Hopeful MPH applicant

[sak91]

I want to apply for my MPH for Fall 2014, but my undergrad GPA is well---pretty horrendous. I need to know what my chances are and if it's even worth applying. 

 

Applying for: MPH in Epidemiology

GPA: 2.5 from a competitive private university. Bachelors in Health Science. Yes, I know it's low but I have a reason for it which includes a car accident that my family was involved in. Should I explain this on my application?

 

I plan on taking at least two graduate courses during this year off---biostatistics and epidemiology. Hoping I will get As in both. How much will this help?

 

GRE: 153 V and 158 Q 

 

Experience:

-Research in a Physiology/cell bio lab for 1.5 years doing cancer related research. My name will be on the publication.

-Working as a clinical research assistant this year in the Division of Epidemiology working on a couple of different projects.

-Other volunteer/service work including a trip to India where I volunteered at a clinic in a village.

 

Do I stand a chance at the following schools? BU, Drexel, GW, Tufts, UMass Amherst. Should I think of applying elsewhere?

[NerdyGal25]

^how did you do in your upper div classes? applying to epi track programs requires high math grades. your quant score is decent (better than mine)

 

with that said i will tell you that i applied to GW last year with a 2.7 uGPA for MPH in epi and was rejected. I had experience (although not research based like you) and looking back-I realized that it was not the right public health emphasis for me. 

 

Epidemiology is perhaps the most competitive track and I think your best bet is to do either a formal or informal post bacc and show the admission committee you can get good grades. take upper division and graduate classes if you can. i know it can be disheartening to hear that and you can still apply and give it a shot-i did. but in reality chances are slim. so start preparing yourself for the next cycle and signing up for classes to show an upward trend. it's what i did: since last year i have taken 60+ units and have a post bacc gpa of 3.59. thats a huge jump from my undegrad 2.7 gpa. this is the kind of trend you want the admission committee to see (hopefully everything else is intact for you-you seem to have good experience as well as decent GRE scores.) 

 

but you can always still apply! the worst thing to happen is you wont get in this time. it wont hurt you nor change your current situation. 

Edited September 4, 2013 by NerdyGal25

[sak91]

My last three semesters I got mainly As and Bs. This is because I switched majors in the middle of my junior year. I was on a pre-med track and then I switched to health science which is mainly public health courses. The bad grades are in all the pre-med classes (orgo, physics, biochem, etc.). 

[sak91]

Also did you get in anywhere else just out of curiosity?

[NerdyGal25]

^i actually did not get in anywhere last year. this will be my second try and (hopefully) i will be getting in somewhere. 

[juilletmercredi]

Quant score is a little low for epidemiology, but if you have a decent math background then it shouldn't be much if an issue.  It will be if you have little to no math, though.  For epi, you should have at least calculus I and a statistics course; having 2 semesters of calculus and linear algebra will make you more competitive.

You say your name "will be" on the publication - is it likely to be published (or at least submitted) by the application deadline?  If not, then it doesn't hold any weight.  Taking those graduate classes will help if you do well.  You may even want to take more (3-4) in interim years between now and your app.

We can't tell you your chances.   But to improve your likelihood of getting in, you need to put some distance between you and that undergraduate GPA.  Assuming that you just graduated in May 2013, one year may not be enough - you may need 2-3 years off, and some full-time work experience, to offset the effect of the 2.5 - particularly at Boston U, GWU and maybe Drexel (higher-ranked SPHs).