JHSPH is notoriously secretive about the admission statistics for its MPH degree as a whole, let alone for the individual sub-programs like MPH/JD. From what I’ve seen, their admissions rate overall is in the range of 50%, though that number seems impossibly high for such a highly ranked program and it doesn’t speak to the joint program admissions rate.
My questions:
Does the program actually have an admissions rate that’s THAT high?
How competitive is the JD/MPH dual degree? What sort of LSAT score/UGPA would they accept?
Most graduate programs don’t explicitly reveal their admissions rates. It’s because those percentages are much less useful to you than you might think, and less useful than college admissions statistics.
Graduate admissions are a lot more self-selecting than undergrad admissions. Typically, only top students tend to apply anyway - and average-performing students may self-select out of applying to highly competitive programs. So the admissions rates can be higher overall while still maintaining a competitive student body and high quality. There are other things that heavily influence admissions rates; cost is one, since MPH graduates don’t make six-figure salaries straight out. It’s why Iowa can have a similar admissions rate to JHU, and Maryland can have a much lower one (22%).
JHU’s JD/MPH program is actually not a joint degree completed at JHU - it’s a dual-degree program that allows you to sandwich your one-year MPH between year 1 and 2, or between year 2 and 3, at another law school. Georgetown was their original law school partner, but you can apparently do this from any U.S. law school in the country (although you do have to get approval for a one-year leave of absence from your JD program). Since you have to be accepted to each school - the law school and the MPH program at JHU - separately, the competitiveness will depend on the individual law school you choose. Georgetown, obviously, would be very competitive.
Given that there are so many one-year MPH programs that allow doctoral degree holders (including JDs) to earn an MPH directly after law school, or any time in the future, I’m not sure I see the benefit of the JHU “joint” program. You also don’t get awarded your MPH until you finish your law degree, so it would take the same amount of time.
Hi! I was aware that JHU’s MPH/JD option involved a second school, my question was about how this impacts the acceptance rate. In other words, does doing the joint degree improve my chances of being admitted compared to the typical MPH applicant? I imagine if the school’s overall acceptance rate is around 50% and because the MPH/JD is so unusual, it would increase my chances more than anything. I’m just looking for some insight into that.
There’s really no way to know this from the outside. It probably depends on a variety of factors. From the website:
On face, it’s ‘easier’ in the sense that you don’t need to have an advanced degree already or work experience before applying to the program - since the concurrent JD is that advanced degree, only in progress. But even though those aren’t required, JHU will probably still want some evidence that you are really interested in a public health career and will be looking for those things.
Also, just because it’s less common doesn’t mean it offers an improved rate - they may only get a small number of applications but may also accept only a very small number of people to that specific program.
