♀HealthMatters

It sounds like we were both in the same position. For weeks, weeks, I stared at a blank Word document titled "SOPTemplate." I wrote so many opening paragraphs that were academic. I was writing like it was my previous MA thesis. Then, something hit me and I opened a new document and started writing from the heart - why do I want to do this, what influenced me, why was my road beneficial, etc. It turned out to be the strongest paragraph I've written in a long time. From there, it just flowed. My advice is to be yourself. Get out a piece of paper and really answer, in long or short form, why you're interested in 1) public health and 2) your concentration. Then, list everything you've done work and scholarship-wise that will help your graduate work. If you still need to keep prepping, take the lists of why you're interested in PH+concentration and link them up with your accomplishments/background. Sometimes literally drawing yourself a roadmap is needed. If you need any more advice, feel free to PM me. I may procrastinate, but writing, generally, is my thing. I hope I can help if you need it!

@okp, did you see this forum:

I applied by noon, if that helps you get some time perspective.

@Collegebum1989, I applied on 12/15, too, and got an e-mail this morning that I've been verified. About an hour later, I heard from GW saying that my file is complete and I'll hear back in 8-10 weeks. Still nothing from Harvard.

I applied to Harvard and GW on 12/15, and I'm waiting to be verified. I've got about 12 essays left to write so I can apply to the rest. I need to stop putting it off!

Oh, silly me, I hope I don't break a nail or smudge my lipstick getting my third advanced degree. I hear men don't like to marry girls with so many thoughts in their pretty little heads.

I called SOPHAS not too long ago about this. I don't know about you guys, but I'm working two jobs right now and taking some core science classes to help with admissions, so money isn't free falling from the ceilings. I'm only going to pay/apply to the early deadline and top choice schools right now. Later, I can add schools. If I do, I can't alter my application in any way, but with every additional designation, you can add a new statement of purpose. So, if you just need to apply to a few schools this month, but a few later, you can!

Hey everyone, I'm in the final stages of applying and then I realized, oops, my CV hasn't been updated since getting my MA. Since that was in history of science, I need help. Does anyone have any advice for headings, what to make sure I include, etc? I've never made a CV for anything but history before. So far, I've included: Education, with dates, GPAs (Not the SOPHAS gpas, because they aren't up yet), degrees Publications and Presentations (Some are totally unrelated, keep or get rid of them, as they were from previous degrees) Thesis project (history ma, related) Related health work experience Should I Add: Medical Competencies Related coursework Anything else? I really appreciate your help.

I think we (being people in the medical and public health fields) are much more open, generally, to reading about these sort of things before they become "sexy" enough for general readership. I, too, was reading it in the Times and a few other widely read sources back in March/April/May, in addition to just WHO/CDC updates. I think, even at my age, I wish people just cared more about other people -- even though I know better. Your paper sounds so interesting. Not at all comparable in levels of research, but as an undergraduate I wrote a paper about underground manuals for at home birth control and abortion methods in Renaissance Italy and France. I wish I could do it again, and for more than 20 pages. As both a feminist, a person, and someone who understands where the word "hysterical" comes from, I wish people would stop using it. My womb is not wandering. I don't need blood letting. I swear, I'm totally cool right now.

So, obviously I'll go first because I've got a question - are you using a resume or CV? Any particular reason for your choice?

If you're like me, you've been permanently logged into SOPHAS since the 19th. LORs have been requested, transcripts already requested, etc. But, man, there are just questions! I thought maybe, in the spirit of friendship and knowing one another's stress, we could use this thread to pose them to one another. So, if you're applying and have a question - let's crowd source it! Happy Application Season, and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!

Pro-tip for the GREs: I'm using Magoosh, they've got fabulous videos and it's really helping me. I think I paid $99 for six months access. They have multiple options depending on your needs. Check them out: http://gre.magoosh.com/invite/BC7UGH PS: I totally don't get anything for that "refer" thing, they just give me gold stars so it looks pretty when I yell at the math videos.

Hey, I'm 28! Instead of a wife and baby, I've got a Dachshund. If you're not familiar with the breed, the name is German for "little pain in the ass." So, for sure go ahead and graduate because it's not like you'll get another epic semester at Pike, spiking drinks with the brahs. You'll miss your last spring break in Panama City, and the neon muscle tank to go with it. But, alas, SB at "our age" isn't what it was at their age. That being said, consider two important questions. Are you not applying to programs or getting certain recommendations based on the timing? Either a professor just can't get their act together by October 1, or your dream program doesn't offer spring/summer admission. If that's the case, I'd say wait. No matter what, you'll still be an epidemiologist. But will you look on the wall and see FSU (don't do it) and think "Why didn't I hold out and apply to Emory/Harvard/Hopkins?" If you're absolutely confident in your application choices, you've got one more hurdle. Can you and your family realistically move in less than one month? It seems like you're keeping your apps to the southeast, which would make a move easier. But finding a place and moving in the literal two week span between classes ending at your UG and then starting at the new place would be ... challenging. If you think you and your wife can do it, I'm rooting for you! For me, I just think it would be too much. Like I said, I'm just leaving two jobs and moving (if I get in) and that's more than enough to totally mess with me.

