Betsey Asher, Admissions Officer/Recruiter
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Kerri Noonan, Associate Director of Admissions
Harvard School of Public Health
Taryn Callahan, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Events
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Melissa Gilmore, Assistant Director of Admissions
Yale School of Public Health
Columbia
Harvard
Hopkins
Yale
Founded
1921
1922
1916
1915
Location
New York, NY
Columbia University
Medical Center
Campus
Boston, MA
Longwood Medical
Campus of Harvard
University
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins
University Medical
Campus
New Haven, CT
Yale Medical School
Campus
Enrollment
1110
1028
2056
215
“Public Health is the science of protecting and improving the
health of communities through education, promotion of healthy
lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention. Public
health professionals analyze the effect on health of genetics,
personal choice and the environment in order to develop programs
that protect the health of your family and community.”
Resource: www.whatispublichealth.org
“Public Health”
VS
“Medicine”
Population
Individual
Prevention
Disease
Health Promotion
Treatment
 Disaster Preparedness
 Early testing/screening
 Cancer Research
 H1N1
 Biostatistics - Estimating the number of deaths from gun violence or looking at trends in drunk driving injuries by using math and
science is the study of biostatistics. Forecasting scenarios, identifying health trends within the community, explaining biological
phenomena, as well as determining the causes of disease and injury, biostatistics are an integral part of public health.
 Epidemiology - When food poisoning or an influenza outbreak attacks a community, the "disease detectives" or epidemiologists are
asked to investigate the cause of disease and control its spread. Epidemiologists do fieldwork to determine what causes disease or
injury, what the risks are, who is at risk, and how to prevent further incidences.
 Environmental Health Sciences - The air we breathe; the water we drink; the complex interactions between human genetics and our
surroundings. Environmental health studies the impact of our surroundings on our health.
 Health Administration - Managing the database at a school clinic; developing budgets for a health department; creating polices for
health insurance companies; and directing hospital services all depend on health administrators. The field of health services
administration combines politics, business, and science in managing the human and fiscal resources needed to deliver effective public
health services.
 Behavioral Sciences/Health Education - Stopping the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes and HIV/AIDS;
helping youth recognize the dangers of binge drinking; and promoting seatbelt use. Behavioral Science/Health Education focuses on
ways that encourage people to make healthy choices.
Resource: www.whatispublichealth.org
Columbia
Harvard
Hopkins
Yale
Biostatistics
Biostatistics
Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology
Biostatistics
Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Health
Biostatistics
Environmental Health Sciences
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
Environmental Health Sciences
Epidemiology of Microbial
Diseases
General Public Health
Genetics and Complex Diseases
Epidemiology
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Health Policy & Management
Global Health and Population
Health, Behavior & Society
Health Policy
Population & Family Health
Health Policy and Management
Health Policy and Management
Health Management
Sociomedical Sciences
Immunology and Infectious
Diseases
International Health
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Part Time MPH in Health Policy
& Management
Nutrition
Mental Health
Advanced Professional M.P.H.
in six concentration areas
Executive MPH in Health Care
Management
Society, Human Development
and Health
Molecular Microbiology &
Immunology
Global Health Concentration
Global Health & other tracks
available within several depts.
Master of Public Health
Program
(seven concentrations)
Population, Family &
Reproductive Health
Regulatory Affairs Track
 Do your research
 CEPH accreditation
 Private vs. Public
 Research Centers and Affiliations
 Size of the Institution
 “If you’ve seen one school, you’ve seen one
school.”
 Personalized Statement of Purpose - Why you are applying and how do your
research interests “fit” with that particular area of study at that institution?
 Official Transcripts - Transcripts will be required from ALL courses taken at any
institution – this will include summer and non-degree coursework
 Standardized Test Scores - Take the exam as early as possible.
 Letters of Recommendation – Your recommender should be able to speak to your
academic and research abilities, know your past experience and future goals, and provide
examples of your unique qualities.
 Experience – Work, volunteer, and life experience relays your understanding of and
commitment to the profession.
 Application Deadlines - Vary from school to school and degree to degree
Columbia
Harvard
Hopkins
Yale
Degrees
Offered
MPH, MS, PhD, DrPH,
SM (42.5, 60 & 80-cr),
MPH, MOH, SD, DPH,
(PhD)
MPH, MHS, MHA, ScM,
PhD, DrPH, ScD
MPH, MS, PhD
Deadlines
December 15/ DrPH, PhD
December 1 / MPH, MS
Dec. 15 (all)
Varies upon degree and
department
January 15th / MPH
December 15th / MS, PhD
Application
Online application & $60
fee, all transcripts, three
recommendation letters,
resume or CV, personal
statement & test scores
No application fee,
SOPHAS application (and
fee) required, all
transcripts, three letters of
rec. (preferred online),
resume or CV, personal
statement and test scores
Online application & $45
fee, all transcripts, three
letters of recommendation
(preferred online),
resume or CV, personal
statement and test scores
www.sophas.org
School specific questions
on SOPHAS
Test Scores
Required
GRE (GMAT, MCAT,
LSAT or DAT may be
substituted at Admission
Committee’s discretion)
GRE - HSPH code 3456
(MCAT if MD or in med
school; GMAT if MBA;
LSAT if JD, in 3rd yr of
law school or in HLS;
DAT if DDS or DMD)
GRE, GMAT, MCAT
(Varies upon Degree and
Department)
JHSPH code: 5352
GRE/GMAT – code 3975
MCAT – code
“SOPHAS”
LSAT if Yale JD/MPH
Experience
Preferred and required by
some programs
Preferred and required by
some programs
Preferred and required by
some programs
Preferred and required by
some programs
Work
Volunteer
Life
Relays your understanding of public health
 Community service
 Paid or unpaid it should demonstrate leadership, direction and
commitment to the public health profession
 Working on issues of health promotion and prevention
 Research in public health related field
 Shadowing or working with public health professionals
 Working for a non-profit involved in public health advocacy
 Local health department, accredited school of public health or
other agency
www.jhsph.edu/admissions
mailman.columbia.edu/experience
• From the Admissions page, click “Apply Online”
• Bookmark/Save Logon Information
• Online: Statement of Goals, CV & Letters of
Recommendation
• Self-Service – Log back in to check application status
Employment can be found in a variety of areas, including:
 Aging population
 Behavior-related disorders
 Bioterrorism
 Chronic diseases
 Hazardous chemical & physical agents
 Health of the impoverished and disadvantaged
 Maternal & child health
 New infectious disease
 Toxic wastes
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www.whatispublichealth.org
www.asph.org
www.apha.org (Free day at APHA)
www.ajph.org
www.publichealthjobs.net
www.explorehealthcareers.org
www.pathwaystopublichealth.org
Career Office Websites
• Complete the institution’s financial aid application
• FAFSA – Request PIN early at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Know the school code
•
Columbia:
002707
Harvard:
E00214
Hopkins:
E00234
Have a copy of your taxes for 2010
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Federal vs. Institutional Aid
Merit vs. Need Aid
Apply early (01/01/2011)
Check application deadlines and form requirements
Yale:
001426
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www.explorehealthcareers.org
www.pathwaystopublichealth.org
www.pdsoros.org
www.aauw.org
www.lgbtheart.org
www.tylenol.com
www.mailman.columbia.edu
ph-admit@columbia.edu
(212) 342-5127
www.hsph.harvard.edu
admissions@hsph.harvard.edu
(617) 432-1031
www.jhsph.edu
admiss@jhsph.edu
(410) 614-5056
publichealth.yale.edu
ysph.admissions@yale.edu
(203) 785-2844