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

[grapesandstrawberries]

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Congrats!!! We are doing a lot of compromise. Originally, he was supposed to be applying to law school simultaneously, which is why I applied to so many schools (and primarily ones within an hour of top 20 law schools). Then his lsat score was a little lower than expected, so we decided it would probably be best for him to take another year to improve that and strengthen his app. So we will be going wherever I want to go this year, and for the next year he will be applying to schools nearby (if there's one he's interested in). This is a pro for Hopkins since Georgetown is his top pick and GW is also good. This would also be a pro for NYU since they're highly ranked in international law. However, if he decides to wait until my program is done-- either so that we always have one income or if he prefers to go to another area-- then we will move to wherever he gets in since it's his turn for a career move. Luckily all his top picks are in hubs of public health, which will hopefully make it more likely that I'll land a job! This is also a pro for me of going to a top program-- making myself more marketable in any location right out of school.

It's complex and subject to change, but we are doing the best we can to stay in the same place!

I'm in a very serious long-term relationship (""life partners"" as my out-of-touch mother likes to say), and if I am being honest, the biggest reason I chose Brown over Drexel was because it meant not doing long distance. I don't regret it, and Brown ended up completely changing everything I thought I wanted out of an MPH (in a good way). There are several people in my program who have already ended serious relationships/engagements due to distance. I plan to apply to PhD programs, and my partner is in a position to move with me if necessary now. Out of all the possible permutations of break up/stay together, postpone school/go immediately, and long distance/not, my least preferred option would be staying together, enrolling immediately, and doing long distance. I'm not sure how old everyone is, but I feel like a ton of development happens during your 20s, and I don't think I'd be easily able to "grow with" someone while doing long distance. But this is obviously very personal and subjective; don't take it as advice.

Thank you both for your input. We met as undergrads in the same major and we're both from Seattle, and we live 15 minutes apart so we've seen each other basically every day for the last five years. We're not sure how long distance is going to go. Neither of us are willing to postpone our education, and we would never tell each other to "wait" just because we both know what we want to do. Sadly we haven't announced our engagement to anyone else besides close family members and friends because we need to figure this out first.

 

[Cassatrass]

I'm in a very serious long-term relationship (""life partners"" as my out-of-touch mother likes to say), and if I am being honest, the biggest reason I chose Brown over Drexel was because it meant not doing long distance. I don't regret it, and Brown ended up completely changing everything I thought I wanted out of an MPH (in a good way). There are several people in my program who have already ended serious relationships/engagements due to distance. I plan to apply to PhD programs, and my partner is in a position to move with me if necessary now. Out of all the possible permutations of break up/stay together, postpone school/go immediately, and long distance/not, my least preferred option would be staying together, enrolling immediately, and doing long distance. I'm not sure how old everyone is, but I feel like a ton of development happens during your 20s, and I don't think I'd be easily able to "grow with" someone while doing long distance. But this is obviously very personal and subjective; don't take it as advice.

I think it also really depends on the person. I, personally, am not good with distance. I know that about myself, so, since I want my marriage to work, I'm willing to compromise to stay together.

 

[Cassatrass]

This discussion has been really interesting to read since my relationship is definitely a factor in my decision. Ironically, if I decide to save money by going to my state school, I’ll have to move, likely leaving behind my partner of 6 years and cats and doing long distance, but if I spring for Vanderbilt (where I’d prefer to go), it’s right down the road and where she works, coincidentally. I’m having trouble deciding what the monetary value is of not having to move, especially considering that I’m pushing 30 and have already established my personal and professional life here.

Vanderbilt is actually pretty reasonable compared to many of the programs. I think it would be worth it to stay, by a long shot, but that's a decision that only you can make!

 

[skaballet]

This discussion has been really interesting to read since my relationship is definitely a factor in my decision. Ironically, if I decide to save money by going to my state school, I’ll have to move, likely leaving behind my partner of 6 years and cats and doing long distance, but if I spring for Vanderbilt (where I’d prefer to go), it’s right down the road and where she works, coincidentally. I’m having trouble deciding what the monetary value is of not having to move, especially considering that I’m pushing 30 and have already established my personal and professional life here.

For what it's worth there were a bunch of people in my MBA program that did long distance. Some of them broke up, but others ended up engaged. It totally depends on the couple. You do have to put in the work and be willing to travel back and forth some, but it can work. MBAs call the Monday after Thanksgiving black Monday because everyone comes back either broken up or engaged....

 

[wwmmkk]

This discussion has been really interesting to read since my relationship is definitely a factor in my decision. Ironically, if I decide to save money by going to my state school, I’ll have to move, likely leaving behind my partner of 6 years and cats and doing long distance, but if I spring for Vanderbilt (where I’d prefer to go), it’s right down the road and where she works, coincidentally. I’m having trouble deciding what the monetary value is of not having to move, especially considering that I’m pushing 30 and have already established my personal and professional life here.

