MPH Fall 2018: Applied, Accepted, Waitlisted, Rejected!

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I’m in between Pitt and UMD right now, and I’m having the worst time deciding. On one hand, Pitt has a really great program and I really pictured myself going there. Coming from a small town, going to a school in the middle of a large city sounded really cool. Throughout the application process Pitt and BU were my top places (I eliminated BU already though). But now I’m heavily considering UMD right now because of its proximity to DC. I thought it might help with making connections in the field and possibly help with getting better internships. And living near DC would be pretty cool, even if the campus isn’t IN the city. I’ve also seen that they have small class sizes, which I thought might be helpful. So now I’m leaning towards UMD. Does anyone have any advice because I’m really torn between these two schools! Any input about either of these schools would be very appreciated🙁
 
Rblay43 said:
I’m in between Pitt and UMD right now, and I’m having the worst time deciding. On one hand, Pitt has a really great program and I really pictured myself going there. Coming from a small town, going to a school in the middle of a large city sounded really cool. Throughout the application process Pitt and BU were my top places (I eliminated BU already though). But now I’m heavily considering UMD right now because of its proximity to DC. I thought it might help with making connections in the field and possibly help with getting better internships. And living near DC would be pretty cool, even if the campus isn’t IN the city. I’ve also seen that they have small class sizes, which I thought might be helpful. So now I’m leaning towards UMD. Does anyone have any advice because I’m really torn between these two schools! Any input about either of these schools would be very appreciated🙁
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Do you have aid from any either?
 
Dmohr21 said:
Do you have aid from any either?
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I qualify to apply for a scholarship from Pitt, but it’s only given to 2 students I think. UMD hasn’t offered anything either and they both cost about the same with similar cost of living. UMD would probably be better for my fiancé job-wise with the career he’s in (we’ll be married by then). But he’s said he’ll go wherever I want to go.
 
Rblay43 said:
I qualify to apply for a scholarship from Pitt, but it’s only given to 2 students I think. UMD hasn’t offered anything either and they both cost about the same with similar cost of living. UMD would probably be better for my fiancé job-wise with the career he’s in (we’ll be married by then). But he’s said he’ll go wherever I want to go.
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I'd go to UMD. They're closer to D.C. plus there are just more public health opportunities. I'm not super aware of their program though.
 
Dmohr21 said:
I'd go to UMD. They're closer to D.C. plus there are just more public health opportunities. I'm not super aware of their program though.
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That’s what I was thinking. From what I’ve heard about a lot of these programs the connections can be even more important than where you go in reference to prestige and names and everything. I could get a decent education right here in my hometown but there would be zero connections that would be worthwhile. Thanks for the input! I’m visiting the campus next weekend so maybe that’ll help me make a decision too.
 
Rblay43 said:
That’s what I was thinking. From what I’ve heard about a lot of these programs the connections can be even more important than where you go in reference to prestige and names and everything. I could get a decent education right here in my hometown but there would be zero connections that would be worthwhile. Thanks for the input! I’m visiting the campus next weekend so maybe that’ll help me make a decision too.
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I totally agree. I love the University of Wisconsin and wouldn't mind spending another two years here to earn my MPH. However, they only offer a generalist track (but they have an MS in epi that I applied to as well) and really have no public health connections besides the new vector borne disease center the CDC is funding.
 
Lady MacBeth said:
@leela_123 @LG0331 For some reason the message system on here isn't letting us add more people. We're trying to figure out a new medium to use for communicating, so we'll keep you guys posted
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If you're all comfortable with it, you could PM each other your email addresses or use Facebook messenger to communicate if the message system is being wonky.

Edit: Never mind, didn't see the new posts.
 
