zjwah

I think it took SOPHAS 2-3 weeks to mail my applications after I submitted them. That was back at the end of November, so I don't know if there will be longer delays as it's closer to more deadlines (I had some due Dec 1, so I submitted all of them at the same time just to get it over with). I did add an additional school in mid-December and it only took them a week to mail off that app, but it could have been because everything else had been previously processed and mailed for the earlier schools. Good luck!

lol, what if I was doing fine for the day until I found this thread and then reading it may me realize that I HADN'T checked websites for today (email, yes, about a million times, but websites and application statuses, no). I was doing so well... But I'm an addict.

My new "hobby" actually coincides with a side effect of my new part-time job working in a library as doing so has introduced me to so many different things. I recently saw that we have numerous books on the Raw Food Diet, it's something I was interested in a couple years back but was really too busy to read about it and incorporate it into my lifestyle (it's really not that hard, but I was in grad school at the time and working three jobs...trying something so drastically new was out of the picture, I didn't have the mental energy to deal with it). But now when I have absolutely nothing except my part-time job and I'm used to having something to study, I've decided to try it out. I'm probably attacking it a little too obsessively, but it's interesting and good for me! Plus, if I can implement it now when I have nothing else to focus on, it will be easy once I start school again. Other than that...I'm spending time editing photos that I took this summer while attending seminars. I never got around to them because when I returned home from the seminars it was GRE studying/ application filling out time.

lol, I love this thread. It makes me realize I'm not the only one who has to deal with these issues! My family varies from complete support (my dad), to utterly not caring (my siblings and cousins), to thinking I should "settle down and get a job" (my uncle), to only supporting me if I stay close to "home" and not "run away" (my grandmother). I don't know how many times I've told various members of my family that I won't know anything for another couple months. Additionally, I have yet to tell them I applied to Emory because I live in the Atlanta area and if I tell them they will pester me to go there (even before I'm accepted, IF I'm even accepted). And then if I'm not accepted, all I'll ever hear about for the rest of my life would be, "if only you had gotten into Emory..." Oh, the joys of being the first in the family to attempt grad school! And this is even my second time doing it (I've already gotten one Masters, you'd think during the second time around the family would be a little more understanding- but nope!). At least many of my friends have gone to or are currently attending grad school, so I don't have them pestering me every time I talk to them.

captain planet

My best friend and I created a language when we were in high school...sort of. We just made up words and came up with there meanings (we had WAY too much time on our hands). Zjwah, we decided, represented a teeny, tiny month between April and May. It is very quick, lasting just a split second right before midnight on May 1. Our saying was: "April showers, Zjwah, May flowers." I promise we weren't high or drunk when we came up with this. We were just that awesome.

For me, GRE studying/ application filling out music was almost always - Joshua Radin/ acoustic/ any album of his, but my favorite is the iTunes special (absolutely brilliant remakes of some songs from the We Are Here album). - Kina Grannis/ acoustic/ Stairwells is my favorite album of hers. Joshua Radin's music I discovered as an undergrad. And after 2 years of undergrad, a Masters, a year off, and a year researching/ studying/ applying for a second Masters/Phd Joshua Radin is still one of my favorite artists to listen to while studying (or anytime for that matter). - Owl City is also fun when you need a more upbeat tempo!

musicforfun- LOL about the "peaceful ping." I have a mac too, so every new little alert sends a nice wave of hope as I anticipate who could have sent me an email....then I open Mail and see that it is yet another news update, special offer, facebook post, and that little glimmer of hope flies out the window until the next "peaceful ping."

elephant garlic

I'm not sure how "wise" it would be, but I was asked to do it- not by choice. I provided him with an initial letter which I assume he made his own as per our discussions. And I did not see the final letter, thus, it was still confidential- I have no idea whether he used my letter (which I adapted from a previous LOR he had written for something else of mine) or if he completely scrapped it and wrote one of his own.

