MPH / MSPH 2021: Applied, Accepted, Waitlisted, Rejected, Attending

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I got the email yesterday. For the global health field!
When did you applied for Harvard and JHU? I applied to Harvard, JHU and Columbia on 11/30. I was accepted by Columbia on 1/20 and JHU on 2/15. Still waiting for Harvard. Same program as yours.
 
Congrats on your acceptance! Did you ever get more info on this? I'm wondering the same thing!
Thanks! I haven’t heard any financial package yet. I did receive an email from the financial office for some general information. I guess that’s what they implied.
 
Anyone admitted to Tulane - have you had any luck with Gibson? Whenever I try it just takes me back to the home screen and the option to log in is still there. I’ve emailed a few times with no response but maybe I’m missing something...
SAME nothing works for me!
 
Just heard from Emory that they thought Biostatistics was a better fit for me than Epi, so that's where my application stands now. The email was confusing and didn't sound like it was routed through their normal first choice > second choice > third choice process. Did anyone else receive a similar email?
 
Just heard from Emory that they thought Biostatistics was a better fit for me than Epi, so that's where my application stands now. The email was confusing and didn't sound like it was routed through their normal first choice > second choice > third choice process. Did anyone else receive a similar email?
Not from Emory, but basically what happened to me with UCLA. I only had one choice, and they recommended me to another program since they weren't offering me admission.

They weren't very clear that I wasn't being offered admission into the program I applied to until I asked what the referral actually meant. Lol. Tad embarrassing for me. Hehe.
 
thanks! I think in terms of investing i meant like safer investing options like a roth or ETFs or something just not to sure if they are worth it if i go to school in just a few months
Your question on what you want to do with your savings depends on your current situation. If you have some extra money that you don't need to use while you're in school, the safer route is a mutual fund/CD (but it might not lead to big gains) or put it into a retirement account (note that a 401K is employer-contributed). Go with a Roth IRA if you want to pay taxes on it now (pull it out tax free in retirement) or a regular IRA where you pay the taxes on it when you pull it out. If you ask me, I would put it into a Roth/traditional IRA since it's an investment in my future. But if you're unsure if you might need the money for school and don't want to potentially have to take out more federal loans to cover yourself, keep it in a savings account.

If you want to grow your money and can afford to potentially lose it all, only then would I recommend going with stocks. I'm a long-term investor, so I look for stocks below a certain price that have potential to go up and hold for at least a year. I assume everything I put into a brokerage account I've already lost (to avoid falling to a gambling mindset where you put in more to try to win back losses). You have to have time to do research before you invest (and don't use r/wallstreetbets). I heard some people went in on the upswing of some of the stocks and lost a lot because the market corrected itself. In the stock game, ETFs can be a great way to diversify your holdings with the one fund rather than holding all the stocks yourself.
 
Can someone briefly explain the main differences between SMS & Popfam at Columbia? I heard that SMS is more academic and Popfam is more practice-based but I don’t really understand what that means either 🥴 I got accepted to SMS but think I kind of regret it(?)
 
Hi Everybody!

Just stumbled upon this forum as I was trying to figure out how to pay for grad school...

Does anyone have good resources for determining a reasonable amount to take out in loans? Even with scholarship (60K from Yale) and part-time work, I’d still need to take out about 45k. I’m just really struggling with the idea of leaving my current job in Global Health and diving into the crisis that is student loan debt in America haha
Have you applied to schools this cycle or are you considering applying? Someone responded to a similar question and said your loans should be no more than a year's salary. Federal loan interest rates kick in 6mo after you're done with school.

If you're considering applying, think about what's best for you. If you already have a great job and don't want to quit, online programs offer flexibility and are around for that purpose. Do an online search to see which schools have an online program for your concentration; not all schools have all concentrations available. If you are ok with going with the online route, start a conversation with your manager. Let him/her know you're interested in advancing your career, want to stay in the company, and want to pursue an MPH to make that happen. You should find out if the company has a tuition reimbursement program (a former employer of mine did. Once my request was approved, they reimbursed me for two classes I was taking. It's usually capped per employee). If I have a really good relationship with my manager, I would ask if the department would consider sponsoring me to pay for my online program (and they will probably require that you stick around for x number of years after getting the degree). Online = keep your job, part time school, no relocation costs. You might finish in 3-4 years instead of 2. I would still apply to residential programs if I were you. You might end up with a scholarship! Students work while in their residential MPH programs too and it's a different experience. Depends on what you want and need.
 
I have a specific question, does anyone know how hard it is to transfer from MHS program to ScM at JHU School of public health? Thanks!
 
Can someone briefly explain the main differences between SMS & Popfam at Columbia? I heard that SMS is more academic and Popfam is more practice-based but I don’t really understand what that means either 🥴 I got accepted to SMS but think I kind of regret it(?)
this is me going crazy over popfam and hpm
 
For Umich I did not receive an acceptance email, but when I checked my application decision on my wolverine access account, it said that I had been accepted. Has this happened to anyone else?
 
ACCEPTED TO YALE HPM!!! I seriously can’t believe this, less than 3 years ago I was homeless and studying for community college in my car at night and now I’ve been accepted to my dream grad program 😭🙏 I’m so humbled and grateful!!
I feel so happy for you. You almost made cry. You rock!! Nothing better than seeing good people getting what they deserve.


anyone here good at investing? does it make sense to put my savings in an account somewhere if i’m just going to take it out in august? is it better to just put it in a higher interest savings?
Jimin, if you're a US citizen or permanent resident, check out SOFI. I put some money there and they manage to bring me a return of ~78% over the years. PM me if you want a referral link!