I had a similar dilemma and decided that relationship mattered more than cost. While my partner isn't financially contributing to my degree directly, part of our discussion when I was choosing programs was able how we would divide life expenses if I went to each school. Not doing long distance and continuing to live together made it possible for them to take more of the cost of things like groceries, household supplies, and pet care (we still split rent/utilities/major stuff 50-50), which just wouldn't have felt fair if I had moved away and gotten my own place again. This doesn't at all make up the cost difference between the programs, but I think it was the right choice for us regardless.

 

[pusheen323]

I'm in a very serious long-term relationship (""life partners"" as my out-of-touch mother likes to say), and if I am being honest, the biggest reason I chose Brown over Drexel was because it meant not doing long distance. I don't regret it, and Brown ended up completely changing everything I thought I wanted out of an MPH (in a good way). There are several people in my program who have already ended serious relationships/engagements due to distance. I plan to apply to PhD programs, and my partner is in a position to move with me if necessary now. Out of all the possible permutations of break up/stay together, postpone school/go immediately, and long distance/not, my least preferred option would be staying together, enrolling immediately, and doing long distance. I'm not sure how old everyone is, but I feel like a ton of development happens during your 20s, and I don't think I'd be easily able to "grow with" someone while doing long distance. But this is obviously very personal and subjective; don't take it as advice.

My partner and I have been together for over 4 years and we planned my entire grad school applications to make us stay together. Living long distance was most certainly not an option for us (we did it for 2 months early on and it was terrible), so we knew that it was either we go together, or we don’t go at all. We have made sacrifices. He delayed finished community college by a year so that we could apply at the same time and I didn’t apply to certain schools (e.g. Harvard) because we knew he couldn’t apply there as a B.A. transfer student. To us, it is worth it to make the moves and sacrifies necessary to stay together. So, I appreciate your input and perspective on this. People do crazy things for love, but it doesn’t mean we can’t get a killer education while we are at it 🙂 just gotta change a few things up sometimes!

 

[ldlr]

Are you and your husband planning to do long distance? I have a long-term boyfriend who just proposed yesterday (!) but he's most likely going to be attending UC Denver medical school... as much as I rooted for Colorado SPH (which I applied for late December as soon as he got an interview), I would like to consider my options based on my opportunities at the school rather than my partner. As harsh as it sounds, the privilege of receiving education means a lot to me and I don't think anyone or anything could really surpass that. Anyone on the same boat??

Definitely on the same boat. A little bit different. My boyfriend (3 years) will be doing his two years of medical rotations when I begin my (most likely) 2 years of grad school so the timing works out a bit. At first, I was gung ho about applying to schools somewhat near him but now he’s not really a factor when I decide where I’m gonna end up going. Maybe it’s cause of gotten used to the distance? But I want to choose a school for the quality of the program. Yes long distance gets tiresome especially when you’re dating someone who’s pursuing medicine but I’m all about putting yourself first especially education and career wise. I think you’d be able to do the 2 years just fine! And long distance will make you guys stronger if anything, I believe. But ignoring you choose to be near him and you genuinely like the program, then there’s no problem with that too 🙂

 

[Jasmine Chou]

I'm in a very serious long-term relationship (""life partners"" as my out-of-touch mother likes to say), and if I am being honest, the biggest reason I chose Brown over Drexel was because it meant not doing long distance. I don't regret it, and Brown ended up completely changing everything I thought I wanted out of an MPH (in a good way). There are several people in my program who have already ended serious relationships/engagements due to distance. I plan to apply to PhD programs, and my partner is in a position to move with me if necessary now. Out of all the possible permutations of break up/stay together, postpone school/go immediately, and long distance/not, my least preferred option would be staying together, enrolling immediately, and doing long distance. I'm not sure how old everyone is, but I feel like a ton of development happens during your 20s, and I don't think I'd be easily able to "grow with" someone while doing long distance. But this is obviously very personal and subjective; don't take it as advice.

This discussion has been really interesting to read since my relationship is definitely a factor in my decision. Ironically, if I decide to save money by going to my state school, I’ll have to move, likely leaving behind my partner of 6 years (and cats!) and doing long distance, but if I spring for Vanderbilt (where I’d prefer to go), it’s right down the road and where she works, coincidentally. I’m having trouble deciding what the monetary value is of not having to move, especially considering that I’m pushing 30 and have already established my personal and professional life here.

