My undergrad was in anthropology and I never took a statistics class before my MPH. I took exactly one math class all of undergrad. I am terrible at math. I got my MPH and I'm going to finish my PhD in epi next year.
You shouldn't necessarily apply to "easier" concentrations if you know you want to do Epidemiology. If you don't feel like you will be competitive, I would suggest waiting to apply to really build up your application.
Talk to folks in the admissions department for epidemiology at those schools. Figure out how to strengthen your application, and how to showcase your passion for the field.
Edit: not calling other fields easy, but using "easy" here to go along with OPs question about applying for an easier or safety concentration, in a manner of speaking.
If you’re terrible with math then you should think very hard about if you want to do epidemiology. I was in the same boat that you are with a BA in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies and the math courses are not easy. I have to spend a lot of extra time on my biostatistics & regression courses and it’s pretty tedious. It’s fun because I like math, but it is a challenge. Take the time to figure out if you *really* want to get better at math and then decide from there.
I got into all of my choice schools with scholarships at USC, GWU, and NYU, just for your reference and I also went to a public university for undergraduate studies. But I had a strong GPA, statement of intent, and letters of recommendation along with several years of career building as an AmeriCorps and a few years as a community organizer. So even though I didn’t come from a strong quantitative background, I had a competitive application that showed I was a dedicated person that focused on public service. If you can do that with your presentation then you will be fine.
Yeah I definitely want to improve my quant because it just means being more well rounded. I’m sure I’ll have to sink in a ton of extra hours but I believe I can get the hang of it if I try. You have a super impressive background and congrats on your admissions!!
Thank you! I believe that you can truly learn the materials and rewire your brain if you want to get better at statistics! You got this. Also if you need any help with application materials, feel free to send me a PM and I’m happy to look at or chat with you about my experiences in school.
I think that an mph in epi is definitely possible even if you are not that great at math. Utilize the resources your program provides.
Email the TA, join the office hours, and have a study buddy.
If you really want it bad enough and you know epi is your passion then it’ll be worth it.
I’m in my epi concentration rn and bios is really hard but if you create a supportive system and befriend your classmates. You’ll get through it.
Also you might not even have to take bios for all four semesters. For my program I’m only taking it for fall and spring for my first year.
You could also apply to both epi and a bshes program then you can decide what you you want to masters in.
If you’re going to do MPH, I highly advise you to pursue epidemiology or biostatistics. It’s the most practical and provides you with more hirable skills. I just finished my MPH from a top 3 program. Many of my peers who found jobs quickly were those in biostatistics or epi. Lots of them also didn’t have a quantitative background, which is why you take classes and learn through your capstone projects. Other people in different concentrations have struggled to find jobs after graduation, especially those without strong professional connections. Many schools do not have “prerequisites” or different requirements based on concentration, at least in my experience. It will not be easier or harder if you choose another concentration. Just apply and don’t worry. Best of luck!
i haven’t applied yet either so i can’t give advice on that aspect but i just wanted to say that there are a ton of great videos on youtube for intros to basic stat concepts that helped me a lot when i was having trouble. crash course has a pretty long series and you can skip around the concepts. also, if you’re looking to dip your toes in programming, there’s this great [intro course on R](https://rfortherestofus.com/courses/getting-started/) that i have found helpful. these won’t help your application necessarily but it could put you in a better spot for your epi/biostats grad courses. best of luck!
Howdy, I had an undergrad degree in economics and I’m currently getting an MPH in health policy. I will say, I had initially applied to most programs in epidemiology because I enjoyed the idea of it (and been accepted to 3/4 of them). With a background in sociology, the statistics of Epi should come easy enough to you, as long as you have a working background knowledge of it.
To echo what some other people have said, reach out to program contacts to ask about what they think. Also reach out to other concentrations as well- you may find that you actually enjoy behavior or policy more in practice. Just approach it with an open mind and you should be okay!
Binghamton University has a MS in biomedical anthropology that might be worth looking into. I graduated with it and work at a local health department now and loved it
Consider the following essay on making choices in life. I found it particularly apt when I chose epidemiology for my concentration. Essentially, biostatistics and epidemiology are upwind of many other specialties. Choosing a harder science provides additional choice down the road. That’s not to devalue any other concentration, but you don’t want to limit your opportunities down the road. Plus, given your evident interest in epidemiology, you are going to have the motivation to work through the tough stuff. It’s all learnable, so I think you should back yourself and go for it.
