skiergirl24

Like many of you I also scored lower the second time I took the GRE. First time I got an 1180 (560Q 620V) and a 5 on the writing. The second time I scored almost 100 points lower. My philosophy is....this is my best GRE score...if you overlook everything else that I have accomplished then I really don't want to go to your school anyway! I have a 3.88 GPA, 2 years teaching experience, and right now I am an Instructor at the University (they hired me to teach and I am hoping that a full time teaching position will help my chances of getting in to a good program). I think the SOP is most important and I think I really screwed those up when I applied last fall...I just didn't really know what I was doing. This year I have picked a few schools and plan on visiting them and then applying to 3 (4 tops).

It all depends. My score is just around a 1200 (1180) but since I am going for media effects and film studies the math portion of my GRE does not matter as much. I would say...your GRE score is fine...work on your writing sample and your SOP to really set yourself apart from other applicants. A student with a GRE of 1300 and one with 1200....well when it comes down to it I think they look more at experience and your SOP, research, publications etc.

Mich State is a great program. But, I do not think they offer funding to Masters students. I applied there for my M.A. and got in but got no funding...and someone told me they do not fund Masters students.

There are some. If you have no desire to work at an R1 University (publish or perish) then it might be worthwhile to look at some of the schools that are not listed by NCA as 'top notch' but will nonetheless help you succeed in what YOU want to do with YOUR PhD. I am in the same boat as you. I love teaching and that is what I want to do. I'd like to get a job at a state school or small liberal arts college and I would be happy as a clam. Schools to look at: U Denver (I am not sure if they have a Mass Comm program though), Howard U, Texas Tech, GSU is kind of a mixture....(I might be wrong as I am no expert. Good luck! Look around on the net and ask some of your profs and former profs.

Hey PRGuy, thanks for the nice comments. I've narrowed down my list of schools CONSIDERABLY and plan on visiting 2 or 3 to which I am applying: UW, U of Denver, UGA and GSU and then I am stuck about UConn...the fact that they left me hanging really ticked me off....I want to apply because it is a decent program and close to home but I don't want to throw away $140 on sending GRE scores and app fees etc. No thanks.

If you dont mind sharing where you were accepted and what type of funding package you were offered I would greatly appreciate it. $$$ is going to be a big factor in determining where I go.

VENT!!!!!! I hate my thesis. I am crying right now. My committee is all over the place....all disagreeing with each other...i had to switch committee chairs midway through last semester. I am just so overwhelmed I don't know where to start. I am still waiting for feedback on the edits to my first two chapters...but I have to start chapter 3 tomorrow because I need to defend by July 29. I was planning on applying to PhD programs but I'm teaching for a year and then I think I will apply for positions in the administrative side of academia. Seriously, I am in Ohio and I just want to GO HOME and get the hell away from school.

Hi All--I hope those of you that are entering new programs find them to be a great fit! Congrats to all of you! As you know my top choices rejected me and I got into 3 schools but I was offered a full time position at Miami teaching Communications courses and decided to go that route. My plan now is to use this to my advantage. My GRE scores (1200) need work. I plan to study (got two books) and re-take the GREs and then REALLY work on my SOPs and visit a couple of schools. My final GPA is a 3.88 and I am working on publishing one of my articles (I am confident it will ultimately be published before I apply this fall). My top schools are: syracuse uni of washington uni of georgia uni of az Temple safeties: uconn georgia state wish me luck!

This was a terrible experience for me. I still have not heard from 2 schools. I got into two schools but without funding and was rejected by 3. 2 schools sent me rejections right away. The third one I had to call and call and call. Finally someone called back and left me a message on my voicemail telling me I was rejected and that they sent the letters out weeks ago. Riiiiiiiight. Re: funding I know one school has none and there is no hope there. the other school told me funding letters would arrive this week. Nothing came. I called and spoke to them and they told me that funding may come available but that was all they would tell me...it was like talking to a brick wall "We can't make any promises. We may have funding but maybe not. Sorry." My experience was that some of the schools don't care at all about their applicants. They collect your $50 and then leave you hanging. Then they lie about sending rejection letters, refuse to answer your calls, won't answer emails etc. It is almost like they can't be bothered. I mean how hard is it to send a rejection email...send a mass email and BCC every reject. But don't NOT say anything. I am so frustrated with the process I could scream. I am so upset and depressed that I am finding it difficult to function in my day to day life. This just sucks.

Too bad we don't all live near each other...we could have a wine and cry fest. I got into two schools but without funding. I applied for a position teaching where I am now but won't know about that till late April. I am crying almost every day and having panic attacks...I just need to know what is going to happen with my life! ARGHHHHHHH

I accepted. I spoke with several of my Profs and they thought that was the best decision. Thanks for the advice guys!

I called XYZ Uni. They still have not made decisions about funding and cannot guarantee anything at this point in time. "Something might come available" but maybe not. I was told I cannot have an extension and that I must let them know by Thursday as to whether or not I will attend or they will give my spot to someone else. My father thinks I should accept and if I do not get funding, then tell them no, I am not coming. He feels the way they have treated me ...this is justified. I worry about being blacklisted...If I don't get the funding and I then tell them no I am not coming, will every school in the US hear about it? What to do?

