MPH Statement of Purpose Online Advising

 

Lauren Hammond is our MPH application essay expert and has been helping people write their Master of Public Health Statements of Purpose for several years. Whether you just want some feedback on a draft, or you're staring at a blank Word doc and don't know where to begin, she is happy to help!

 

Contact Lauren directly at 951-395-4646 (phone or text), or send us an email.

 

Customer Review: "Lauren Hammond is incredible at helping you frame your experiences in a way that makes a lasting impact. She expertly curated my statements of purpose for MPH programs, ensuring they were not only tailored to each school but also powerfully compelling. Lauren goes above and beyond to support her students, and her dedication truly shines. After working with Lauren, I had public health graduates and experts review my letters; they were deeply impressed—'reads beautifully, with such clarity and impact that I wouldn’t change a thing.' I highly recommend working with her! - Simran Bhullar (read this review on Google Maps)

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1. MPH statement of purpose tips

2. MPH statement of purpose examples

3. Learn more about Lauren, our MPH statement of purpose expert.

 

MPH Statement of Purpose Tips

Here are a few basic tips to help your write your statement.

 

1. Demonstrate Your Understanding of Public Health Principles

An MPH Statement of Purpose should reflect your knowledge of public health as a discipline. Highlight your understanding of key public health concepts, such as epidemiology, health equity, biostatistics, or health policy. Show that you recognize the complexities of public health challenges and that you are prepared for the analytical and strategic thinking required in an MPH program.

Tip:
Instead of sharing personal anecdotes, focus on specific academic, professional, or research experiences that demonstrate your ability to think critically about public health issues.

2. Align Your Academic and Professional Goals with the Program

Clearly articulate how the specific MPH program you are applying to will help you achieve your academic and career objectives. Research the program’s curriculum, faculty, resources, and opportunities, and link them directly to your goals. Show that you understand how this program’s strengths will support your development in public health practice or research.

Tip:
Mention specific courses, research projects, or fieldwork opportunities that align with your interests, and explain how these experiences will help you build the expertise needed for your intended career path.

3. Provide a Clear Vision of Your Impact in Public Health

Your statement should not only address your goals but also demonstrate a forward-thinking perspective on how you plan to contribute to the field. Highlight the specific impact you hope to make, whether through policy development, public health initiatives, research, or community work. This vision should be concrete, measurable, and relevant to current public health challenges.

Tip:
Avoid vague aspirations. Instead, offer a precise example of a public health issue you want to address and outline a realistic approach to making an impact, supported by the skills and knowledge you will gain through the MPH program.

 

MPH SOP Examples

Here's an example of a strong MPH statement of purpose. Below the statement, we'll explain what we liked about it.

 

As a research assistant analyzing data on childhood asthma in low-income communities, I witnessed how environmental factors could drastically impact health outcomes. While our research provided valuable insights, I often found myself questioning why effective interventions were not reaching the affected populations. This experience ignited my passion for public health and led me to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) to bridge the gap between research and impactful, community-centered health solutions.

My academic background in Biology, coupled with hands-on research experience, has equipped me with a solid foundation in scientific inquiry and data analysis. Working on a project that examined the correlation between air quality and asthma rates, I gained proficiency in statistical analysis tools like SPSS and R and honed my ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. However, I realized that to effect meaningful change, I needed to broaden my expertise beyond research and develop a deeper understanding of public health policy, program implementation, and community engagement—skills I aim to refine through an MPH program.

The [University Name] MPH program’s focus on community-based interventions and health policy aligns perfectly with my career goals. The opportunity to collaborate with faculty whose research explores environmental health disparities is particularly appealing. Additionally, the program’s emphasis on practical experience, such as the community practicum, will allow me to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, preparing me to design and implement programs that address health inequities effectively.

My long-term goal is to work with public health organizations to develop and implement initiatives that reduce the impact of environmental hazards on vulnerable communities. By combining my research background with advanced public health training, I aspire to contribute to creating healthier environments where all individuals have the opportunity to thrive.

Analysis

  1. Clear Focus on Public Health
    The statement opens with a specific, relevant experience that directly ties into public health. The applicant not only describes what they did but also reflects on the broader implications of their work, demonstrating a strong grasp of public health principles.

  2. Demonstrates Relevant Skills and Experience
    The applicant highlights both academic and practical experiences, showing they are well-prepared for graduate study. They mention specific skills (e.g., data analysis with SPSS and R) and connect these skills to their future goals, which strengthens the case for their readiness to contribute to the program.

