mmajum01
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Posts posted by mmajum01
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I'm still waiting on HSPH PhD in Epidemiology (Infectious Diseases)... They said they should have all decisions out by the 15th. Goes to show that it really isn't over till it's over... Haha.
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Well, my research interests lie in the area of Energy, Sustainable Energy from Ocean Waves and that kind of stuff. I think that my SOP is going to let me down however
I'm graduating from Mechanical Eng. this year, however I have had some undergrad research experience and have conference papers on the way. Ahhh, we'll see what happens but it ain't looking good Still have my hopes up thoughRemember this: it's not over till it's over! Hold tight.
I'm sending positive vibes your way! -
Hey Kayla123! It sounds like we have a lot of research interests in common. I am doing my MPH right now in epi/biostats, but I applied to a few environmental health PhD programs in December. My top pick among those was Columbia, and I heard back good news from them a few weeks ago. However, I just heard back from MIT's Engineering Systems Division as well. It's my top pick in the Boston area (that's where I live now) - so I may not end up at Columbia after all. (I know these two programs seem very different, but I was an engineer in undergrad and have spent a lot of time working on engineering interventions for water-related diseases as well as for groundwater arsenic contamination; I'm especially interested in using my experience with environmental modeling from undergrad to create climate-sensitive forecasting systems for diseases like cholera, dengue, and malaria.)
My advisor at MIT would be someone who has a joint appointment at MIT and HSPH, which is really ideal. From what I could tell when I visited though, Columbia EHS is exceptional at all of the interests you noted! That said, I'm sure JHSPH would also suit your needs; my only qualm about their EHS department is that it's REALLY big compared to Columbia.
As for SOPHAS - my Columbia and HSPH applications were through them, but both schools evaluate online, so mailing out applications doesn't matter at all! I haven't heard back from HSPH yet, but Columbia was very prompt with their review. SOPHAS sucks, but try not to worry too much about it! I'm sure it'll all work out.
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Sure. Here are my stats:
Undergrad at Top 30 School (BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering 2012), 3.64 (3.82 Major GPA)
Grad at Top 30 School (MPH, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 2013), 4.0 thus farGRE: V 165, Q 162, AW 4.5
That said, I don't think my stats had much to do with my acceptance; honestly, they're pretty average for MIT. My research and social entrepreneurship experience probably helped a lot. I also taught a semester-long seminar on engineering interventions for infectious diseases last spring at Tufts and my POI at ESD was a guest lecturer; I think my acceptance wouldn't have happened without that relationship, seeing as he's volunteered to be my advisor.What are your research interests?
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Haha. I got rejected too, also without email notification. Oh well. It's nice to know I'm in distinguished company!!
Screw 'em!
Out of curiosity, did you apply to any engineering programs? I ask because of EHE. I was an engineer in undergrad, so I applied to MIT Engineering Systems Division. They do a lot of really cool work at the engineering/health interface! -
Just got my decision letter via email around 1:30 PM EST!
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Anyone hear anything back from the Engineering Systems Division at MIT yet? I applied for the PhD program.
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For anyone who applied to JHSPH PhD in Environmental Health, I got my decision on the website today. No email notification, but it's a rejection so maybe that's not surprising!
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HSPH Epi has been pretty popular on the results page for the past few weeks with a mix of rejections and acceptances... And still nothing in my inbox. I have no idea what to expect at this point and am getting a bit nervous. :/
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According to the first post, shouldn't all results be emailed out today?
Any news guys?
Hey! I got my decision letter (notified by email and directed to website) last week on Friday. Unfortunately, a rejection - but I suppose it makes sense given the fact that my research interests only aligned with one faculty member who happens to be a newcomer to the department. It was worth a shot though! Any news yet for you?
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Yeah, MammaD! I'm rooting for you. **hugs**
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indeed, fingers crossed for UCLA's MPH program - better than nothing, and most likely exactly what I need (both personally and professionally). so it may be a blessing in disguise. I'm still waiting to hear from Columbia and Berkeley's Infectious Disease and Immunity program (my top choice), but considering the other outcomes so far, I'm not thinking too much about them!
I love the positive attitude, drglasner! Keep it up.
It encourages the same in the rest of us. -
Officially waitlisted at Columbia. At least it's some news xD Like what everyone's been saying, it's nice to just hear SOMETHING..
Sorry Mmajum, I guess we most likely won't see each other next year in person...Sorry to hear about rejections to our PhD in public health family members..
We were all rooting for you, but remember it's not over until it's over. 
On a side note, I'm returning from a U-Dub visit/interview, and I really really liked the program, even more so than when I was just reading about it on the websites. They said acceptances/rejections will be out in a week for my program. Thank you, U-dub for not keeping your applicants in extended purgatory
Aw, mannn. Oh well... Honestly? Their loss! I'm so happy to hear that your UW visit was so fantastic; I hope they get back to you ASAP.
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Yeah, I'm 22-going-on-23, too! Applied to doctoral programs; will have completed my Masters by May this year.