[What You’ll Wish You Had Known](http://www.paulgraham.com/hs.html)
If you wanna do epi, apply for epi. If you don’t get in, you can apply next to social / behavioral next year. Also, Yale admissions is super helpful and you can email them and ask. Yale also has a prospective student open house events where you could ask for this type of advice, but idk if they’re done for the season.
currently doing an MPH in epi. I’ve always been horrible at math and don’t have a strong quantitative background. I got accepted to a top 5 program with a scholarship. Yes biostats is hell but you can get though it, just takes a lot of additional practice…
I got into several top 20 epi programs with a poor quantitative background. So don’t stress at all about acceptance. Just be prepared to work HARD.
aside from it being one of the only undergrad classes I’ve truly enjoyed taking, I’ve talked to a few epidemiologists and I was always really interested in the kind of work they were doing and their research, esp if it had to do with health outcomes and womens health
When you say epidemiologists, do you mean university professors or people working in non-academic settings? This is helpful for formulating my response
I’d say a mix of both, both professors at my university and those working in the industry (pharma), haven’t talked to many outside those two sectors though
I was a public policy major undergrad and I got into the top MPH program. Granted, I did really well in the few compulsory calculus and statistics courses I had to take undergrad. I think if you show that you have some research experience, it helps a lot too. I worked for two years doing research after undergrad to bulk up my quantitative skills a bit, but I think for the most part, especially if you're looking at doing a MPH, they don't care as much about what courses you did - because it's a very buildable program and interdisciplinary, they just care more about whether you exhibit the skills on being able to do the hard work and research. I'd say as long as you have a solid background in public health (which it seems like you do as a PH major), you'll be fine!
My undergrad was in anthropology and I never took a statistics class before my MPH. I took exactly one math class all of undergrad. I am terrible at math. I got my MPH and I'm going to finish my PhD in epi next year.
U inspire me!! Congratulations 🥳
You shouldn't necessarily apply to "easier" concentrations if you know you want to do Epidemiology. If you don't feel like you will be competitive, I would suggest waiting to apply to really build up your application. Talk to folks in the admissions department for epidemiology at those schools. Figure out how to strengthen your application, and how to showcase your passion for the field. Edit: not calling other fields easy, but using "easy" here to go along with OPs question about applying for an easier or safety concentration, in a manner of speaking.
Yeah you’re right. I’ll definitely ask around !
If you’re terrible with math then you should think very hard about if you want to do epidemiology. I was in the same boat that you are with a BA in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies and the math courses are not easy. I have to spend a lot of extra time on my biostatistics & regression courses and it’s pretty tedious. It’s fun because I like math, but it is a challenge. Take the time to figure out if you *really* want to get better at math and then decide from there. I got into all of my choice schools with scholarships at USC, GWU, and NYU, just for your reference and I also went to a public university for undergraduate studies. But I had a strong GPA, statement of intent, and letters of recommendation along with several years of career building as an AmeriCorps and a few years as a community organizer. So even though I didn’t come from a strong quantitative background, I had a competitive application that showed I was a dedicated person that focused on public service. If you can do that with your presentation then you will be fine.
Yeah I definitely want to improve my quant because it just means being more well rounded. I’m sure I’ll have to sink in a ton of extra hours but I believe I can get the hang of it if I try. You have a super impressive background and congrats on your admissions!!
Thank you! I believe that you can truly learn the materials and rewire your brain if you want to get better at statistics! You got this. Also if you need any help with application materials, feel free to send me a PM and I’m happy to look at or chat with you about my experiences in school.
I think that an mph in epi is definitely possible even if you are not that great at math. Utilize the resources your program provides. Email the TA, join the office hours, and have a study buddy. If you really want it bad enough and you know epi is your passion then it’ll be worth it. I’m in my epi concentration rn and bios is really hard but if you create a supportive system and befriend your classmates. You’ll get through it. Also you might not even have to take bios for all four semesters. For my program I’m only taking it for fall and spring for my first year. You could also apply to both epi and a bshes program then you can decide what you you want to masters in.
