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varekai1018

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Everything posted by varekai1018

  1. Hi Kelya, It's exciting that you'll be starting an MPH program - great choice with really interesting career opportunities! I agree with what Laeldo said. The MPH is a) a practice-oriented degree and b.) contains myriad "sub-disciplines" within the field, so it's really difficult to say that any one program is top-ranked. Different schools have different strengths - global health, for example, is top-notch at places like Tulane and Washington (among others); however, those same programs don't necessarily attract students who want to study epidemiology, which is stronger at a place like Emory. You might also want to check over at Student Doctor Network to read the threads on the usefulness of public health rankings (not so useful) / the methodology of the US News & World Report rankings (they tend to rank by "well known" schools, and ASPH actually does *not* stand behind US News rankings). I'm not sure about environmental/occupational health, but I'm sure if you start asking around on the right forums (I would recommend SDN), you'll get some great feedback. In addition to considering the strength of your concentration at various schools, you might also want to think about whether or not you'll want to work with specific faculty members who have similar research/practice interests, populations (i.e. you would have great access to immigrants and Native Americans at U of Arizona), or a specific organization or type of organization (i.e. if you're interested in working for the CDC down the road, you can't get much closer than Emory, and a lot of the students intern there). If it helps to alleviate any anxiety, I completed my MPH at an average program where they covered tuition, which as Laeldo said is rare at the master's level, so how could I say no? (Even though this sadly meant saying no to my ridiculously pricey dream program.) I was really worried coming out, but landed the first job I applied to, at a "fancy" human rights organization, where I worked with grads from the top programs and was just fine. So just apply yourself and choose a practicum site that is relevant to what you want you want to do in life. At the end of the day, I would make sure to choose an accredited program - they all have the same rigorous standards - and make sure you'll be happy at the school that's right for you, not at the school that looks right on paper. Hope that helps! P.S. I do understand what you're going through - I'm actually heading to UofA for the DrPH, and had the same issues when I was deciding. I went with faculty / school research strength and geography (my focus is on immigration and border health, and you can imagine there is a ton of research on these issues at the school). Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the program!
  2. I didn't do one of the internationalist/PC programs, but sometimes wish I had. There are also some fellowships with international NGOs that can get you entry-level access, though some of these also require previous experience (off the top of my head, Catholic Relief Service, Global Health Corps, Mickey Leland - I'm sure there are a bunch of others out there). One of the pros of doing a program like this is that there is an increased chance of securing a position at your placement site. Also, places like the WHO and UN body organizations do accept unpaid interns, which is a great way to get experience as well as to see if that's the type of organization you'd like to work with. (I did an internship with UNICEF in Kenya, and it was a bit too bureaucratic for my liking...though great people, and I wouldn't trade what I did for anything... and now that I'm a few years removed from it, it does seem like something I wouldn't mind going back to if I could ever get a job there!) Also, depending on the city you end up in, you could intern/volunteer with a group that does international work (American Friends Service Committee has offices all over the place, or if you end up in NY or Atlanta you can try for some UN headquarter or CDC positions). In my (albeit limited) experience, the bigger organizations have that kind of "wow" factor on my resume, but I've gotten the most hands-on experience interning with local non-profits (just because they are so strapped for resources, interns can really oversee a whole project). I think both are valuable, but it depends upon where you see yourself down the road. One thing that I've heard from a few different people in the field, is that some individuals choose to focus on a particular country or region. So if you were interested in, say, Zambia, you could work at a variety of organizations within the country - ranging from local or international NGOs, the ministry of health, country or regional WHO office, country or regional UN body office. It seems like some people build careers off themes (HIV, malaria, gender-based violence) or by having deep knowledge of a particular area. I guess it's whatever works for you at the end of the day.
