MPH Fall 2016: Applied, Accepted, Waitlisted, Rejected!

[elephantpantz]

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Alright y'all, I have too many options (I'm the embodiment of Imposter's Syndrome and over-applied) and now I can't make up my mind.
Can I please ask your thoughts on the following:

My options are: UMich, Harvard, Columbia, UNC, Emory, Berkeley

-If I'm interested in applying my degree globally, do any of these schools have stronger or weaker ties internationally?
-If I'm not set on where I want to work afterwards, do any of these schools have limitations regarding career opportunities? (i.e., will UNC only help me secure a job in the research triangle?)
-Overall thoughts on programs? (I'm in all schools' Health Behavior programs, except for PopFam at Columbia and Global Health at Harvard)

Any thoughts are MUCH appreciated as I toil around this decision!!

 

[aprill0]

Hi, I'm considering going to UM and I've found that a lot of living arrangements in Ann Arbor are still a 15-20 minute walk from SPH. Whereas it's much cheaper to live in Ypsilanti and have a 15 minute drive to campus. As someone who would have to get used to the Michigan winters (I'm from NJ), I would prefer driving in a warm car for 15 minutes than walking and being cold. You should look into Ypsi housing. I've found two other girls on Craigslist who I'll potentially be sharing a house with and the rent is cheap--like $350-400 per month.

I don't honestly find the idea of driving to campus to be convenient, but I'm biased. It's a 15 minute drive (up to 30 if it's rush hour), then add time to get to the building itself. I can't attest to how feasible it is to find spots. Some students at the visit day mentioned commuting. They noted it was difficult but some students did it and that the parking after 4:30? may be free in some of the structures, but who knows what class schedules will be like. If you want to live in Ypsi, then live in Ypsi. Yes, it's cheaper, but it's cheaper for good reason.

Most of the Fuller Road lots are medical only. The street parking on the side streets off Geddes close to the school are mostly 2 hours only, so they're not an option. I think the buses are fairly frequent, at least, so that won't be too bad.

Also: The snow has not been that bad for the past several years all over the Midwest, so cross your fingers that the trend will continue. You'll feel single digits in Ann Arbor, but usually not lower than that. You'll have to be cold while you dig your car out of the snow and wait for the bus anyway.

There's a thread in the admitted students group talking about housing.

 

[nana2033]

Does any one know how big U-Michigans's HBHE program is in comparison to Emory's BSHE?

 

[PHAspirations]

Alright y'all, I have too many options (I'm the embodiment of Imposter's Syndrome and over-applied) and now I can't make up my mind.
Can I please ask your thoughts on the following:

My options are: UMich, Harvard, Columbia, UNC, Emory, Berkeley

-If I'm interested in applying my degree globally, do any of these schools have stronger or weaker ties internationally?
-If I'm not set on where I want to work afterwards, do any of these schools have limitations regarding career opportunities? (i.e., will UNC only help me secure a job in the research triangle?)
-Overall thoughts on programs? (I'm in all schools' Health Behavior programs, except for PopFam at Columbia and Global Health at Harvard)

Any thoughts are MUCH appreciated as I toil around this decision!!

Were you at Berkeley's Visit Day? Did we meet?

 

[dr.footprint]

Please clear my doubt-

Can i accept more than one University ?
If i accept a University offer letter cant i change my mind and accept another University later?
Please clarify.

 

[thenxoxo22]

go colorado! you only get this chance once in your life. Athens is a typical SEC, party, football school and can get pretty distracting... not to say that colorado's nature wont do the same... but if I were you, Id choose colorado!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Jglamour]

Please clear my doubt-

Can i accept more than one University ?
If i accept a University offer letter cant i change my mind and accept another University later?
Please clarify.

You can accept another university after their deadline but 1. You will no longer be guaranteed a spot, they may have taken people off the wait list or ran out of space 2. You will lose your deposit at the first school you accepted

 

[simmy92]

Hi! I'm new to this forum, and it seems I applied fairly late compared to most. Did anyone else apply to schools in February/March? Now that I have submitted apps I am anxiously awaiting news...

