ASA15

Last year’s thread had a really handy stipend list for a lot of public health PhD programs before it disappeared... did anyone happen to save it? Or does anyone want to contribute to a new one? I found that really really useful when applying because some of the info (esp for specific programs) is hard to find.
I can contribute two-
BU Epi is $36,000 over 12 months, + tuition + all fees and free health insurance. 4 years guaranteed, no TA required. 
Yale EMD is $38,050 over 12 months + tuition + fees and health insurance. 5 years. 2 terms TA required. 
 

Officially in at Yale EMD! My dream program, and I’m so excited!
This is my second time applying to PhD programs. The first time (2 years ago) I applied to like 11 schools... was accepted to a few, but none of my first choices, and none with great funding (UW was a love of mine, but couldn’t deal with their funding situation). I chose to get 2 years of additional experience in order to really clarify my interests and goals, and applied to only 4 schools this time (something I was really regretting like a month ago) but ones with better fit matches. Was accepted to 2/4, including my first choice! 
 
So for anyone who didn’t get into the program they wanted this year... don’t lose hope! Everything happens as it’s meant to!
Also will be declining by spot at BU Epi... so hopefully it goes to the person who asked about BU waitlist here last week  

I can speak to UW- it's a GREAT program, and I think less competitive to get in than most other top programs. This is because they accept you unfunded, and you'll need to figure funding out on your own. If you faculty of interest is willing to fund you, it's a GREAT opportunity, but otherwise just know you might have to scramble!

I got a little bit of info- some login stuff for email, and a list of next steps that are mainly for the summer. But not much! 

Yes. Definitely not ideal, but if you do it respectfully programs will understand.

It depends on the program! Check if there's any info online about your program in specific. 
 
I looked into deferring a program a few years ago, and went through the program director. But at that time I had not had any contact with my PI. If you know your PI, it might be good to reach out to them...

For what it's worth, I am 12 years out from grad school, 13 out from undergrad and one of my LORs was from an undergraduate professor and, although she's awesome, she wasn't my main mentor. She was still super gracious about it and I don't think it's rude to ask at all.  Even though I'm "only" in my 30s, most of my professors have retired and are hard to get a hold of. But, for the person I was able to get a hold of she was very responsive and made it clear she has a process in place for this kind of request. I think they're used to it.

A few programs "recommend" that at lease one LOR come from a professor if you've been out of school for less than 5 years, but to my knowledge none require it.
My first time applying (2 years ago) I followed the recommendation and got 2 excellent letters from work and 1 average letter from a professor (I had worked with him my first year of grad school, so at that point 4 years ago). I kind of regret getting that letter. 
This second time applying, I was 4 years out of grad school when applying (5 when starting the program, though), and just skipped the prof letter and got 2 letters from my current workplace and one from my former. They were all excellent, and I think a big part of my acceptance. 
Long-winded way of saying- I'd go with the strongest letters you can get. If that's a professor you had a great relationship with, awesome. If it's current supervisors etc, then just do that. I don't think it will disqualify you though do check with the programs you apply to JIC.

A few programs "recommend" that at lease one LOR come from a professor if you've been out of school for less than 5 years, but to my knowledge none require it.
My first time applying (2 years ago) I followed the recommendation and got 2 excellent letters from work and 1 average letter from a professor (I had worked with him my first year of grad school, so at that point 4 years ago). I kind of regret getting that letter. 
This second time applying, I was 4 years out of grad school when applying (5 when starting the program, though), and just skipped the prof letter and got 2 letters from my current workplace and one from my former. They were all excellent, and I think a big part of my acceptance. 
Long-winded way of saying- I'd go with the strongest letters you can get. If that's a professor you had a great relationship with, awesome. If it's current supervisors etc, then just do that. I don't think it will disqualify you though do check with the programs you apply to JIC.

A few programs "recommend" that at lease one LOR come from a professor if you've been out of school for less than 5 years, but to my knowledge none require it.
My first time applying (2 years ago) I followed the recommendation and got 2 excellent letters from work and 1 average letter from a professor (I had worked with him my first year of grad school, so at that point 4 years ago). I kind of regret getting that letter. 
This second time applying, I was 4 years out of grad school when applying (5 when starting the program, though), and just skipped the prof letter and got 2 letters from my current workplace and one from my former. They were all excellent, and I think a big part of my acceptance. 
Long-winded way of saying- I'd go with the strongest letters you can get. If that's a professor you had a great relationship with, awesome. If it's current supervisors etc, then just do that. I don't think it will disqualify you though do check with the programs you apply to JIC.

For those in the decision-making process, I got what I thought was good advice today: Spend a day pretending that you have made your decision and accepted School A. The next day, pretend that you've made your decision for School B. Etc, etc. See how you feel each time.