Yeah it's really an interesting discussion. And it's great that some of you can keep a long-distance relationship in the same country. My boyfriend and I met in senior high school and has already kept the relationship in distance for four years since we are studying in different cities for college in China (not so far from each other, only 1h subway+1h high speed train+ 1h bus). And now we are facing the fact that we are going to study in two different countries, he was admitted to National University of Singapore and I am going to the US, so there is not only a distance matter, but also a time difference(13 hours) and visa issue. But as some of you said, sometimes personal career pursuing comes first, and we both made the best choice for our own development. We planned to get married as soon as we finish our graduate study and really hope there will be a good ending for all of us~

 

[grapesandstrawberries]

Definitely on the same boat. A little bit different. My boyfriend (3 years) will be doing his two years of medical rotations when I begin my (most likely) 2 years of grad school so the timing works out a bit. At first, I was gung ho about applying to schools somewhat near him but now he’s not really a factor when I decide where I’m gonna end up going. Maybe it’s cause of gotten used to the distance? But I want to choose a school for the quality of the program. Yes long distance gets tiresome especially when you’re dating someone who’s pursuing medicine but I’m all about putting yourself first especially education and career wise. I think you’d be able to do the 2 years just fine! And long distance will make you guys stronger if anything, I believe. But ignoring you choose to be near him and you genuinely like the program, then there’s no problem with that too 🙂

Looks like we're the same when it comes to putting education first. But I know it differs from couple to couple. We are very serious about each other and I don't think distance will matter too much as long as we both understand that we need to pursue what's best for each of us. He wants me to consider Colorado but understands that I would want to choose a better school over Colorado. If it is meant to be it'll work out, and I'll put in lots of effort to try to make it happen. A good friend of mine is a dentist and her husband is a doctor who did long distance for ten years (undergrad, med/dental school, residency etc) before getting married, and their advice was pretty solid: do what's best for YOU! If you can't do long distance personally, then don't. If you can, then do it. But don't let the other person coerce you into something you don't want.

 

[mphglobalhealth18]

Congrats! Did you get an email or your mypath changed?

Both! I got a financial aid email, proceeded to check my mypath, found out that I got accepted. Then today, I got the official email.

 

[JDGBruin1317]

This forum is one of the most supportive and engaging forums I've ever been in. I'm not in long distance anything (or any relationship for that matter lol) and my mom is oddly more supportive of me going to a school across the country than staying in-state. 😛 Anyways, I agree with all of the responses regarding choosing a program/school for YOU and don't let anyone deter you from that.

I also want to wish those in long distance relationships good luck and congrats to those keeping it together! 🙂

 

[Cassatrass]

This forum is one of the most supportive and engaging forums I've ever been in. I'm not in long distance anything (or any relationship for that matter lol) and my mom is oddly more supportive of me going to a school across the country than staying in-state. 😛 Anyways, I agree with all of the responses regarding choosing a program/school for YOU and don't let anyone deter you from that.

I also want to wish those in long distance relationships good luck and congrats to those keeping it together! 🙂

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!

 

[Dmohr21]

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!

A lot of vet schools view having an MPH in epi as a positive for this reason! Future career goals?

Sorry about your kitten. 🙁 I just found out that the cat I've had since I was 5 has cancer, it's really heart breaking to see such an innocent fur ball be sick.

 

[ConfusedAsUsual]

Seeing everyone talk about their relationships and how they’ll continue to make them work and I’m just here like

P.S. I love memes

 

[deleted891899]

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!

I'm so sorry about your kitten. 🙁 My cats are my BFFs so I am 100% on board with this cat epidemiology idea.

 

[Cassatrass]

I'm so sorry about your kitten. 🙁 My cats are my BFFs so I am 100% on board with this cat epidemiology idea.

Ugh same. Thanks. I was (am) pretty heartbroken-- it's been a rough few days! Plus $$$$$ when I'm trying to visit schools, so now I need to drastically narrow them down since, between vet bills and car repairs (we hit a deer....), my bank account has taken a huge hit. "When it rains it pours" has been the summary of my Feb so far.

 

[meowmeowfuzzyface]

Hi! You were right. You can't access the addendum until you've enrolled. As for Tulane's Gibson Online, that's where you can go and see how much aid has been given to you. I just created mine.

I am a current Tulane undergrad so I already have a Gibson account but no info related to my grad acceptance has been posted there. Did you get a separate email asking you to make one?

 

[crazyhead]

Hello all,
Slightly off topic, but does anyone knows any CEPH accredited ON CAMPUS doctoral public health programs (phd, drph, scd) that do not require GRE.
I took GRE for MPH admission during 2012 and did well then (160+ on both sections). However, my score is expired and I strongly feel taking it again is just a hassle and waste of money (understand its a tool for univ. to weed out students initially). I am not worried about ranking or location of universities as long as GRE is not a requirement

 

[Pudu2009]

GW has larger programs to begin with, and they have more programs than the average school as well. They offer many MS programs through the school of public health in addition to the MPH programs. I'm also sure they include their online program acceptances when they look at their acceptance rates. Overall, it's still a very good school.

