Can anyone shed some insight into what the Public Health major application is like? It opens up really soon and I want to know what to expect.
I am interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science, does the course requirement for science classes mean you have to fulfill the entire sequence? Or do you just need two classes? Originally I thought I wanted the BA, but within the past few weeks I’m realizing my intentions after undergrad require a more extensive science background.
I also am curious about the major, and just how competitive it is to get in (because I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about many qualified students facing rejection).
Hi there, I graduated last year with a different major and earned a BA. Initially applied for public health the spring quarter of my junior year but I got rejected. I think it really did come down to volunteer/experience in the public health field as well as GPA. Public health became competitive over the years and I would say spring quarters are the most competitive and fall quarter being a little easier but I don’t know how true that is. I would say do the best that you can with your grades in the prereq classes and get experiences that will make you stand out in your essay. Good luck.
Hi! I was recently admitted to the SPH this past Winter, and just started my first SPH class this Autumn. The application is fairly straightforward. They require a personal statement, which is geared towards why you want to major in public health and what you can contribute.
You do not need to take ALL the science classes. Just choose two, two-year long sequences from the list (Biology Series/Organic Chemistry Series OR Organic Chemistry Series/PHYS 114/115/116/…)
The major has become very competitive over the past few years. The BA program is competitive, but the BS program is VERY competitive. I personally know a handful of more than qualified applicants who were rejected to BS, but were offered admission to the BA program.
Personally, I think that the personal statement is what separates the admitted from those who are not admitted. The personal statement allows you to make yourself unique. It provides a platform for you to separate yourself and present something new to the major. Use the personal statement to your advantage.
During orientation, we were told that the acceptance rate was about 49% (About 370-80 applicants and 170-180 admitted).
Good Luck
GO DAWGS
MY STATS:
Admitted to Public Health BA Winter 2015
GPA: 3.5
Major GPA: 3.9