I let my programs know what I was doing as soon as I got official notice from my #1 (or maybe like 3 days later). I wanted to make it official, and clear my spot in programs I wasn't accepting.
From my first round of applications, I was waitlisted at 2 schools- was told I didn't make it off the waitlist at one program in like May/June (so it was expected), but the program I got off the waitlist at let me know on April 17. So unforunately I do think people wait it out until the end, and/or programs wait it out until they know how the "first round" went.

I let my programs know what I was doing as soon as I got official notice from my #1 (or maybe like 3 days later). I wanted to make it official, and clear my spot in programs I wasn't accepting.
From my first round of applications, I was waitlisted at 2 schools- was told I didn't make it off the waitlist at one program in like May/June (so it was expected), but the program I got off the waitlist at let me know on April 17. So unforunately I do think people wait it out until the end, and/or programs wait it out until they know how the "first round" went.

I looked up my interviewers and made sure I had some idea of their work, and could ask relevant questions if I had time to. Also, as someone said above, i prepared answers for “tell me about yourself/why phd/why our program” type typical questions... this was helpful because while I didn’t actually use any of these exact answers, it was good to think through. 
 
The two things I prepared that WERE super helpful was (1) practicing describing one or two of my current projects succinctly and knowledgeably to a non-co-investigator, and (2) describing a project that id be interesting in working on while in the program. 

I also did a practice round with my boyfriend, to get some experience in the interview setting over Zoom.

Good luck!!! 

I looked up my interviewers and made sure I had some idea of their work, and could ask relevant questions if I had time to. Also, as someone said above, i prepared answers for “tell me about yourself/why phd/why our program” type typical questions... this was helpful because while I didn’t actually use any of these exact answers, it was good to think through. 
 
The two things I prepared that WERE super helpful was (1) practicing describing one or two of my current projects succinctly and knowledgeably to a non-co-investigator, and (2) describing a project that id be interesting in working on while in the program. 

I also did a practice round with my boyfriend, to get some experience in the interview setting over Zoom.

Good luck!!! 

I looked up my interviewers and made sure I had some idea of their work, and could ask relevant questions if I had time to. Also, as someone said above, i prepared answers for “tell me about yourself/why phd/why our program” type typical questions... this was helpful because while I didn’t actually use any of these exact answers, it was good to think through. 
 
The two things I prepared that WERE super helpful was (1) practicing describing one or two of my current projects succinctly and knowledgeably to a non-co-investigator, and (2) describing a project that id be interesting in working on while in the program. 

I also did a practice round with my boyfriend, to get some experience in the interview setting over Zoom.

Good luck!!! 

Congrats!! Great news, and I'm sure it feels amazing! Also not going to a t10, and very excited for my program  

Congrats!! Great news, and I'm sure it feels amazing! Also not going to a t10, and very excited for my program  

Congrats!! Great news, and I'm sure it feels amazing! Also not going to a t10, and very excited for my program  

Just got accepted into NYU's DrPH program!! ❤️❤️

Congrats!! Great news, and I'm sure it feels amazing! Also not going to a t10, and very excited for my program  

Y'all, it finally happened. I got accepted. I'm going to get a PhD in epi! UMass may not be ranked t10, but it's a great school and in three years I'll have the degree. Anyone else going to accepted student day tomorrow? 

After stalking this thread the whole application season, I thought I should finally join in with my own question--for those who have options, what is pushing you in a particular direction for your final decision? Is it an exceptional research fit + mentor match? Finances? Location? Course quality? Reputation of program?
Not being able to visit has definitely thrown me for a loop. I thought there would be one clear choice at the end of it all, but I keep going back and forth in my mind as every option has its pros, cons, and unique stressors and pulls.
Current status for reference (all PhDs):
Accepted:
BU Epi (4 years guaranteed funding) UW Epi (nothing guaranteed but have an RAship lined up for several years + some extra departmental money) NYU GPH Epi (5 years guaranteed funding, bit low for NYC CoL) UCSF Epi (1 year guaranteed funding) NYU Med's Vilceck Institute Epi or Pop. Health (5 years guaranteed, highest stipend I've seen from a program. Obviously balanced with living in one of the most expensive cities) Waitlisted:
Brown Behavioral and Social Science Feeling crazy lucky and privileged and trying to make my decisions ASAP to not hold up other people's options. I've been running around getting people's thoughts on their own academic journeys after making a chaotic spreadsheet which lists various pros/cons.

I sent brief thank you notes to all interviewers. For the 2 schools I interviewed at- at 1 school, every faculty member responded back, at the other school no one did. I got into both. Just an FYI not to worry about responses to thank-yous. 

I sent brief thank you notes to all interviewers. For the 2 schools I interviewed at- at 1 school, every faculty member responded back, at the other school no one did. I got into both. Just an FYI not to worry about responses to thank-yous.