  3. Hi there, and welcome to the public health boards! (From a relative newbie. ) You sound incredibly qualified for either the PhD or DrPH. The one piece of advice that I got, and that I found to be extremely true, is that at the doctoral level - given you have strong grades, LORs, GRE scores, etc (which you do) - it's about program and faculty fit. I'm not sure about your specific interests within health policy, but once you start looking at the research that's being done at various programs, it never hurts to email professors you might want to work with. (Once I had a feel for the faculty, I was also able to narrow down the list of schools I wanted to visit - and the visit was, in turn, tremendously helpful in deciding on programs to which to apply. I ended up only applying to one program - DrPH in HPM at U of Arizona - because I feel in love with the faculty/research/current doctoral students there.) Good luck with the process, and don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions! P.S. Depending on how long ago you took the GREs, some schools might let you have older scores faxed via your last graduate institution. I had taken mine five years and three months before applying for the DrPH program, and the faculty gave me a pass on having to retake since my initial scores were acceptable...and I think they took pity on me that I they were only three months expired!
  4. Thomez - your backgrounds sounds really interesting! I had an MA (international peace studies) before going for the MPH, and a couple of my classmates did as well. I wouldn't say it's terribly unusual, though not necessarily commonplace either. An MPH in Epi sounds like it would really compliment your existing degree, and give you some solid skill sets to work in international settings. I'm not sure if you have previous work experience, but the MPH has a strong practicum component during which you could focus on getting work experience in a particular country/region/theme (international health jobs are incredibly tough to come by, and tend to value previous overseas experience). Good luck with the process!
  5. Congrats, Gubbin! I'm quite excited for the Zuckerman CPH. I think I'm going to drive, too (also from Philly!), and I guess make a fun road trip out of it. No idea where to live, though. I went out to visit/interview in November, but don't feel like I got a good enough feel for Tucson to pick a neighborhood where I'd like to "settle down". Maybe grad housing for the first year (it's just so much more expensive than other housing in Tucson).
  6. Is anyone starting grad school at UofA? I was accepted to the DrPH program in Health Policy and Management, so looks like I'll be venturing out to the Sonoran Desert!
  7. Add me to this list as well! Since U of Arizona is my top choice, I've also been spending countless hours in Philadelphia-area nurseries looking at decorative cacti (also my gift to my LOR writers). Not quite the same as in the Southwest, but it calms me down for some reason. I think this is my list, in a nutshell: 1. Taking Desmond (my OES puppy) to the dog park - watching him play makes me remember how fun life can be 2. Thinking that I should exercise more often, and every once in awhile actually making it to the gym 3. Working 4. Refreshing my email and checking Grad Cafe at work 5. Re-reading the Barbara Kingsolver novels that take place in Arizona 6. Playing Scrabble and Mancala 7. Watching Coach (seasons 1-9) on Netflix (I don't quite get this one) 8. Figuring out a celebratory "gift" for myself if everything works out with UofA - I'm leaning toward a Canon digital SLR, but that's going to hurt financially (I justify this one by telling myself I'll start a blog with a photojournalistic sort of bent) 9. Taking adult/continuing education courses in Spanish ...and... 10. Bee keeping class! I just signed up for this, because I needed something random yet whimsical to divert my attention from the daily waiting game!
  8. I'm going the professional doctorate route in public health, and would love to end up at a health & human rights NGO (more policy focused) or an international/regional organization working on health programming for migrant and/or refugee/IDP populations (ideally in Latin America, though my experience is more in SE Asia and East Africa- so I'm not sure how difficult it would be to transition to a different region...here's hoping). I'd love to teach a specialized class or two as an adjunct instructor in a school of public health, but I'm not looking to do anything with TT positions.
  9. That's hilarious, Rogue! My guy is an Old English Sheepdog puppy - quite a handful, and I imagine that I'm lucky I have my mailbox on the side of the house. If my mail came through a slot, I would definitely be coming home to shredded envelopes! On a side note, becoming a fan of my program on facebook has led to daily, almost crippling, anxiety. Every time I see a program-related status update, I wonder why my school can manage to get their FB page together, but can't be bothered emailing me with a decision!