Rblay43 said:
I’m in between Pitt and UMD right now, and I’m having the worst time deciding. On one hand, Pitt has a really great program and I really pictured myself going there. Coming from a small town, going to a school in the middle of a large city sounded really cool. Throughout the application process Pitt and BU were my top places (I eliminated BU already though). But now I’m heavily considering UMD right now because of its proximity to DC. I thought it might help with making connections in the field and possibly help with getting better internships. And living near DC would be pretty cool, even if the campus isn’t IN the city. I’ve also seen that they have small class sizes, which I thought might be helpful. So now I’m leaning towards UMD. Does anyone have any advice because I’m really torn between these two schools! Any input about either of these schools would be very appreciated🙁
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I’ve lived in the Maryland area my whole life and I live about 15 minutes away from College park where UMD is. And even though it’s not renowned for its Public Health program, the connections are on point simply because it’s about a 20 minute drive from DC and there’s a metro line that connects the campus to downtown (the green line) so it’s super convenient to go back and fourth. But be warned, College Park is isn’t the greatest and can be a bit sketchy at times but there’s a huge student population that makes up for it with a great restaurant scene and bar scene. Plus there’s an IKEA literally five minutes away from the campus!!

A lot of people I know who studied PH got really amazing internships at HHS, FDA (which is in White Oak, MD) — only 10 minutes away from college park), CMS, and a variety of nonprofits that are based in DC while they were studying. I work at a small nonprofit right now and three of our interns were from UMD and we hired them immediately after they graduated undergrad and they were paid very well during their internship too. Let me reiterate, There are SO many PAID internship opportunities in DC - you just need to know where to look and it’s all about making connections in this city. Interning at a renowned organization will open many many doors for your future endeavors.

Also, If you say that you are studying at UMD in the DC metro area, people respect the school a lot and will give you a one up on your resume. It is a fantastic school and highly prestigious in this area, and really good to have on your resume especially if you want to stay in the DC metro area. Also, something that a lot of people don’t realize is how easy it is to travel from Maryland - DC - Virginia. It’s very easy to get a public health Job/internship In these three states and very convenient to travel back and fourth on the metro. Just my two cents and I may be a bit biased since it’s my hometown but feel like it’s a great place to start your P.H. career - I started my public health career in DC and I now know many CEOs and Directors on a first name basis because of the sheer amount of people you meet here. Plus the campus is gorgeous!!
 
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skcolley said:
For anyone contemplating long distance or questioning how your relationship factors into your decision, I'd just like to chime in that it is absolutely possible to do long distance and can be worth it for the right person or the right program! My now-husband and I were very long distance (England to USA) for over three years while we were finishing our undergrad degrees. As you can imagine, it was very trying/difficult/expensive but definitely not impossible. I think I would have felt a lot of resentment (in retrospect) if I had prioritized our relationship during that time and had sacrificed my goals. It also helped us grow independently during the all-important, formative early-20s and helped us develop our communication skills. We've been together nearly nine years now and married for two...our relationship is so much stronger because of that difficult time and we are less apt to take our time together for granted. If you are with someone who is important to you, supportive of you, and you both create a plan of action together then it's totally doable!
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So glad to hear some success stories, definitely encouraging!
I totally agree. Although I have only been with my partner for 1 year and a half but we have been doing long distance for a full year after we met. He is currently completing his master's program in England, while I am in Canada working. He is super supportive of my goals to complete my master's degree as well because we both know this will be beneficial in the long run both personally and as a couple, i.e. career and finances. Somehow it isn't as hard as people say it is. I think the key is we have 1000% trust in each other, not a second of hesitation that we want to be together with the goal of spending the rest of our lives together. We also put in conscious effort to talk almost daily even if it is just for 10 min before bed. ( note we have a 8hour time difference, day and night basically). I don't doubt that life is unpredictable, and it's hard to say what will happen within the next 2 years, but I'm also not afraid of taking the risk for the better. And honestly, 2-3 years is nothing compared to the lifetime you will have together.
 
