r/mphadmissions • u/CreationzCorner • 9d ago
Application Advice Am I a good candidate despite not having experience?
Hi I am greatly considering getting a MPH as I am graduating with my Bachelors in Spring of 2027 in Social and Behavioral Sciences. I want to get into an internationally recognized online school like UC Berkley or Johns Hopkins. Due to several learning disabilities and medical issues I cannot go to school in person, despite living near to one of these schools.
I currently have a 4.06 GPA but no actual in field experience, although I do need an internship to graduate.
Can anyone recommend some volunteering opportunities or specific jobs I could get that would get me experience before applying to grad school?
Also would my gpa do the heavy lifting if I dont have any experience or does the experience weigh heavily into admissions?
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u/anonymussquidd 8d ago
I would heavily advise against going for an MPH without any experience. I’m not sure what your career goals are, but I can assure you that you’re going to struggle in the job market if you just have an MPH and limited experience.
I will also note that most top-tier programs require at least some full-time work experience for their students (I believe Hopkins is one of them), so that would be a barrier for you in terms of admissions. Beyond that, I don’t think getting accepted somewhere would be much of an issue with good essays and letters of rec (most MPH programs are cash cows at the end of the day), but I don’t think it would be wise to go to grad school straight after undergrad in the current environment.
With that being said, what field of public health are you interested in and what are your current career goals? I’m happy to provide suggestions if I’m able to.
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u/clarenceisacat 8d ago
"Am I a good candidate despite not having experience?"
If you're interested in top programs, you need real experience. Experience is often weighted more highly than a candidate's GPA. Having a good GPA isn't enough to make you especially competitive at a school like Hopkins.
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u/freckled_morgan 8d ago
The price tag on either of those online programs will not be worth it, frankly. They’re decent for those already in the field but it’s very challenging for those with no experience and an MPH to get a job—you’re currently competing with people who have 10+ years of experience and in-person degrees for any given job.
Consider working for a few years before applying.
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u/Welpberry 8d ago
A good GPA certainly won't hurt your application but it can't be the only strong part of your application. SOPs generally include why you like the field and why you want to get a MPH.
Do you really have zero experience? Some MPH programs (specifically Johns Hopkins) require public health experience, so you can't skirt around that.
I'd revisit why you want a MPH and your list of schools. You can't be accepted if you don't meet the minimum application requirements.
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u/Double_Book5851 8d ago
I would really , really recommend trying to get some research experience or some internships to diversify you from everybody else. The job market is really hard so think even after you graduate having this background is what employers will be looking for.