Just wanted to chime in as an MPH Epi grad; I felt that I had an excellent education there, and there was certainly no lack of quality. Even the online program will provide a good quality education, my only issue with them is the lack of epi and biostats courses. If anyone is seriously considering GW for Epi and have any questions about classes (even cores for those non-Epi), profs, QOL, etc. feel free to PM me.

It's a good school in a city with lots of opportunities. My only reservation is the lack of research opportunities available.

In terms of research experience, I was lucky enough to land a GRA position at the DC Department of Health during my second semester, and emails about other GRA positions are constantly being sent out on the Epi/Biostat listserve. We even have a Culminating Experience which essentially requires you to do a research project. Unfortunately, the Culminating Experience is different across departments, so @Cici A I don't know how it works for Global Health Policy, sorry.

 

[Epi_lady_in_training]

I was admitted to SDSU Epi via snail mail! Earlier than expected. I wonder what everyones thoughts are on SDSU, I still have to contact more people regarding the program however tuition is super cheap! Deciding between Berkeley, SDSU, and Emory.

 

[MedicineN'Jazz]

Do you think it’s worth it to take a visit to Columbia even though I haven’t heard back yet? I had my HPM interview last week so I’m hoping to hear back soon... I am planning to visit JHU in mid-March and I was thinking to take a train to NYC from there. I only have 3 days off so if I don’t visit then I won’t get a chance to. Unfortunately it will be during Columbia’s spring break but I’ll be able to walk around a bit and check out New York in general. Cost wise it will be around extra $300 for train and hotel for the night.

I don't think it'd not be worth it. Might as well get a preview of the full package before you get in, right?😉If you want to minimize cost, I recommend that you use the MTA and amtrack to travel to and fro. Cabs + Uber's will literally leech the soul from your pockets in NYC. Also, if you're going to stay in a hotel..feel free to use any of the boroughs (minus Staten Island bc it doesn't count lol), and then take the train to Columbia in the morning. The Bronx and Brooklyn are pretty close to Manhattan, with hotels starting as low as $65 a night. No need to go bankrupt after this trip!😛

 

[pa611]

I am a current Tulane undergrad so I already have a Gibson account but no info related to my grad acceptance has been posted there. Did you get a separate email asking you to make one?

I have never attended Tulane in any capacity; I received an email with log-in credentials to Gibson in January. My Gibson account doesn't have my acceptance letter or admitted students info, just a "Home" tab and a "Financial Aid" tab. Make sure to select 2018-2019 Financial Aid Year, and then click on To Do List and you can see if your FAFSA has been received.

I also just discovered that now you CAN submit the addendum without having been enrolled. The weird password requirements have been lifted. So once you fill out the addendum, that will also be reflected on the To Do List.

 

[LG0331]

Looks like we're the same when it comes to putting education first. But I know it differs from couple to couple. We are very serious about each other and I don't think distance will matter too much as long as we both understand that we need to pursue what's best for each of us. He wants me to consider Colorado but understands that I would want to choose a better school over Colorado. If it is meant to be it'll work out, and I'll put in lots of effort to try to make it happen. A good friend of mine is a dentist and her husband is a doctor who did long distance for ten years (undergrad, med/dental school, residency etc) before getting married, and their advice was pretty solid: do what's best for YOU! If you can't do long distance personally, then don't. If you can, then do it. But don't let the other person coerce you into something you don't want.

I’m in the exact same position. My boyfriend of 4 years, who I live with, got into his dream school here in MI and since I didn’t get into MI (and there aren’t really any other options here that suit my interests) I really don’t have much of a choice than to go to another state. Education has always been so important to me and to him as well and both of us decided we would agree to put in the extra work if it meant we could simultaneously receive the education that fits us best. That being said, if I got into MI, I would have undoubtedly enrolled and stayed here. But, since the wonderful adcom made the decision for me.....

I do think it’s more than possible and I also think it’s much more common than ever. I actually reached out to a therapist here at umich because, not gonna lie, I was seriously worried about the efficacy of LDR. What I found was that, as it just so happens, most of her grad students are in LDR. Her advice was that it can absolutely work with a strategic plan and the dual commitment of working a little harder.

Truthfully, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t wanna deal with it but looks like I don’t have much of a choice! I do think to each is their own and the addition of kids/marriage etc might make it more complicated than my situation.

 

[ldlr]

I am a current Tulane undergrad so I already have a Gibson account but no info related to my grad acceptance has been posted there. Did you get a separate email asking you to make one?

No, actually. The only reason I made one was because I saw threads talking about it.

