2. How many applications does the School receive? How hard is it to get in?
Last year we received close to 1,400 masters applications and accepted approximately half of a very competitive pool. Criteria for admission include academic records, test scores, work experience, references and personal essays

3. What is required for admission to the Mailman School of Public Health?
A complete application consists of the following: application (online preferably) and fee, 3 letters of recommendation, GRE, 500 word personal statement, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, and resume or CV. Please note that some departments have additional academic pre-requisites and/or minimum work experience requirements.

4. Is work experience required for admission to the School?
Work experience requirements vary among departments. Please view our Minimum Work Requirements for Admissions document (Adobe Acrobat PDF format) for more information.

5. Can I complete an MPH or MS in the evening?
The Department of Sociomedical Sciences offers an Evening Program in Health Promotion/Disease Prevention leading to the MPH degree. The Department of Health Policy Management also offers a part time evening program (COTJ). In other programs of the School courses are offered both during the day and in the evening but it is not possible to take all of the required courses for a degree in the evening alone.

6. Can I transfer in any credits toward the MPH?
Following the successful completion of at least one term of coursework in the School, transfer points from an accredited school may be granted toward M.P.H. degree requirements for graduate courses not counted toward another degree, if determined appropriate to the student's degree program by the student's department. No more than 15 points may be transferred. Core course requirements cannot be fulfilled with transfer points. Students who have taken similar courses elsewhere may either repeat the course(s) at MSPH or take and successfully pass the department's Core Course waiver exam. Successful completion of a Core Course waiver exam exempts students from the course requirement but does not carry course credit or reduce the number of points needed for the degree.

7. What type of undergraduate degree do I need to apply to the School of Public Health?
Because public health is a broad multi-disciplinary field, applicants to the School come from a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs including the social sciences, business sciences, and clinical programs.

8. What about GRE's or other standardized test scores? What test scores do you accept and can I waive test scores?
The Admissions Committee requires evidence of academic strength in verbal, quantitative and analytical areas. We require the (GRE) Graduate Record Examination General Test but will consider GMAT, MCAT, LSAT or DAT. A written request for a waiver of test scores will be reviewed but is only appropriate if your transcripts provide clear evidence of all of these strengths. When reporting GRE scores from ETS, students should use Institutional Code 2159 and Department Code 0616.

9. I took GRE's a long time ago (5 years, 10 years, etc.) Do I have to retake this exam?
The Admissions Committee does not exclude GRE's based on test date. However, the Admissions Committee does reserve the right to ask an applicant to retake the GRE exam.

10. What GPA are you looking for?
The School does not have a formal GPA level requirement. The applicant's strength in relevant coursework is evaluated along with other credentials. However, those offered admission to the School typically have academic records well above average.

11. Do you offer any certificate courses?
No.

12. How long does it take to complete the MPH or MS program?
On a full-time basis, the MPH or MS are typically completed in one-and-a-half to two years. Full and part-time students are expected to complete all program requirements within five years.

13. Can I complete the MPH in one year?
With very few exceptions full time students in the 45 credit MPH program register in a fall, spring and a second fall term. During the summer they may take selected courses and/or carry out practicum requirements. Students who qualify for the General Public Health track usually complete the program in one year (please consult the General Public Health section of the bulletin).

14. I'm a foreign medical school graduate. What do I need to apply?
Foreign medical graduates are required to submit full application and GRE's (Graduate Record Examination) scores - information available through ETS (Educational Testing Service). In addition, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score will be required for all students whose primary studies were not in English.

15. I am an international student. Is there any funding I can apply for?
International students, except those with Permanent Resident status, are not eligible for the traineeship and government loan programs administered by the School and are advised to seek financial aid through their country of citizenship, private foundations, and international agencies.

16. Do you have doctoral programs?
Yes, we have Doctor of Public Health programs (DrPH) in Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management and Sociomedical Sciences. The application for the DrPH is included in the Bulletin of the School of Public Health. The Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent degree is a prerequisite for admission to the DrPH. We also offer the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in collaboration with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences in our Departments of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Sociomedical Sciences. The application for the Ph.D admission is available through the Division or the Graduate School; do not use the application form in the School of Public Health Bulletin. Applicants to the Ph.D program may call (212)854-4737 and may also download a Ph.D application over the WorldWide Web (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/download.html).

17. Can I schedule an appointment to discuss admissions?
If you have questions after reviewing the bulletin, you may call the admissions office regarding the admissions procedure. Be sure to read the Bulletin carefully to see which program is best suited to your academic and professional background, and which program meets your career goals.

18. What about financial aid?
In order to be considered for financial aid, applicants should file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form as early as possible, even before filing an application for admission. This form is available at any US college or university. Applicants may also take advantage of the FAFSA Online which allows students to complete the form electronically.

19. Do you have internships and fellowships I can apply for?
There are a very limited number of Graduate Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships offered through the Departments of the School and are usually filled by students who have already begun the program. Other financial support information is available from the Financial Aid Office.

20. What career services are available?
For a comprehensive look at career services at the Mailman School, please visit the web pages of the Office of Career Services.

21. What is the size of the School? How many students are enrolled?
There are approximately 900 students enrolled in the School. Approximately 80 percent are pursuing the MPH degree.

22. What's the average age of your students?
The median age of students enrolled in the school is 27. The majority of our students have prior professional or graduate training and almost all have prior work experience.

23. I am interested in medicine and public health. Should I do the MPH first or attend medical school?
You may decide to do either depending on your particular needs and goals.

24. Do I have to begin study in the Fall? What about the Spring?
Only the Programs in General Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences offer Spring Admissions.

25. When can I expect to receive a decision on my application?
Most decisions on applications for Fall enrollment are announced six to eight weeks following the Feb 1st deadline.

26. I want to take courses at Columbia that I can transfer back to my own school.
Students in graduate programs at other schools and universities are considered for admission for select courses when space allows. Students must complete the Application Cover Sheet, file the application fee of $60.00, and provide 1) a personal statement indicating course(s), (2) a transcript from their present university indicating they are a student in good standing, 3) a copy of their undergraduate transcript and 4) a letter from their advisor showing approval for the course(s) . Deadlines must be observed in providing the above.

27. I only want to take a course. What do I have to do?
File an admissions application to the School as a "special student" (non-degree), and submit all regularly required supporting documents (GRE scores are not required). You must specifiy in your personal statement which course(s) you are interested in taking. A maximum of 12 credits is allowed as a special student.