Hi periepi2011, I just submitted my applications (literally, 5 minutes ago). As for mentioning profs in your SOPs, I had conversations similar to yours and I did mention that Prof so-and-so's work seems interesting, and so on. Additionally, some applications may have a section where you can say you have specifically contacted different profs, so look for that. All in all I don't think you have to have a definite "You can work with me" before you mention that you'd like to work with a particular prof if you're accepted. For Berkeley's personal history statement and SOP, I basically divided them in half. I've been including a small blurb about my mom's cancer and how it has impacted my research interests. I saved this for the personal history and tied it into my desire to work in women's cancers (particularly in the developing world). I got off easy on this because I had an obvious experience to draw from. I'd say look at your past work: does any of it highlight a underrepresented group? Have you seen this particular page on the personal history statement? http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/personal_statement.shtml It might help jog your memory. As for the SOPHAS question...I'm not sure. I had the same question and could never find a definitive answer so I submitted it all at once. I have some apps due Dec 1 and some due in Feb, but they're all submitted as of now. As for changing things, I'm not sure on that either. The application instructions might have something on that though. I actually did add Harvard to my list of schools after my last post, so I'd love more info about the prof (even though I've already submitted my application, it can't hurt). OK let me know if you have any more questions!

I'll take a look at it if you want. Just PM me.

I'll take a look! Just send it over.

Anyone willing to do a critique of my SOP. I'm applying for MS/PhDs in Epidemiology for Fall 2011. This is the second draft of my SOP (revised after comments from a few helpful posters earlier). Any additional help would be appreciated. It's currently specific to just one school (but the first half can be used for each application). My main questions are regarding length (anywhere I could shorten it- it's under the word count of 1500, but about 2 lines over the 2pg limit) and whether or not it concludes nicely (conclusions were always the hardest for me to write). I'm willing to take a look at anyone else's who wants to swap! Thanks!

Hi periepi2011, For U of Pittsburgh, it was on my list of around 25 schools to look into. A friend of mine is from PA and he told me that the school itself is rather good, and PIttsburgh is becoming a very nice place to live. The SPH also has two centers related to a secondary interest of mine: healthy aging. That was also a selling point. I'm mainly interested in ovarian cancer. And my interest comes from personal experience as well- my mom had the disease. I've talked to a few professors at Hopkins, UNC, and UC Berkeley through email. These discussions were not anything specific, I was just trying to decide whether or not I should apply directly to the Phd programs or go for the Masters first. I plan on emailing a few more, however, specifically to say that I'm applying and would be interested in helping them if they needed it. Let's see: oh, why WashU is my first choice. It's a bit of everything. I love St. Louis, it's a beautiful city, and the campus is amazing. One of my former supervisors went there, and loved it, so that also has influenced my decision. Prestige is also a factor, but the main thing is the department's ties to the Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes Jewish, as well as a consortium of cancer groups in and around the St. Louis area. To add to that, there are numerous profs with interests in NCD epi, cancer epi, and healthy aging. As for my LORs, I have one rec that has already submitted them. And I'm waiting on the other two. I'll be sending an email to one of them in a week (as per request) as a reminder, and I plan on emailing the other tomorrow to see how things are coming along/if any more information is needed. I did send a copy of my SOP (just a very first rough draft and told them it was a draft) as well as a copy of my CV. Oh, and as for the SOPHAS question from my other post, yeah, I figured it out (it is just one LOR per rec for all SOPHAS schools), but thanks! I will be submitting my apps as soon as I finish up my SOPs, hopefully by the end of this coming week. As for my stats: 3.62 undergrad (degrees in International Business, International Relations, and German) 3.78 in grad (MA in International Studies with a Certificate in Global Health Affairs) I worked as an RA for two professors (on different projects) while I was in grad school. And I've also interned at the World Health Organization. (but no full-time salaried positions) GRE: 650V, 740Q (not sure about my most recent AW but so far a 5.5). Additionally, I attended two public health seminars this past summer. One at Oxford University and another through distance learning at UMich. I really feel that my application rests on my LORs and SOP as I feel my stats are just average (having no real professional work or publications), so hopefully something will work out! OK, sorry for any typos above- my kitten has been jumping repeatedly on my keyboard throughout my typing of this post, as well as attacking my computer mouse. Hope this helps! As for when I'll submit my apps,

I'm in the same boat! I'm applying for 6 schools (it was 8, but I ruled out Yale and U of Mich at the beginning of my application process). Now I'm applying to UCLA, WashU (my first choice, keeping my fingers crossed), UC Berkeley, UNC-Chapel Hill, Hopkins, and U of Pittsburgh for a mix of PhD/MS in Epi programs (my focus is in noncommunicable disease epi, specifically cancer epi). To me, you seem like a competitive candidate. So the best of luck to you. Right now, I'm finishing up my applications. All that remains is polishing my SOPs for each of the schools, and completing the Hopkins and UNC applications. I'm in the process of making a list of professors to contact, and do exactly what you mentioned (describe my interests, etc). I'll let you know my stats if you want, but I didn't want to take over your thread! Good luck with your applications!!