 

[Ebb55]

Yesterday I went to the Emory mixer in DC. There was a panel of alumni, academic advisors, and someone from admissions. Here are some of my notes

Academic
-Collaborative environment. Like most schools of public health, there is no "cutthroat" atmosphere
-Your work experience and networking while at Emory is really what will make the degree valuable, not how many "As" you can rack up.
-Take classes at other Emory schools if you can. For HPM, take classes at the business school!

Practicum/work
-About ~50-60% will get the REAL award, which is work-study.
-Everything you hear about getting jobs in the CDC is true...they love hiring Emory students

Lifestyle
-Having a car is strongly recommended. Of course, some students without cars have made it work. One thing about not having a car though is it can limit where you decide to work. You might have 35 minutes after class to get to work and public transportation isn't amazing in Atlanta. If you do get a position at the CDC, it's across the street from Rollins and a car isn't needed
-To avoid paying for on-campus parking, park at a mall that's close to the cliff shuttle then get on the shuttle to go to class.

What alumni did after graduating
-One HPM student did consulting after graduating, is now in Mathematica Policy Research. She LOVES her job and doesn't regret the loans. She said she wouldn't be where she is now without that masters and Emory connection.
-Someone in a concentration other than HPM (forgot which one) is now doing consulting in Deloitte.
-I think 2 alumni are at the NIH under some fellowship.
-They all agreed they've encountered Emory grads in all the "big name" employers (Deloitte, NIH, Kaiser, CDC....etc). So a great school for networking
-I asked 3 students (HPM, Global Health, and Epi) if they feel limited in the workforce by not having a PhD. They said no. An MPH can be your final degree if you know how to network

On choosing Emory
-Visit admit days if you can! Email admissions for travel stipends if $$ is tight.

 

[Cassatrass]

How does one define a quality education or program? I am personally of the opinion that most schools are basically the same, and diplomas are meaningless pieces of paper that only matter in the first year or two after graduation. Don't all schools have "good" and "bad" students, professors, classes, alumni, job opportunities, etc.? I did not go to a well known or prestigious undergrad institution or one in a big city, but I received and gave myself a quality education. I also had no problem seeking out and curating the experiences (some highly competitive and difficult to come by) that mattered and were beneficial to me. I know that regardless of the public health school I go to, I will learn what is important to me, and I will have no problem developing the skill set and experiences to help me get the job I want. My partner (who means the world to me and much more than any piece of paper from a school) and I applied to the same schools and we will either attend the same school or go to school within a new hours of each other (eg Boston and NYC).

I hope I don't come across as rude, because I'm genuinely curious what other people think and I'd like to learn more about people's priorities.

I think it really depends on what you're basing your rankings on and what your personality is like. "Good" (high-ranked, well-known, well-connected) schools often have access to a wide range of internships or connections to help you get your foot in the door at certain jobs. Having a certain name on your diploma may also carry more weight for a first job or a job with fierce competition. It may also matter more in certain geographical areas.

HOWEVER, some people are great at making those connections themselves and willing to push their own foot through the door. Those types of people are likely to thrive wherever they go to school, since they are outgoing and good at getting what they want.

Just my two cents!

 

[generic_username]

is it just me or would it be REALLY NICE to hear back from harvard/johns hopkins today???? HINT HINT ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT LOOK AT THIS THREAD

 

[nannams]

literally just waiting on harvard. do they enjoy making us suffer by being the LAST ones to send out decisions

 

[skcolley]

literally just waiting on harvard. do they enjoy making us suffer by being the LAST ones to send out decisions

Saaaaame, I need to find something amazing to distract myself today so I'm not constantly refreshing my online portal like a maniac.

 

[skcolley]

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!

 

[outdamnedspot]

In at Johns Hopkins for MSPH in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health!!!!!! Good luck to everyone hearing back today!!!

 

[grapesandstrawberries]

How does one define a quality education or program? I am personally of the opinion that most schools are basically the same, and diplomas are meaningless pieces of paper that only matter in the first year or two after graduation. Don't all schools have "good" and "bad" students, professors, classes, alumni, job opportunities, etc.? I did not go to a well known or prestigious undergrad institution or one in a big city, but I received and gave myself a quality education. I also had no problem seeking out and curating the experiences (some highly competitive and difficult to come by) that mattered and were beneficial to me. I know that regardless of the public health school I go to, I will learn what is important to me, and I will have no problem developing the skill set and experiences to help me get the job I want. My partner (who means the world to me and much more than any piece of paper from a school) and I applied to the same schools and we will either attend the same school or go to school within a new hours of each other (eg Boston and NYC).

I hope I don't come across as rude, because I'm genuinely curious what other people think and I'd like to learn more about people's priorities.

