lincoln.hawks

Just found this thread. 
I am leading a panel at a conference this month for the first time. It's helpful to see other people felt nervous about it. It's my first noteworthy "academic" accomplishment so I am pretty excited.

It sounds like you are not prior-service military. I don't recommend adding this kind of commitment to your life right now. The recruiter's version of what the Reserves are is probably very different from the real situation. While there is relatively little utilization of Reserve units now, that was not the case 10 years ago. I knew reservists that were getting called up for deployments (3-6 mo training + 12 months+ overseas) every other year. Also do not expect to easily transition from a deployment back into the PhD world. 
I did 4 yr AD and have worked as a mental health professional serving veterans and AD for a dozen years. The military can be a fulfilling experience - my service most certainly was - but I don't recommend adding this to your plate while you are in a PhD program. It adds too much stress and uncertainty to an already busy life.

You guys are courageous AF.  I have physical disabilities that I hide when I can, its hard for me to even write on a damned message board about my struggles with mental health.  I just applied this round after working full-time for nearly a decade.  I became so tunnel visioned that my relationship with my life-partner withered away and broke, then my living situation fell apart, then everything else fell down.  
I'm starting to doubt myself something serious.  Good luck to you on the path!

I would email them and indicate that XYZ school is your first choice, but Peer School offered you more, and ask them if they could match. Note that Columbia just doesn't grant that much financial aid for their MSW.

Columbia has a fairly high acceptance rate and doesn't grant much scholarship/grant funding at all.

Columbia looks better on the resume and will open doors anywhere. If you can afford it, go there. If you really want to live in Denver right now, come on out. If you can wait 2 years, go to Columbia and come on out in 2021. Also, the campuses have very different feels. I'd recommend visiting on accepted students day. 
Factoring in your total student debt is very important. Social Work positions do not pay well, he said stating the obvious. I have multiple friends who are being crushed by their debt which is impacting their decisions across all areas of their life. 

Coming out of lurker status to say that for anyone who was waitlisted/not accepted at JH, it's definitely disappointing, but try again next year! 
Last year I applied and was rejected - it was a major bummer. I spent the next 12 months getting more experience, picking up extra tasks at work to gain demonstrable skills, volunteering outside of work for PH-related organizations, generally beefing up the resume any way I could, and fine tuning my application essay. Re-applied this year and got in, and you can, too!

Thanks for doing this! 
Maybe add something like "Placement: do you see yourself in the type of jobs that their grads are in" either in its own category or under ranking?

Congrats on your admission. So I didn't attempt to publish during my MSW but have hired MSWs for internships as well as real positions. Freshly-minted MSWs are in a tough position when they enter the job market. They don't have a lot of experience or skills, usually, and it is hard to differentiate one from another. Essentially, new MSWs are commodities. In discussions with other managers, we talk about how we make hiring decisions for entry-level positions. We all came to similar conclusions in that we look for indications that the candidate has gone above and beyond. Publications, presentations, serious volunteer work, awards, work experience are some of the indicators that set candidates apart from their peers. 
I recommend any MSW student create a plan before they even start to have a certain amount of extracurricular activities on their schedule. Try to use extracurriculars to craft a trajectory that aligns with professional goals. 
The hardest job for a social worker is her first job. Give yourself options by being an all-star.
Just by asking this question months before the start of your program indicates to me that you have the attitudes that are necessary to be successful. message me if you have any other questions or want to bounce some ideas around.
Be awesome,
 

I would echo @lincoln.hawks and say don't sell yourself short. This season is my first applying to graduate programs and so far I've been accepted to University of Chicago with a 3.14 undergrad GPA (major GPA around 3.5). I graduated from a small lib arts college in 2013 and have no clinical experience, but some experience more tangentially related to social services.
I think my statement of purpose and letters of recommendation were very strong. I also took several post-bacc courses in psychology this year and received all A's; in one course in particular I excelled and received a great rec from the professor.
I was thrilled, and admittedly surprised, to be admitted to UChicago (my top choice). It taught me that GPA is just one factor, and a potentially small one at that. The scholarship they offered me was on the lower end of the spectrum, which makes sense to me. But I am low-income and a first generation college grad, so I'm hoping for some significant need-based aid.
Basically, my undergraduate record does not reflect my current abilities or state of mind, and I think I managed to effectively convey that in my application (not that I directly addressed my GPA). I think I made my personal growth clear to see. I think I am also genuinely a good fit for UChicago's program.
Especially since it sounds like you have some great work experience under your belt, I would not worry, but rather focus on crafting a high quality, sincere statement of purpose.

