ageism in mph admissions process?

[determined13]

As an older applicant, am wondering if mph adcomms often tend to view older age as a negative, a positive, or a non-issue? 

 

I certainly know ageism is an issue with PhD prgrams, and wonder if that also is evident in some mph programs. 

 

I have been hoping that my age/life experience will add to a program's diversity in its student body, but since schools may not always see it the same way :-),  want to be able to prepare for that and if need be, countervail that as much as I can. 

 

Thanks in advance for any perspectives on this issue.

[DiamondWheelchair]

While I cannot say for sure, I would assume that most program would love to have an older student with a lot of experience. And, it does make them look good in the diversity department.

[MammaD]

I was 38 when I applied and was accepted. I'll be 40 at graduation in May. There are other older students in my MPH program. I haven't found ageism at all. Even when I went to check out PhD programs, everyone from students to faculty seemed very welcoming.

[determined13]

Thanks very much - that's great to hear, and I appreciate your responses.  It may be more of an issue in other disciplines.

[VBD]

I want to point out that what they really want to see is some experience and passion for the field, which can sometimes be conflated with age. Public health is such a unique interdisciplinary field that people can come from all walks of life (and very different experiences), and I think MPH adcoms look for that. My program had probably 50% or more of the enrolled students as those who were not matriculating straight from undergrad. A good amount of the students were those who took a few years off before trying for MPH's. The oldest in my class was 45, having completed his MD and a private practice but wanted to come back and shift his career, and he was not an outlier. So I would say it's a positive, and you could try to spin it that way on your SOP. Good luck.

Edited January 20, 2013 by VBD

[determined13]

Thanks VBD, that's good feedback, and encouraging to me as I have a huge passion for public health and several years experience as a health educator in my community. That said, I am a very non-traditional candidate in other respects. I am hoping that adcomms will value the importance of having mph students who come from the communities they wish to serve...  Alas nothing to do but wait at this point..

 

Best of luck to you as well in your PhD apps.

[epistudent]

It's important to understand that adcomms are sometimes PhD students.

 

I am at U of T in the MPH and about half the students are FRESH out of undergrad, though this program was touted as being to experienced professionals in the field. I asked a faculty member who explained that a lot of the staff didn't care to sit on the adcomm so they had their PhD's review the applications. PhDs are potentially looking for people like them, fresh out, who they think would be strong students. It was shocking that it's other students who are selecting students to admit, not the staff who appreciate the value of work experience. 

[Post-It Poet]

I'm coming into this topic a bit late, and perhaps you have already gotten some acceptance notices. But I wanted to assure you that being older and having a unique background can work to your advantage if you want it to! I was 32 when I applied to MPH programs. I'm currently finishing my MPH and will be starting a PhD at 34, which seems to be somewhat normal in this area. I know in some fields (hard sciences, math, etc.) youth can be a bit more revered, but I think in Public Health it's different. 

 

I actually have an undergraduate degree in English and an MFA in Creative Writing! I spent my 20s doing everything from journalism to copywriting to editing to marketing to teaching undergraduate literature! In fact, I was 1-1/2 years into a PhD in Literature when I caught the public health bug, dropped out of my PhD program and started looking at MPH programs! I was fortunate that I have strong math skills as well as writing skills, so my GRE scores were strong in qual. and quant. But in addition to that, I have led an interesting life, and was able to spin my life story as an advantage in the public health academic world! I stressed that I am a strong writer (which the sciences always need!), that I worked for 6 months with HIV children in South Africa (during my MFA), that I had volunteer work with homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and a couple VA Hospitals. And I showed that I was (am) 100% dedicated to public health. I think my enthusiasm and excitement for the field comes from having worked in other fields and finally found what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. And it shows. I've had numerous professors from various schools I have interviewed with tell me that my passion for public health is inspiring and motivating. 

 

I guess the bottom line is to sell your strengths. Obviously something brought you to this field. People love an interesting story, so own it! And good luck!

[determined13]

Post-it Poet,

 

Thank you for your comment. I definitely do think my age is an advantage and a strength. To clarify: I have no doubts about my own strengths and my life experiences. Don't feel I really have to spin it even, it stands alone as great work. (That's not to say I didn't struggle and work long and hard on my SOPs, lol !)

 

However, and while I agree there are many people out there who are not swayed by appearance or age, I think there are some that are.  I should note I am about 9 years older than you.  I have had the experience of being an older AmeriCorp and VISTA member in health corps for example, where MDs in the public health field routinely pick younger colleagues than myself for mentoring/internship possibilities. I have seen ageism come into play expressedly and overtly in those circumstances.  A comment I have gotten many times, for example, from several MDs is: You're great, but we want to givve the opporuntiy to someone who is really young and ambitious." Just like that. When I actually have busted my ass twice as much on the job.  It almost seems as if they see the grey hair and you're out of the paradigm of what's comfortable for them.

 

Commenter epistudent above's point that some adcomms want students who are like them, does resonate with me.  I have no doubt that the public health field is much more open than others to diversity, but the medical field (in my experience) seems to have a much narrower outlook, and more tied to a view of a rigid and linear professional trajectory. So that's where I'm coming from.

 

Again, I believe in myself and indeed am proud of my age. I also think it's helpful to identify forms of discrimination in order to dismantle that dynamic, and rise above it.

 

Thank you again for your comment and good luck to you as well!

[jkabo]

I'm 48, with practically no public health experience, and I got accepted into two good public health programs. It probably depends on the program, but I think it's a field that a lot of people go into a little later in life. Good luck!

[Grad15]

I'm 48, with practically no public health experience, and I got accepted into two good public health programs. It probably depends on the program, but I think it's a field that a lot of people go into a little later in life. Good luck!

Refreshing to know...I am an African trained RN who has worked hard and travelled the world to get an education; I aged along the way, but acquired even more interesting and varied healthcare experiences, and my desire to pursue a career in the global public health arena has only gotten stronger. I am very confident about what I can achieve with graduate education, and this year, I made my debut applying to SFU MPH program. @ the back of my mind, I worry that my age may stand in my way- and its refreshing to read this! I plan to go on to a PhD, and really do not want to spend years trying to get into a masters program. Thanks @ Jkabo, you are an inspiration!

Edited March 19, 2013 by UTH90