Application Components

Completed applications need to be submitted on or before the scheduled deadline. Application materials include:

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants will need to submit letters of recommendation from three (3) individuals familiar with your academic and/or professional work. Letters of recommendation should be submitted online from professional, not commercial, email accounts (e.g. yahoo, hotmail, etc.).

Guidelines & Tips (see more)

• Academic and research abilities: Reference letters should address your academic and research abilities, including your capacity to work independently, as well as your ability to comprehend, digest, and assimilate new knowledge.
• Employment or character reference letters: These are less valuable to the admissions committee unless the employer can address your academic and research abilities.
• Returning to school: If you have been out of school for an extended period, recommenders should include a supervisor or someone with whom you have conducted research - an individual who can touch upon your intellectual abilities and research skills - especially if in the practice of public health.
• Undergraduate dossier service letters: These tend to be vague and general, and often fail to address the potential match between public health and the applicant.
• Inappropriate sources: Reference letters from a peer-colleague, friend, or relative are never appropriate.

Standardized Test Scores: GRE

The Admissions Office requires applicant’s GRE scores, which should be forwarded directly to the School from the Educational Testing Service: (Mailman Public Health Institutional Code 2159; Departmental Code 0616.)

Additional information for applicants (see more)

GRE waivers are seldom granted. However, MCAT, LSAT, or GMAT scores are accepted in lieu of the GRE. You should prepare for the exam. GRE preparation courses, study guides, and Internet materials can help you with the process or methodology of the exam. There are no strict cutoff scores. The average GRE scores of last year’s admitted class were:

	Old Scoring	New Scoring
GRE Verbal	581	157
GRE Quantitative	671	152
GRE Analytical/Writing	4.8	4.8

Standardized tests that evaluate the above areas are preferred. When applicants submit tests that do not measure quantitative ability, however, the Admissions Committee looks to the undergraduate and/or prior graduate transcript(s) for a strong indication of the quantitative ability needed to succeed in your coursework.

Standardized Test Scores for International Students: TOEFL

International students must also submit TOEFL scores. (Mailman Public Health Institutional Code 2159; Departmental Code 50.)

The minimum required TOEFL scores for the different exams are as follows:

Personal Statement

Please submit a 500 word personal statement for the department/program of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the public health field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar.

Some questions you might consider in preparing your personal statement are:

• Why are you particularly interested in the field of public health?
• What interests you in a specific academic department?
• What information about yourself, your transcript, your test scores, your career goals, etc. might help us to better understand and evaluate your admissions application?

CV or Resume

Please send an up-to-date CV/resume that includes:

• Educational degrees
• Employment
• Experiences - especially those related to public health
• Professional skills and accomplishments
• Volunteer activities

Transcripts

Please send official transcripts from each of the colleges and universities you list on your application.

Note:

• The Mailman School has no strict GPA cutoff, though most of our applicants have earned a 3.3 GPA or better.
• Applicants with low undergraduate GPAs may wish to address any reasons for their average as an addendum to the application.
• Request your transcripts early, as it may take many weeks for your college or university to issue and mail these documents.

Writing Sample

Doctoral applicants should include a writing sample of scientific writing, preferably sole author or first authored approximately 2,000-3,000 words (no more than 10-15 pages double spaced). A published article is acceptable only if the student stipulates the nature of their contribution. Please attach the writing sample to your CV.

Please note: If you are having difficulty uploading your document you can send your writing sample to ph-admit@columbia.edu after you submit your application.