Should you apply for an MPH right after completing your Bachelors?

[Jesepi]

Hello everyone,

 

 

I have been battling whether to apply for an MPH or not after finishing my Bachelors in May 2014. After studying abroad this past fall semester, I realized I'm behind in the application process especially not having taken my GRE's yet and just arriving back in the US yesterday. I am wondering if anyone could offer advice on whether to apply this upcoming cycle (so most applications are due January or February 2014 for the upcoming fall semester) or if I should wait to apply one semester later so Spring or just next year Fall 2015.

 

A little background: I'm an Epidemiology major and have taken many graduate epidemiology courses. I am not intimated by going to graduate school and am excited to further my education. I have had some work experience but nothing directly related to epidemiology courses (broadly public health and medicine). I am open to applying for jobs in the health care field to gain experience.

 

I have always expected to go to graduate school right after I completed my Bachelors degree but more and more, people are suggesting I take at least a year off to gain experience and to have time to dedicate to my GRE studies. 

Any perspective is appreciated especially those in Public Health who may have taken a gap year.

 

Thank you!

Jes

 

[juilletmercredi]

I'm in public health.

 

Even if you were well-prepared I would say no.  Most MPH programs value some experience in their applications; even more so, they value you bringing experience to shape your classroom experiences and lessons.  My own SPH requires at least 2 years of experience for almost all of our MPH pograms.

 

But given that you just returned in mid-December and that you hadn't already prepared, I would say definitely no.  Most deadlines are going to be in January and early February; that means from this point, you only have 4 weeks to prepare a list, get recommendation letters, write a statement of purpose, take your GREs...you need more time.

 

I would prepare to take 1-2 years off.  Since you have a bachelor's in epidemiology, you may be able to get a job as an entry-level biostatistician (most epidemiologist jobs require a master's, but plenty of people are prepared to hire biostatisticians with bachelor's degrees only).  Or you may find a job at a health-related research firm that hires BS holders - for example, Mathematica Policy Research.