I just read your post on SD, but for whatever imagined reason I like it here more. I graduated with my first MA (history, thesis on malaria protocols during WWII) in May of 13 (FSU - don't go there) and decided about 5 months ago that the MPH was the right choice for me. Even just working I feel like taking the GRE again in a month, plus doing the spring apps for Oct. 1/15 is enough to make me want to jump off a bridge. If you're a senior, you're probably 21/22. Take the time. Apply to the best schools, reach as high as you can, and when you decide on a program you'll know you did the right thing for you, and chose the best program of all the options available ... not just the ones open for spring admission. Hell, graduate in December but travel, volunteer, something. Don't confine yourself to Spring admissions for the sake of hurrying up to graduate again.

I know this is super judgy, but I like you guys more than Student Doctors, so I'll pose this to you (at least first). Have you noticed in the past several weeks, since America realized two white people contracted Ebola, that many US SPHs have little posts on their homepages about the virus? Yet, when it was "just" Liberian, Sierra Leonean, and Guineans, these schools had nothing on it. I understand that not every outbreak is going to make international news, but the Ebola outbreak was already out of control and had crossed international borders months before any American contracted it. Thoughts? Am I looking for something to be outraged over? (Likely, and it won't be the first or last time.) Thoughts? http://www.theonion.com/articles/experts-ebola-vaccine-at-least-50-white-people-awa,36580/

Thank you so much for your help, Mojodreams! Unfortunately for me, Gmail didn't tell me your replied and it took me until today to see the response. I don't want to shock you, or anyone else reading, but I'm fairly certain that I want to focus on reproductive epidemiology. The question is if I should apply to better programs for maternal and child health, or lesser-ranked programs for epidemiology. I only took one math class in college and my lab science was rocks for jocks. Currently, my local community college is only allowing me to enroll in general (science major) biology lab, which most programs require. I initially crossed Harvard off the list because the MPH required an MD, and since they do not recognize my M.D. from the University of Google, I moved on. I will look into the MS now. Interesting idea to just apply directly to the doctoral level programs. Again, I read the MD requirement for the MPH and moved on. It looks like I've got some research to do! I don't know that I necessarily want to stay in the academy, but I do want a doctoral degree. So many choices!

Tufts is unranked, but that is not necessarily a sign of quality. US News only ranks Schools of Public Health, any program within a medical school is left out. I'm applying to both for January, though I'm leaning towards BU.

Hi everyone, my name is Rachel. I'm not new to the website, but new to the Public Health threads. I've got a BA double major in PoliSci and History (2009), a graduate certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (2010) which was done while working in a doctor's office and interning at Planned Parenthood, and an MA in history, with 130 page thesis on malaria protocols during WWII (2013). I know, why am I here, get a job already. Well, turns out I want to get my MPH or MsPH. I can't decide which. I took the basic college math as required and geology with lab (woo for As) as an UG. I also have two publications in health/medicine. I'm hoping to start in the Spring 2015. I know most of you have now been accepted and are getting ready to start your programs. I was just wondering if you have any advice now that you're on the other side of the admissions process. Should I enroll in the Bio/Chem courses for science majors at the community college this fall? What about A&P? Should I "forget" to mention my grad certificate on my apps?

Has anyone received their letter? I'm like 100 miles from Cuba, so I guess it takes forever for mail to get from Knoxville to Palm Beach.

Ah, letters! They totally said we would know by the end of the week, so I was reloading my e-mail every 5 seconds. Did a POI tell you?

Because I need to know some schools know in the next few weeks, I e-mailed them today. I applied for the MA and was told that decisions were made final this past Tuesday, and that notifications should be up online and in the mail in the next few weeks. I didn't get in - I was told they had 160 applications for the MA and about 15 spots.

NOPE. My blood pressure and pulse have been high all damn day, too. I tried to call around 4 and they went straight to voicemail. On Monday at the meet and greet the dgs said they would know by the end of the week! Were you there?

Congratulations on your first conference! Mine was in October - the southeastern regional Popular and American Culture Association. It was a fun panel of friends from my undergrad history department, all of us 2009 grads, too. They were both in their second year as grad students and had done this before, whereas I was a total wreck. We had a small group show up (4 people that were not related or otherwise with us) likely because of our Friday, 5pm time. In the end, they were really great! They come to hear you because they are genuinely interested in what you are researching and want to learn more. Our topic as a panel was 1970s gender/sexuality pop culture, so we had baby-boomers and no students, but it was really fun. My research is on the Mary Tyler Moore show, and this one man's face just lit up, he had such a crush on her as a kid. It was cute. It was nice to talk seriously about sexuality and sexual liberation in the show and be taken seriously, followed by that. Anyway, that was just a fun research project for me while I'm only part-time. Next year I'm back to more political/diplomatic, cultural, and women's history. Happy Women's History Month everyone!

Congrats, Paura! I think you're this year's History Idol with a perfect run!

I assume that any program I have not heard from yet is a rejection, even though mine are all MA. I haven't heard from UMass yet, but I check my status online every single day. That is how I found out last year.