Colorado LCSW here who worked at a community mental health agency that primarily employed LPCs.
LCSWs are rarer in Colorado and highly-coveted due to Medicare reimbursing for their services. LPCs probably have superior training to be therapists, but social workers have advantages looking for jobs. Many LPCs I know wish they had went for the MSW instead. LCSWs I know that went to expensive private MSW programs generally regret it and counsel prospective MSWs to go to a cheaper state program. I generally agree with that.

I would not recommend spending $1400 a credit hour for an MSW from any school unless cost is not an issue to you are looking to leverage their name in an area where the name is more important than the education. If you were to say, look for a position on a major museum's or foundation's board, a degree from Columbia may help. Social Work just doesn't have the return on investment. 

@K_Anne hi. 
I had to take the GRE since my GPA was low and I would have probably done so anyway as I do well on those assessments. 
I would expect anything about 70th percentile on the GRE would be big points in your favor. Low scores probably wouldn't hurt. 
Social Work programs are generally looking for applicants that will be good social workers, not necessarily those with the highest GPAs. Work experience, commitment to the SW values and mission, maturity, commitment to social justice and service, overcoming personal adversity and learning from it, as well as leadership potential and experience can all be indicators of that. Powerful essays/ personal statements are likely more important than high GPAs since they set you apart from other candidates. 
I'd also recommend tailoring your message to each school as to why their program, not just any MSW, is where you really want to be.
Remember, half of the accepted applicants had GPAs lower than the median. 3.3 is not bad. Don't sell yourself short. Remember that the school is looking for diversity, not cookie-cutter candidates.
Glad to have a conversation, answer specific questions, look over essays. send me a private message if needed
Good luck!

Well, I spoke too soon! Just got an email from USF this morning that I've been "recommended for acceptance"! Now to wait 2 more months for Hopkins...

Doctormelody, glad to hear you are asking these questions before you have accumulated additional debt. 
I had the Post-9/11 GI Bill cover my MSW and living expenses, and for that I am grateful. I had several coworkers at the community mental health agency where I worked who took on loans to complete their MSW on top of the undergrad loans. Sounded like similar numbers to what you describe. They were rather frustrated about their financial situation, even 5 years post graduation. They were under the 10-year income-based repayment plan and couldn't qualify for the Public Service Loan forgiveness, despite working in community mental health. 
Their income did not support their goals like buying a home and having children. We are in Denver, which is a high cost-of-living area, so that may explain part of the problem but not all of it. The income-based repayment plan felt like a trap as they were essentially stuck in jobs that burned them out. They recommended not taking on this debt.

I recommend you do an honest assessment of your financial future before taking on debt for an MSW. Don't expect to get a fantastic scholarship or grant, a high-paying job, or qualify for a special loan forgiveness program. Figure things out based on median salaries, not the high end. New social work grads, and social workers in general, are commodities in the places that highly-educated people want to live. The MSW does not suddenly open a world of high-paying jobs to you and there is tough competition for entry-level social services positions. 
Sorry to be the dark cloud, but I think you need to hear this other perspective. 

Doctormelody, glad to hear you are asking these questions before you have accumulated additional debt. 
I had the Post-9/11 GI Bill cover my MSW and living expenses, and for that I am grateful. I had several coworkers at the community mental health agency where I worked who took on loans to complete their MSW on top of the undergrad loans. Sounded like similar numbers to what you describe. They were rather frustrated about their financial situation, even 5 years post graduation. They were under the 10-year income-based repayment plan and couldn't qualify for the Public Service Loan forgiveness, despite working in community mental health. 
Their income did not support their goals like buying a home and having children. We are in Denver, which is a high cost-of-living area, so that may explain part of the problem but not all of it. The income-based repayment plan felt like a trap as they were essentially stuck in jobs that burned them out. They recommended not taking on this debt.