Hi, I'm applying for MS/PhD programs in Epidemiology for Fall 2011. Anyone want to take a look at my SOP (it's a first draft)? Thanks! I'm willing to read someone's in exchange if you'd like to do that as well!

So, I'm debating whether or not I should add in a personal experience that is relevant to my interests. I'm applying for entry into an MS in Epidemiology program (with the goal of pursuing the PhD as well), while I was first officially interested in global health affairs and epidemiology because of a class I took my first quarter in grad school (I have an MA in International Studies), the reason I took the class was because my mother had ovarian cancer (she had been diagnosed a few years earlier while I was an undergrad). This experience has greatly influenced my work and interests. And especially my desire to help alleviate the cancer burden in some way. My main interest is cancer epi, however, due to my international studies background, I'm interested in cancer epi in the developing world. I just don't know if my SOP is the place to mention my mom and her cancer. I don't want to come off seeming like someone immature talking about her mother or like someone wanting pity. And I honestly don't want pity. It is specifically relevant to my interests (and it's also something my former advisors and supervisors are aware of). Any advice? I obviously wouldn't spend the entire time talking about my mom, just mention it in regards to why I'm interested in epi. Thanks.

Thanks! This is exactly what I'm doing as much of my earlier eval covers exactly these topics. I'm taking each main point and rephrasing it. And then tying in how this will help me in grad school. I've been freaking out over this (I hate these kinds of requests), but your comment makes me feel that I'm on the right track!

I've been asked by one of my recs to write my own LOR, however, it's for SOPHAS (public health school's common application online system), so I don't know exactly what will be asked. I'm planning on just a general rec typed up an emailed to him (this is what he specifically asked for), but I don't know exactly what to put in the LOR. I have a copy of an evaluation he did of my work for him (he's my former supervisor from an internship I did one summer), I was thinking I could use some of what he said there, and then add in some bits about my program choice. He plans on reviewing it once I'm done, I just don't know exactly what I need to put in the LOR besides info on my work with him. Any suggestions? Thanks!

For anyone who has used SOPHAS before, am I right in understanding that my references will only have to write one LOR for SOPHAS regardless of how many applications I use the system for? For example, if I apply to three different schools through SOPHAS and each require two different LORs, I can just have my two references submit one LOR each and it will be used for all three schools. Is this correct? Thanks!

Sorry guys, another "should I retake the GRE" question! I'm applying for my PhD in Public Health, specifically health services research though the program differs from school to school. I plan on applying to Johns Hopkins, Yale, UNC-Chapel Hill, U of Pittsburgh, U of Mich, U of Washington, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. I took the GRE 4 years ago and got a 550 V and 720 Q with a 4.5 AW. I was able to get into my top choice Master's program (Uni of Denver for International Studies). My GPA for my MA is 3.78. I just took the GRE again (today, so I don't know what my AW score is) but got a 640 V and 680 Q. I know I could do better on the math (I didn't study as much as I should have and haven't used any GRE math since the last time I took the test), but I'm wondering if it is really necessary to spend all that money again (and not to mention all the time studying). Thanks for the help!

Thanks! That's what I remember, just needed to double check.

Sorry if this has been covered before, I've searched and have found ambiguous answers throughout the GRE world. Does anyone remember or know whether the timing of the Issue task starts before or after you pick a topic? According to the wording of Barron's GRE book it would seem that timing starts after you choose. However, I thought timing started immediately when you saw the two topics... Thanks!

Anyone know how strict the University of Georgia is regarding supporting documents? I'm applying to the grad school for a certificate program (already have a masters), but I just found out about the program and while the online application will be on time, my transcripts and GRE scores will be late. Any ideas of whether I should actually go through with the application (it's $75, then $20 for a score report, I think my transcripts are free...) or is it just too late? I guess I should mention the deadline is Nov 15...was told about this only today! Thanks!