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 THREE applications: the SOPHAS and SDSU Graduate Application for SDSU, and the UC San Diego application. Applicants can submit the same documents for the SOPHAS and UC San Diego applications. Please refer to the Application Instructions page for more guidance.
What is the application deadline?
The Deadline of is December 1, 2025. This deadline means 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 December 1, 2025. Please refer to the Application Insturctions page for detailed deadline times.
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 you require the Graduate Record Exam?
When and where do I send GRE score reports?
The GRE (general test) has been waived and is not required for the Fall 2026 JDP in Public Health admission cycle. If you would still like to submit a score, applicants can send their scores to the institution.
SDSU Institution code: 4902
UCSD Institution code: 4836
Can I get the application fee waived?
At SDSU, there are no application fee waivers. Some fee waivers are available for the SOPHAS application/ Please see https://sophas.org/faqs/ for details.
At UCSD, the application fee is waived.
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 into the program in order 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.
Do you offer a masters degree in public health?
How is acceptance into the JDP determined?
Acceptance is determined by multiple factors and is based on the entire application package; your GPA, letters of 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 all applications again (SOPHAS, Cal State Apply, UC San Diego) 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.
