Some of my wonderful friends I’ve made! Kennedy, Leigh-Ann, Jayden, Taylor, Shahad, and Laela.
Q&A With Hybrid '26 MPH Student: Maryn White
Q: Why did you choose Dartmouth over another program?
A: I chose Dartmouth because of the world class education and the unbelievable connections the school has to offer. I also like how we get a wide variety of classes that span across various public health topics. I think Dartmouth equips us to be the most influential public health leaders.
Q: Is there a lot of group work or is it mainly individual assignments?
A: There is a mix of both, and I love this about our program! At the beginning of the first year, each student is placed in a “study group.” This group may have group work for certain classes, they can meet to discuss course concepts and even work together to help each other with opportunities outside of the classroom. I have been able to develop such wonderful friendships through my study group. The individual assignments are engaging and inspiring. The professors want you to excel, learn from mistakes, and improve on each assignment you submit!
Q: What do you plan to do with your degree/what are your career goals?
A: My ultimate goal is to work in the realm of health policy. I think public health initially intrigued me because of my passion for law and medicine. I liked how Dartmouth offers an MPH that has a lot of emphasis on health policy. Although I have not fully found my exact career desire yet with it being my first year, I know it will involve policy and promoting communities to create more equitable health resources.
Q: What is your cohort like? Do you find that it’s a tight knit community?
A: I truly LOVE each of my peers in my cohort. I have learned just as much from each of them as I have from our wonderful professors. We are all so unique and inspirational. We are a representation of various populations we will serve as public health professionals, and this is so important for learning. How boring would the world be if we were all the same, right? This provides a classroom that promotes growth and broadens our horizons. I think one of the best pieces of advice I can give to a soon-to-be Dartmouth applicant or student is to make sure they take the time to get to know everyone in their cohort. My cohort is so close, and I know these are friendships that will last a lifetime.
Q: Can you actually work while pursuing an MPH? How do you balance it if you do?
A: This can totally be done as long as time management is one of your strengths. The assignments usually have due dates that can allow the students to work ahead. I have discovered that working has helped me understand the class material better because I’m able to see how the topics impact my community!
