International student profile

[erickven]

Hi. I'm a Physician from Venezuela. I'm pretty interested in MPH (global health, latin american studies, behavioral, social and community sciences). I'm next to attend University of Florida to take an intensive English course for 3 months (currently I'm intermediate) and I wonder what's the academic profile that International Students usually have to apply to Public Health Schools.. I've done a lot of searching regarding universities admission request, in my case I have a GPA 3.45, my university is a Top in Venezuela, I have two years of professional medical practice, neither research nor volunteer experience, letters from profesors in my university and hopefully soon a high TOEFL score. In regard to GRE, I am thinking to apply no-GRE required universities to spare as much time and money as possible, but I am insecure about if it is the best choice for me. Likewise I've thought in apply to a Public Health Certification ( Postbaccalaureate studies) in the University of Florida because the application requeriments are few, the credit hours (15 in total) can be transfered into the MPH and it would make my application more competitive.

The chaotic situation in my country is making me insane about time and money. I'm very hurry to get into the MPH because here we're permanently in a uncertain future so I need a lot of opinions about what desicion I must take.

Thank you!

[niihla08]

Hi. I'm a Physician from Venezuela. I'm pretty interested in MPH (global health, latin american studies, behavioral, social and community sciences). I'm next to attend University of Florida to take an intensive English course for 3 months (currently I'm intermediate) and I wonder what's the academic profile that International Students usually have to apply to Public Health Schools.. I've done a lot of searching regarding universities admission request, in my case I have a GPA 3.45, my university is a Top in Venezuela, I have two years of professional medical practice, neither research nor volunteer experience, letters from profesors in my university and hopefully soon a high TOEFL score. In regard to GRE, I am thinking to apply no-GRE required universities to spare as much time and money as possible, but I am insecure about if it is the best choice for me. Likewise I've thought in apply to a Public Health Certification ( Postbaccalaureate studies) in the University of Florida because the application requeriments are few, the credit hours (15 in total) can be transfered into the MPH and it would make my application more competitive.

The chaotic situation in my country is making me insane about time and money. I'm very hurry to get into the MPH because here we're permanently in a uncertain future so I need a lot of opinions about what desicion I must take.

Thank you!

I'm sure you won't have a problem getting in with your background!  Are you trying to apply for this fall? If so, it's probably past the deadline. I think University of Southern California's deadline isn't until June though.

If you wait a year, I'm sure you could get into many of the top programs. I would recommend Johns Hopkins MPH 11-month program. About half of the class is physicians and a third are from overseas. I don't think you'd have a problem getting in. 

Everything that is going on in Venezuela seems insane, I hope you are safe! I understand you want to leave fast so probably waiting til next fall may not be an option. Look into Tulane and George Washington as well, I think both their deadlines are April 15

[erickven]

Thanks for your reply @caffeinated . I'm thinking to apply next year because I don't have my University documents ready yet. Meanwhile I'm asking for advice as much as possible.Venezuela is in a bad bad state right now, I'm very afraid of all but I must wait a little longer. 

 

Thank you so much for your time!

Best regards!

Edited April 10, 2014 by erickven