How to Apply.

Applying via the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) Process

Questions about the SOPHAS platform? Contact SOPHAS for help:

sophasinfo@liaisoncas.com
617-612-2090

Timeline:

• SOPHAS averages 2-4 weeks for verification of submitted applications.

SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service) is the Centralized Application Service (CAS) for schools and programs of public health. As an applicant through SOPHAS, you can select unique designations for the schools/programs and degrees for which you wish to apply. You will complete a single application, submit one set of recommendation letters, and one set of transcripts. All schools and programs have slightly different requirements, but your personal information, recommendations, and transcripts will be the same across the board.

SOPHAS will hold your submission to your designated schools until the following criteria are met:

• Completion of personal essay/statement of purpose for each designation and any supplemental questions each school of choice might include
• All U.S. or Canadian transcripts are received
• Two out of three recommendations have been submitted
• Payment of application fee

Once these criteria are met, SOPHAS will use submitted transcripts to verify your coursework. It is imperative that you check email and log in to your SOPHAS account regularly to be sure there are no issues with the coursework verification. Once SOPHAS has completed its verification, your application will be electronically submitted to those schools/programs which you have designated. During peak times it can take up to four weeks for your application to be verified and electronically submitted to your designated schools/programs.

SOPHAS will not hold your application for the following items:

• Standardized test scores
• WES evaluations

If your application is missing one of these items when it is submitted to SPH, we may consider your application incomplete. Should this happen, SPH admissions will communicate this to you, and hold your application from review until the remaining items have been submitted. Please note that our published deadlines are for submission to SOPHAS. Due to the verification process, many applications are received by SPH after the published deadline.

In order to check on the status of transcripts, letters of recommendation, or any issue regarding the SOPHAS application prior to its being submitted to SPH, simply log in to a designated SOPHAS account. For problems regarding the receipt of transcripts, the submission of recommendation letters, or the application, please contact SOPHAS customer service directly at 617-612-2090 or sophasinfo@liaisoncas.com.

BUSPH Admissions

Contact BUSPH Admissions:

asksph@bu.edu
617-358-4095

Timeline:

• BUSPH Admissions averages 1-2 weeks for verification of complete application.

Once SOPHAS has electronically submitted your application to SPH, we will email you a receipt confirmation. A follow up email will let you know whether your application is considered complete and ready for stage three, or if your application is missing one or more items.

If your application is missing one or more items, we will monitor SOPHAS for updates. Each week, we review all incomplete applications for changes, and will periodically email you to remind you of your status. When we receive all required materials we will let you know by email. When your application is considered complete we will begin the review process.

Feel free to contact BUSPH Admissions regarding outstanding items, concerns, or questions you have about your application status. We can be reached most easily at asksph@bu.edu, or by phone at 617-358-4095. If you need to update your mailing address, email address, or phone number, it must be updated through your SOPHAS account.

If your application is complete when SPH admissions receives it, this stage will take no more than one week.

SPH Departments and Admissions Committee

Contact Admissions:

asksph@bu.edu
617-358-4095

Timeline:

• Once notified that your application is complete and ready for review, you will be provided an estimated decision timeline.

Your application will be thoroughly reviewed by a faculty member or committee of faculty members at SPH, who will make a recommendation to the SPH Admissions Committee.

Once a final decision has been made, applicants will receive an official decision notification electronically to the email address listed on the SOPHAS application.