Rejected Doctoral Students Trying again for Next Year...

[Epiqueen]

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Hi All,

I am getting so nervous since I have been rejected from about half the programs I applied to and have lost hope on getting accepted to the other half. I applied to a mix of DrPH and PhD EPI programs.

I was wondering if there are others in the same boat as me. I was also needing some advise on what others think would strengthen my application for next year.

Current info:
I have about a 1100 GRE and 4.0 AW. I might retake that for sure.
I also have over 2 years of reserach experience at a federal institution but nothing published yet.
Volunteer expereince on surveillance projects.
MPH (not in epi)


Any advise? I have about 3-5 schools left to hear back from so I have not lost hope 100% but I am surely at 90%!

Thanks!

 

[MPHandPsych]

My advice is to get as much feedback as you can if you plan on applying again next year- especially from programs that interviewed you. I requested this via a phone conversation and I'm actually supposed to talk to one of the schools I didn't get in to today. From past experience, it does kinda suck hearing all the reasons why they didn't want you, but on the flip side it gives you insight on what admissions committees think when it comes to applicants.

You haven't heard from all so there's still a chance!

 

[PopMart]

I'm surprised you didn't get in considering your MPH coupled with 2+ years of experience.

I'm in a similar boat. I only applied to two programs and got rejected from one already. 1240 GRE, 4.5 AW. My only research experience is completing my Master's thesis, which I hope to submit and have published. MS in Nutrition.

I went ahead and applied for an MPH program because I was hoping that would put me in a better position to gain experience and perhaps acceptance into a PhD program in the future. So now I'm waiting to hear back from a PhD and an MPH. And I'm still terrified of facing an empty year in my life: no work (will be a miracle if I find anything related to public health) and no school.

Also, there are about 5 schools on SOPHAS with programs that are still accepting PhD/DrPH applications for fall 2012. If I remember correctly they are: Loma Linda, SUNY Buffalo, Georgia Southern, Texas A&M, Oklahoma. I think I also saw at least one program in Kentucky that is still accepting applications.

Now if only USC (Columbia) would get back to me. The sooner I get that rejection, the sooner I'll recover from it!!!

 

[Epiqueen]

I am actually surprised you did not get in considering you at least have great GRE scores and I have seen people with lower scores get in.

I am also waiting to hear back from USC Columbia's epi phd program.

I do not know if you have tried or would want to consider this but I have requested it from most of my programs. I have requested them to consider me for the MS (since I have an MPH) instead if I am not accepted to the PhD. I know Tulane and BU will consider me for the MS but I have yet to hear back from them regarding my PhD application. So maybe you can try reaching out the two programs you were rejected from and see if they would consider you for the MPH.

If no luck this year then you might want to reach out to the local health department to see if you can at least volunteer on some of their projects in order to gain public health experience.

Good luck!

I'm surprised you didn't get in considering your MPH coupled with 2+ years of experience.

I'm in a similar boat. I only applied to two programs and got rejected from one already. 1240 GRE, 4.5 AW. My only research experience is completing my Master's thesis, which I hope to submit and have published. MS in Nutrition.

I went ahead and applied for an MPH program because I was hoping that would put me in a better position to gain experience and perhaps acceptance into a PhD program in the future. So now I'm waiting to hear back from a PhD and an MPH. And I'm still terrified of facing an empty year in my life: no work (will be a miracle if I find anything related to public health) and no school.

Also, there are about 5 schools on SOPHAS with programs that are still accepting PhD/DrPH applications for fall 2012. If I remember correctly they are: Loma Linda, SUNY Buffalo, Georgia Southern, Texas A&M, Oklahoma. I think I also saw at least one program in Kentucky that is still accepting applications.

Now if only USC (Columbia) would get back to me. The sooner I get that rejection, the sooner I'll recover from it!!!

 

[PopMart]

Actually, the MPH program I applied for is at the school I was rejected from! I've started reaching out (networking) and it looks like I might be getting some volunteer work in public health research (still waiting to hear back on the details/getting started). Given your advice, I guess that means I'm on the right track!

Don't worry, I'm no competition for USC, I didn't apply for Epi, I applied for HPEB. Here's to hoping we both get in!