Sth1022 said:
I’ve lived in the Maryland area my whole life and I live about 15 minutes away from College park where UMD is. And even though it’s not renowned for its Public Health program, the connections are on point simply because it’s about a 20 minute drive from DC and there’s a metro line that connects the campus to downtown (the green line) so it’s super convenient to go back and fourth. But be warned, College Park is isn’t the greatest and can be a bit sketchy at times but there’s a huge student population that makes up for it with a great restaurant scene and bar scene. Plus there’s an IKEA literally five minutes away from the campus!!

A lot of people I know who studied PH got really amazing internships at HHS, FDA (which is in White Oak, MD) — only 10 minutes away from college park), CMS, and a variety of nonprofits that are based in DC while they were studying. I work at a small nonprofit right now and three of our interns were from UMD and we hired them immediately after they graduated undergrad and they were paid very well during their internship too. Let me reiterate, There are SO many PAID internship opportunities in DC - you just need to know where to look and it’s all about making connections in this city. Interning at a renowned organization will open many many doors for your future endeavors.

Also, If you say that you are studying at UMD in the DC metro area, people respect the school a lot and will give you a one up on your resume. It is a fantastic school and highly prestigious in this area, and really good to have on your resume especially if you want to stay in the DC metro area. Also, something that a lot of people don’t realize is how easy it is to travel from Maryland - DC - Virginia. It’s very easy to get a public health Job/internship In these three states and very convenient to travel back and fourth on the metro. Just my two cents and I may be a bit biased since it’s my hometown but feel like it’s a great place to start your P.H. career - I started my public health career in DC and I now know many CEOs and Directors on a first name basis because of the sheer amount of people you meet here. Plus the campus is gorgeous!!
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Thank you for the info! That’s really helpful. And the IKEA has virtually sold me! Lol jk but seriously, it’s good to know all the info about the internships. It’s highly likely I would end up staying in the area so it’s great to know about all the opportunities there. And the idea of a paid internship sounds amazing. Thank you so much for the advice!
 
So how valuable is admitted student day? I live in Vancouver right now, working a full time job. Between taking time off and travel expenses, is it really worth it to fly out to the east coast ( JHU or Columbia)? It seems that it is just there to give me a visual impression of the campus and see if I like the vibe there...
 
Hi all! Long time lurker, first time poster. I'm wondering if anyone has insight re UNC (Health Behavior) and Brown (concentration undecided) MPH decision timelines? I know it's been staggered and some people have heard already - has anyone heard from Admissions re a plan for a calendar? Thank you.
 
yvyi said:
So how valuable is admitted student day? I live in Vancouver right now, working a full time job. Between taking time off and travel expenses, is it really worth it to fly out to the east coast ( JHU or Columbia)? It seems that it is just there to give me a visual impression of the campus and see if I like the vibe there...
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I would consider admitted students day fairly valuable. There are certain things you can't get from simply looking at pictures and stalking their websites. It also gives you a chance to meet the faculty and current students and talk with them in person about campus life, your program/concentration...ect. As opposed to emailing a lot of people within the school/department and getting little to no responses. At a lot of admitted student days, there will be different clubs and organizations that will be advertising at the event and you can get a good idea or glimpse of what you want to join once the school year starts! 🙂
 
Hi all,

I have been accepted into Columbia's Epi MPH and JHU's school wide MPH. I am having a little difficulty in choosing between the two programs. I know that just looking at rankings, Hopkins is high than Columbia, but I am seriously worried about the program differences itself. The Hopkins program is 1 year, vs Columbia's which is 2 years. In order for one to apply to the Hopkins MPH, you have to have at least 2 years of related public health work experience after obtaining your undergraduate degree, or already hold another graduate degree (MD/MS etc.). So now I wonder if prospective jobs may not hold the 1 year degree program to the same value as a 2 year degree program that most other schools have? Also, I know that both schools have high employment rates out of the program, but given that most of the students in the Hopkins program may have already held a related job position before joining JHU, they may just return with whichever company/organization they've been working with before they started their MPH. So does that mean that recruitment at JHU is not as strong and structured as it would be at Columbia? I'm just worried I won't be able to secure a job if i go to JHU. Any insights would be super helpful! I'm going to visit JHU for admitted students day in a few weeks and pick their brains about this as well, but I would love to hear your thoughts!
 
