MPH 2020: Applied, Accepted, Rejected, Waitlisted

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I’ve been to both cities to visit (not live) and they’re so different it’s difficult to compare! Providence is SO tiny compared to NYC but it’s not far from Boston (where I went to college; a great public health city). I went on a nice summer day and had a great time walking around Brown’s campus.

I find NYC very fun but in short bursts - I’m not sure I could ever live there (maybe in Brooklyn?).

I actually almost applied to Brown but decided I wanted to only look at schools that let me keep working!
Thank you for the insight! 🙂
 
Got my financial aid package from Emory... they're offering me 33k in loans per year and 5k annual REAL... no merit-based scholarship or need-based grants. I'm torn, as Emory is my number one choice, but do I really want to take out almost 70k in loans? The only other school I applied to was Georgia State and they don't give any scholarships out until at least your second semester, so I would have to take loans out there, as well.
In the same boat with Columbia. I plan on appealing my financial aid towards the end of the month and leveraging the aid I’ve received from other schools. Also, going to apply for some outside scholarships. I worked my butt off to get into my top choice program though. So ultimately I’m going to bite the bullet, withdraw plus loans, and commit.
 
Does anyone know much about Brown's program? I am currently deciding between Columbia and Brown. Columbia offers me 0 scholarships while Brown offers 25% off. 🤔 Any input will be appreciated.
I learned a lot about Brown by reading the previous years’ forums, and what I gathered is that it’s a pretty quantitative-heavy program, and more research than practice oriented, so if that’s not what you’re looking for then it may not be the best fit for you. Also retweeting everything that everyone else has said about Providence—I feel like outside of the state public health department their practicum opportunities are a bit more limited than those in bigger cities like Boston or NYC. Of course I suppose you could theoretically travel to one of those cities from Providence for a practicum but that seems a bit inconvenient?? I haven’t visited Providence recently but when I did several years ago I thought it was cute and charming. Overall these are the big takeaways I’ve gotten about their program.
 
Any other international applicants worried about the duration of the outbreak and its effects on travel bans and your ability to attend the course once it starts?
I would think that things should be settled down by the time classes start, however being able to go early to find housing etc. might be delayed. I'm from Canada, so travel bans haven't been an issue yet.
 
Assistant director for financial aid at Columbia said "we are sending out financial aid packages on a rolling basis. If you meet the criteria for merit funding, you will be notified. Please keep in mind in order to be considered for a merit scholarship you must have a cumulative undergrad gpa of 3.75 and above, and score above the 80th% on all sections of your standardized exam" during the virtual chat today... and that a majority of merit scholarships have already been distributed...
 
Assistant director for financial aid at Columbia said "we are sending out financial aid packages on a rolling basis. If you meet the criteria for merit funding, you will be notified. Please keep in mind in order to be considered for a merit scholarship you must have a cumulative undergrad gpa of 3.75 and above, and score above the 80th% on all sections of your standardized exam" during the virtual chat today... and that a majority of merit scholarships have already been distributed...
On top of this, "meeting the criteria only guarantees consideration and does not guarantee funding." So, that would explain why some of you here meet criteria but weren't awarded anything.
 
In the same boat with Columbia. I plan on appealing my financial aid towards the end of the month and leveraging the aid I’ve received from other schools. Also, going to apply for some outside scholarships. I worked my butt off to get into my top choice program though. So ultimately I’m going to bite the bullet, withdraw plus loans, and commit.
That’s how I feel- Emory has kind of been my dream since I decided I wanted to pursue an MPH. I’m going to appeal my aid as well and see if they can do anything for me.
 
Hey everyone, I was wondering if there's any public health podcasts (outside of This Podcast Will Kill You) that you recommend? Thx
 
Hey everyone, I was wondering if there's any public health podcasts (outside of This Podcast Will Kill You) that you recommend? Thx

I like Tradeoffs, An Arm and a Leg, and the first season of Vox's the Impact (the second season shifted to general policy) for health policy stuff. America Dissected is ok, but the host is a bit annoying imo.
 
That's good to know the SPH is still operational! Did they give you a timeline on when 1 on 1 visits can be scheduled? I reached out as well, and was told they will welcome individual appointments later in April. I had a feeling that would be the case since the JHU spring break is next week and I'm not sure if some professors are working remotely.

Events and activities are restricted and/or suspended through at least April 12
 
I would think that things should be settled down by the time classes start, however being able to go early to find housing etc. might be delayed. I'm from Canada, so travel bans haven't been an issue yet.
I am - I'm going to hopkins and a late June start is seeming... possible but optimistic at this point.
 