 

[Stories]

I am actually surprised you did not get in considering you at least have great GRE scores and I have seen people with lower scores get in.

I am also waiting to hear back from USC Columbia's epi phd program.

I do not know if you have tried or would want to consider this but I have requested it from most of my programs. I have requested them to consider me for the MS (since I have an MPH) instead if I am not accepted to the PhD. I know Tulane and BU will consider me for the MS but I have yet to hear back from them regarding my PhD application. So maybe you can try reaching out the two programs you were rejected from and see if they would consider you for the MPH.

If no luck this year then you might want to reach out to the local health department to see if you can at least volunteer on some of their projects in order to gain public health experience.

Good luck!

Getting a MS would be a waste of your time. MPH is close enough to the MS that it wouldn't be worth the time and money, especially when you'd be better off getting real research experience to strengthen your application for next year.

Also consider that maybe you don't want a PhD as much as you thought you did? Several friends of mine who didn't get into a PhD ended up not needing to get a PhD after it was all said and done because they found employment at places where a PhD wasn't necessary, and they were very happy at those jobs.

 

[Bburgdorferi]

I have got rejects from all universities I had applied to. I have a job right now, and I will focus on that for another year. I called up universities to know why I have been rejected and they gave me very favorable opinions about my applications. I got to know that my GRE score of 1310 was responsible for me being rejected in the final round of decision making at Emory and Harvard. So I will definitely retake it (it has expired since I had the score from 2007), get in touch with potential faculty mentors with very specific research interests, and then reapply to one/two universities.

Getting in touch with the universities and knowing why you got rejected is very crucial. It will help you prepare a stronger application for next year. If you want to strengthen your research experience and you don't get any paid position, I think you should volunteer at a lab/organization where research similar to your interest is going on. You need to show how you changed your position from last year and why should the universities reconsider your application, should you choose to apply again next year.

Getting rejects for PhD is not the end of the world. As Stories said, you may just find that work which you love and may not require a doctoral degree 😉

 

[PopMart]

I got into the MPH program at UNC. I am still waiting to hear back from the doctoral program at USC (Columbia). At this rate, I doubt they'll send a decision before April, so I'm thinking I might just run with this MPH program and re-apply for higher ranking doctoral programs later!

Now how am I going to explain to my (mostly working class) friends/family why I am going into more debt for a second master's? Blarg.

 

[Epiqueen]

I might be in the same boat. Going back for a second masters (MS) if none of the PhD programs accept me. Oh well!

I heard USC Columbia have been sending out decisions alphabetically based on the applicants last name. I called the department yesterday and she said she has not come to my "letter" yet!

Good luck!

I got into the MPH program at UNC. I am still waiting to hear back from the doctoral program at USC (Columbia). At this rate, I doubt they'll send a decision before April, so I'm thinking I might just run with this MPH program and re-apply for higher ranking doctoral programs later!

Now how am I going to explain to my (mostly working class) friends/family why I am going into more debt for a second master's? Blarg.

 

[MPHandPsych]

I heard USC Columbia have been sending out decisions alphabetically based on the applicants last name. I called the department yesterday and she said she has not come to my "letter" yet!

Good luck!

Decisions as in the acceptances only or all (rejected, waitlisted, AND accepted)? Seems like there's not that many people on here that applied to the school...same with grad cafe. So you called the department you applied to directly- I might do the same! Thanks for the info 🙂


Also, it might be worth noting to you and Popmart- getting another master's degree might not necessarily make you a more competitive candidate for PhD programs the second time around. Have either of you talked to schools that rejected you to see why/get feedback? Maybe taking a few classes while continuing to work might be a more cost efficient way of beefing up your academic record. A lot of schools offer discounted class prices for alums as well if the schools you've already attended have graduate PH-related programs. Just a thought!

 

[Epiqueen]

Yes I called the department directly and she said that she is notifying all applicants alphabetically regardless if they were accepted or not.

I am currently a credit- non degree student right now at a local CEPH accredited SPH and it is the same tuition for degree or non-degree. I might as well just get a degree if I am paying the same price. But I do agree with you on that if the tuition is much lower for just taking courses then it is better off just doing that and maybe even volunteering with faculty or the public health department. I have been volunteering the local health department for almost a year now and it really allows one to gain the hands on experience needed for a public health professional.

