LOW GPA MPH Potential?

Graduate School
1

<p>I am graduating from a top 100 University with a pretty low GPA 2.5/2.6/2.7 (unsure), but it will definitely not be a 3.0. Anyways, I transferred to my university and had a hard time adjusting, which took a toll on my GPA. Then I switched majors to something I absolutely hated (Elm. Ed). My grades are all over the place, A's in social courses and C-F in math/science base courses. My SENIOR year I switched my major to public health and I love IT! Only problem is that I FAILED "pre-med" Bio my first time around...when I re-took it I got an A! But- my school doesn't drop the grades of the classes you re-take, so the F is still on there. My last year and a half of school has pretty good grades A/B...except the F. I know I want to apply for my MPH and I don't want to go to a bad school! I'm a smart kid, I just had a rough experience at my school which really effected my GPA. </p>

<p>I'm thinking about applying to GWU for a MPH. I would REALLY like to go there or somewhere in that range, like a top 30 school....BU would be great. </p>

<p>I have a lot of non-profit/community health experience and I have interned for the past four years with big name non-profits for health such as Autism Speaks and Playworks! I am a hard worker but it doesn't show in my GPA. I am really passionate about working in the community health/public health field. I have GREAT grades in all of my Comm. Health courses. (A/B)</p>

<p>I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I'm going to take it after I finish a GRE course (probably around October). I'm hoping to do well on all sections to make up for my GPA. I'm hoping my scores will be AT LEAST 650 verbal and 750 quantitative. I'm not worried about the writing. </p>

<p>Anyways, My biggest question is how hard will it be fore me to make up for my LOW GPA? I'm a greater interviewer and I'm honestly really motivated but it just doesn't show in my GPA. What can I do? What are my chances of getting into a top 30 program?</p>

<p>Help!</p>

2

<p>If you have professional public health experience, that matters quite a bit, especially to lower-ranked MPH programs than GPA. </p>

<p>Work on your GRE scores, write fantastic essays, get great recommendations and you should have no problem getting in to GWU.</p>

3

<p>Professional programs do care more about professional experience than your GPA, but coming right out of undergrad your GPA is still pretty important. Try to get a high GRE score (your scores won’t be 650/750 because they changed the scoring; it’s now on a 130-170 scale) and really emphasize your community health experience in your statement. You may also want to include a reference about how you really hit your stride once you changed your major to public health, and emphasize an upward trend in your grades. I also agree that you should try to get great recommendations - really strong ones that speak highly of your ability and your passions.</p>

<p>MPH admissions are actually pretty liberal, with even top 5 programs like Columbia and Emory admitting 40-50% of applicants.</p>

<p>A 2.5-2.7 may still be a bit low for their tastes, though, so I would also prepare to work for 2-3 years in public health and try to reapply after that. GWU is a top 20 program, it’s not exactly “lower-ranked.” So I wouldn’t say that you’ll have “no problem” getting in with a 2.5, but you still may be able to.</p>

4

<p>Wow, I totally misread the OP and thought that his experience was coming post-bacc. In that case, I definitely second juillet’s advice. It also helps you to further hone in on exactly what kind of public health program you’re looking at.</p>