dtpowis

Excellent. Thank you!

Cultural. I was asked on Friday (02/07/14) for an interview on Tuesday (02/11/14). No idea when decisions will be made.

Similarly, I was asked if there were any books that I've read that set me on my path. (I'm a rabid bibliophile, so I pretty much nailed that one.)

Well today has been pretty active for me. Rejected from Princeton and Berkeley. Asked to interview at Yale. Accepted at Washington University! I can finally sleep...

I was asked why I chose the geographic area I did. (Answer it like you're answering a grant proposal, not that it's your favorite place on earth.) I was asked if it would be logistically possible to do the research I was proposing. (This was based on a misunderstanding of the research, but I was able to spin it anyway.) I was asked about specific literature that I've read concerning various components of my research. (This turned into what essentially amounted to me reciting a bibliography.) I was asked, "Why anthropology? Surely, you must realize that you can do this from a public health perspective as well!" (Touché! But I'm looking for an MPH as well.)

Anyone else hold out hope at the end of each day because your schools are in different time zones? Haha.

Not I (since applying, at least). Someone here on the forum said last week that they have a friend who already received an acceptance into their Medical Anthro track (which accepts two per year), but there hasn't been anything confirmed.

Wow. Congratulations! That's great! Now I'll be waiting by the phone all day hoping to hear from them too...

#detective

Berkeley's Medical Anthro program only takes 2 a year...and I haven't heard back, so... I'll be waiting for the official rejection letter.

*tumble weed rolls by*

I know from researching their websites, fora, conferences, symposia, and I've reached out to people who would know (faculty, staff, alumni, grad students, undergrads). I doubt that it's just anthropology, but I don't know, because that's all I've ever been concerned with.

I emailed at least three profs in each department to which I applied, before I applied - the POI and two others. In each email, I said something along the lines of, "This is who I am, this is what I have done, this is what I want to do. Given your work on X, Y, and Z, I hope you're interested in working with me." Of the thirty or so that I sent out, about 20 replied. I applied to the three schools from which no one responded - Princeton, Stanford, and Berkeley - because I have friends in the graduate program at Berkeley and I know what their advisors are like: distant. They're doing a thousand things at once, and I am only surprised when they DO get back to me (like the other 20). Some grad programs are built on philosophy of mentorship (e.g. WashU), some on independence (e.g. Berkeley), and some on a little of both (e.g. Brown). Whether they respond or not is probably a reflection of the type of program they have, so I certainly wouldn't take it personally or assume that those POIs must be difficult to work with.

Yeah, that's why I think it's kind of weird, because I haven't been accepted yet. I'm getting picked up and dropped off at the airport by a grad student, airfare is paid, all meals are paid for, and I'm staying with a grad student that night. The only choice I got was which day I wanted to go. Any idea how long after interviews schools typically make decisions, or is it all over the place as with everything else? I got the feeling that it could be only about a week, maybe a little more.

I wasn't given a choice. I have an interview/campus visit and I have to stay with a grad student and her husband. Should be...interesting.

Awesome. I will definitely send it to you. I really think I just need a new format and font. (I'm pretty happy with the content.)

My Brown app hasn't changed, so I hope it doesn't mean anything. :/

From what I understand, the MPH is very valuable to those that may not want to pursue a career in academia, as well as those that may want a safety net (in case a career in academia doesn't work out). That's not to say that if you want a career in academia, it would make you less valuable - being able to teach more than just anthropology is a great asset. Anyway, for the people that I know who are pursuing MPH/PhDs, they are looking at government, NGO, and private sector careers where a professional degree (i.e. the MPH) will give them added skills - biostatistics, modeling, project planning and implementation, community outreach, etc. Few employers outside of academia want individuals who possess three degrees (BA, MA, PhD) in anthropology. That said, there are a few ways you can go about this. The first is what you have mentioned - the MPH/PhD program. Off the top of my head, that's available at Case, Pitt, University of Washington, UNC-CH (I think)... Second, you can do what was suggested to me at Berkeley - start a PhD program, get candidacy, leave to get your MPH, go back and finish the PhD. I might do that, depending on the program I get into. Third (and most likely to be my choice), you can get your PhD and then go into an MPH program. As I understand it, if you join an MPH program during candidacy or after your PhD, the program is generally streamlined to one year of methods courses - as one friend put it, "Skip all the theory and application courses during your MPH, that's what you have the PhD for. Just get in and out." Finally, you could just do it the old-fashioned way: Get the MPH first, and then go into a PhD program. The bottom line: The MPH is definitely useful for the career-minded. Whether you want to go into a joint program is up to you.

Of my schools, we should be hearing from Brown this week. I'm on the edge of my seat!

WOW. Great feedback. Thanks guys (which I mean in the least gendered way possible)! So I'm just going to have to do this myself, huh?

I agree. Though, in some cases, the only graduate student handbook that is available is for graduate students in general, not necessarily for those in the program of interest. It's also not unusual for programs to change their protocols and requirements and then neglect to give notice on their websites. So again, do the research (obviously), but it doesn't hurt to ask questions - even if you think they're dumb.

Right. In my case, that information isn't on their website. Clearly, you should do the research first.

Hey guys. I have a CV that I've built and maintained since I was a freshman. Now that I'm getting into grad school, I'm considering going to a professional service to have it refined and reformatted. I'm told that it's worth the $100 and that typically one can get a "full" and "short" version out of the deal. So...my next question is: Where do I go? Are there any services or companies online that you know of? Better yet, do anyone of you have experience with this? Thanks!

I was the other Emory rejection. Not like I wanted to live in Hotlanta anyway, amirite?

Okay. Funny story time. I applied to eight schools and the NSF. All nine applications send notices out to your references asking for LORs before your submit the application, except for one: University of Massachusetts. It turns out, UMass doesn't send out notice until after you submit. Okay, fine. On December 26, I was ready to submit my UMass application, but I forgot to secure a waiver. (In the end, I didn't pay for a single application.) I emailed UMass with the requisite paperwork, and requested a waiver so that I could just click "Submit." But I didn't hear anything back. The deadline passed on January 2. I still hadn't heard anything. A week later, January 9, I emailed them asking if I might get an extension, since I asked for the waiver before the deadline. Nothing. Just an hour ago, I get this email: "What would you like an extension for? I'm not seeing an application for you. Please elaborate so that we can assist you further." Okay, first off, they're not seeing an application for me, because it was never submitted, hence the "extension." Second, I told my references to forget about it on January 3, so even if UMass gives me a waiver and an extension, good effing luck to me, trying to herd those cats again. Ridiculous. /rant