Columbia MPH - Changing Tracks

[Russell88]

I know this topic has been visited a few times in the past, but not to my (or probably anyone else seeking information on this topic) satisfaction. I'd really appreciate any feedback from past or current Columbia students on this subject.

I was waitlisted for my 1st choice degree track at Columbia, and was accepted for my 2nd. Through the application process and the months I've worked in between applying and being accepted, I've become embittered toward my 2nd choice track, and have become increasingly passionate about my 1st choice.

Assuming the worst case scenario, I'll have to decide whether or not I want to attend Columbia for my 2nd choice - which would be a dire prospect, considering it's something I'm really not all that interested in studying anymore.

Exactly how difficult is it to change degree tracks at Columbia? Would I be essentially "wasting" a semester in a degree track that I'm not interested in, so that I could study what I really want?

The other problem is Visit Day - officially, I was accepted into the program, so I should attend the department meetings, and meet with those students. However, deep down, I really have no interest in remaining in that department. Should I just register for the department I want to/hope to be in? Shouldn't I really be evaluating the program I want against the same program at other schools? Isn't that the whole point of Visit Day?

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[AJ414]

My intern just switched from SMS to PopFam and she said it was relatively painless... and this was almost a year into her program.. She said that the first year you mainly take the core-classes that are required of all Depts and then after there several classes that everyone takes

hope this helps!

 

[swaffles]

My intern just switched from SMS to PopFam and she said it was relatively painless... and this was almost a year into her program..

hope this helps!

That is SUCH a relief to hear, because I want to switch from Epi to something else at the moment, if I end up going to Columbia.

Thank you for that tidbit!

 

[delababy]

I can't comment for you Russell on the ease of switching programs (though I think that was taken care of) but I know from talking to Columbia students that the first semester/year is a lot of core courses. So just think of it in terms of classes you would have to take anyway.

 

[Russell88]

Thanks for the helpful replies, everyone. That's a huge relief to me, too.

I'm in the same boat as Swaffles. I'm in for Epidemiology, but I'd really like to switch. What should i do for Visit Day? About three hours of the Admitted Students day is dedicated to meeting the faculty and students in your department. I'm not sure how to reconcile this considering I'm not technically "in" for my first choice.

Swaffles : are you planning to make it out for admitted students ' day? If so, what are your plans? Perhaps we'll have to suck it up in the Epidemiology department meetings together 😀

 

[parapluie]

I only asked about switching TRACKS within a department, but for that, I was told that generally, students can only switch after they've completed their 1st semester (i saw something like this as well when I was reading their Department Student Handbook). You must submit a request form or something like that, and you need to get permission from the current track to leave, and get permission from the other track to let you in.

 

[Emilosh2011]

I had the same dilemma with only being accepted into my second choice at Columbia and then finding myself less and less enthused about it. In fact I will probably not be attending Columbia because of this. It should be noted, though, that I do not have the required work experience for the track/departments that really interest me, so if you do have that then I bet your chances of switching are much higher.

From Betsey Asher in their admissions department:

"As for switching department or track, this is not encouraged and never guaranteed. If you feel at this time that SMS is not the right department for you, please send me a statement explaining your interest in another area of our program. I can forward it along to the new department and they will review the statement and your application file.

Any prerequisites for a department or track (either specific coursework or work experience)have to be met, even after matriculation."

 

[Russell88]

I had the same dilemma with only being accepted into my second choice at Columbia and then finding myself less and less enthused about it. In fact I will probably not be attending Columbia because of this. It should be noted, though, that I do not have the required work experience for the track/departments that really interest me, so if you do have that then I bet your chances of switching are much higher.

From Betsey Asher in their admissions department:

"As for switching department or track, this is not encouraged and never guaranteed. If you feel at this time that SMS is not the right department for you, please send me a statement explaining your interest in another area of our program. I can forward it along to the new department and they will review the statement and your application file.

Any prerequisites for a department or track (either specific coursework or work experience)have to be met, even after matriculation."

Just letting you know that this is code for saying "You're going to have to pay for those units out of pocket, for $1325 or more, to complete the degree in the track you want if you need to take extra time.)

I spoke with the director of programs for the program I wanted to switch in to, and she said it's highly variable depending on what happens each year, and she gave me the impression that it can be extremely challenging and expensive to change tracks/departments. I kind of just have to sit tight and wait, really.

Honestly, I think the take-away message is this:

Do not matriculate to Columbia in a program you don't have your heart in with the expectation that you will definitely be able to change departments.

Even changing tracks is difficult because the coursework in each track is highly specialized, and your financial aid will not cover more than the 45 units. If you have the cash on hand to pay for those units yourself, then more power to you.

 

[mystal]

Russell and Swaffles, just out of curiosity, what programs are you thinking of switching into?

 

[Russell88]

Russell and Swaffles, just out of curiosity, what programs are you thinking of switching into?

For me, Epi into HPM (if I don't get into HPM off of waitlist).

 

[daZ3d]

Hey swaffles and Russell88,

I applied to HPM as my first choice and Epi as the second. I got into Epi, but didn't hear anything about HPM. Do we receive separate decisions from each department or does this mean we were rejected from our first choices and placed into our second?

 

[RAMPA]

Hey swaffles and Russell88,

I applied to HPM as my first choice and Epi as the second. I got into Epi, but didn't hear anything about HPM. Do we receive separate decisions from each department or does this mean we were rejected from our first choices and placed into our second?

I'm sure you'll hear something soon. I recently declined admission into HPM at Mailman.

 

[daZ3d]

I'm sure you'll hear something soon. I recently declined admission into HPM at Mailman.

Well, I wasn't sure if applicants are suppose to hear from both departments they applied to. Is the review process like other schools where if an applicant doesn't get admitted into his first choice then the application is reviewed by the second department?

I don't mind entering epidemiology as I am interested in both HPM and Epi, so I guess I can consider this a win/win situation. 🙂 I'm just SO relieved to have finally heard back from Columbia and the decision was favorable.