applying for MPH-odds NOT in my favor again?

[NerdyGal25]

hello everyone

 

longtime lurker, first time poster.

 

some background info:

-this fall will be my 2nd attempt at applying for my MPH in social healthcare. the first time was a total shot in the dark with one application sent out (George Washington University) and low stats

-between last year and this year i have taken 61 units  and managed to do fairly well on top of working a demanding full time job.

 

here are my stats:

undergrad gpa (biology): 2.7

post bacc gpa: 3.59 (including: epidemiology, stats, calculus)

cumulative: 3.01

 

GRE: 151V, 150Q (sadly i do not have time with my school load/work to try and retake this)

 

-intern at UCLA dental school (getting a LOR from faculty there) 

-2 years committee chair member/volunteer for relay for life/american cancer society

-employee at an emergency room for 3+ years (the top docs are writing me amazing LORs)

-involved in various community service projects/headed many health/science clubs during in college (senior year i really got involved in school)

 

so far i have a handful of schools in mind: UCs (irvine, la, berkley), USC, GWU, BU, Drexel and Columbia. I am trying to focus only on the SOPHAS accredited schools but still try to apply broadly so that i have a shot somewhere- i really limited myself the first time!

 

when i attended the info session at UCLA the officer encouraged me to apply because of my improvement BUT then the officer at UC irvine basically told me they screen applicants by looking at those that have a min 3.0 undergrad gpa. for some reason i was under the impression that all UC schools would follow the same guideline 

 

The first time I applied I had amazing LORs which I can get again but my gpa was 2.8 cumulative. Will that 3.0 cum make a difference? 

 

-should i start doing cold calls to schools and ask them if their program takes conditional acceptances? i have heard this one or twice but am not too familiar 

-i also have heard that if you reach out to professors/faculty at your program of interest it could help once they start looking at the apps. although i feel like this is a hit or miss approach

 

it sucks trying to do well and stay motivated when alot of schools base you off of your undergraduate record  

 

Any advice/words of wisdom?

 

Any help would be much appreciated! Will send good vibes your way 

Edited September 2, 2013 by NerdyGal25

[juilletmercredi]

Don't calculuate a GPA combining your undergrad GPA and post-bacc - that's not a cumulative GPA, really.  cGPA usually refers to the cumulative GPA of your undergrad years, including both major and non-major/elective courses.  cGPA doesn't include post-graduate work.  Leave them separate.  Your GRE scores are average.

I think your mistake last year was only applying to one school.  Your undergrad cGPA is rather low, but your post-bacc GPA makes up for it and you have a variety of health-related experience.  I think that you need to write your personal statement to emphasize that you know the difference between public health and clinical health, because a lot of your experience is clinical health related, and talk about why your background is a logical progression to wanting to be in public health.  It would help if you could retake your GRE to get an above-average score to also sort of mitigate the low undergrad GPA.

[NerdyGal25]

Don't calculuate a GPA combining your undergrad GPA and post-bacc - that's not a cumulative GPA, really.  cGPA usually refers to the cumulative GPA of your undergrad years, including both major and non-major/elective courses.  cGPA doesn't include post-graduate work.  Leave them separate.  Your GRE scores are average.

I think your mistake last year was only applying to one school.  Your undergrad cGPA is rather low, but your post-bacc GPA makes up for it and you have a variety of health-related experience.  I think that you need to write your personal statement to emphasize that you know the difference between public health and clinical health, because a lot of your experience is clinical health related, and talk about why your background is a logical progression to wanting to be in public health.  It would help if you could retake your GRE to get an above-average score to also sort of mitigate the low undergrad GPA.

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applying to one school was probably the biggest mistake. with that said-i still want to go to GW. ive been there and just love the DC area and abundance of research programs. same goes for UCLA which would be significantly cheaper and very close to where I live.

 

I am trying to get a volunteering gig at this free health clinic-its open once a week at a local church and run by  a group of docs (head lady is an MPH person)

would this count as public health experience?

 

i was told the same thing-ie too much clinical experience, not enough "public health" but i am running out of time and seem to have no luck in finding an internship/community oriented program

Edited September 2, 2013 by NerdyGal25

[MsDarjeeling]

Not sure where you have been searching for volunteer public health opportunities, but you could also try:

 

volunteermatch.org

volunteerlosangeles.org

voa.org

idealist.org

laworks.org

[NerdyGal25]

^thank you for the links!

 

there are two events/volunteering programs that caught my eye so I will definitely follow up on that

 

i just hope i have a good chance this year. if i get rejected a second time i may have to put my dreams of pursuing an mph on hold and work a full time job

[MsDarjeeling]

i just hope i have a good chance this year. if i get rejected a second time i may have to put my dreams of pursuing an mph on hold and work a full time job

 

I think instead of thinking of the possibility of putting your dreams on hold you should be creating a solid back up plan.  I was having similar feelings a few months ago.... what if I don't get in again, what if I'm waitlisted and don't get picked, what if I'm picked and don't get funding, what if.....  Horrible.  So I made a list of things I could do to boost my application and stay connected to my field to apply for the following year.  I keep adding to the list as new ideas emerge and its kind of like a security blanket.  I may not need it, but I sleep better knowing its there. 

 

I don't see any reason you can't do the same thing.  If full time work will be necessary perhaps you'll be able to work in your intended field.  Maybe 2 part time jobs in your field to equal full time will work out.  Or maybe your best option will be a full time job out of your field, but it'll allow for volunteer and research projects.  At least with a back up plan you'll still be trying to go after your dream and not giving up.