Some universities have their own podcasts, like jhu
I like Tradeoffs, An Arm and a Leg, and the first season of Vox's the Impact (the second season shifted to general policy) for health policy stuff. America Dissected is ok, but the host is a bit annoying imo.
I have a long commute so I listen to a LOT. In alphabetical order:

  • Casual inference (epidemiology methods podcast)
  • Epidemiology counts (official podcast of the society for epidemiologic research)
  • Free associations (epidemiology journal club from BU)
  • Harvard Chan this week in health
  • Pulse check (politico podcast about health care and policy)
  • KHN what the health (health policy news)
  • Repros fight back (interviews with reproductive health, rights, justice folks)
  • Sawbones (kind of like a medical history/curiosity podcast)
  • The American health podcast (JHU Bloomberg)
  • This podcast will kill you (you know it, you love it)

Thanks everyone! I'm definitely going to check out all of them.
 
Just got accepted into CUNY, which ends my application cycle! It's very likely that I'll end up going here because of the in-state tuition and I'll be able to live at home. I'm so happy right now. Is anyone else considering it/most likely going?
 
GW accepted students day officially moved online
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Just got accepted into CUNY, which ends my application cycle! It's very likely that I'll end up going here because of the in-state tuition and I'll be able to live at home. I'm so happy right now. Is anyone else considering it/most likely going?
i want to, but i havent heard back yet and i applied in dec and they said i would hear back in feb /: did u apply for HPM?
 
Hey everyone!!

I hope ya'll are having a fantastic week. I know if I lurk through all these pages I'm sure I could find an answer somewhere, but I thought I'd go ahead and post anyways!

I'm leaning towards attending NYU (I got admitted for MPH in Global Health) - I just wanted to hear some over opinions, about the school, program, etc.

Any information would help!! Thank you in advance!!!
 
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Has anyone had any success getting refunds from Airbnb? I had to cancel my spring break trip and my admitted students day trip and the hosts aren’t giving refunds
 
On top of this, "meeting the criteria only guarantees consideration and does not guarantee funding." So, that would explain why some of you here meet criteria but weren't awarded anything.
I was on the Virtual chat yesterday too. Honestly quite disappointed about Columbia's responses. I know people who got a public health scholar scholarship from them but did not have much public health or clinical related experience, which makes me confused. I did not ask yesterday because I know he is not the one that makes those decisions. Columbia offers other scholarships than merit, I wish he could at least elaborate on the criteria for those scholarships.
 
I was on the Virtual chat yesterday too. Honestly quite disappointed about Columbia's responses. I know people who got a public health scholar scholarship from them but did not have much public health or clinical related experience, which makes me confused. I did not ask yesterday because I know he is not the one that makes those decisions. Columbia offers other scholarships than merit, I wish he could at least elaborate on the criteria for those scholarships.

I believe those are all of the institutional/endowed scholarships that are not necessarily merit based. I was reallllllly hoping to receive a specific scholarship off of this list. Obviously many people are applying to Columbia that we don't see on this forum, but I am curious as to where all the money went. Obviously it's not to us students here LOL.
 
Guys I'm freaking out, any advice would be appreciated.

I STILL haven't heard back from GWU (applied on 12/15, went under review on 1/13) and I was told I would hear back by mid-March at the latest. I called today, and was told that my application had a "hold" designation (i.e., admission reviewed it, made a decision, but there is a hold on releasing the decision to me). Anyone heard of this before? What does it mean good / bad?

I'm afraid they saw something in my app that I don't know about.
 

I believe those are all of the institutional/endowed scholarships that are not necessarily merit based. I was reallllllly hoping to receive a specific scholarship off of this list. Obviously many people are applying to Columbia that we don't see on this forum, but I am curious as to where all the money went. Obviously it's not to us students here LOL.
Same Same. That's what I want too. Are you going to appeal?
As a Chinese student, I know there are many Chinese pay thousands of dollars to have their PS and resume written by companies. Those companies even finish SOPHAS for the students. I know some of those students got institutional scholarships. I just do not think it is fair for people like us who did everything by ourselves, and we actually need those scholarships.
 
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Same Same. That's what I want too. Are you going to appeal?
As a Chinese student, I know there are many Chinese pay thousands of dollars to have their PS and resume written by someone else. Those company even do their SOPHAS for the students. I know some of those students got institutional scholarships. I just do not think it is fair for people like us who did everything by ourselves, and we actually need those scholarships.
I'm definitely going to appeal, but I don't have high hopes. I am a US applicant so I can at least take out loans, it sucks that there are no resources for international applicants. Its hard to even find external scholarships for first year grad students, they're all for second year or doctoral students!
 
So I spoke to a faculty member in the UCLA HPM dept and she said that while the alumni network in Los Angeles is strong, there leaves much to be desired elsewhere. She said there were about 25 active alumni in Northern California, which I find just downright disappointing... For anyone who is considering UCLA, there is something to think about...
 