Undergrad School: Large state school
Undergrad GPA/Major GPA: 3.46/3.86
Major/Minor: Communication (with a focus on Health Communication)
GradGPA: n/a
Grad Studies: n/a
GRE: 170V/164Q/4.0AW
Experience/Research (please, be brief):
1 semester honors research assistant on a comm study
1 semester capstone research project on diabetes prevention (health comm)
1 year post gradation as a scheduling coordinator

Interested in: Epidemiology, chronic disease
Applied: UIC (2/1), WashU (2/27), University of Oklahoma (3/5), Tulane (3/6)
Accepted: UIC (3/7)
Rejected:
Waitlisted:

 

[amh2016]

Congratulations! This gives me a bit of hope! I thought for sure UNC taking this long to get back to me was a sign of a rejection. I'm still quite sure it is, but your acceptance today gives me a glimmer of possibility. What program did you apply to?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Sorry for the delayed response. Maternal and Child Health MPH.

 

[amh2016]

Rejected from Harvard today, but it's my only rejection so far so it's alright. Still a bit bummed though, that was my top choice.

 

[elephantpantz]

Were you at Berkeley's Visit Day? Did we meet?

lol yeah...so maybe...?! As you can see, I'm still undecided...I was really thrown off after learning that every single HSB current student did their summer practicum in the Bay Area. Seems like fewer global opportunities than compared to other schools.

 

[PHAspirations]

lol yeah...so maybe...?! As you can see, I'm still undecided...I was really thrown off after learning that every single HSB current student did their summer practicum in the Bay Area. Seems like fewer global opportunities than compared to other schools.

Yeah, I'd definitely say Berkeley isn't the best choice for global. I remember them saying that school-wide most people stay domestic for their internships. I didn't hear that bit about HSB people ALL staying in the Bay, but I left the breakout session early.

 

[sea123]

Alright y'all, I have too many options (I'm the embodiment of Imposter's Syndrome and over-applied) and now I can't make up my mind.
Can I please ask your thoughts on the following:

My options are: UMich, Harvard, Columbia, UNC, Emory, Berkeley

-If I'm interested in applying my degree globally, do any of these schools have stronger or weaker ties internationally?
-If I'm not set on where I want to work afterwards, do any of these schools have limitations regarding career opportunities? (i.e., will UNC only help me secure a job in the research triangle?)
-Overall thoughts on programs? (I'm in all schools' Health Behavior programs, except for PopFam at Columbia and Global Health at Harvard)

Any thoughts are MUCH appreciated as I toil around this decision!!

Harvard has the greatest global recognition of those schools.

 

[catscatscatscats]

Accepted to JHSPH MSPH/MI in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health!

 

[hnnrgh]

Is anyone actually considering BU, besides me? (aka who will I see at admitted student day?) They ended up giving me decent scholarships and need-based, so it is still a contender. I know Columbia is good but it is the same cost and just too huge of a school for me, with lesser focus on what I need.

 

[drewd1115]

Alright y'all, I have too many options (I'm the embodiment of Imposter's Syndrome and over-applied) and now I can't make up my mind.
Can I please ask your thoughts on the following:

My options are: UMich, Harvard, Columbia, UNC, Emory, Berkeley

-If I'm interested in applying my degree globally, do any of these schools have stronger or weaker ties internationally?
-If I'm not set on where I want to work afterwards, do any of these schools have limitations regarding career opportunities? (i.e., will UNC only help me secure a job in the research triangle?)
-Overall thoughts on programs? (I'm in all schools' Health Behavior programs, except for PopFam at Columbia and Global Health at Harvard)

Any thoughts are MUCH appreciated as I toil around this decision!!

I would say if you want to apply your degree internationally Harvard would be your best option out of the specific programs and schools you were accepted to. All of those schools have great ties internationally but I'm inclined to say Harvard because you were admitted to their Global Health program specifically. Just curious, why did you choose BSHE over Global Health at Emory?

 

[elephantpantz]

Yeah, I'd definitely say Berkeley isn't the best choice for global. I remember them saying that school-wide most people stay domestic for their internships. I didn't hear that bit about HSB people ALL staying in the Bay, but I left the breakout session early.