I think one defines a quality education by what's available at the school and what interests them. I am highly interested in Emory's program due to its proximity to CDC. That would be hard or impossible to get all the way from Colorado unless I have crazy connections with PIs there who would be willing to give me a remote position. You're right a diploma is a diploma, and school's prestige shouldn't matter in the long run, but it depends on what you are looking for in a program. We also applied to the same schools, and getting into the same school is difficult especially because he's doing Medicine. Don't get me wrong, he means the world to me as well, but I also have things that I'm looking for in a school (while paying crazy tuition) and they are not necessarily available at every school.

 

[numbersloth]

In at Johns Hopkins for MSPH in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health!!!!!! Good luck to everyone hearing back today!!!

Did you hear back today?

 

[outdamnedspot]

Did you hear back today?

Yes! Got the email this morning around 8:30 CST

 

[nannams]

does anyone know whether harvard even accepts people who have less than 2 years of work experience? i only have 1 year so now I'm wondering why i even applied

 

[numbersloth]

does anyone know whether harvard even accepts people who have less than 2 years of work experience? i only have 1 year so now I'm wondering why i even applied

I believe they are quite strict for their MPH programs but their MS programs do not require work experience.

 

[public_healther]

does anyone know whether harvard even accepts people who have less than 2 years of work experience? i only have 1 year so now I'm wondering why i even applied

I know a few people that got accepted straight out of undergrad. Don't worry! I hope you get in!!! 😀

 

[nannams]

I know a few people that got accepted straight out of undergrad. Don't worry! I hope you get in!!! 😀

omgggg. thank you i have zero expectations/hopes but harvard is quite literally my dream. i applied for MPH in global health

 

[cg2018]

I was admitted to SDSU Epi via snail mail! Earlier than expected. I wonder what everyones thoughts are on SDSU, I still have to contact more people regarding the program however tuition is super cheap! Deciding between Berkeley, SDSU, and Emory.

Did your online portal update yet or did you just get the letter?

 

[dodgers4life]

Just got rejected by Yale! Oh well, Columbia is my top pick as of right now after my visit to NYC 🙂

 

[ldlr]

I think it really depends on what you're basing your rankings on and what your personality is like. "Good" (high-ranked, well-known, well-connected) schools often have access to a wide range of internships or connections to help you get your foot in the door at certain jobs. Having a certain name on your diploma may also carry more weight for a first job or a job with fierce competition. It may also matter more in certain geographical areas.

HOWEVER, some people are great at making those connections themselves and willing to push their own foot through the door. Those types of people are likely to thrive wherever they go to school, since they are outgoing and good at getting what they want.

Just my two cents!

Thank you both for your input! I agree that you can attain the skill set you want and that a diploma is just a piece of paper but, man, can that diploma take you to far places. And I agree 1000000% percent with what Cassatrass said. I'm personally ranking my schools based on name/prestige, location, and connections that a school will be able to provide me. Frankly, I believe there's quality in every school and program but I, personally, tend to weigh things a little heavier than others for myself. I've been doing LDR for almost 2 years now (together for almost 3) and we're both in our early-mid 20s (24 + 25). Every relationship is different but, personally, I know that I would feel a lot of resentment if I prioritized my relationship during this valuable time (education/early-career development phase) and chose a good MPH program near him over, let's say, JHU or Emory (these big names in PH that I can't pass up). What I've learned from past relationships is that I have to put myself first and thankfully I've found someone who respects that so much about me and lives by the same motto. LDR is a challenge and there have been many times (in the beginning) where I've just wanted to give up and that is why I totally understand why people will try really hard not to do LDR. I totally get it. But I wouldn't trade this LDR experience for anything because I've seen how far we've both come from it and learned to value each other... and at the same time, still pursuing what we both are passionate about.

 

[public_healther]

Has anyone called/emailed Harvard today? I'm contemplating contacting them to see if they'll say when decisions are released.

 

[guybrush]

YES. First of all, congrats on your engagement! I am in weird but somewhat similar position. My long-term boyfriend has been offered his dream job in Norway. He has an offer in Colorado as well. I applied to CSPH in December and am still waiting to hear back. But I'm originally from Connecticut and if I got into Yale I could work part-time for an amazing public health org that I'm already established with there. I also applied to a master's program in Norway, and there is NO tuition fee, but it's not public health (very few programs were still open to international applicants when he got the Norway offer). I haven't heard back from any of these programs and he has to accept/reject his Norway offer March 1, so needless to say I am dying and have no idea what's best for me/him/us in terms of trying to be in the same place, because it seems like someone will have to sacrifice. It would help to at least hear back from some schools so I know what my options are.

I followed my then-long-term girlfriend to her graduate school after undergrad. We broke up within 9 months. None of this was her fault, but it literally set me back YEARS in my own professional trajectory.