  3. Program Alignment
    The applicant clearly articulates why the chosen program is a good fit. They mention specific aspects of the program—such as the focus on community-based interventions and the opportunity to work with faculty experts—that align with their professional goals. This shows they have researched the program thoroughly and understand how it will help them advance their career.

  4. Concrete Career Goals
    The statement provides a clear vision of what the applicant hopes to achieve with an MPH. By specifying a goal to develop public health initiatives that address environmental health disparities, they present a forward-thinking approach that ties academic learning to real-world impact.

  5. Professional Tone and Structure
    The writing is professional, well-organized, and free of personal anecdotes that might be more suited to a personal statement. Instead, the focus remains on professional experiences, skills, and aspirations, which is crucial for a statement of purpose.

 

Lauren Hammond

Lauren Hammond Lauren Hammond Lauren Hammond

Lauren: I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and Writing, with a concentration in Writing, at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and my Master’s Degree in English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University (SDSU). I recently completed my PhD in English at the University of California Riverside (UCR) in September 2023. Upon graduating, I began my current position as UCR's Graduate Writing Center Specialist and Fulbright Program Advisor last summer. 

I have been a writing consultant for nearly 10 years now, and I've helped people with research writing, thesis/dissertation projects, rhetorical and literary analyses, writing in the humanities, grammar/sentence mechanics, and more. My focus for VKTP centers on graduate school application materials– including personal statements, diversity statements, and research statements– as well as job market materials for academic and alt-academic positions– resumes, CVs, cover letters, etc. 

During my downtime, I love hanging out with my husband, 2-year-old daughter, and our two dogs, Link and Leia! My favorite activities are going on the boat, cruising on the golf cart, and making our way through all of the local eateries. When we aren’t out and about, I typically enjoy reading and watching movies.

Working with Lauren is $225 per hour or $995 for a package purchase of 5 hours. You can reach her at 951-395-4646 (phone or text), or by sending us an email.

 

Love For Lauren

 

"I had the pleasure of working with Lauren Hammond on my Master of Public Health statement of purpose essays, and I’m thrilled to share that I was accepted into all my MPH programs! While I had started my essays, I found Lauren’s guidance on restructuring my writing to be incredibly valuable and provided a strong foundation that I applied across all my applications. Her in-line edits helped refine my language, ensuring clarity and conciseness—especially for essays with strict word limits. I also appreciated her flexibility in how we used our time, making each session highly productive. I highly recommend working with Lauren!" - Nicolina Patin (read review on Google Maps)

 

"I had about 6 sessions with Lauren Hammond to go over my personal statements for PhD/PsyD Clinical Psychology applications. I had different goals for each of my statements (e.g., trim, content development, brainstorm ideas), and she tailored each session to meet my needs. An hour might seem short, but she was very productive and sometimes went over two short statements in one session. She was also available via text for any brief questions or concerns. I am very happy with her service and recommend it to anyone who wants to craft a stand-out personal statement. I thought my writing skills were already good, but the final product, including her revisions, turned out even better than I expected."

- Fiona Wang (see review on Google Maps)

 

Lily Annino

Lauren helped me out SO much with my MFT graduate school essays. I've already gotten an interview from two schools, and I was incredibly happy with the essay results. 110% would recommend her! Thank you so much Lauren.

 

"Very happy to have worked with Vince on my GRE prep and Lauren on my personal essay writing. Both were integral to my success in getting accepted to my ideal grad school. Vince had a very straightforward and understandable approach toward taking the test which helped remove the test anxiety I definitely would have otherwise felt. I knew exactly what was coming weeks before I sat down to take it and managed to score about 10-15 points higher than I would have without his help. Lauren was equally helpful in editing my essay - both on the finer details as well as big picture ideas and concepts. I wholeheartedly believe their assistance throughout the GRE and grad school application process is what pushed me over the edge and got me accepted into my ideal program at my ideal school. 5 stars, no question."

- Clifford Grant (see review on Google Maps)

 

"I worked with Lauren Hammond on my personal statement and she was amazing!! I spent a couple months working with her and it was one of the best decisions that I feel elevated my grad school applications. I came into the first meeting with a draft essay that was basically my resume and was all over the place. Lauren helped me nail down my story and what I am passionate about. I ended up writing an amazing personal statement with great feedback from Lauren that I felt really showed readers who I am. She was super flexible with the times we met and I ended up getting into my TOP choice schools (Johns Hopkins, Brown, etc). I would definitely work with her again!"

