Application Requirements

MPH@SIMMONS

Simmons’ online Master of Public Health (MPH) program welcomes candidates from all academic disciplines and considers health-related or social science background or experience an added qualification. We value prior applied community experiences, whether through work, volunteering, or community organizing, as these inform and enhance students’ collaborative learning experiences. 

GRE scores are not required to apply to MPH@Simmons. At Simmons, we take a holistic approach to reviewing candidates for admission and evaluate your application based on the whole picture, including your essays, work experience, motivation, and ability to lead. 

To apply for admission to MPH@Simmons, you must submit the following:

  • Completed online application form
  • Current résumé
  • An essay describing your interest and experience in public health, an inequity you have observed, and your short- and long-term career goals
  • Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended, regardless of whether a degree was earned
  • Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic references
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores, if applicable
  • Nonrefundable application fee of $75 (Fee is reduced to $45 if application is submitted on or before the priority deadline.)

Application fee waivers are available for applicants affiliated with non-profit organizations such as: City Year, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Teach for America, and military personnel, veterans, and their spouses. Please contact your admission counselor to request instructions for obtaining the fee waiver.

In the event that the admission committee needs more information to review your application, you may be required to participate in an interview with a member of the committee.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for admission into MPH@Simmons, you must have completed:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale)
  • At least one college-level math course (statistics preferred) with a course grade of B or higher (course GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale)

Factors such as work experience, volunteer endeavors, and undergraduate coursework in health or social sciences, while not required for acceptance into the program, can add value to your application. 

Online Application Form

Résumé

Your résumé should include the following:

  • Educational background, including all institutions attended, degree(s) awarded or in progress, and dates or anticipated dates of degree(s) awarded
  • Relevant employment history, including job titles, job descriptions, relevant duties performed, and dates of employment for each position
  • Community service or volunteer experience
  • Relevant international travel experience
  • Awards, publications, presentations, and memberships
  • Evidence of leadership and career progression

Essay

The essay is an essential component of the admission process and is your opportunity to share more about your background, your interest in health equity, and your goals related to the MPH@Simmons program.

The essay should be approximately 1,000 words or about two pages. In one cohesive statement, please address each of the following prompts, writing one to two paragraphs per item:

  1. Describe an inequity that you have observed, studied, or experienced. Discuss some of the factors contributing to that inequity.
  2. Reflecting on your educational, professional, and/or community-based experiences, what has shaped your interest in public health and health equity?
  3. What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will this MPH help you meet those goals?

Transcripts

Sealed, official academic transcripts must be received by mail from all postsecondary institutions you have attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. This includes community colleges, institutions you may have attended as a non-degree student, or schools where you enrolled but withdrew from classes. If you have any questions when determining if you need to submit a transcript as part of your application, please reach out to your admission counselor. Failure to submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions can result in dismissal from the program. 

Unofficial transcripts may be submitted in place of official transcripts in order to complete the application for review by the admission committee. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted via mail, fax, or scan (including mobile scanning applications) and should include the institution name and student name. Screenshots or faxes of grade reports are not acceptable and will not satisfy the transcript requirement for this purpose. Official transcripts must be submitted three weeks prior to the start of the term.

Request official transcripts be mailed to:

Simmons University
Application Processing Center
MPH@Simmons
PO Box 30096 [015-001]
College Station, TX 77842

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.

Many schools issue transcripts electronically, either through their own web services or through vendors. If this option is available, applicants should specify that their transcript(s) be sent to MPHapplications@online.simmons.edu or select “Simmons University – MPH@Simmons” if listed as an option through the vendor. This will expedite the delivery of the transcript(s) and the completion of your application.

All coursework from institutions outside of the United States must be reviewed by an evaluation service such as World Education ServicesInternational Education Research FoundationEducational Credential Evaluators, or AACRAO International Education Services. Evaluations for study abroad coursework are not required if all course titles and grades are reflected on a US transcript. Allow for additional time in the application process to have all transcripts evaluated by these organizations. Note that course-by-course evaluations are required.

Letters of Recommendation

Your application must include at least three professional or academic letters of recommendation that have been written within one year of the application submission date. Your recommenders must be able to speak to your verbal and written communication skills, intellectual ability, capacity for critical analysis, and ability to work independently and as a member of a team. We also ask your recommenders to comment on your motivation and leadership potential as a public health professional. When you add recommenders via the online application, they will receive an email notification and can complete the recommendation online.

Letters must be from professional (i.e., supervisor or manager) or academic (i.e., faculty, advisor, or department head) sources. Recent college graduates are strongly encouraged to provide one letter of recommendation from an academic source that speaks to their performance in college-level coursework. Recommendations will not be accepted from friends, family members, personal counselors or therapists, co-workers, or clergy.

TOEFL or IELTS Scores

If English is not your first language, you are required to submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score report, demonstrating satisfactory English language proficiency. A minimum score of 600 on the paper test, 250 on the computerized test, or 105 on the Internet-based test is required. Simmons must receive scores directly from ETS (Educational Testing Service).

Please note that the TOEFL or IELTS is not required if you have earned either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary institution or from a postsecondary institution recognized by the Ministry of Education in an English-speaking country.

Upcoming Application Deadline

May 2024

Early Action Deadline
January 14, 2024

Priority Application Deadline
February 9, 2024

Final Application Deadline
March 13, 2024

Classes Begin
May 13, 2024

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