Decisions as in the acceptances only or all (rejected, waitlisted, AND accepted)? Seems like there's not that many people on here that applied to the school...same with grad cafe. So you called the department you applied to directly- I might do the same! Thanks for the info 🙂


Also, it might be worth noting to you and Popmart- getting another master's degree might not necessarily make you a more competitive candidate for PhD programs the second time around. Have either of you talked to schools that rejected you to see why/get feedback? Maybe taking a few classes while continuing to work might be a more cost efficient way of beefing up your academic record. A lot of schools offer discounted class prices for alums as well if the schools you've already attended have graduate PH-related programs. Just a thought!

 

[PopMart]

getting another master's degree might not necessarily make you a more competitive candidate for PhD programs the second time around. Have either of you talked to schools that rejected you to see why/get feedback? Maybe taking a few classes while continuing to work might be a more cost efficient way of beefing up your academic record. A lot of schools offer discounted class prices for alums as well if the schools you've already attended have graduate PH-related programs. Just a thought!

Good thoughts, I definitely share the view that another master's probably won't help that much in general for getting into a PhD program. I think the main issue is that I only applied to two programs. Major mistake!

I am unemployed (not for lack of trying) and would be doing nothing but looking for work while I wait to re-apply.

I looked into taking an epi course but couldn't afford it. I talked to FinAid and they had no help.

I tried to find volunteer work to gain epi research experience but was told that I needed to take formal epi coursework.

So I guess I'm attempting to justify this in two ways:

1. Degree-seeking status = Federal Aid (so I can afford the coursework) + more likely to get a seat in the class + more likely to find assistantship or relevant part-time job (build stronger connections with faculty and peers)

2. My MS is in Nutrition. My background is in dietetics and going into public health research is turning out to be a career shift. I can benefit from the foundation coursework in PH that an MPH offers.

 

[PopMart]

I heard USC Columbia have been sending out decisions alphabetically based on the applicants last name. I called the department yesterday and she said she has not come to my "letter" yet!

Jeesh!!! I called my department directly and they keep saying the admissions committee hasn't met to review the second wave of applications yet. I applied in November for heaven's sake. What on earth?!

 

[Vayu]

What you are getting is formally termed "the runaround".

 

[PopMart]

What you are getting is formally termed "the runaround".

LOL, so true!

 

[PopMart]

I called (AGAIN) this morning. Without verifying my identity, they informed me of my rejection status over the phone. It took them 5 months to reject me. Sheesh!

In the past two weeks, I applied and was admitted to the Public Health Leadership Program (PHLP) at UNC, attended the visiting day, paid my deposit, turned in my transcripts and health forms, found a place to live and signed the lease, AND registered for fall classes!

So I get to feel like a loser when fall comes around and I'm sitting in epi and biostats with PhD students. *ouch*

Should I reapply to programs next year or wait until I'm finished with the MPH? I guess that's a good question to ask my advisor when I meet him/her.

On the other hand, I'm really excited because I get to go to an AWESOME school and live in a place I really want to live! Hopefully the opportunities at UNC will be plentiful; I'm really, truly banking on this aspect.

*nervous*

 

[Epiqueen]

That is some great work PopMart! Congrats on starting that program at UNC. This should really strengthen your application for the next cycle to a doctoral program! Good luck!

I called (AGAIN) this morning. Without verifying my identity, they informed me of my rejection status over the phone. It took them 5 months to reject me. Sheesh!

In the past two weeks, I applied and was admitted to the Public Health Leadership Program (PHLP) at UNC, attended the visiting day, paid my deposit, turned in my transcripts and health forms, found a place to live and signed the lease, AND registered for fall classes!

So I get to feel like a loser when fall comes around and I'm sitting in epi and biostats with PhD students. *ouch*

Should I reapply to programs next year or wait until I'm finished with the MPH? I guess that's a good question to ask my advisor when I meet him/her.

On the other hand, I'm really excited because I get to go to an AWESOME school and live in a place I really want to live! Hopefully the opportunities at UNC will be plentiful; I'm really, truly banking on this aspect.

*nervous*