Yeah, it's too bad. Are you set on Cal? At the breakout session, a few current students also emphasized that since it's such a broad subject, you really need to go into the program knowing exactly what you want to focus on and go for it in terms of latching onto faculty with those research interests. And again, I'm not- I have a few interests that I'm trying to narrow down. Another concern of mine for Berkeley. But it sounds like such a great program otherwise, so it's tricky, haha.

 

[elephantpantz]

I would say if you want to apply your degree internationally Harvard would be your best option out of the specific programs and schools you were accepted to. All of those schools have great ties internationally but I'm inclined to say Harvard because you were admitted to their Global Health program specifically. Just curious, why did you choose BSHE over Global Health at Emory?

Hi drewd, thanks for the advice. I actually applied but was not accepted to Emory's GH program (and had listed BSHE as my second choice there). I've heard that BSHE students can still work with faculty in GH and that's where I'm also a bit stuck. UMich also seems to have a lot of great research opportunities, but I'm not sure if their network is as strong internationally. Would appreciate any insight on UMich, too;P

 

[moonwave89]

Is anyone actually considering BU, besides me? (aka who will I see at admitted student day?) They ended up giving me decent scholarships and need-based, so it is still a contender. I know Columbia is good but it is the same cost and just too huge of a school for me, with lesser focus on what I need.

I think those are the two main schools I'm ultimately deciding between. I also got a scholarship for BU but I didn't get one for Columbia. I'll have to wait and see what happens at Accepted Students Day next week, although I took a few classes at BU last year so I sort of know what to expect. What is your focus? BU recently changed it's MPH curriculum and it looks a lot like Columbia's.

 

[The_OG]

Don't you know I'm tryna make my final decisions, Yale?
I'm just sittin' here sippin' on a ginger ale
While you're stoppin' me like a guardrail

 

[wolverine34]

Is anyone still waiting on Yale?

Yessss!

 

[deleted716416]

Don't you know I'm tryna make my final decisions, Yale?
I'm just sittin' here sippin' on a ginger ale
While you're stoppin' me like a guardrail

Hahaha - Good luck!! 🙂

 

[pompousplatypus]

My two cents about the Berkeley visit day:

I attended both the Diversity Day and the SPH Admitted Day. Diversity Day left something to be desired—I walked away from it not feeling so sold on the place. I think a big reason for this is because it was a school-wide day, so admitted students from across all the departments were there. It was interesting to see the mix, but it definitely didn't give me a sense of how things would be specifically at the SPH and the information was a lot more general.

SPH Admitted Day is where I fell much more in love. Jason Corburn gave a presentation about his work, and it was the first academic presentation that's excited me in years (at my job, I see a LOT of them). The faculty/staff speakers weren't afraid to talk about the challenges the university faced, and I appreciated their willingness to tackle it head on rather than divert our attention from it.

The current students were super friendly and accessible, and I had a few good discussions with people from the HSB concentration that ranged from them really loving it to them having some significant issues with it. I appreciated their candor and openness to discussing the school's strengths and weaknesses—I felt like I got a really balanced view of the program and school overall.

The campus is gorgeous—not even the rain could get me down. People kept talking about how "awful" the weather was, and I was like, hmm. If this is as awful as it gets, sign me up!

EDIT: If this seems like a ramble, I'm sorry! Back at work after a red-eye home last night, so feeling a little discombobulated. Happy to elaborate or provide more info about specific questions.

What were a couple things that current students have issues with? Was there anything in particular that either sold or made you hesitant in accepting Berkeley's offer?

 

[nana2033]

Officially got rejected by Berkeley, but got an acceptance from Columbia today. So bittersweet!

 

[Bd01323]

Funnily enough, my 'expensive' school is also Colorado. I'm also thinking about going on for a PhD or MD. It's definitely a personal decision, but I've pretty much accepted my debt load and would rather go to the school I love instead of compromising because of cost. So, Colorado it is 🙂

Also, I'm glad you mentioned Colorado's aid release day, I've been wondering about that and I was going to email/call and find out.

