice for my emphasis of global health in MPH but they're all quite short since they're over breaks (sustainability studying abroad in ecuador 2 wks, summer youth coordinator for HIV/AIDS non-profit in vietnam 2 months, volunteer for clean water installation/education in honduras 1 week, teacher assistant of cambodian orphanage where I taught english and healthy living 1 month). I have also volunteered with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life for 4 years, currently a volunteer for Social Advocates for Youth to do community outreach for the Affordable Care Act and hopefully gain an internship next semester. I hold president/vice president positions for 2 of the organizations I'm involved on campus which are affiliated with public health. I have a lot of volunteer work under my belt aside from those listed but not much of other professioral work/experience so I'm a little concerned if the admission people would decide to accept me as an applicant. I do have a research porfolio from my minor but that was just a mock research done in 2 countries so I'm afraid it has little significance. Planning to apply to Tulane, UI Chicago, UCLA for now but will look into more programs. Mainly going for community health sciences and programs planning/implementation. PLEASE HELP!!!

Thank you! Well Tulane has the perfect program for my interests but I might be switching to UIC as my priority school since it doesn't seem like I can afford Tulane tuition. Coming from California so I can't afford the out of state tuition of a public school, let alone private.

Not applying until next semester but can someone give me an idea of how Tulane is with their acceptance rate? Really want to go to their global health development program but at the same time don't want to get my hopes up too high...