For those considering Brown as a possible option for the Fall…I recently visited the school and was thoroughly impressed…so I thought that I would share my experience (incase it could be of any help):
Anyway, I set up a visit and I met one-on-one with three faculty (for a half an hour each), then I was taken out to lunch by two current students on behalf of the department. Here are some highlights:
* Brown offers an abundance of research opportunities.
- First, although you may not be awarded one initially, last year every student who wanted a research assistantship was able to get one. Not only does this offer great experience, but it covers 50-75% of tuition costs, plus a stipend.
- The public health building (which is brand new and state of the art) houses most of their major research centers. Students can apply for positions at each of these centers. These centers include the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, the Center for Statistical Sciences, the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, the International Health Institute, the Center for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine, the Center for Population Health and Clinical Epidemiology, the Brown University AIDS Program, the Institute for Community Health Promotion, the Center for Primary Care and Prevention, the Center for Environmental Health and Technology, and many more…
- There are also opportunities to conduct your own research and many students are able to get their work published. This begins with your summer internship and the concluding poster presentation. More notably, during the Analytic Internship (which is a class), students are able to utilize a national survey database to collect data on any public health question of interest. Using STATA, students analyze their collected data and many students end up publishing their findings. Also, a thesis is required, and many students end up publishing these as well.
* The curriculum and courses offered seem very suitable for students with interests in social/behavioral health, community health, epidemiology, biostatistics, global health, and health policy. The only area that doesn't seem well-covered is health management/administration.
- There is a lot of freedom in the curriculum, so you can really explore your specific interests. Electives may be taken in any department.
- There is also a Community Scholars Program and a Global Scholars Program for students with those interests.
- There are many more faculty than I originally thought and the areas of interest cover a vast range of topics.
* Although this is currently a program, within the next year or two, Brown will establish a School of Public Health
- It was noted that based on their research and endowment, once a school is established, Brown would easily be ranked as one of the top Public Health schools (based on the way rankings are determined)
* The city itself seemed amazing, in terms of public health opportunities, culture, and social life
- The Brown campus is gorgeous and the city of Providence is very nice. The Brown area has a very traditional New England feel and is very Ivy-like. The Public Health building is brand new, also.
- The city is quite safe and seems fun
- Providence is filled with health opportunities in every area of public health and because Brown has the only public health program/School of Medicine in Rhode Island…they are connected to every hospital, research center, community organization, etc.
* Students come first!
- Very small class sizes
- Very small student to faculty ratio
- The students get to know faculty very well and build strong relationships with them
- The program seems to go out of its way to do what's best for students. For example, advisors work very closely with students to get them where they want to be (the student/advisor relationship is similar to the relationship that most PhD students have with their advisors, and each student has their own advisor who most closely matches his/her interests). Also, if students are interested in learning a certain skill or learning more about a certain subject, the department will host a training session or conduct a seminar in response
* Inexpensive
- Because almost every interested student eventually receives an assistantship, this cuts costs by 50-75%. Plus, you make a considerable amount from the stipend.
- If you don't want an assistantship, there are many decently paying health positions throughout the city.
- This city is cheaper (in terms of housing and food) than cities such as Boston and New York
- Student can apply for funding for international travel or for thesis funding
Anyway, I'll be attending in July. I am very excited! I've been out of school for a few years, so I can't wait to get back into the academic environment.
Feel free to ask me any questions about the program!!!