Are you going to the visit day in April?

aid release day?... what is this???

 

[pompousplatypus]

congrats to everyone on their acceptances!

(Let me preface this by saying that I am not a fan of ranking schools, but...) for everyone accepted to a top 10 program according to the US News & World Report, how much debt are you willing to take out for your MPH or MS degree (assuming there are professors with similar research interests, there are a plethora of research institutes, you love the location, dig the curriculum, yadda yadda)? I will most likely be attending Berkeley this Fall and will have to shell out $37k for tuition and prob ~$1.2k/month for living expenses. Hopefully this price-tag is lowered when my cohort gets their financial aid package in April and if I can find a part-time job.

Is this silly? I am walking out of my undergrad without any debt and the thought of owing someone money is both foreign and scary. I'd like to think that I am investing in my career but would like some input on whether or there's a line people are drawing and saying that $X is objectively too much moolah.

 

[vlklngboy11]

Since my financial aid has been posted on Wolverine Access without a scholarship I guess it would be safe to assume that I didn't get a dean's scholarship?

 

[ceeattemptsmed]

Is anyone actually considering BU, besides me? (aka who will I see at admitted student day?) They ended up giving me decent scholarships and need-based, so it is still a contender. I know Columbia is good but it is the same cost and just too huge of a school for me, with lesser focus on what I need.

I will be at the one in April !

 

[member42892]

Is anyone actually considering BU, besides me? (aka who will I see at admitted student day?) They ended up giving me decent scholarships and need-based, so it is still a contender. I know Columbia is good but it is the same cost and just too huge of a school for me, with lesser focus on what I need.

I'm a BU alum and took a handful of classes at the school of public health. I have a lot of friends who did their MPHs there and had a wonderful experience. I've taken some courses and the faculty have been nothing short of incredibly kind and student focused. I've lived in Boston since and it is a great place for public health with many opportunities. You can find BUSPHers all over the world in great positions - most of my friends did their MPH at BU straight out of undergrad and went on to become epidemiologists for Boston Public Health Commission, consultants at Quintiles, researchers at NIH, etc. I think BU is very underrated but it is a tremendous place, especially if you want a very practice-based career. There may be a lot of undergrads because BU offers a combined BA/MPH. but there are also a fair amount of physicians and midcareer folks - it's a very diverse crowd. I really have nothing but good things to say about it! It is well regarded in the city if you want to stay here, as well as abroad. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about Boston or BU!

 

[Jro610]

Is anyone actually considering BU, besides me? (aka who will I see at admitted student day?) They ended up giving me decent scholarships and need-based, so it is still a contender. I know Columbia is good but it is the same cost and just too huge of a school for me, with lesser focus on what I need.

Me! I'll be at admitted student's day, too! I'm still deciding between the two.

 

[member42892]

Congratulations to everyone on their incredible achievements and acceptances! So excited for all that we are going to accomplish. I can't believe I even have this option, but I'm having a hard time choosing between Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Columbia and Yale. My aim is to work with an organization like the WHO and in global and maternal/child health. Does anyone have any insight into which of these schools would give my the best connections and opportunities based on my interests?

Hi! We have really similar interests and are deciding between a lot of the same schools! I don't know a lot about Columbia's program but I would say Harvard and JHU are a bit more known in global health. I've been trying to find resources at Yale for global health and they do have some institutes and a concentration, but not quite the same resources. However, the Yale alumni network goes across all degrees so that might be a big help.

 

[ZinnyT]

I feel your pain SO MUCH. Did your post say you were verified at the end of November? If so, you've been waiting longer than me, and the wait has been unbearable.

Its been agony! Thank you for calling and posting, I was literally going to call them today.

 

[ZinnyT]

Do you guys think they will give scholarship notifications along with the acceptance letters? I too just want to be put out of my misery lol, but UMich has given me a 50% scholarship so if I magically were accepted to UNC I'd want to know about scholarships sooner rather than later.
I just want to know where I'm going, ugh.

I'm in the same situation! I am SO happy with where I got accepted, but its hard to make a decision when you don't know all the possibilities.