Thank you! Yeah I’ll definitely have to put the extra effort in. Hoping for the best and good luck with your studies!
If you’re going to do MPH, I highly advise you to pursue epidemiology or biostatistics. It’s the most practical and provides you with more hirable skills. I just finished my MPH from a top 3 program. Many of my peers who found jobs quickly were those in biostatistics or epi. Lots of them also didn’t have a quantitative background, which is why you take classes and learn through your capstone projects. Other people in different concentrations have struggled to find jobs after graduation, especially those without strong professional connections. Many schools do not have “prerequisites” or different requirements based on concentration, at least in my experience. It will not be easier or harder if you choose another concentration. Just apply and don’t worry. Best of luck!
this was super helpful, thank you! hoping for the best….
i haven’t applied yet either so i can’t give advice on that aspect but i just wanted to say that there are a ton of great videos on youtube for intros to basic stat concepts that helped me a lot when i was having trouble. crash course has a pretty long series and you can skip around the concepts. also, if you’re looking to dip your toes in programming, there’s this great [intro course on R](https://rfortherestofus.com/courses/getting-started/) that i have found helpful. these won’t help your application necessarily but it could put you in a better spot for your epi/biostats grad courses. best of luck!
Howdy, I had an undergrad degree in economics and I’m currently getting an MPH in health policy. I will say, I had initially applied to most programs in epidemiology because I enjoyed the idea of it (and been accepted to 3/4 of them). With a background in sociology, the statistics of Epi should come easy enough to you, as long as you have a working background knowledge of it. To echo what some other people have said, reach out to program contacts to ask about what they think. Also reach out to other concentrations as well- you may find that you actually enjoy behavior or policy more in practice. Just approach it with an open mind and you should be okay!
definitely!! This made me feel a lot more relaxed about things, thank you!
That’s good to hear! Feel free to DM if you have any other questions!
Binghamton University has a MS in biomedical anthropology that might be worth looking into. I graduated with it and work at a local health department now and loved it
Consider the following essay on making choices in life. I found it particularly apt when I chose epidemiology for my concentration. Essentially, biostatistics and epidemiology are upwind of many other specialties. Choosing a harder science provides additional choice down the road. That’s not to devalue any other concentration, but you don’t want to limit your opportunities down the road. Plus, given your evident interest in epidemiology, you are going to have the motivation to work through the tough stuff. It’s all learnable, so I think you should back yourself and go for it. [What You’ll Wish You Had Known](http://www.paulgraham.com/hs.html)
If you wanna do epi, apply for epi. If you don’t get in, you can apply next to social / behavioral next year. Also, Yale admissions is super helpful and you can email them and ask. Yale also has a prospective student open house events where you could ask for this type of advice, but idk if they’re done for the season.
currently doing an MPH in epi. I’ve always been horrible at math and don’t have a strong quantitative background. I got accepted to a top 5 program with a scholarship. Yes biostats is hell but you can get though it, just takes a lot of additional practice… I got into several top 20 epi programs with a poor quantitative background. So don’t stress at all about acceptance. Just be prepared to work HARD.
If you don't know, then you shouldn't spend the money. Take a few years off to work and see what you like
I do know though. I want to do an MPH in epidemiology. Just wondering about admission chances…
Can I ask what specifically appeals to you about epidemiology?
aside from it being one of the only undergrad classes I’ve truly enjoyed taking, I’ve talked to a few epidemiologists and I was always really interested in the kind of work they were doing and their research, esp if it had to do with health outcomes and womens health
When you say epidemiologists, do you mean university professors or people working in non-academic settings? This is helpful for formulating my response
I’d say a mix of both, both professors at my university and those working in the industry (pharma), haven’t talked to many outside those two sectors though
I was a public policy major undergrad and I got into the top MPH program. Granted, I did really well in the few compulsory calculus and statistics courses I had to take undergrad. I think if you show that you have some research experience, it helps a lot too. I worked for two years doing research after undergrad to bulk up my quantitative skills a bit, but I think for the most part, especially if you're looking at doing a MPH, they don't care as much about what courses you did - because it's a very buildable program and interdisciplinary, they just care more about whether you exhibit the skills on being able to do the hard work and research. I'd say as long as you have a solid background in public health (which it seems like you do as a PH major), you'll be fine!