If you applied to Stanford CHPR, I just got a decision via email!!
Congratulations!!!!
Did you get in? These last 3 schools are driving me nuts. Ugh
 
For Umich I did not receive an acceptance email, but when I checked my application decision on my wolverine access account, it said that I had been accepted. Has this happened to anyone else?

Yes it happened to me- You should be getting an email soon. Congrats!!!
 
I feel so happy for you. You almost made cry. You rock!! Nothing better than seeing good people getting what they deserve.



Jimin, if you're a US citizen or permanent resident, check out SOFI. I put some money there and they manage to bring me a return of ~78% over the years. PM me if you want a referral link!


Congratulations!!!!
Did you get in? These last 3 schools are driving me nuts. Ugh
Hey! I did get in, how about you? If you’re still waiting don’t worry, I know applicants much better suited than me still waiting.
 
Hello guys. What is the average scholarship given to Yale students. It is almost $100,000 to go there and unless I get at minimum $30,000 then I cannot afford Yale unfortunately.
 
Can someone briefly explain the main differences between SMS & Popfam at Columbia? I heard that SMS is more academic and Popfam is more practice-based but I don’t really understand what that means either 🥴 I got accepted to SMS but think I kind of regret it(?)
I've been wondering the same thing and have heard from a friend who's currently at SMS that they kind of wish they had done PopFam instead. Not sure what to make of it honestly
 
Also, on Harvard financial aid they were having some issues with IRS data transfer for FAFSA so the status was listed as error. I checked again this morning and it was changed to received on 2/22. I remember somebody mentioned their financial aid office reply and said all awards are gone. SO if they took the effort to update and process my FAFSA does it mean I have a chance??!!! Anyone else experienced something similar???
 
Still waiting as well, same concentration!
Have you done your interview?
I saw on the grad cafe that that someone reported that he/she got the acceptance from Columbia in early June few years ago.
I was frightened by the post because I could not wait for the result until June 🤣
 
Can someone briefly explain the main differences between SMS & Popfam at Columbia? I heard that SMS is more academic and Popfam is more practice-based but I don’t really understand what that means either 🥴 I got accepted to SMS but think I kind of regret it(?)
This thread was helpful! To my understanding, SMS and Popfam faculty have different interests. As I was looking through the program before applying, SMS tries to get to the root of health disparities (housing, healthcare access, systemic inequality, etc). In contrast, Popfam focuses more on community-level issues (mch, water quality, etc) and how to address those. In an info session last semester, one admissions counselor put it this way: "SMS stresses the understanding & addressing of social forces that influence health. Population health focuses more on helping people get the treatments they need."

I applied to SMS because the faculty interests better met my needs and interests, but I know someone at Columbia said it isn't uncommon for people to switch from SMS to Popfam.
 
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Just an FYI - I’ve spoken with individuals in administration at Harvard in January. Everyone IS working; they are just working remotely. Columbia is as well and if you call or email, you can set up a phone time. Financial Aid offices are most definitely working, again, remotely. Things are slightly harder to coordinate, but with access to technology, Administration, AdCom, etc. have been very hard at work since March 2020 - just remotely, which is often why you are not hearing back immediately to emails or calls are rerouted.
 
is anyone still waiting for GW? If yes, what department and when did you apply?
i applied 1/15 for global health policy but got sent an email asking if i'd like to be considered for health policy instead and was rerouted there on 2/8. Still waiting on a decision.
 
Hello guys. What is the average scholarship given to Yale students. It is almost $100,000 to go there and unless I get at minimum $30,000 then I cannot afford Yale unfortunately.
During an admissions meeting Jen Farkas said it's most common for students to receive 10k - 20k scholarships. Plenty of students receive 30k or 60k scholarships too, though 🙂
 
Has anyone heard about financial aid packages from anywhere? I emailed University of Minnesota last week asking when I might expect information, but only radio silence. I'm between BU and Minnesota at this point (haven't heard from Berkeley but not holding out hope that I'll get in), and I'm really torn because a huge factor is cost - after a 25% scholarship from BU, the tuition costs are pretty similar right now but I know cost of living is higher in Boston. Kinda feel like I'm in purgatory since I can't make a decision yet!
I heard back from Minnesota in January and in state tuition scholarship 2/15. From what I've seen in previous forums they do the scholarship in batches. I wouldn't be disheartened about not hearing back yet. I noticed I got the scholarship through my acceptance portal before getting an actual email. When I emailed them for clarification they went radio silent for a few days too. I def think you'll hear back soon! All types of prayers being sent your way! For reference I applied to the Epi program if that gives you an idea of how the departments are moving.
 
For those waiting on an Emory decision for Epidemiology, I was just emailing an admissions officer. Yesterday, they asked for an additional Fall grade they needed for me. I sent it, and in response, they said I would have a response within the next week and a half. I don't know if this is true for other Emory Epidemiology applicants but I thought it might be helpful. For context, I applied for Global Epidemiology. Good Luck to everyone!
 
Have you done your interview?
I saw on the grad cafe that that someone reported that he/she got the acceptance from Columbia in early June few years ago.
I was frightened by the post because I could not wait for the result until June 🤣
I’m still waiting and I had my interview on 2/3. Hoping we all hear back soon!
 
Accepted into Columbia PopFam as of 7:24am PST!!!!!!!!

Edit: Originally applied to the Accelerated MPH Program but wasn't offered a spot there. Regardless, SUPER ecstatic with the acceptance! 🙂
Great News! Your GPA gives me hope mine is a 2.77 LOL. I just need to send in my winter grades and maybe columbia will offer me a spot.
 
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