I recommend you do an honest assessment of your financial future before taking on debt for an MSW. Don't expect to get a fantastic scholarship or grant, a high-paying job, or qualify for a special loan forgiveness program. Figure things out based on median salaries, not the high end. New social work grads, and social workers in general, are commodities in the places that highly-educated people want to live. The MSW does not suddenly open a world of high-paying jobs to you and there is tough competition for entry-level social services positions. 
Sorry to be the dark cloud, but I think you need to hear this other perspective. 

The schools you picked aren't terribly competitive. Emory is the most competitive of those 3, and even then I don't think your GRE score will be the deciding factor for admission. Health behavior isn't a heavily quantitative field. I wouldn't bother taking them again this late in the application cycle.   

1st year DrPH at Colorado. Glad to answer any questions about the Colorado School of Public Health. 

If you completed any JD program, you should be well-prepared for any MSW program in terms of workload. 
You should expect less time and less stress in an MSW program and to get a 4.0. In most of my MSW classes, UMaryland class of 2013, nearly all the students received A's, no curve.
 

I have! I interviewed and received acceptance into the University of Texas right before the break, I'm still waiting to hear back from Washington (PhD) and Colorado School of Public Health. 

As an FYI because someone I know just changed careers because they were denied, only 1% of those who applied for public service loan forgiveness were accepted, so I agree with @lincoln.hawks to not count on any program, etc. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2018/09/24/public-service-loan-forgiveness-rejected/#611c62b61824

Hi Halpy,
2.9 is actually not a terrible GPA. Don't discount your opportunities before looking into them.
I like Theory of A Bug's idea to start with the certificate program. Programs generally don't want to accept students who they aren't certain can be successful in their program. So taking a couple certificate classes will show you can do grad-level work. 
 
It doesn't make any sense to take more undergrad classes if they are not pre-reqs for your desired program.
I also recommend meeting in person with some of the admissions staff of the programs you want to attend and get their honest opinion about what you need to do to be a good candidate for the program. Be able to clearly explain why you need an MPH. Follow-up and stay connected with them to update them on your progress. Everyone appreciates perseverance.
Even if GRE's are not required, a good score can help you overcome poor grades. They aren't fun, but not as tough as people think. Prepare and rock the test.
Really be honest as to why you think you underperformed in undergrad. Once you identify the issue(s), create a plan to overcome it/ them. No excuse to make the same mistakes again. 
--
It is quite possible to succeed after a terrible (which yours is not) undergraduate experience.
I am in my first year of a DrPH program and am proof it can be done.
I struggled with serious mental health problems, and was kind of an a**hole, in undergrad - barely graduated with a 2.27 GPA (bottom 10% of my class and major). Came up with an 8 year plan:
Join the Army, be awesome at it, find a career path, buy a house, meet the woman of my dreams, and complete a Masters program. Worked out quite well. Completed the MSW at a top-25 program, worked a few years more, and applied to the DrPH program in 2017. 
I was not accepted the first time around and the admissions committee gave me specific action steps to complete. Knocked those out. Applied and was accepted this past spring. 
--
Please let me know if I can be of assistance, you want to talk out your plan, or just bounce ideas off of me. 
Be awesome,

Social worker in Denver here and graduate of Umaryland. 
When talking with co-workers who went to DU, no one has said it was worth the cost. While the program is decent, for what it is worth, it is simply too expensive to be worth it. With new grads making $42K or so out of school at a community mental health agency and much less at other nonprofits, there is no way it makes sense to pay $47K per year in tuition. 
If you want to live in Denver, consider Metro State's MSW program. It has a similar reputation and is 1/3 to 1/2 the cost. 

The "MSW" caught my attention. MSW here too: I looked at the Berkeley program and ended up skipping it because the admissions requirements stated MPH or 2 yr of PH experience post-masters. http://sph.berkeley.edu/areas-study/doctor-public-health Hopefully that is your situation.
Best of luck

I echo Emjayco's post. I am transitioning from social work to PH. There are reasons for this and I tried to emphasize this in my application, interview, and conversation with professors. The schools are going to need to know why you are transitioning to PH. I would also recommend taking a multi-year approach. See if you can get advice from faculty members of schools you want to attend and build relationships. 
The advice I received from faculty after I was rejected from the DrPH program at CSPH last year was to take some PH coursework to make sure PH was really the path I wanted to be on. I took 3 classes in the fall and taking 3 this spring. When I reconnected with the faculty members I talked with last year they were very happy that i followed through on their advice. 
Definitely, take some stats/ research courses. 
Good luck