grad2020

I chose to stay at my 'lower' ranking school (U. Albany) for PhD for several reasons. First of all, there are no rankings for individual programs, so just because a top school is excellent for overall public health, doesn't mean that their specific program tracks are just as excellent, OR is a good fit for you. Just like at my school, I think that my program track's faculty and research are miles better than other tracks here. After interviewing elsewhere (a school that has much higher rankings overall and as research institution), I realized my opportunities to grow as a researcher, a professional, and as an academic in my specific area of interest (EHS) were much better here in Albany. I was offered an RA position for an important/unique study, will being doing data collection, and have better teaching opportunities and future faculty training here. Not only that, the overall morale of students and faculty in my department is by far superior to where I interviewed elsewhere. Of course a place like Harvard or Johns Hopkins is going to look better on your CV than a state school. But it's also about where you are going to be happy, and what you DO and ACCOMPLISH in graduate school, not just the name.

SUNY Albany Environmental & Occupational Health PhD. Offered amazing graduate assistant research opportunity (persistent organics and cognitive decline in aging cohort... includes data collection) and full funding. So stoked/grateful. Congrats to everyone and good luck in your careers!

Just got rejected from Columbia (EHS).... boo! But congrats to those who got a spot! I was not expecting to get in... but I am totally jelly of you! Really funny though, they said to improve my future application, I should visit 'Tips for Applying', which is literally just a link to the application instructions that I followed perfectly. AKA... this doesn't really help improve my future application. Best of luck all!

How was the interview? Intense, testing or conversational? I'm kinda nervous because I knew my interviewees at my last one so I think they went easy on me. Did you get to meet with any students? Good luck and hope you hear back soon!

Yes, I have an interview Friday for their Epi track through the EHS department. What track did you apply to?

Yes, I am considering NYU!... but have a different situation with funding. Not accepted yet, but have an impending interview. The answer is... it depends and you have to consider multiple things: How much debt do you currently have? How much have you been offered in financial aid/scholarships? Do a budget spreadsheet comparing all costs (tuition, fees, health insurance, travel, housing, etc.). Sometimes seeing the $$$ rack up will sway you. How much more debt will you go into? Do you want to eventually return to Texas or do you know if you want to live in NY permanently? Is there a possibility you will return to school for a terminal degree later on? Are you interested in research? How do the schools compare with respect to your research interests? What are the school's internship placement records? See if you can contact current students. How do they compare in availability of resources to promote your career growth (i.e. travel grants, other opportunities?) I chose a state school for my MPH, which was less than half the costs of private schools. It may not be JH or Harvard, but I received a fantastic opportunities... got a research job 1st year, excellent internship placements 2nd year (benchwork research and local health department), received a scholarship my last semester, TA opportunity, grants to go to APHA, and pending publication. Don't think that a small name gets you a small education. My concentration was small too, so we had an excellent student to faculty ratio. Be realistic about what you want to do, how much you think your going to make when you graduate, etc. Do you want to pay off loans or buy a house? I think NYU is pretty good with funding so it may not be as expensive as you think, but definitely come in with an analytic approach and ask lots of questions. You have 6 weeks... plenty of time to weigh the options. Good luck and congrats on you acceptances! Let me know if you end up at NYU

Congrats on Harvard! How do you like Columbia's Molecular Epi program? I applied to their doctoral program, but haven't heard back Screen name an homage to epigenetics?

1. Read through this website: http://www.whatispublichealth.org/index.html 2. For a prospective MPH program, read through the graduation requirements. Read all course descriptions for your particular concentration of interest. Find out about internship placements & research opportunities. If you like how it sounds and the all the requirements, public health is probably for you. I was working for an intervention program at a university hospital. All my bosses had their MPH. I read through programs in detail and found the school + concentration for me. Couldn't be happier. Pursuing PhD now. Good luck.

You really have to talk to professors at the school I think, and find out what actual funding is available, and also what they believe their funding outlook is. I payed for my master's, but was lucky enough to score a full-tuition + stipend TA position for my last semester. I just had my interview for PhD at the same school. They typically have a limited number of stipends + full tuition for incoming doctoral students for the first year, but then you're more on your own afterwards.... have to work as RA or TA @low stipend levels. However, one professor just got funding for a study that includes 4 years of stipend + tuition for a student. It also depends on your concentration. EHS is typically well funded and a little less competitive since it's not as popular. Not sure about HPM or behavior. Also if you get into a PhD program and you realize it's not for you, you can always drop down to a Masters.

I applied to only three schools because of location, transfer credit restrictions, and most importantly, funding. There is no reason to pay for PhD, and if I didn't get funded, I wouldn't go.

Most MPH programs aren't that difficult to get into. Maybe not the top places though (Yale, Hopkins, etc.). Furthermore, if you are interested in environmental health, those are among the easier to get into because fewer people are interested in the field and many programs are trying to grow (given you have decent grades in natural science coursework, especially chemistry). BTW... EHS is the BEST!!!! Are you applying now, or for next year? If you aren't applying until next year, take a couple of public health graduate courses and get A's in them. SOPHAS splits up your GPA and they will report that you have a 4.0 graduate gpa. They also split your GPA so that admissions committees will see your progression over the course of undergrad and your higher major/minor gpas. Good luck.

I applied too: UAlbany- EOH- interview Columbia- Molecular Epi (EHS)- no word NYU- Epi (EHS)- nothin' Please post if you hear back from Columbia!!! Would love to know! Thanks! Love that you're all EHSers! Good luck to everyone!

Don't stay longer than needed! End the madness, GRADUATE and get more relevant full-time work experience! From here you can either start taking a class or two every semester (or get a certificate if you like) while you are working. Once you have a BA/BS you can enroll in almost any school to just take classes without formally matriculating. When I did it the university called it the "school of professional development". They don't care about your previous academic record because you are not a formal university student and they still get money out of you. After a couple of years of getting straight A's and getting professional experience, apply to grad school. I failed 4 classes in undergrad and was charged with academic misconduct. I am not a bad person, I was just stupid and immature. A couple of years after graduating I started taking classes and did very well. I applied to 2 grad schools with all these bad marks on my transcripts and was accepted to both. The more time that has gone by since your academic problems the better and the more you separate yourself from the person you used to be, the better. The application service counted my post-bacc grades into my "graduate gpa" even though non of these classes were graduate levels (If you feel ready maybe even try to take graduate level courses before applying), so admissions committees saw my "long ago" bad undergrad gpa, and my very recent 3.83 "graduate gpa". Also make sure when you address your past in your personal statement (or wherever) that you are honest, don't give excuses and show that you have grown as an individual. That's what I did and I think this makes perfect sense for the field you want to go into. In fact it may make you an asset in helping students who are struggling with academia and the transition to living away from home. Positive spin! I am in the 2nd year of my master's program (3.96 gpa) and will be applying to PhD programs this fall. Good luck.