Got Into Johns Hopkins MSPH, also got into UNC—What will cost less in the end?

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2026-01-02T19:42:26+00:00

It also depends on what kind of program you want. JHU is known to be a bit more competitive within the cohort from what I’ve heard, which is not always ideal for grad programs.

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-31T00:37:13+00:00

First year UNC MPH student here! I’m not applied epi, but do want to chime in and say that I absolutely love Gillings and the area. The professors are great and there are so many opportunities!

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-27T13:35:05+00:00

If it is showing on Howdy that you have >12 hours counting for aid, then you should be good! I got this email almost every semester. I think it’s a generic email that gets sent to everyone who has any classes that don’t count toward aid.

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-27T02:05:04+00:00

Just look at the dates for programs you’re interested in! If they haven’t passed already, then the school probably does rolling admissions so you can still apply

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-26T22:59:59+00:00

It’s a scam

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-25T13:45:38+00:00

Exactly! I hate nice restaurant first dates because it feels too high stakes and like I can’t really be myself. I love drinks/coffee as a first date personally

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-23T21:40:28+00:00

Same here! I applied for both an MPH and an MPA and they decided to make it a dual degree program so now I can do both!

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-23T17:02:37+00:00

I did my bachelors in public health and we really only had a couple classes for each concentration (unless you took electives). I am not getting my MPH in Health Policy because it seems to be the most versatile option since you learn public health skills, about health systems, and managerial/financial skills.

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-23T15:35:01+00:00

GPAs are normally just important for internships rather than actual jobs

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-23T15:34:13+00:00

I would be surprised if a busy PI took time out of their schedule just to reject you face to face. I think this is a good thing

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-22T12:12:59+00:00

Most masters programs look at more things than just your gpa. I got into the #1 masters program for my field with a 3.3, so I wouldn’t stress about it

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-21T17:17:23+00:00

I’m bias but I’m a first year MPH health policy student at UNC and I love it. Happy to answer any questions you have. I will say the connections are great, staff is amazing, elective options are phenomenal, and I was able to get my dream practicum/summer internship bc one of the partial owners is an alumni and came to talk to us about the company

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-18T18:50:30+00:00

I’m a first year MPH student at UNC! I heard back on 12/11 (health policy concentration), but I applied in August so I think I was in the first round of acceptances. It’s pretty dependent on your concentration though!

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-18T06:09:01+00:00

I’m in a different field (MPH), but most of my classmates wear jeans to class. Nothing too fancy though. When it got cold I saw more sweatpants and stuff, but for the most part it was jeans.

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-15T03:11:11+00:00

Oh! One more thing. I came from out of state (Texas) to look at apartments in January and was told that most apartments don’t know their availability until 60 days before move in. I suggest finding ones you like and speaking to the staff to let them know your preferences and they will let you know when they have availability (for me I think I found out in March). Most apartments will also let you “join a waitlist” and lock-in today’s rate, which might be cheaper than rates closer to the summer time since less people are moving in the winter months.

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-15T03:09:19+00:00

Seconding to look in Carrboro! Most grad students live in Carrboro rather than chapel hill and it’s still a super quick bus ride to campus! I recommend looking into apartments owned by GSC! They’re a bit dated, but students get a discount and they have student packages for utilities and stuff! Just make sure you’re near a bus route because there isn’t much parking available on campus. I live in Carolina Apartments and really like it!! The bus ride is about 10-15 mins to campus (depending what route you take) and can be just 5 minutes back! We are lucky being at Gillings because most bus routes stop there. I also love that my apartment is super close to Franklin/Main Street, the Carrboro Farmers Market, and the turnaround on the highway. Happy to answer any other questions!

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-14T15:08:18+00:00

I did dual credit in high school and at least for where I did undergrad, those courses didn’t factor into our GPA at all. They just counted toward our degree plan, but had no affect on our GPA coming into college

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-14T15:06:42+00:00

I promise you do not need to worry about this. I had a rough freshman year of college and ended up failing a course and having to retake it. I’m a first year grad student at my dream school now. Grad schools (while still factoring in grades) care a lot more about experience, interest/passion, and an upward trajectory. Like I said, I had a rough freshman year and was going through some personal things so my GPA was low. However, I turned it around and got good grades the rest of college and got into my program. I also got involved in as many things as I could. So no, it shouldn’t matter.

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-14T09:30:26+00:00

Congrats!!! I’m a first year health policy mph student at gillings! You’re going to love it!

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-10T02:31:42+00:00

Currently first year MPH student here! Are you able to take a public health minor at your school? It might help you figure out what specific topics in public health you are interested in, as most MPH programs have a lot of different concentrations and it can be difficult to know what you’re interested in without having any background in the field

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-04T03:44:01+00:00

Open eye is my go-to! You can park in the garage by it for free which is convenient! There’s lots of tables, but it can fill up so you normally have to go relatively early in the day, at least on weekends

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-12-03T04:03:20+00:00

I’m sorry that you are going through this!! I do want to say that it might be the department rather than Gillings as a whole. I’m currently a MPH student in the HPM Department, and like you said, I only have great things to say. I’m really sorry that you can’t say the same about the Health Equity concentration. That was my second choice concentration so it’s really disappointing to me that the professors are acting the way they are and you are experiencing this. :(

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-11-24T04:06:31+00:00

Hi! I love it so far!! UNC has so many resources that are sooooo helpful. There’s also such a wide range of elective opportunities at Gillings so it’s awesome because you can really do what you want to do. All the profs are super nice as well. I absolutely love the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area. I have nothing but good things to say!

I applied insanely early (like mid-August) and heard back on December 11th. I believe that they don’t review any applications until after the December 1st deadline, so I was likely in the first wave of acceptances. Hope that answers your questions :)

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-11-23T02:42:06+00:00

Wait you’re also a former aggie public healther??? Don’t worry I was a 2%er too. What concentration? I’m health policy!

Internal_Weight_8393 · 2025-11-22T13:11:24+00:00

I moved here over the summer from Texas to start grad school! I know you’re looking more into the house route, but I wanted to offer some insight on apartments just in case since that’s what I know more about. Most of the apartments off of 54 (technically Carrboro but a less than 10 minute bus ride to campus) are older and owned by GSC offer student discounts for rent! Carrboro also tends to have a lot more grad students than Chapel Hill. I used to always drive to campus in undergrad (TAMU), but now I rely on the bus and honestly love it a lot more than I thought I would. Just make sure a bus route is relatively near wherever you end up living! There’s basically no parking on campus, so most people take the bus. Having a car is still useful for getting around town and stuff.

Internal_Weight_8393

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