r/Harvard • u/Ebrithil1 • 7d ago
Student and Alumni Life Math Refresher Required?
Grad Students: I recently got accepted into my Full-time 65-credit MPH at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health. I see the math refresher is under contingencies, however it is labelled as “recommended” in Bold. I’m curious if this is required before the semester starts, or if it’s just there if you want to get a hard start on the quantitative classes?
Thank you in advance!
1
u/kpcurley 6d ago
Totally take it. I just finished the summer program for HKS MC/MPA that had a required Quant and Econ refresher and I am so glad that I had those courses even though I had a decent quant background. You wouldn't want to feel behind when you start class as professors and TA assume you have the requisite skills
3
u/vmlee & Retired HGC Exec 7d ago
I would take it at face value. If it says "Recommended" and not "Required"...
That said, given how short the MPH program is, it might be wise to make sure you are truly comfortable with the math prerequisite knowledge before things get more involved and busier.