masgniw

Don't just email - try to call (or have in person meetings if possible). Professors are basically hiring you for a job and will probably be choosing between a few candidates who "fit" their needs and interests. You're going to want to have your profile stick in their mind when it comes to decision time.

I'll speak from personal experience. I'm a 2nd year at a top 10 epi PhD program. There are a few core epi classes that the department won't let anyone, regardless of training, waive. It's basically one class per term for the first year. Aside from that core series, you can waive or test out of most any other requirement. Basic level biostats was a waiver exam. Infectious & chronic disease subject matter courses were waived after presenting my MPH transcript.

I don't know much about the DrPH programs, but are the PhD's in epi? The value of a quant scores vary school to school, but most consider it just part of a bigger application picture. Doctoral level programs are much more likely going to consider LORs and work/research experience more important that GRE scores. However, some do use low standardized test scores or GPAs as automatic cutoffs. That being said, you might want to consider a retake. You have time - why not spend 6-8 weeks studying hard and retaking? 140 is rather low. I think if you could score in the top 50th percentile you can just put the GRE worries behind you.

I'd choose the program that gives you the most analytical skills when you graduate. Future schools/employers will be very interested in those MPH graduates who had tangible skills in data analysis. It's also critical to select a program that minimizes the financial burden. If you can find a school that balances analytical training and cost effectiveness - I'd go with that one.

That's a long, long way. The public transit option is brutal and the drive will put you on the 405, which is notoriously the worst freeway in Los Angeles. You'll need to consider if spending 4ish hours commuting every day to school is how you want to spend your time. Is there a reason you'd be living in Long Beach? If you're looking to save money on housing, you might want to consider living in the San Fernando Valley.

UG: Sociology & Global Health, top tier US university. GPA 3.3 MPH: Epi, mid tier univeristy. GPA 4.0 GRE: V 166, Q 161, W 4.5 I'll be at UCLA in the fall.

I was at UIC for 3 years and I found the commute from south Lincoln Park/north Old Town is super manageable. I went from Sedgwick brown line to the loop and took the pink line to the medical district daily. The train is far more reliable than buses and is basically unaffected by the weather extremes. There are some good deals to be had in that area around Sedgwick if you're willing to hunt them down. I paid 950 for a 1br. You also get a lot of great stuff in that area like proximity to lake, good eats, and plenty of stuff to see and do. I don't buy into the mentality of a lot of UIC students that you need to live nearby or in WP/UV/BT.

I recommend looking for jobs doing research at a university doing public health/epi/infectious disease research. You'll start out doing low-level stuff that might include lots of mailing, phone calls and data collection, but it's fantastic experience and a good intro into the world of academic research. These jobs sometimes get posted onto formal job search pages, but it's also worth emailing researchers/departments you find interesting too. Public health depts and other research orgs have similar types of entry-level positions as well, but the university approach gets you face-to-face with professors and a culture you might expect from grad school experiences.

Depends heavily on what school you're going to. U of C? NU downtown or NU Evanston? Loyola?

Yes scooter parking is really free. Check the UCLA Transportation website for a list of spots around campus. There are quite a few locations scattered all around the place. The link is here: http://www.transportation.ucla.edu/portal/pdf/parking/UCLAMotorcycle&ScooterParkingMap.pdf Also @geodude, don't be so negative. Do you ride? It's riskier than driving, but with the right gear and training, you can keep yourself quite safe. Try it! I highly recommend it. Los Angeles is a great place to ride and offers basically year-round weather to do it. Come join us for a ride up the PCH or around town sometime.

Hey all, I live in LA currently and will be starting a PhD program at UCLA in the fall. I'm gonna continue living in Silverlake (east of Hollywood) for a few reasons, but cost savings is one. The bus ride is long (~1 hr each way) but the real trick here is I'll be riding a scooter (150cc, think Vespa). For those of you not aware, scooter/motorcycle parking is free and plentiful on campus. It's about 30-40 min for me (lane splitting if traffic is bad) and I get about 70 MPG, so gas costs are absolutely tiny. Generally, speaking if you live a little further from UCLA, you're gonna save on rent (I pay 800). But motorcycling/scootering is an amazing way to reduce the time penalty living further away. If you currently ride or are thinking of getting into it, now is absolutely the time.

Don't. 10 days simply isn't that long. Keep in mind that we are just coming off Easter and Spring Break (which Tulane observes simultaneously) Review committees have research, class, and life commitments outside the review process. They'll contact you when they have a decision. You likely gain nothing by asking prematurely, but you do stand a chance to irritate those people reviewing your submission...

Could have to do with funding. Some professors might be waiting on grants that can make or break funding for students.

Oh not at all, I already have my MPH. I was commenting on how tablets didn't exist prior to 2010.

How does it possibly take 2+ weeks for your letter to arrive? Do they come on postcards from a different continent?