Hey everyone, I have kind of a strange situation and was thinking maybe someone could give me some insight.
So, during my junior year spring semester (Spring 2016), I studied abroad through an exchange program run by an outside institution (KEI) but all of the credits transferred directly to my university. I was at an Irish university and during the summer after I returned, I received what I assumed was an "official transcript." SOPHAS and all of the other schools I applied to didn't require me to submit a transcript from my semester abroad bc the credits were reflected directly on my home institution transcript. SDSU requested the transcript after my file had been moved to the program. So, I sent this transcript I received. My portal has just updated and now says
“Required - unofficial transcript received, official is required."
I realize the transcript they sent me looks low key fake bc the university is so small and schools abroad are just so much different than in the states, but it is literally signed by the president. I reached out to my program coordinator from KEI and am waiting for a response.
Have any of you all dealt with a similar issue? I'm just nervous that they don't have a more official transcript than this. SDSU is one of my top choices right now and my application has really been held up because of this.
Thanks everyone hopefully someone has some idea what I should do!
 
macko126 said:
Hey everyone, I have kind of a strange situation and was thinking maybe someone could give me some insight.
So, during my junior year spring semester (Spring 2016), I studied abroad through an exchange program run by an outside institution (KEI) but all of the credits transferred directly to my university. I was at an Irish university and during the summer after I returned, I received what I assumed was an "official transcript." SOPHAS and all of the other schools I applied to didn't require me to submit a transcript from my semester abroad bc the credits were reflected directly on my home institution transcript. SDSU requested the transcript after my file had been moved to the program. So, I sent this transcript I received. My portal has just updated and now says
“Required - unofficial transcript received, official is required."
I realize the transcript they sent me looks low key fake bc the university is so small and schools abroad are just so much different than in the states, but it is literally signed by the president. I reached out to my program coordinator from KEI and am waiting for a response.
Have any of you all dealt with a similar issue? I'm just nervous that they don't have a more official transcript than this. SDSU is one of my top choices right now and my application has really been held up because of this.
Thanks everyone hopefully someone has some idea what I should do!
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Once a transcript has been opened by a student, it is no longer considered “official.” Did you send them the transcript from KEI, or did KEI send it directly to the schools? If it’s the former, you may need to request that the latter happen.
 
Does anyone know which schools provide travel funds for accepted students wanting to attend accepted student days or orientations?
 
Hi everyone! I'm extremely anxious about hearing back from schools..
Undergrad: CSUF
Major: Sociology
GPA: overall 3.6 major:3.75
GRE: 148(v) 148 (q)
Experience: 200 hours at UCI medical center as a patient experience intern/ 200 hours at East West Medical center working as a health admin intern

I know my GRE isn't very strong, but I am hoping they look at other aspects of my application.
I applied to UCLA (rejected), UC Berkeley MPH policy and management, USC MPH, SDSU MPH policy and management, UCI MPH sociocultural diversity, and USC MHA.
What do you guys think about my chances of getting in?
 
x0n said:
I’m just a really bad test taker 🙁 I don’t do well on standardized exams and I was really hoping schools would overlook that and look more so into other components of my apps, just like undergrad. But idk.

Does anyone have recommendations on schools I can apply to? With my given situation. Waiting on CUNY and Mount Sinai as of rn.
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I'm also a bad test taker. Been an avid reader and writer for years, but with dyslexia, those verbal questions always get me (scored a 310 in verbal last time). I've applied to a number of CEPH-accredited online programs that don't require the GRE. Here are some of them: NYU SDG online MPH (new last year), UMASS MPH online, Northwestern MSGH, and Dartmouth MPH. None of these programs allow for a concentration, but have electives that you can fill with say Epi courses.