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I'm definitely going to appeal, but I don't have high hopes. I am a US applicant so I can at least take out loans, it sucks that there are no resources for international applicants. Its hard to even find external scholarships for first year grad students, they're all for second year or doctoral students!
I will appeal too. Hope they will considering give us some scholarship after the appeal.
Yes, it is pretty hard for international students to get financial resources. I remember Columbia advising first-year students not to work during the first semester there due to the heavy class load. I think all we can do is to perform well during the first year and apply for external scholarship/TA/RA during the second year.
 
Has anyone heard from UCI financial aid? I only got an email saying they received my fafsa and supporting materials.
I spoke to the financial aide office recently and they informed me that we will be offered aid in the form of subsidized loans, which will be released in the coming months. When I emailed the graduate advisor for more info, he told me he couldn't state specifics in terms of aid because of confidentiality reasons so we won't truly know how much is offered to us (other than the scholarship in the acceptance letter) until like May/June.
 
To those who find this information relevant:

UCB and UCLA's MPH programs allow you to become a Teaching Assistant/Graduate Student Instructor for a class in which you possess a strong background in (i.e. classes in your undergraduate major). Since you are hired by the university, this is a paid position where you earn a stipend, which you can use to pay off chunks of your tuition. I am not sure if the other UCs offer the same benefit.

Also, check-in with your specific department to see when you can start doing this. I was in LA for a couple of days, and they recommend that you wait one term before becoming a TA so you can assimilate into the graduate school culture and academic environment. However, there is no strict policy regarding this, so you could TA immediately if you so choose.
 
Has anybody heard from UNC about scholarships or financial aid yet?
I actually called student affairs to ask and they said that the scholarships have already been emailed out. So then I asked if I haven't gotten one as of now, I probably won't then, and they said, its not likely.
 
I've attended today's JHUSPH Admitted Students Day online webinar..,, I'm just not that much ecstatic as I was when I received offer. I don't know, why!!!
I am in the same boat. It didn't add much to what I already knew since everything can be found in last year's MPH full-time manual. Webinars highlight the pros of the program and brush off potential cons (i.e. portraying an image that is not representative of all student experiences within the university). I do like the fact that it is 11 months long and flexible, but I am still waiting for financial aid. Not sure if the high price tag is justified at this point.
 
I spoke to the financial aide office recently and they informed me that we will be offered aid in the form of subsidized loans, which will be released in the coming months. When I emailed the graduate advisor for more info, he told me he couldn't state specifics in terms of aid because of confidentiality reasons so we won't truly know how much is offered to us (other than the scholarship in the acceptance letter) until like May/June.
Thanks for the info! I was wondering when we would get our financial aid offers.
 
After much debate, I'll be committing to NYU for MPH (Global Health).

After visiting Baltimore/going around the Hopkins community/the webinar, I just wasn't sold on it anymore (although it was the only admission that I cried about). To all my friends that I've chatted to about Hopkins, I hope you enjoy your time there! To everyone else, good luck with your decision-making process!
 
After much debate, I'll be committing to NYU for MPH (Global Health).

After visiting Baltimore/going around the Hopkins community/the webinar, I just wasn't sold on it anymore (although it was the only admission that I cried about). To all my friends that I've chatted to about Hopkins, I hope you enjoy your time there! To everyone else, good luck with your decision-making process!
Is there a chance I can PM you about your visit to Baltimore?
 
After much debate, I'll be committing to NYU for MPH (Global Health).

After visiting Baltimore/going around the Hopkins community/the webinar, I just wasn't sold on it anymore (although it was the only admission that I cried about). To all my friends that I've chatted to about Hopkins, I hope you enjoy your time there! To everyone else, good luck with your decision-making process!
Is there a chance I can PM you about your visit to Baltimore?
I'm super interested in hearing about your perspective as well! Unfortunately couldn't even listen to the admitted day live due to work 🙁
 
Hi, I got accepted to dartmouth TDI and am strongly considering confirming for their 1 yr MPH. But one big hangup for me is its ranking (#46 on US World News) which seems abnormally low for an ivy public health school. Does anyone have insight as to why the ranking is low?
 
I am not too sure about the ranking system as a whole when looking at us news. I used to work in institutional research and rankings are arbitrary. So please use them with a grain of salt. Also when did you hear back from Dartmouth?

Jan 31st (I applied by their early deadline, normally would have had to commit by 3/1 but got an extension on the decision date)
 
Jan 31st (I applied by their early deadline, normally would have had to commit by 3/1 but got an extension on the decision date)
Thank you. I interviewed with them a couple of weeks ago, and I like how the program is only one year. I want to eventually apply to PhD programs immediately after the mph so I like that I’m not in school that long. As far as it’s ranking, I don’t mind that very much because us news isn’t always the most accurate representation of mph programs.
 
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