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I know that there are a couple other Harvard Infectious Disease Epidemiology SD hopefuls out there on Grad Cafe... Has anyone heard anything back yet? What's been your experience so far communicating with the department and POIs since sending in applications?
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So much great news today!!!
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I want to ask a general question to the forum.
What are everone's general expectations for funding? Are people limiting their schools to avenues where funding can be secured or is there a general acceptance that if a school say offers to cover 60-85% of tuition than it is acceptable. I am curious because programs like U Minnesota and Hopkins have programs that do not guarentee funding and in fact provide partal tuition coverage.
I have also applied to a number of schools in different disciplines where it is the convention to provide full funding with a generous stipend and health insurance coverage.
What are people's thoughts about this? I am already carrying a substantial debt load from gettiing two masters prior to this so I am trying to be as frugal as possible.
I would love to hear some guidance.
Hi Panache - I think this is a really relevant question that is on a lot of our minds. Thanks for bringing it up.
Each of us are in a unique space financially, and when it comes to taking out loans for a higher degree, it's very important to figure out how quickly one can pay it off after getting a full-time job out of school. MammaD is probably wisest to speak about this, but I found it useful to set up a sort of budgetary spreadsheet with current debt, big life expenditures that I expect in the coming 5-10 years (kids, buying a home, that sort of thing), yearly cost of living, as well as how much I can reasonably expect to earn in my profession of interest in 5-7 years (and what my husband will be earning after he completes his MBA, as we are a dual-income household). Average income for many occupations is fairly easy to ascertain thanks to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (at least for those of us who wish to work in the USA). Once I made a spreadsheet, I was able to assess when my family would break even and when we'd have enough in savings to move ahead with buying a home and having kids - approximations, but still worth something in the life-planning department. For our family, when these pivotal moments occur depends on how much of my tuition will be covered, as well as how much living stipend is offered by the program. My husband will be doing his MBA for the first two years of my PhD, and though we have a good amount in savings for now, it's possible that it'll be depleted by the time he's back to work depending on the program I attend (and the financial package it offers). As is the case with most MBA programs, we'll be paying his tuition out of pocket as it is. With all this in mind, we found that being able to compare timelines - by varying the amount of PhD tuition remission and living stipend I might receive in the spreadsheet - was really helpful for us. Those timelines will definitely influence where I choose to go to school.
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jordanhina - A lot of the time, funding information is made available on the department website for prospective graduate students. I've been under the assumption that unless the department makes public that all accepted students are fully-funded, an accepted student isn't guaranteed full funding. this doesn't mean that full-funding isn't possible, though - in those cases (JHSPH Environmental Health springs to mind), fellowships, TAships, and RAships are an option and often provide both tuition remission and a living stipend. they're just not necessarily guaranteed. for some, students have to apply for separately; for others, the decision committee (or POI) must nominate students.
this all said, I think it's probably appropriate to ask your POI at a given program about funding details after an interview or acceptance. sometimes, funding information will come right along with your acceptance letter, too. hope this helps.
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MammaD, you're truly inspirational. Thank you for sharing yourself so generously with us. I'm really rooting for you!
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Hey VBD! Did you hear from EHE? I'm still waiting (with bated breath to say the least)... D:If there's other EHE applicants to JHSPH, they plan to have decisions posted on applyyourself hopefully within the end of this week. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on contacting programs. The other programs I'm waiting for emails/calls back, JHU was just the first to respond (wow, super fast, and extremely nice!). Interviews were held in early Feb though, so I won't hold my breath since I didn't get invited then. *laughs* My anxiety just shot straight up now though >.< Be still you stupid heart... -
I sometimes use "With Gratitude," when the situation is appropriate to serve as a more thoughtful version of "Thanks," - but to each their own!
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Thank you so much for the wisdom everyone- I'm definitely thinking more practically now about being able to live off the stipend! I find myself sometimes forgetting just how much cost of living varies from one place to the next in the USA.
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Keep your fingers crossed for HSPH! Looks like they're putting out decisions already... But I wonder if IDE takes longer than other concentrations because they get more applicants? Any insight? As for Yale... I'm reluctant to throw in the towel till I have the rejection letter in hand! Who knows these days...ugh...but good to know! thanks :]
PhD in Public Health
in Public Health Forum
Posted · Edited by mmajum01
I know it's stressful time with some still waiting and others making decisions. I just wanted to let everyone know - especially those interested in Columbia EHS - that I won't be accepting their offer. I was an engineer in undergrad, and after getting my MPH, I really wanted to work at the interface of these two fields. Though Columbia would have provided some opportunity to do that, I attended an Open House for MIT's Engineering Systems Division last Friday and am now convinced that staying in Boston is a better choice for me. Best of luck to everyone else, and I hope that this will open up a seat for an exceptional candidate that's better-suited for the position than me! Columbia EHS is an incredible program; it was - and continues to be - my top choice for public health. I just wanted something more quantitatively-based, and I can get that at MIT. Good luck again everyone!!! Can't wait to see where everyone else ends up!