The only advice I can give to you is prioritize yourself. It may sound harsh, but it's true.

 

[papertrail123]

Has anyone called/emailed Harvard today? I'm contemplating contacting them to see if they'll say when decisions are released.

Do it!

 

[nannams]

Has anyone called/emailed Harvard today? I'm contemplating contacting them to see if they'll say when decisions are released.

please do it

 

[unexpectedcucumber]

Has anyone called/emailed Harvard today? I'm contemplating contacting them to see if they'll say when decisions are released.

I called two days ago and they said between now (mid-Feb) and mid-March and wouldn't confirm the Thurs/Fri release pattern 🙁

 

[Brick05]

I WAS ACCEPTED TO BROWN!!!!!! Is this real life!!????

When did you submit your application? I submitted mine way back in December and still haven't heard! I thought I'd hear sooner because of rolling admissions

 

[wwmmkk]

How does one define a quality education or program? I am personally of the opinion that most schools are basically the same, and diplomas are meaningless pieces of paper that only matter in the first year or two after graduation. Don't all schools have "good" and "bad" students, professors, classes, alumni, job opportunities, etc.? I did not go to a well known or prestigious undergrad institution or one in a big city, but I received and gave myself a quality education. I also had no problem seeking out and curating the experiences (some highly competitive and difficult to come by) that mattered and were beneficial to me. I know that regardless of the public health school I go to, I will learn what is important to me, and I will have no problem developing the skill set and experiences to help me get the job I want. My partner (who means the world to me and much more than any piece of paper from a school) and I applied to the same schools and we will either attend the same school or go to school within a new hours of each other (eg Boston and NYC).

I hope I don't come across as rude, because I'm genuinely curious what other people think and I'd like to learn more about people's priorities.

I completely agree with what others have said in response to this and want to add a few other points. To be clear here, when I say "prestigious" and "highly regarded" here, I don't just mean JHU and Harvard. I posted before about how the US News rankings are bogus so it's kind of hard to quantify what I do mean, and I don't want to start labeling schools as "prestigious" and "not prestigious" so... hopefully y'all can infer what I'm saying here.

• "Most schools are basically the same"-- Yes, if you are talking just about the skills you learn, but public health is also about content for many people. My particular interest area is adolescent transgender health. Very few schools have anyone working in that field, and the ones that do are almost all prestigious institutions.
• "Diplomas are meaningless pieces of paper that only matter in the first year or two after graduation"-- From my experience, this is false. My undergrad diploma is from a prestigious liberal arts school that I no longer have much affection for, but people in positions of power (like the Chief of the health department I intern at) have struck up conversations with me about how rigorous the environment is there, how impressive it makes me, etc. I really believe going to a top undergrad program has opened doors for me that charisma and networking alone could not. My previous graduate degree from a mid-tier state school has never done anything like that for me, and I actually got more positive feedback when I was job hunting a few years ago after I took it off my resume.
• "Don't all schools have "good" and "bad" students, professors, classes, alumni, job opportunities, etc.?"-- Not at the same ratios. Some people don't learn well as a big fish in a small pond. I know I learn best in an environment where my peers are just as if not more motivated, educated, and passionate about the content and where I am constantly challenged by demanding coursework, high expectations of professors, and advanced degree requirements. Frankly, rigor is hard to come by in MPH programs. While I don't think prestige can always be used to predict rigor, the two are correlated. Learning public health is not a solitary activity; the environment you do it in really impacts the quality of what you learn.
• Something that's been kind of skirted around in these really great, supportive discussions that have been happening here is social location. I'll speak only for myself here as a visibly transgender and (invisibly but significantly) disabled person. People like me don't get hired at the same rates as other social groups regardless of our skill set. This may be a delusion I have, but I would bet that a diploma from a higher regarded, well known institution does just a little bit to counteract the biases and assumptions a hiring manager/ad com/whatever in the future might have about me in ways one from a lower-tier university wouldn't.
• Literal location also matters. Good luck trying to get an entry-level MPH job in Boston if you didn't attend Harvard, BU, Tufts or a top institution in another area of the country. I'm sure it can be done, but the market in some cities is saturated with graduates from great schools that I am not sure how successful someone from a less-great school would be.

Idk, these thoughts are all kind of half-baked, and I don't actually hold external ideas of prestige in high regard, but I think a discussion of quality needs to take into account more than just the skills taught at any institution.

 

[Brick05]

Yesterday I went to the Emory mixer in DC. There was a panel of alumni, academic advisors, and someone from admissions. Here are some of my notes

Academic
-Collaborative environment. Like most schools of public health, there is no "cutthroat" atmosphere
-Your work experience and networking while at Emory is really what will make the degree valuable, not how many "As" you can rack up.
-Take classes at other Emory schools if you can. For HPM, take classes at the business school!