- Aster M. (see review on Google Maps)

 

"Lauren Hammond was so incredibly helpful with my personal statements for grad school. I really needed help with organization, staying focused on a coherent narrative and content-building, which she was phenomenal with. She's also a really sweet person and a pleasure to work with! Can't recommend her enough."

- Mira Park (see review on Google Maps)

 

"As I was applying to PhD programs, I was struggling to write my personal statements. I searched online for hours to try and find something or someone that looked worth spending the money on and I came across Lauren Hammond at Vince Kotchian Test Prep. I was only planning on doing maybe one session to help get me started but Lauren was SO good that I continued working with her for weeks. She gave such valuable feedback and felt like she truly cared about making my work the best it can be. I even recommended her to my other colleagues who were applying to grad school and they felt the same way. I currently have 3 interviews for grad school and I couldn't have gotten those without her help!"

- Mikayla Haas (see review on Google Maps)

 

"Lauren Hammond was amazing. She provided me with thoughtful feedback that structured and strengthened my graduate school application essays. She was great at asking questions to push me to be a better writer. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students and wants to see you succeed. Additionally she is flexible in scheduling and will make deadlines work with your timeline. I was accepted into my top school choice and appreciate Lauren for her help in the process. If you or someone you know is looking for an essay tutor for graduate applications, Lauren is definitely the best!"

- Renee Begin (see review on Google Maps)

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How long should I spend writing my MPH statement of purpose?

We generally recommend about 4-8 weeks - 6 weeks is a good sweet spot. It takes time to come up with ideas and get those ideas onto paper in a compelling form.

 

Where can I find some good examples of statements of purpose?

Other than Google, I really like the sample admissions essays in Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher. If you're a DIY kind of person, Asher's advice for the entire graduate admissions process is very good.

Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links and I earn a commission if you purchase things through them. However, any commission I earn comes at no additional cost to you, and you pay nothing extra. My recommendation is based on extensive experience using this book's advice with dozens of people over the years, and I recommend it because it's helpful and useful, not because of the small commission I receive if you choose to buy it.

 

How can I make my SOP stand out?

MOST statements are BORING! Not because the person writing them is boring, but perhaps because:

  1. Their focus is too broad. They try to cover everything they've done, and nothing ends up standing out.
  2. They're impersonal. The reader needs to get a sense of who you are and what you're actually like - not some sanitized "professional" version of you.
  3. They're too safe. Ironically, a statement that takes no risks can be the riskiest thing you can do. We're not applying to a program with the intent of blending in with all the other applicants!

Granted, the above things can be overdone, or done wrong. But most statements make no impact, so it's worth thinking about how yours actually can.

For more statement tips, check out Vince's video: 7 Ways to Write a Crappy Graduate School Personal Statement.

 

What are the basics of applying to MPH programs?

Gaining admission into a Master of Public Health (MPH) program is like preparing for a multifaceted mission — it requires a blend of academic strength, practical experience, and a dedicated interest in public health issues. Here’s how candidates typically gear up for this journey:

The educational foundation often begins with a bachelor's degree. While the field of study can vary, courses in biology, sociology, statistics, and environmental science are beneficial. These courses provide a broad understanding of the factors that influence public health. Good grades in these subjects are important as they demonstrate academic capability, but MPH programs look at more than just grades.

Practical experience in public health or a related field is highly valued. This can come from volunteering, internships, or work in healthcare, community outreach, or research. These experiences are essential as they show a commitment to public health issues and provide a practical understanding of the challenges and complexities in the field.

Many MPH programs require the GRE. A good score can strengthen an application, but it’s the combination of academic performance and real-world experience that really counts.

Applications usually include essays and letters of recommendation. Essays are a chance to articulate your passion for public health, discuss your experiences, and outline your career goals in the field. Recommendation letters should ideally come from individuals who can attest to your abilities and potential in public health.

Interviews, if part of the application process, allow you to demonstrate your communication skills, your understanding of public health issues, and your commitment to the field.

Extra efforts, such as participating in public health-related research projects, attending relevant workshops, and being involved in public health initiatives, can also give your application an edge.

In summary, getting into an MPH program involves a mix of strong academic background, practical experience in public health or related fields, a clear understanding and commitment to public health issues, and the personal qualities essential for addressing the diverse challenges in the field of public health. It’s a path for those who are passionate about improving health outcomes and addressing health disparities at the community or global level.

 

BTW, Lauren can also help with: