When you got your decision they should have sent you either a form or a link to a web form to use to submit your decision. If you can't find it just ask the admissions department how to submit your enrollment decision.
MPH Fall 2015: Applied, Accepted, Waitlisted, Rejected!
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On that note, does anyone have any advice on what the protocol should be for letting offers go? Financial aid is going to be a huge factor in where I end up going, so I have my top two choices but I'm somewhat holding out on making a decision until I see more full financial packages. Does it make a huge difference for those on waitlist if we wait a bit or should you let an offer go sooner rather than later?
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If you've been accepted to schools that you know you will definitely not be attending, you can start by declining offers from them. But it does makes sense to wait before rejecting any offers until you've heard back from the rest of the schools that you could possibly attend and comparing what each one has to offer financially.
I don't know much about the waitlist process, but I think it does make a difference to those on the list in a sense that they could possibly find out sooner whether they have been admitted off of it or not. Also gives them time to plan, secure accommodation, and for international students, it gives them more time to secure a visa in time for the start of the semester. A lot of schools have a deadline, and some students who are admitted later are forced to defer for a semester or a year
Did anyone get accepted to Mt. Sinai? My SOPHAS was verified on 1/30/2015 and so far no word from them yet. I'm getting worried, this is my first choice. I noticed that they usually give their replies within 2 to 3 weeks. 🙁 maybe it's a bad sign that I'm waiting this long for a reply.
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I applied to Mt. Sinai in early November and received my acceptance in late November. I wouldn't worry if you haven't heard yet. Admissions offices are really busy right now since we are kind of in the thick of acceptances. I hope you hear something soon!
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I was thinking the same I know it's been less than a week since my interview but i guess it did say online they'll be letting us know in March...
Does anyone know more about Columbia's interview process? Is it just a formality? Do you have to do absolutely horrible not to get an offer? Or is it more like UMich's interview process rigorous in a sense where you need to bring something to the table before you can sit with the big kids...
Maybe I'm overthinking this lol
I am freaking out as well! However, I called on Monday and they said that if we don't hear back by Friday we will find out in midMarch. I just want the wait to be over!!!
Thank you! This is really helpful. I wasn't sure if adcoms are continually updating the waitlist as people accept/decline or if they wait until after April 15, but I'm hoping it's the former. 🙂
When was your interview? And by this Friday?!
I was interviewed in January and when I talked to the office recently they said that no decision was made on my application yet. I think it's just taking them time to go through things, because I know a few others that have applied and haven't heard back yet.
The person I spoke to said that she would send out notices as she got them, so if not by this week then next month.
Good luck!
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Even though UNC told me they're sending out decisions by the end of next week, I am still obsessively checking my email. This process is not fun at all. I'm really not looking forward to applying again for PhD programs in a couple of years (then post docs, then jobs).
speaking of the whole letting universities know you are declining so wait list people can move up. I've gotten 4 offers so far, 2 of which Im pretty sure that I wont be attending.. there is no way to submit a an enrollment "decision" (declining offer), all they give u is a link to accept, nothing to decline. So I guess a short and sweet email to my department contact should be the appropriate step, right?
No one will hold it against you..
Just a short sweet email thanking them for their time however you have decided to attend another university for personal reasons or just attending another university
And that's it
Just a short sweet email thanking them for their time however you have decided to attend another university for personal reasons or just attending another university
And that's it
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I was verified late November and I just happened to log-in last week to see that a decision had been made. I didn't receive an e-mail notification so I would recommend logging-in to the 'Admissions Login' page frequently 🙂
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That's odd that you didn't receive e-mail notification. I received my notification via e-mail about a week before it appeared on the online portal.
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Hey guys I'm a long time lurker and I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I was accepted into both of my dream schools which are Columbia and Emory. As if making a decision between those two schools wasn't hard enough, I was recently given a scholarship for Stony Brook University for a full ride plus a ten thousand dollar a year stipend. I'm aware that Stony Brook's program is really new (I believe it was made within the past three years) and so their program's name isn't well known. However, I have no doubt that I would be given a great education there. However, at this point in time it sadly isn't as well known as I stated before. I'm completely lost and don't know what to do. Any advice? Thanks!
I would advise you to go with one of your dream schools only because you can pay off your school debt in the long run due to the recognition those institutions have ( the connections you will make; job opportunities offered because of the long time connections that have been made between the university and surruonding organizations) . But I understand how expensive graduate school tuition is... I would say go with your gut but remember not to settle!
Congrats!!! I'm a big stickler on ranking! Names say a lot about the University, Culture, Opportunities etc... Which program did you get accepted too? I would choose between Emory and Columbia definitely see where you want to live. GA and NYC two different cities and culture, but both exceptional schools!
See where you want to build your connections and future, unless its in neither city hehe then it may be a bit hard.
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Thank you! I was thinking the same thing. I really appreciate it.
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They are all for the health policy and management programs. I'm from New York City and wanted a change of scenery but I still love New York and don't mind staying especially for a great opportunity in a great program. It is a tough decision but I absolutely agree with your input. Thank you so much for your input and the congratulations. It's very appreciated. 🙂
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Log into OPUS and towards the bottom it says view admission decision. When yoy click on it there should be a link and when you click the link the decision will be there.
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Hahaha I know how it is. Thank you and good luck to you as well! ☺️
Incredibily happy today. Been given a Fulbright scholarship worth $45,000 to come to the US.
In conjunction with the 50% scholarship Johns Hopkins have offered me, I'm sorted to go to Baltimore.
Yet to hear from Harvard, I asked for an accelerated decision when I applied, and I'm sure they won't provide me with any money. The more I ask people in the UK, the more I'm being told by people that as an international student even with the current funding difference, it would be worth my while going to Harvard...
Just wondering what the viewpoint of Americans is...
My stats are below for reference.
In conjunction with the 50% scholarship Johns Hopkins have offered me, I'm sorted to go to Baltimore.
Yet to hear from Harvard, I asked for an accelerated decision when I applied, and I'm sure they won't provide me with any money. The more I ask people in the UK, the more I'm being told by people that as an international student even with the current funding difference, it would be worth my while going to Harvard...
Just wondering what the viewpoint of Americans is...
My stats are below for reference.
Hey, there. I kind of wanted to share my thoughts on this as I struggled for a bit with a similar dilemma. I would recommend using the faculty and their backgrounds to help make your decision. For a field like HPM, connections are going to mean a lot. Who you know is a big part of getting a job, probably bigger than the school you go to. People who have done the work you hope to do one day will help you to gain the skills necessary to do the job AND can connect you with the people who can get you that job.
Congratulations and good luck!
What
what do you want to do after this degree? Will it be your terminal degree? I think that's the most important factor.
I think this is great advice. The faculty and the attention you get from them can be as important as ranking. Getting a stipend offer for your MPH is extraordinarily rare and suggests that this program is ready to invest in you and your success. I would go visit, meet with plenty of faculty and current students, and see if you can identify a clear mentor there. Ideally, this clear mentor would have attended one of the high-ranked, well-networked programs themselves and thus would serve as a conduit to information and opportunities for you despite the young age of the program. If you can't identify a mentor, then consider dropping the free ride.
I'm older than a lot of people on this board (early 30s) and have been working in health research for several years. Few people get rich with an MPH alone. The opportunity to get the degree you want debt-free might liberate you to take more career risks in the future: accept that fellowship to manage a team in India or Brazil, take that job at the startup that might be the next big thing and make your career *or* might fail in two years, move to a new city because you want to explore new places. The freedom to take calculated risks is an important ingredient in great careers and it's a lot easier to do when you don't have looming debt.
Harvard and Johns Hopkins are both considered elite schools in the US. Attending either would be just as prestigious as the other. JHS has what is considered the top ranked MPH program as of 2011. Harvard is considered #3. Either is an excellent choice and I would probably choose JHS if I were you, if Harvard doesn't give you funding. Boston is an extremely expensive place to live on top of tuition. I live in the US so I'm not sure what the name brand recognition is abroad for Johns Hopkins, but I'd imagine it'd be pretty close to Harvard and Yale.