EDIT: Also, pretty much all of the elite schools across the pond (ie London School of Hygiene) don't require standardized test scores as well.
 
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ninz54 said:
Hi all,

I have been accepted into Columbia's Epi MPH and JHU's school wide MPH. I am having a little difficulty in choosing between the two programs. I know that just looking at rankings, Hopkins is high than Columbia, but I am seriously worried about the program differences itself. The Hopkins program is 1 year, vs Columbia's which is 2 years. In order for one to apply to the Hopkins MPH, you have to have at least 2 years of related public health work experience after obtaining your undergraduate degree, or already hold another graduate degree (MD/MS etc.). So now I wonder if prospective jobs may not hold the 1 year degree program to the same value as a 2 year degree program that most other schools have? Also, I know that both schools have high employment rates out of the program, but given that most of the students in the Hopkins program may have already held a related job position before joining JHU, they may just return with whichever company/organization they've been working with before they started their MPH. So does that mean that recruitment at JHU is not as strong and structured as it would be at Columbia? I'm just worried I won't be able to secure a job if i go to JHU. Any insights would be super helpful! I'm going to visit JHU for admitted students day in a few weeks and pick their brains about this as well, but I would love to hear your thoughts!
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You are overthinking this. Employers care that you have the degree not how long it took you to obtain said degree. While some students at JHU may be planning to return to employers, I would expect that is not the case for most people. I am not aware of any public health employers that would be paying for someone's degree so the motivation for one to return to a former employer is not that high. While everyone at JHU has some work experience, I would expect most students are trying to trade up and obtain a better position than the one they currently have (or one in a new field). I would go to admitted student days at BOTH schools and ask about recruiting and job opportunities.
 
MidnightCafe said:
I know that UMich and Emory does. If anyone one else know another one, please add!
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Columbia doesn’t - I checked! Am wondering if JHU offers travel stipends, as well.

Oh, and for UMich, this is the response I got when I enquired:

“In regards to travel funds for Admitted Student Day, you will want to connect with Jackie Cormany, [email protected].“

Hope this helps anyone who’s curious!
 
skcolley said:
For anyone contemplating long distance or questioning how your relationship factors into your decision, I'd just like to chime in that it is absolutely possible to do long distance and can be worth it for the right person or the right program! My now-husband and I were very long distance (England to USA) for over three years while we were finishing our undergrad degrees. As you can imagine, it was very trying/difficult/expensive but definitely not impossible. I think I would have felt a lot of resentment (in retrospect) if I had prioritized our relationship during that time and had sacrificed my goals. It also helped us grow independently during the all-important, formative early-20s and helped us develop our communication skills. We've been together nearly nine years now and married for two...our relationship is so much stronger because of that difficult time and we are less apt to take our time together for granted. If you are with someone who is important to you, supportive of you, and you both create a plan of action together then it's totally doable!
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yvyi said:
So glad to hear some success stories, definitely encouraging!
I totally agree. Although I have only been with my partner for 1 year and a half but we have been doing long distance for a full year after we met. He is currently completing his master's program in England, while I am in Canada working. He is super supportive of my goals to complete my master's degree as well because we both know this will be beneficial in the long run both personally and as a couple, i.e. career and finances. Somehow it isn't as hard as people say it is. I think the key is we have 1000% trust in each other, not a second of hesitation that we want to be together with the goal of spending the rest of our lives together. We also put in conscious effort to talk almost daily even if it is just for 10 min before bed. ( note we have a 8hour time difference, day and night basically). I don't doubt that life is unpredictable, and it's hard to say what will happen within the next 2 years, but I'm also not afraid of taking the risk for the better. And honestly, 2-3 years is nothing compared to the lifetime you will have together.
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Ahh thank you both for sharing this!
 
When is Emory going to send out the acceptance packages?!:boom: It seems like in the previous years, those accepted have either received their package or at least their FedEx tracking number. Has anyone gotten the FedEx email? It's interesting that the wait to be accepted/rejected was killing me but now the post-acceptance info wait is totally (but gratefully) agonizing.
 