Practicum/work
-About ~50-60% will get the REAL award, which is work-study.
-Everything you hear about getting jobs in the CDC is true...they love hiring Emory students

Lifestyle
-Having a car is strongly recommended. Of course, some students without cars have made it work. One thing about not having a car though is it can limit where you decide to work. You might have 35 minutes after class to get to work and public transportation isn't amazing in Atlanta. If you do get a position at the CDC, it's across the street from Rollins and a car isn't needed
-To avoid paying for on-campus parking, park at a mall that's close to the cliff shuttle then get on the shuttle to go to class.

What alumni did after graduating
-One HPM student did consulting after graduating, is now in Mathematica Policy Research. She LOVES her job and doesn't regret the loans. She said she wouldn't be where she is now without that masters and Emory connection.
-Someone in a concentration other than HPM (forgot which one) is now doing consulting in Deloitte.
-I think 2 alumni are at the NIH under some fellowship.
-They all agreed they've encountered Emory grads in all the "big name" employers (Deloitte, NIH, Kaiser, CDC....etc). So a great school for networking
-I asked 3 students (HPM, Global Health, and Epi) if they feel limited in the workforce by not having a PhD. They said no. An MPH can be your final degree if you know how to network

On choosing Emory
-Visit admit days if you can! Email admissions for travel stipends if $$ is tight.

Sounds great! I'm curious if the majority of students are straight from undergrad or if there are a large number of students with significant work experience in public health? I have 3 years of work experience in global health (Fulbright scholarship + project development and implementation for an organization in East Africa, currently working there still) and want to surround myself with people who have had experience out in the real world. If the majority of the class is fresh from undergraduate that is a turn-off for me.... what vibe did you get?

 

[Teets4Tots]

I completely agree with what others have said in response to this and want to add a few other points. To be clear here, when I say "prestigious" and "highly regarded" here, I don't just mean JHU and Harvard. I posted before about how the US News rankings are bogus so it's kind of hard to quantify what I do mean, and I don't want to start labeling schools as "prestigious" and "not prestigious" so... hopefully y'all can infer what I'm saying here.

• "Most schools are basically the same"-- Yes, if you are talking just about the skills you learn, but public health is also about content for many people. My particular interest area is adolescent transgender health. Very few schools have anyone working in that field, and the ones that do are almost all prestigious institutions.
• "Diplomas are meaningless pieces of paper that only matter in the first year or two after graduation"-- From my experience, this is false. My undergrad diploma is from a prestigious liberal arts school that I no longer have much affection for, but people in positions of power (like the Chief of the health department I intern at) have struck up conversations with me about how rigorous the environment is there, how impressive it makes me, etc. I really believe going to a top undergrad program has opened doors for me that charisma and networking alone could not. My previous graduate degree from a mid-tier state school has never done anything like that for me, and I actually got more positive feedback when I was job hunting a few years ago after I took it off my resume.
• "Don't all schools have "good" and "bad" students, professors, classes, alumni, job opportunities, etc.?"-- Not at the same ratios. Some people don't learn well as a big fish in a small pond. I know I learn best in an environment where my peers are just as if not more motivated, educated, and passionate about the content and where I am constantly challenged by demanding coursework, high expectations of professors, and advanced degree requirements. Frankly, rigor is hard to come by in MPH programs. While I don't think prestige can always be used to predict rigor, the two are correlated. Learning public health is not a solitary activity; the environment you do it in really impacts the quality of what you learn.
• Something that's been kind of skirted around in these really great, supportive discussions that have been happening here is social location. I'll speak only for myself here as a visibly transgender and (invisibly but significantly) disabled person. People like me don't get hired at the same rates as other social groups regardless of our skill set. This may be a delusion I have, but I would bet that a diploma from a higher regarded, well known institution does just a little bit to counteract the biases and assumptions a hiring manager/ad com/whatever in the future might have about me in ways one from a lower-tier university wouldn't.
• Literal location also matters. Good luck trying to get an entry-level MPH job in Boston if you didn't attend Harvard, BU, Tufts or a top institution in another area of the country. I'm sure it can be done, but the market in some cities is saturated with graduates from great schools that I am not sure how successful someone from a less-great school would be.

Idk, these thoughts are all kind of half-baked, and I don't actually hold external ideas of prestige in high regard, but I think a discussion of quality needs to take into account more than just the skills taught at any institution.

I really connect with your statement about social location. One of the big things I'm looking for in a school is how diverse the faculty is. All through my undergrad I have had predominantly white, male professors that gloss over how minority communities are really being affected by health care policy, interventions, etc. Since this is what I'm most interested in, it has been super frustrating not having that and so the faculty's research interest and past project and jobs have been my main focus when looking at schools.