garcb321

Hello everyone! I'm pretty late to this but I will be attending UCD in the Fall for the Epidemiology PhD program. I have to say I'm pretty nervous about everything. This is a lot of change for me at one time so I'm hoping meeting new people will help So, just wanted to say Hi!

I don't think you should be too worried as there are multiple rounds of interviews (if the program does interviews at all). I also applied to Brown (Phd Epi)...haven't heard ANYTHING nor has there been a change to my application status link, so I'm assuming that's a rejection. I also applied to UC Irvine (Phd Epi) and received an email from them on Feb 5 stating that "recommendation was not favorable for that level; however, your application can be considered at the Master’s level" sooooo now I have an interview with them on March 6 for their masters program. So hang in there! What was the school that you already received a decision from?

I saw some decisions were posted in the results search. Did you guys get in?

Wow, congrats on making it that far! I hope you get in!

Thanks for the info! Would you happen to know if all interview invitations have been sent out? Any word on if you both got in? What were your guys' stats...if you don't mind me asking?

Has anyone here been contacted by the Epidemiology PhD program at Brown? If so, when were you contacted and when did you apply? How were you contacted? I feel like there is not a whole lot of communication coming from this department...

Has anyone here been contacted by the Epidemiology PhD program at Brown? If so, when were you contacted and when did you apply? How were you contacted? I feel like there is not a whole lot of communication coming from this department...

I know that it is ideal to mention a specific topic for intended research upon admittance to a PhD program but I have multiple areas of interest that I would like to eventually examine. These areas of interest are: spatial (GIS) infectious disease epidemiology; health disparities and inequalities in relation to SES, gender, race, etc.; and the unforeseen rise in emergence of diseases (both infectious and chronic in nature) due to modern technological advances (e.g. perceived virtual relationships/social support and their impact on health and health behaviors; increase in chronic diseases such as carpal tunnel occurring at younger ages due to excessive use of computers/phones; electronic cigarettes and the danger they pose in the spread of transmissible respiratory diseases such as TB). The question then is: do you think I should mention all three of these areas of interest in the essay or mention the topic that best fits the research interests among the faculty at each individual university? Normally I would say the latter is more preferable but I don’t want a really narrow topic of research that will seem limiting to a university and therefore result in my rejection of admittance if for instance I am compatible with one professor’s area of interest but they are no longer taking on additional students. In addition, these are only areas of interest. I don't actually have a specific project in mind. Is it okay to only mention areas of interest? Do I need to have a specific proposal for a project? If this helps, I have a background in public health (graduating in June with BS) and psychology (minor). I don't come from a university where research opportunities are readily available or promoted for that matter but I will be assisting one of my psychology professors with her research in January by analyzing and collecting cortisol samples from participants of a study that looks at health disparities caused by stress based on social exclusion. I'm fascinated by diseases but I also like the idea of combining public health/epi with psychology. It should also be noted that the SOP for each school (3 total) would have to be slightly different from each other in that there is no single area of interest mentioned above that is represented in the research among faculty across all three universities. So should I provide 3 different SOPs to my recommenders or just one general one that mentions all three of the above areas of interest? My goal here is to make it as easy as possible for them. Any help on how to approach this situation would be greatly appreciated! And sorry for all the questions....this is what happens when you're a lost, first generation college student. The stress is real, guys.

I'm in the process of applying for PhD programs in Epi. Looking to stay in my home state so I'm applying to UC Irvine and UC Davis...and I MIGHT apply to Brown although I know the odds are against me. My options for school applications is limited, however, because many schools that I have looked into require prior graduate work to be admitted into the program yet I am looking to enter a PhD immediately after my undergrad. So if you only have your bachelors you may run into the same issue. What schools did you have in mind?