I am so fortunate to have gotten into 6/7 programs that I applied to (still waiting to hear from the 7th). But now I have the very difficult decision of where to go! I researched all the programs heavily before I applied and I only applied to them because I loved them. My top choices now are between Columbia, Boston U, and Brown.

My pros and cons thoughts:
Columbia is a highly ranked program with a TON of connections/networking opportunities and I love the way the curriculum is structured with the certificates but it is SOOOO expensive (and dangerous?) to live in NYC :shrug:
Boston U is also has a very recognized public health program, they offered me a merit scholarship, and everyone says it's awesome to live in Boston but I'm not sure if it has the same network of connections/weight that a program from Columbia has (and it's also decently expensive to live in Boston)
Brown was my top choice when I applied because I loved the people I'd spoken with and the list of courses on their website (I am also absolutely, irrevocably in love with an apartment in Providence) but they're a smaller program, aren't necessarily known for public health, and only have a department, not a school, of public health

I have no idea what to do! I am visiting all three of these campuses in mid-March so that could sway my decision. But what do you guys think? Any alumni on this thread have any advice? :help:
 
Logged into JHU portal this morning to see that I've been accepted for MHS Health Economics!!! :soexcited:

Also applied to MPH which I'm still waiting for a decision on, but I was more nervous about the MHS since it's heavier quant and my GRE quant was not great. This is my first acceptance so yay!!!!
 
tgoss87 said:
I am so fortunate to have gotten into 6/7 programs that I applied to (still waiting to hear from the 7th). But now I have the very difficult decision of where to go! I researched all the programs heavily before I applied and I only applied to them because I loved them. My top choices now are between Columbia, Boston U, and Brown.

My pros and cons thoughts:
Columbia is a highly ranked program with a TON of connections/networking opportunities and I love the way the curriculum is structured with the certificates but it is SOOOO expensive (and dangerous?) to live in NYC :shrug:
Boston U is also has a very recognized public health program, they offered me a merit scholarship, and everyone says it's awesome to live in Boston but I'm not sure if it has the same network of connections/weight that a program from Columbia has (and it's also decently expensive to live in Boston)
Brown was my top choice when I applied because I loved the people I'd spoken with and the list of courses on their website (I am also absolutely, irrevocably in love with an apartment in Providence) but they're a smaller program, aren't necessarily known for public health, and only have a department, not a school, of public health

I have no idea what to do! I am visiting all three of these campuses in mid-March so that could sway my decision. But what do you guys think? Any alumni on this thread have any advice? :help:
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I'm a current MPH student at Brown, and your thoughts on Brown aren't completely true! Brown has a full school of public health. It has its own building between the main campus and the medical school and a slew of undergrad, masters, and PhD programs. In general, I agree with your statement that Brown isn't known for public health because its social science programs have been historically stronger, but the school is new-ish and has a growing reputation in the field. It is certainly a smaller program than Columbia and BU, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have about Brown here or in PM!

I did not apply to Columbia last year because NYC is not for me, but I wouldn't say it's dangerous to live there at all. At least not any more so than Boston or Providence. I currently live in Providence, spent >5 years in Boston, and have lots of family in NYC, but obviously my opinion on this is subjective. I would agree that its reputation in most areas of public health is better than BU's, but if you want to work in Boston after graduation, I'd choose BU for sure.

Have you priced out exactly how much each program will cost you and the cost of living in each city? A lot of schools, including Brown and BU, give a lot of merit scholarships that don't really bring down the cost of the degree in comparison to other places with lower tuition (who tend to give fewer scholarships) all that much.

These are 3 great options, and I don't think you really can go wrong! Congrats!
 
