You’ve Been Accepted to an Online MPH Program. Now What?

After carefully preparing your application for an online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program through the school of your dreams, gathering letters of recommendation, and submitting undergraduate transcripts, you anxiously wait to find out if you have been accepted into your first choice program. The days and weeks that follow go by slowly, as you check your mailbox every day for any news. And then one day it happens. You receive a letter from your first choice school. After hastily tearing the letter open and reading its contents, you are not disappointed. It’s an official acceptance letter. You did it! You’re in! It’s celebration time!

Getting accepted into the school of your dreams is certainly exhilarating. You’ve worked hard to make it happen. And it can be a major self-confidence booster since it confirms you’ve got “the right stuff.” But just because a particular school is your first choice, this doesn’t always mean that it is the best choice.

There are a few things you should consider before committing to any school.

Wait for Acceptance/Rejection Letters from Other Schools to Arrive

When you receive an acceptance letter from a school, there’s usually no rush to confirm your intent to earn your degree through that school. It’s important to avoid rushing into anything, and this is especially true when it comes to making a commitment to a particular degree program.

Wait until you have received all acceptance or rejections letters from all schools you applied to before making your final decision in your school selection. This is because acceptance letters occasionally come with some unexpected good news, like being awarded a tuition discount or a scholarship for your GPA or GRE scores. It does happen. And you don’t want to make the mistake of committing to one school before learning about all of the potential offers other schools may make.

Compare and Contrast Degree Programs

When evaluating different schools, it’s always a good idea to compare and contrast the individual degree programs they offer instead of just going with a school because of its reputation or name. Not all degree programs are exactly the same and by checking into different programs you could discover that a program offered by a school that may not have been your first choice is actually a better fit for your situation. Maybe it offers courses that are more relevant to your career goals. Perhaps it’s more affordable. Or maybe it offers greater flexibility in degree completion. Don’t cross any school or degree program off your list until you have carefully evaluated it and compared it to others you are considering.

Connect with Classmates in the Degree Program You are Considering

One the best ways to evaluate any degree program is to reach out to a few current students and ask them their opinions on the program. Any school that is truly proud of the programs it offers shouldn’t have any problem recommending a few current students to contact. Feel free to ask them anything about the program. Ask them if they are pleased with the overall quality of the program. Ask them about their professors, tech support, assignment difficulty, and anything else you can think of. And don’t forget to ask them one of the most important questions of all: If you had an opportunity to go back in time, would you choose to go through this degree program again or choose another? The answers you get from this last question can be revealing.

Visit the Campuses (If Possible)

You can learn a lot about a school by visiting its campus. You can speak to your future professors, talk with other students currently in the same program you will be starting, and you can even talk to program administrators. By visiting the campus, you can pick up on some things that may not be apparent online. You can get a feel for the school’s vibe and see if its atmosphere and values are consistent with what you are looking for.

It may not be possible to visit a school if you live far away from it, and it isn’t a deal-breaker if you can’t. But being able to talk to some of your future professors can help to alleviate any concerns you may have before you begin the program.

Compare Costs and Financial Aid Plans

The cost of higher education is increasing at a faster rate than any other segment in society. It is even increasing faster than healthcare. Because of this, it is critical to compare the total costs of each degree program you are considering before making a final decision. Although many online MPH degree programs will have similar costs, you might be eligible for financial assistance, fellowships, or scholarships with a particular school. If the amount of financial aid is significant, it might make sense to go with a school that offers the best deal than to go with your first choice school.

Respond to Schools You Turn Down and Accept!

After carefully considering each school and making a decision, let the school that won you over know that you will be going through their degree program. Don’t assume that just because you have the acceptance letter in hand that you are ready to start the program. If you don’t respond to an acceptance letter, a school may assume that you have chosen another school and drop you from its roster.

Respond to the other schools you have received acceptance letters from to let them know you have selected another school. Be courteous in your response and thank them for accepting you. They took the time to evaluate your application and make an admissions decision. The least you can do is send them a nice letter thanking them for their consideration.

Review Admittance Information

Letting a school know that you will be attending their program (whether on-campus or online) after receiving an acceptance letter is one of the first steps in your journey to degree completion. The next thing you need to do is to take the time to review the admittance information (normally included with the acceptance letter). The admittance information will include important things you need to know such as further instructions to complete your enrollment, orientation dates that must be attended, and other important information. By carefully following the admittance information, your journey toward degree completion is now well underway.