I don't know anything about Stony Brook. I'd say really do your research. Depending on the faculty members, you may have some really great opportunities in a smaller program. As others have said, you'll want to go where you can get some quality time with faculty members and develop solid connections. Both Emory and Columbia are outstanding, but they are both larger programs and it is going to be more difficult to get 1:1 time with faculty. Plus the stipend is a huge consideration. It's going to come down to a pro/con list based on what is important to you. Not a bad position to be in. Good luck!!
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In the same boat. Called a few times and they keep saying 1-2 weeks.
Spoke too soon. Just got in! Good luck to everyone still waiting.
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Thank you! You are absolutely right. I thought about the quality of the faculty, but I didn't think to research about the faculty in regards to what connections they may have in my field. That is a very good point that I will definitely use to help me decide. That was extremely helpful. Thank you so much and good luck to you!
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After this degree I would like to go to nursing school, which definitely does play a role. However, even with this, the decision has still been kind of tough.
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You guys are awesome on this thread. Yeah that's another thing that I was worried about. Im kind of scared about student to faculty ratios for Columbia and Emory. The size of the classes at Stony Brook is definitely a pro as well as the money and I know that the education will be good, but like you said I'll just have to go to the drawing board and make a big pros and cons list after I've done thorough research. Thank you. You guys are so wonderful and helpful. I truly appreciate it and good luck to you as well! 🙂
I personally would go where the money is and get really involved with the faculty and research if applicable to what you want to do. If you are confident that you will receive a great education I would go for it.
I still think you would be very competitive for admission to nursing school with a degree from Stony Brook. If you were going onto a PhD program in public health, I think Emory or Columbia would increase your chances of getting into a top program.
I am facing this same dilemma. I got into the PhD program at Buffalo, which would be dirt cheap (relatively speaking) and a faster route to my PhD, as well as Albany's master's program (a cheap route to a masters degree). I also got into both Emory and Columbia, as well as the University of Washington (cheaper than private schools, but still out of state tuition) Since I want to go onto a PhD program in the public health field, I am leaning toward the stronger programs, simply because I would come out more competitive for admission to top programs.
That being said, the idea of taking out a huge loan (on top of my existing undergraduate loans) is simply terrifying. I have talked to a few professors in their mid-30's with upwards of 80K in loans. That would really affect quality of life (ability to get loans for house, car, etc).
The money issue is so important!! If you're going onto nursing school, I think you will be fine with a degree from a less prestigious school and you'll be starting off with fewer loans. If I were in your shoes, I would probably pick Stony Brook.
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Still waiting on Hopkins here. I'm going to the Emory thing tonight in DC. Anybody else?
Hi,
Im currently a Stony brook undergrad and I know a little about the program. I applied out to other schools because I was sure I could gain a better education for an mph elsewhere along with better research/practicums. The mph is very new and many of the students in it come from Stony brook undergrad and this might sound mean but they are students who didn't know what they wanted to do so they just applied into the mph. Or are doing the mph until they get into Stony brook med. Truthfully, I don't think the program is worth the time. A full ride is hard to argue against anywhere really haha. The program is small and if your interests match with the work going on/professors projects then that's a definitive plus. The school isn't really close enough to NYC to be useful for internships or part time jobs with public health work in the city. Columbia would offer more in regards to that.
I'm hope some of this helps!
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You make some very, very valid points. lol this is why this is so hard because there's a lot of sense in all of the suggestions that I've been hearing. Like you've pointed out, I would still be a competitive applicant for nursing school and the money issue is extremely important. It's just so much to weigh out but you guys have seriously been helping me out. All of these view points are definitely being considered.
Congratulations to you and your acceptances! I personally think that the best choice for you will be to go to one of the schools with more prestige. I know how scary these loans are but it will ABSOLUTELY be more beneficial to you in the long run. With the name and your great work ethic (as im sure you have from your current acceptances), you will be able to enter a great PhD program. With the PhD under your belt you will be able to make the money back and repay your loans. I have no doubt. The connections will leave you in a great position. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and take the leap. Once again congratulations on your choices and good luck! I will definitely be taking your suggestions into consideration as well so thank you!
Hey everyone! I've been lurking this thread since I submitted my applications in December, and I was wondering if anyone had any insight or opinions about Pitt's MPH program and it's reputation (specifically their Behavioral and Community Health Sciences concentration).