LG0331 said:
When is Emory going to send out the acceptance packages?!:boom: It seems like in the previous years, those accepted have either received their package or at least their FedEx tracking number. Has anyone gotten the FedEx email? It's interesting that the wait to be accepted/rejected was killing me but now the post-acceptance info wait is totally (but gratefully) agonizing.
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That's what I've been wondering! I haven't recieved a FedEx tracking number either and I'm super anxious. Have you tried emailing admissions? I was thinking about doing that but I'd figured that I should just wait patiently since I bugged them during the admission decision wait period with my questions. lol 😛
 
wwmmkk said:
I'm a current MPH student at Brown, and your thoughts on Brown aren't completely true! Brown has a full school of public health. It has its own building between the main campus and the medical school and a slew of undergrad, masters, and PhD programs. In general, I agree with your statement that Brown isn't known for public health because its social science programs have been historically stronger, but the school is new-ish and has a growing reputation in the field. It is certainly a smaller program than Columbia and BU, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have about Brown here or in PM!

I did not apply to Columbia last year because NYC is not for me, but I wouldn't say it's dangerous to live there at all. At least not any more so than Boston or Providence. I currently live in Providence, spent >5 years in Boston, and have lots of family in NYC, but obviously my opinion on this is subjective. I would agree that its reputation in most areas of public health is better than BU's, but if you want to work in Boston after graduation, I'd choose BU for sure.

Have you priced out exactly how much each program will cost you and the cost of living in each city? A lot of schools, including Brown and BU, give a lot of merit scholarships that don't really bring down the cost of the degree in comparison to other places with lower tuition (who tend to give fewer scholarships) all that much.

These are 3 great options, and I don't think you really can go wrong! Congrats!
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I just spoke with a student at BU. She had really wonderful things to say about the career center but was not happy with the practicum placement office. Apparently, they hired two new people recently to the practicum department so they are still finding their way. However, the BU career center has 10 full time staff and the resources available are great. I think if choosing between BU and Columbia, you should think about what kind of career you want post-grad, what your academic interests are and how much debt you are comfortable with. If you have a merit scholarship, I think you should give BU some serious thought.
 
JDGBruin1317 said:
That's what I've been wondering! I haven't recieved a FedEx tracking number either and I'm super anxious. Have you tried emailing admissions? I was thinking about doing that but I'd figured that I should just wait patiently since I bugged them during the admission decision wait period with my questions. lol 😛
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I just called and was told they should be going out to students within the next 2-3 weeks.
 
PocketRocket86 said:
Columbia doesn’t - I checked! Am wondering if JHU offers travel stipends, as well.

Oh, and for UMich, this is the response I got when I enquired:

“In regards to travel funds for Admitted Student Day, you will want to connect with Jackie Cormany.“

Hope this helps anyone who’s curious!
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Thanks for checking on Columbia! If anyone is going to admitted students day on April 6th, let me know.
 
Has Yale sent out any new information on admitted students day?
 
In case anyone's waiting- got rejected from Hopkins MPH this Saturday via email then mypath update. Still waiting on MSPH!!
 
Just found out I got into Brown University's MPH! I'm deciding between Emory, Johns Hopkins MSPH in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, and Brown. Does anyone have any comments or insight into Brown University's MPH? What about the opportunities for research abroad and connections and job placement? I'm really drawn to the open curriculum and small program. Thanks!
 
Brick05 said:
Just found out I got into Brown University's MPH! I'm deciding between Emory, Johns Hopkins MSPH in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, and Brown. Does anyone have any comments or insight into Brown University's MPH? What about the opportunities for research abroad and connections and job placement? I'm really drawn to the open curriculum and small program. Thanks!
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I'm currently at Brown. The open curriculum is one of the best parts of the program and really broadens the available opportunities. I am not interested in global health, but it seems to be a strength here. I would recommend looking at faculty profiles across departments to make sure there are a few people working in your preferred location so that you can use them to connect to opportunities (or work with them). There are certainly plenty doing pop/fam/repro work abroad to choose from.