 

[terrier1234]

Undergrad School: Boston University
Undergrad GPA: 3.7
Major/Minor: Psychology/Communication
GRE: 152 math, 157 writing, 4 essays
Experience/Research (please, be brief): 1 internship with a psychologist, 2 undergrad research assistant positions, 9 months of public health experience post-grad and part-time work throughout college

Applied: Columbia, BU, CUNY, UPitt, NYU (haven't heard back), Harvard
Accepted: Columbia (waitlisted then accepted), BU (offered scholarship), CUNY and UPitt
Rejected: Harvard

 

[sohel.dmc63]

Yessss!

It's more than 16 weeks here. My application was verified on the first week of November. But still I didn't hear back from them. I don't care about the decision anymore. Either acceptance or rejection, but I want my decision.

 

[jash14]

Accepted off the waitlist for Columbia!!!

 

[sun1212]

Yessss!

I heard from Yale today. You guys should hear from it soon. Just be patient!

 

[ec_lc1114]

Yeah, I'd definitely say Berkeley isn't the best choice for global. I remember them saying that school-wide most people stay domestic for their internships. I didn't hear that bit about HSB people ALL staying in the Bay, but I left the breakout session early.

I'm a little concerned about that as well - it sounded like the vast majority of students (maybe even across the school?) do their internships locally. There is a Global Health specialty area, though, which makes me think that it's possible to pursue global opportunities if you really want them. It might just not be as ingrained as at other schools. Either way, I came away really liking Berkeley and am close to making my final decision!

 

[han1234]

Undergrad School: Boston University
Undergrad GPA: 3.7
Major/Minor: Psychology/Communication
GRE: 152 math, 157 writing, 4 essays
Experience/Research (please, be brief): 1 internship with a psychologist, 2 undergrad research assistant positions, 9 months of public health experience post-grad and part-time work throughout college

Applied: Columbia, BU, CUNY, UPitt, NYU (haven't heard back), Harvard
Accepted: Columbia (waitlisted then accepted), BU (offered scholarship), CUNY and UPitt
Rejected: Harvard

If you don't mind me asking what department did you apply to at Harvard?

 

[moonwave89]

It's more than 16 weeks here. My application was verified on the first week of November. But still I didn't hear back from them. I don't care about the decision anymore. Either acceptance or rejection, but I want my decision.

Argh! That's my exact feeling with Berkeley. I submitted on 12/1, which was the deadline. Both acceptances and rejections have gone out but nothing over here. The admissions people did say they would have decisions out by mid-March.

 

[moonwave89]

Accepted off the waitlist for Columbia!!!

Congrats! Are they your top choice now? Glad you finally heard back from them!

 

[jash14]

Congrats! Are they your top choice now? Glad you finally heard back from them!

Thanks! Yes and I already live in NYC so its an easy transition 🙂
Will be accepting the place today!

 

[PHAspirations]

Could anyone speak to how well Columbia actually incorporates its social justice ideals into its curriculum? Maybe someone who attended their recent visit day, like @Jglamour, @judy03 or @moonwave89? This is a big factor for me and something I'm trying to parse out over all the schools I've applied to. Thanks so much! 🙂

 

[PHAspirations]

I'm a little concerned about that as well - it sounded like the vast majority of students (maybe even across the school?) do their internships locally. There is a Global Health specialty area, though, which makes me think that it's possible to pursue global opportunities if you really want them. It might just not be as ingrained as at other schools. Either way, I came away really liking Berkeley and am close to making my final decision!

I liked it a lot, too! The only bummer is that, at this moment, it's definitely the most expensive school for me to attend (even Columbia is coming out cheaper with scholarship!). I know they haven't released all forms of fellowships/scholarships, so my fingers are still crossed.

 

[PHAspirations]

Argh! That's my exact feeling with Berkeley. I submitted on 12/1, which was the deadline. Both acceptances and rejections have gone out but nothing over here. The admissions people did say they would have decisions out by mid-March.

I hope they tell you soon!

 

[PHAspirations]

congrats to everyone on their acceptances!

