Grad15

I have not paid a lot of attention to the UBC MPH structure, but I am attracted to the SFU because it has a thesis option; this is huge for me because I have a clinical/practical background, but would like to progress into a scholarly realm- @ PhD soon after. Secondly, I am most interested in health equity & social determinants of health, and SFU has a great stream on this! Also, I would like to use ethnographic methods in my future work on social inequalities in health, and SFU has lots of professors with medical anthropology backgrounds & similar interests as mine. That SFU is CEPH accredited is an additional "cream on the cake!" On the other hand, UBC must be a bigger name school thats been around longer...and if I am not mistaken, it is stronger in Epidemiology/ Statistics areas. It really depends on what you are looking to do with your degree, and which areas interest you more...either schools have their strengths!

Ggrrrrrrh....I had hoped my agony would end sometime today!!! But thanks for the info...

Thanks! Hope lives on...Best wishes to u and all who wait & hope!

Social inequities & Health

Oh, you are an int'l applicant? I am too, sort of! I live and work in Canada, but I am a foreign citizen. If anything, Intn'l's should know earlier on in order to apply for Visas- just my opinion..Thanks for yr encouragement, I am trying to remain as patient and hopeful as possible.. .

Wow! Congrats! Finally good news from SFU...now that changes the whole tempo, hopefully not too long for the rest of us, whichever way it turns out!

Wonder, too! I am beginning to dismiss this "technical" excuse, Lol! Did you also apply to other programs? I really like the SFU program, it's tailor made for me...if it doesn't work out, I will try again for next year...Best wishes..

Thursday: waiting to hear from SFU is getting to be too exhausting...if things turn out well, all this stress will be forgotten! What if it turns out bad? Well, I have started to plan for this eventuality, just in case... Please, SFU wannabes, lets know as soon as you hear s'thing, anything, will you?

The next two days will be nerve wrecking....Best wishes to all SFU hopefuls!

Just called SFU A_G_A_I_N_ to follow up on any progress, "We are still working on it ( the so called technical problem), we hope we can start contacting applicants by email this week." Well, this has to be the longest week ever.... The SFU is my best fit and the only one I applied to, the waiting is sucking the life out of me!

I am still trying to get into an MPH program yet, but I am seriously looking ahead into doctoral studies. I would like to study Policy & Equity, my favourite program being York University's PhD program. I am also searching for a one year medical anthropology program to throw in between to enhance my personal & scholarly interests ... I like the following definition from Columbia Univ. Mailman school of public health's website http://publichealth.columbia.edu/admissions/drph-ph; The DrPH and PhD degrees prepare students for careers in academia and other research settings. The DrPH degree is for individuals seeking expertise in the science of application. The PhD degree is for those individuals with research and/or teaching as their goal, where scholarship is represented by the creation of new and innovative knowledge.

True! SFU is my favourite program for this reason! I love the combination of a PRACTICE based MPH (rather than MSc) and the possibility to opt for a thesis at the same time. Only program I applied to, if they do not get me this time, I will have to try again next year! I have not seen another program like it, either. I also love their concentrations- I am not the Health promo or Epi type. Plus its CEPH accredited, though I wouldn't be bothered if it wasn't! But boy, are they keeping us on edge, waiting anxiously to hear from them next week!!!

Almost all MPH programs are "practicum based!" MSc (Public Health) programs are the ones that tend to be predominantly research based. However, a few programs, e.g. SFU have a thesis option in lieu of a project. Check out this site for a list of Canadian programs with/without a practicum; hope its up to date. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/php-psp/master_of_php-eng.php

Oh, I called them: 778 782 4821

SFU still working on a technicality, they expect to start sending out responses next week. So, another agonizing week in the waiting game...

Thanks for the info. And this should be the week we begin to hear from SFU. Anxiety increasing, but want to get over this waiting, no matter what the result . Best wishes SFU hopefuls!!

Thanks Kmila! That helps...axiously waiting!

Refreshing to know...I am an African trained RN who has worked hard and travelled the world to get an education; I aged along the way, but acquired even more interesting and varied healthcare experiences, and my desire to pursue a career in the global public health arena has only gotten stronger. I am very confident about what I can achieve with graduate education, and this year, I made my debut applying to SFU MPH program. @ the back of my mind, I worry that my age may stand in my way- and its refreshing to read this! I plan to go on to a PhD, and really do not want to spend years trying to get into a masters program. Thanks @ Jkabo, you are an inspiration!

How nice of you to resolve this "puzzle!" And Congrats to you! Your stats in your later post look great- I can see how you got yours that early! I also applied by Jan 15th, so I am even mooooore worried ! I have a few disadvantages- advanced age, only clinical experience (Diploma RN- in 4 countries in Africa & N. America) plus 4 years community/faith-based voluntary work with a health related component, no publications/ research experience, not so great references (2 out of 3 are non-academic, been out of school for a long time), but great GPA, just completing my BSN expecting cGPA at least 3.8/4.0 and last year 4.0/4.0. Its the only application I made, my favourite program. Will wait for now...Thanks a lot!

Thanks for that info! The wait continues...Best wishes to all fall applicants!

Same here, applied to SFU social inequities & Health stream, no response yet! I am especially worried because at least one person on this forum was already accepted earlier this month...hope we hear from them this coming week!