I do want to mention that there's not a lot of hand holding at Brown. Students are expected to find their own internships, thesis topics and advisers, etc., though of course there are built-in supports for doing so like the internship coordinator and Brown Career Services. You need to be self-motivated and independent to thrive here and build the connections yourself. The small environment really facilitates this, but don't come here expecting to be handed research and internship opportunities without working for them.

As for job placement, I have no idea. You should contact Diane or Joann about that; they're both super helpful.

Congrats! Feel free to PM me with more questions.
 
My thoughts about Drexel's public health preview day

Location:
  • I liked it! This is obviously subjective d/t varying wants/needs but I was looking for somewhere that wasn't a totally downtown/big city (hence me not applying to NYC, DC & the like) but somewhere that still had a lot going on and was still full of people. This may not make any sense but if you've ever been to Ann Arbor, I was looking for somewhere that resembles that type of feel and I found that here. I was here for a very short time so someone can feel free to correct me on this but it seems as if it basically (& informally) shares a campus with Upenn. There are formal boundaries I'm sure but the feel was that it was all pretty mixed, which is something I liked.
  • I talked to other prospective students who have lived in Philly for their lifetime and said that it's known for it's food, culture (museums etc), sports, parks within the city and surrounding National Parks. What their not known for is their nightlife, which highly appealed to me because that is not at all something I'm looking for.
  • Nesbitt Hall (Drexel's PH building) was underwhelming, only saw the first floor but it wasn't very bright, updated or inviting. This may sound superficial, but I try to imagine myself spending the next couple years coming to these buildings nearly everyday. But who knows, the wow factors in facilities may wear off over time. Current MPH students thought on this is welcomed
Professors & Staff:
  • Current students and staff were all nice, forthcoming and had glowing things to say. They mostly focused on the connections that Drexel's faculty have been able to provide them with.
  • Faculty were equally as kind and easy to talk to. Present were the department chairs, Dean and another prof. They were all educated and employed at the likes of Michigan, Columbia and Hopkins. All mentioned that they left these institutions for Drexel's unwavering dedication to social injustice and health as a human right. They were very adamant about this attribute and have research, research centers and affiliations to back this up. During this application/exploration process into prospective schools, I have found that almost all schools claim this attribute but few "walk the walk" (imo). Nonetheless, this was a refreshing experience
  • Really got the sense that professors are easily accessible and are genuinely willing to help as long as you're proactive
Program:
  • 5 quarters & 56 credits, equals out to be ~1.5 years long. First two quarters are taken as a cohort and are more general (see website for details). As of this upcoming class year, it will difficult to switch concentrations. Program emphasizes practice-oriented learning
  • For EH people: their program is more epi focused and less molecular bio focused. For this reason, there is not a lot of lab space as you wouldn't really be using it.
  • RA/TA positions are very easily accessible.

Trying not to make this crazy long so there's some general stuff. Message me if you want more info
 
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LG0331 said:
My thoughts about Drexel's public health preview day...
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Thank you for sharing!! I was disappointed that I couldn’t make it this weekend and am hoping to visit campus soon. Also, for what it’s worth, I’ve lived in Philly for almost a decade and will gladly answer any other questions you have about the city.
 
Cassatrass said:
I love this forum too! And I love how everyone is just talking about their experiences and giving advice, but not judging. Too often people think that a decision is wrong since it isn't what they would do-- but that isn't always the case! As adults, there is SO MUCH to take into consideration, and we all see things a little differently-- which is part of what makes life so interesting!

My husband + my cat (my kitten died from an incurable disease (FIP) earlier this week so now we only have one 😢-- is there such a thing as a cat epidemiologist? This seems like a good disease to eradicate...) are my biggest motivators/supporters, so I'm glad to have them by my side! I'm incredibly lucky to have worked out a solid system for our schooling that we are both happy with-- I know that most of the time that's nearly impossible!
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This isn't public health-related at all, but I just lost my cat of 14.5 years today. It was so sudden. I'm totally on board for a cat epidemiology field of study. I hope you're hanging in there. Losing pets sucks.
 
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