(Let me preface this by saying that I am not a fan of ranking schools, but...) for everyone accepted to a top 10 program according to the US News & World Report, how much debt are you willing to take out for your MPH or MS degree (assuming there are professors with similar research interests, there are a plethora of research institutes, you love the location, dig the curriculum, yadda yadda)? I will most likely be attending Berkeley this Fall and will have to shell out $37k for tuition and prob ~$1.2k/month for living expenses. Hopefully this price-tag is lowered when my cohort gets their financial aid package in April and if I can find a part-time job.

Is this silly? I am walking out of my undergrad without any debt and the thought of owing someone money is both foreign and scary. I'd like to think that I am investing in my career but would like some input on whether or there's a line people are drawing and saying that $X is objectively too much moolah.

We are in the exact same boat. I am so grateful that I managed to get scholarships to cover my undergrad, and it's terrifying to think about taking out loans.

It does seem like a lot of students at Berkeley cover at least some of their expenses with GSI (graduate student instructor) or GSR (graduate student researcher)-ships, but I didn't get a great sense of how difficult it actually is to get those positions. Everyone made it very clear that you have to hustle, which I'm happy to do, but it would suck to hustle hard and still strike out. 🙁

 

[PHAspirations]

Yeah, it's too bad. Are you set on Cal? At the breakout session, a few current students also emphasized that since it's such a broad subject, you really need to go into the program knowing exactly what you want to focus on and go for it in terms of latching onto faculty with those research interests. And again, I'm not- I have a few interests that I'm trying to narrow down. Another concern of mine for Berkeley. But it sounds like such a great program otherwise, so it's tricky, haha.

I'm coming in with a handful of interests, too, though I can pick out one or two faculty that I'd really like to work with.

It is a bit overwhelming to consider that all of these programs are only two years, so if it takes you your first full year to solidify your interests, you only have one more to really tackle what you want. I'm taking a closer look at Columbia for this reason, because it seems like their core curriculum is intense but will also help you figure out VERY quickly what it is you really want to do if you're uncertain. Not sure if it's good for people like me, who are not completely undecided but not entirely set either. 😛

 

[Stories]

We are in the exact same boat. I am so grateful that I managed to get scholarships to cover my undergrad, and it's terrifying to think about taking out loans.

It does seem like a lot of students at Berkeley cover at least some of their expenses with GSI (graduate student instructor) or GSR (graduate student researcher)-ships, but I didn't get a great sense of how difficult it actually is to get those positions. Everyone made it very clear that you have to hustle, which I'm happy to do, but it would suck to hustle hard and still strike out. 🙁

This sort of financial prudence is smart--and considering the amount of loans needed is an important aspect that I believe a lot of people over look. Nearly everyone will have loans, and going to grad school, you'll likely have far more loans than anyone else who doesn't go to grad school. So depending on your peer group, you may be having different conversations.

Here's my advice--look at what your career means to you. Understand in terms of your life's goals where does career stand. The more important your career is to your life the more I would consider going to a program that can help you achieve those goals, even if it's a little bit more expensive than another program.

Then consider the financial windfall from your career relative to the loans you'll have to pay back. Consider how these loans you'll have to pay will be relative to your other life goals (i.e. family, house, geographic location living expenses). I think you'll find a monthly payment that will be comfortable for you based on all those factors.

It's not an easy task--especially this early on in your career/education. But thinking about it to this point is better to get an idea of where you might stand in a few years when you're working and paying off $xxxx in loans.

 

[hoping4mph2016]

Waitlisted at Yale today! Does anyone know anything about wait lists, like if there is an actual possibility of getting in? I think Yale is a pretty small program and it seems unlikely, so I might just ignore it and treat it like a rejection 😛

 

[jash14]

Waitlisted at Yale today! Does anyone know anything about wait lists, like if there is an actual possibility of getting in? I think Yale is a pretty small program and it seems unlikely, so I might just ignore it and treat it like a rejection 😛

I don't know specifically about Yale but a lot of people have just gotten in off the Columbia waitlist, and the longer you stay on the waitlist the more likely you are to get off it. You just want to know how many people are likely to turn down Yale really. I think a lot of people turn down expensive schools, so that will be a factor to consider.