I also have a Thinkpad and I love it.

Start calling them and ask abotu your status.

I am waiting on funding information from UConn. Their website says funding decisions are made mid-April. I have already spoken with the Grad Director (2 weeks ago)and he told me funding letters would be out in 'a couple of weeks.' Well I have to let them know whether or not I will attend by 4/15 but I don't have the funding info yet-the letter specifically stated "DO NOT ACCEPT IF YOUR ATTENDANCE IS CONTIGENT UPON FUNDING UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING INFORMATION." I emailed the Grad Director Friday asking him for an extension--basically saying that I would love to attend but I cannot commit until I hear about funding. No response. Should I call again? I am so frustrated!! Oh yeah...and then I still haven't heard from GSU or Syracuse.

BU all the way. Boston is a great city (I am from there) and BU is a great school. Remember quality of life is important.

I should clarify, there were 3 reviews....two were NOT for my paper and one was. The positive one was for my paper and the negative ones were for someone else's paper. Seriously. Un-believable!!!! Insane. Made no sense.

Sidenote--I am trying to get an article published. Submitted it to ABC Journal and was rejected. Got feedback from the editors...the feedback was NOT FOR MY ESSAY....it pertained to someone else's submission entirely!!!! I told them this and their reaction was 'oh sorry...but we are standing byt he reviewers and even though the comments are not about your submission they bear some merit." What the Heck?

Hang in there everyone! I am waiting on funding from UCONN but it is my understanding that they fund all PhD students. *crossing my fingers* Gotta go refill my glass of wine. alcohol. It is my only friend right now! Thinking of all of you and crossing my fingers that things turn out well for everyone!

Heard from OU-rejected. At least I know. At this point I don't even really care that much LOL. Still I called and left messages at U and finally someone called me back...apologizing that I had not yet received the letter that went out 'weeks ago.' Odd.

I also added a few commas.

My passion to understand the causative factors influencing adverse health outcomes and to translate these findings into practical solutions has influenced my decision to pursue the PhD program in epidemiology. My general area of interest is in the social and physical environment and how they influence population health. I plan to pursue research questions that (I always get confused between that and which - so double check) examine the unique characteristics of communities and neighborhoods that render them vulnerable and sustain disparities in health and well-being. Growing up in a rural community in South America, where the only health center was 3 hours away, preventive care was non existent. Acute ailments often turned fatal in my community, while neighboring communities with healthcare access thrived. My understanding of healthcare access being the sole determinant of health disparities changed quickly when my family moved to Newark NJ. Despite superior healthcare system, and an impressive health education targeting behavior change and policy, disparities in health persist in this area. This observation heightened my interest in public health research as a future career choice. My undergraduate education in Biochemistry provided me with many opportunities to hone my research and teaching skills. During my junior and senior years, I was appointed as a teaching/laboratory assistant in charge of overseeing laboratory exercise for freshman, sophomore and nursing students in genetics. The responsibility of lab preparation and teaching, although challenging, served as a good foundation for my position as a research associate at the X medical college where I worked on cancer cells before deciding to return to South America as a healthcare volunteer. Over the course of three years, I worked in my community along with the local government and non-profit organizations in not only evaluating and addressing infectious and chronic diseases, but also developing solutions to these problems. Specifically, I provided HIV and sexual risk behavior intervention programs to young adults. In addition, I worked closely with Care Inc. (you might want to explain what Care Inc. is) in securing grants from WHO and other NGO to fund the visiting nurse program. This program ensures that pregnant women and infants receive the needed healthcare at no cost and in their communities. It was during this experience that I realized that in order to pursue a career using sound science to affect care and policy, I needed an advanced degree in public health. Through my MPH studies I gained substantive quantitative and qualitative research skills through biostatic course and research methodology. In my first year, I designed, administered and analyzed a study to identify the major factors affecting consumers in purchasing healthy foods at the grocery stores within my community. This study was accepted for presentation at a national conference. In addition, during my MPH capstone phase, I worked closely with the Hispanic population at my local clinic. Through focus groups and personal interviews, I was able to capture the health needs of this vulnerable population, and ascertain how the clinic could expand its outreach. I am positive that the education offered at XYZ coupled with research opportunities with professors will adequately prepare me for a career in public health research and practice. In addition, I contacted Dr. John, whose research mirrors mine, for the opportunity to study under him to which he responded favorably. <----Maybe reword the last part. I believe my work experience and academic preparation puts me in a better position to pursue the PhD program in epidemiology. Improving population health is becoming even more critical to the success and stability of societies. I look forward to joining the department to develop the skills needed to ask significant public health questions to advance population health. I underlined the changed I made. Overall this looks good!

The SAME thing has happened to me. One school I checked online and it said my app was 'pending' so I called. They told me I had been accepted....and that there must have been something wrong with the website. Odd. i did not get funding. I got into UCONN last week but have heard NOTHING about funding. I called and spoke with the grad director who told me funding letters won't go out for a couple of weeks...yet they want to know asap whether or not I will attend. What if I don't hear about funding til after 4/15?! I still haven't heard back from 3 schools and despire me calling them...they won't call me back!! Everyone I talk to is like "I've never heard of anything like that."