Admissions: FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding application/admission:

I see there are applications for SDSU and UCSD. Which application am I supposed to fill out?

Applicants must submit TWO applications : the SOPHAS and SDSU Graduate Application for SDSU. If admitted, and you choose to accept our offer of admission, you will be directed to complete a UC San Diego application as well. Please refer to the page on instructions for the applications.

What is the application deadline?

The priority application deadline is November 15 ; applicants unable to meet the priority deadline may apply through the Final Deadline of December 15 . The deadlines mean that ALL materials (applications and supplemental materials, such as test scores, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be RECEIVED by all of the respective applications by the deadline.

How do I submit my additional application materials, such as statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, vita?

Statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, and vitae must be submitted to the SOPHAS application only. Please refer to the page on instructions for the applications.

Do I have to enter my statement of purpose in the Cal State Apply application?

No, when filling out the Cal State Apply application, there is no need to input your statement of purpose. Please just answer “See supplemental application.”

Do I have to enter my statement of purpose in the UC San Diego Grad Apply application?

No. If you are admitted and directed to complete a UC San Diego application, you will not need to enter this information.

When are letters of recommendation due?

Letters of recommendation are part of the SOPHAS application, and must be submitted online by the recommender by the November 15 priority deadline or December 15 final deadline. Paper recommendations will NOT be accepted.

Do you require the Graduate Record Exam?

**The requirement that applicants for for the JDP in Public Health submit scores for the GRE is suspended for the Fall 2025 admission cycle.**

When and where do I send GRE score reports?

**The requirement that applicants for for the JDP in Public Health submit scores for the GRE is suspended for the Fall 2025 admission cycle.**

Can I get the application fee waived?

At SDSU, No, application fee waivers are no longer available. Some fee waivers are available for the SOPHAS application, please see https://sophas.org/faqs/ for details.

Does your program allow part-time enrollment and/or evening courses?

No, We require full-time attendance and participation; we do not offer weekend/evening courses.

Can I enroll in JDP courses even if I am not admitted to the program?

No, you must be admitted and enrolled in the program to take JDP courses.

Do you admit students in the Fall and Spring?

We accept students for Fall admission only. We do not have Spring admissions.

Can I get a brochure about the program mailed to me?

We do not have a paper brochure, our website contains all relevant information about the program.

Do you offer a masters degree in public health?

Yes, both UCSD and SDSU have MPH programs available.

How is acceptance into the JDP determined?

Acceptance is determined by multiple factors and is based on the entire application package; your GPA, GRE scores, recommendations, statement of purpose, prior research experience, publications, and prior coursework all factor into our decision.

I was not accepted into the JDP, can you tell me why?

We are unable to provide specific reasons for non-acceptance. If your application was generally competitive, perhaps feedback from your own professors would assist you in strengthening a subsequent application. Keep in mind that we receive dozens of applications each year and many are exceptionally well-qualified. It is usually very difficult to choose among them and the fact that we can take so few students means that every year at least some very highly qualified students are not offered admission.

I wasn’t accepted into the JDP this year, can I apply again next year?

To apply in a subsequent year, you must submit both applications again (SOPHAS, Cal State Apply) and pay the required application fees.

I wasn’t accepted into the JDP program last year, can I re-use my application?

As indicated in the previous answer, all three applications must be submitted again. However, some supplemental materials may be carried over:

For SDSU Cal State Apply: For SDSU Graduate Admissions, test scores and transcripts that were submitted will still be on file and do not need to be submitted again, with the exception of transcripts for course work that was in progress when the applicant applied previously.

For SOPHAS: Please review the SOPHAS FAQ page at: https://sophas.org/faqs/

Any applicants who have submitted their application as of the end of the application cycle each August will have the option to carry-over most of their application information into the next application cycle in September. The following will NOT be carried forward and must be resubmitted: statement of purpose and objectives, CVs, letters of reference. Coursework that has been entered but not verified as of the end of the cycle will require a new set of transcripts. Applicants will also be required to pay a new application fee.

For UCSD: No, there is no way to carry over the previous application from the previous year. You may re-use your previous log-in account, but you need to create a new application. Statement of purpose, CVs, letters or reference need to be uploaded into the new application. You may re-use the statement of purpose, but it is not recommended.

Admissions

Important Dates & Deadlines
Application Instructions
Faculty Currently Accepting Applicants for 2024-2025 AY
FAQ