  10. *How many and what statistics courses do you have to take? One (biostatistics) at the MPH level, will probably have to take a higher level if I continue to DrPH *Is/Was your stats professor a sadist? Not at all - she was actually quite understanding with the class, though not an effective instructor. *How much emphasis does your department put on quantitative methods? It seems to depend on the program for public health - the instructors in my MPH program focused predominantly on quantitative research, but it's a mix of qual/quant where I'm applying for my DrPH *Is there any extra assistance offered by your program, like a summer course? None. I found this to be frustrating, as I came into the program with a BA in English, and even *asked* if I could audit an undergrad stats course prior to the required course, just to get me caught up to my peers (many MPHers have a more science/social science background). Nobody seemed to know of any tutors, either, though I probably could have done some additional investigative work to locate someone in another department/college at the university. *Do students ever or often have to repeat the course? Not that I'm aware of *Did your cohort work together, or was it every grad for himself/herself? It was a mix - a lot of us went through labs together, but we all had to put in our share of work. *How many hours per week do/did you spend on stats work? At least 15-20. *What emotions did you experience while taking statistics? Frustration and anxiety - some excitement AFTER the course when I used the knowledge/SPSS for my thesis research. *Did you want to use quantitative methods before the course? Do you want to after the course? No. Probably not (I come from such a qualitative background), though I see the value in mixed-methods research. *Any advice from those who survived to those who are going through it? Just remember that this course doesn't define your ability in your discipline. For me, some of the most intriguing research is interdisciplinary and uses a variety of skill sets - i.e. when you're in your field, you can always call on a statistician to help with the quantitative aspects (while it is helpful to know what can be done using quantitative methods, it doesn't mean that you have to be the one using these methods...collaborate, collaborate, collaborate).
  11. Luckily my puppy doesn't (yet) demonstrate a taste for envelopes! Yikes! I received an email from my top choice, and in the subject line it was just the name of the university's college of public health. When I anxiously clicked to open the email, it told me to become a fan of the public health program on facebook! Seriously??? I did, on the off-chance someone on their end will notice my unending devotion...but if things don't work out, it's a definite "unfriend"!
  12. Mobicat, so sorry to hear about your mother. My dad passed away a couple of months ago, and I absolutely believe this is true! Lots of luck with the process - and I'll keep my fingers crossed that you hear before the weekend! We have good people lobbying for us.
  13. I finished my undergrad in English Lit in 2001, and could not be happier that I took time off after finishing the degree. My first year out, I participated in a year-long volunteer program (similar to AmeriCorps), which was where I figured out who it was that I wanted to be when I grew up. I took a few more years to explore the public health field a bit more, and had the most amazing adventures while sorting out my life - worked on different public health-related issues (HIV/AIDS, malaria, violence) in a few countries on a few different continents. When I went back for my MA/MPH, I made sure to choose programs (and fields) that allowed me to have a foot in the practice world, just because I'm someone who needs that sort of balance. Now I'm 31 and applying for the DrPH after another couple of years away from school (though the DrPH does require significant public health work experience - so it's different from other degrees in that sense). For me, the time away helped me develop the context to frame what I want to learn, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. From time to time I find myself just a wee bit jealous of the unwavering optimism displayed by younger cohort members - but then I remind myself that it's that optimism that got me into public health to begin with (I'm sure not in it for the money!), so it's refreshing in the end.
  14. So this wait is making me more and more insecure, and I'm in desperate need of an "I'm good enough, I'm strong enough, and doggonit, people like me" style pick-me-up! This thread is a brilliant idea. Here goes: - despite a rough start (i.e. partying) at my top tier undergrad, I improved my GPA heaps, and have great grad school GPAs (MA - 3.76; MPH - 3.83) - several years of international experience in three countries, including work with UNICEF regional office as well as with local NGOs - domestic (US) work experience with a large health & human rights NGO and with a federal agency - presentations and posters at professsional meetings and national conferences - developed a city-wide refugee health program during my MPH practicum - it's still in existence, and now includes salaried staff from different agencies! - recipient of two fellowships (academic and community service) - took charge of my education, including relevant electives at other schools ( - elected into my discipline's national honor society - both MA and MPH theses relate to my proposed research - while I need to brush up on my Spanish to do the type of research I want, I have a decent foundation (and I also speak Thai like a 3 year old ) - I'm 100% committed to improving the health of underserved communities, and I'm positive this came through in my SOP and great LORs OK, that made me feel heaps better about myself! Even if UA decides they don't want me, someone in this great big world must! Off to check the mail...again.
  15. How about some sort of global scavenger hunt? Something along the lines of the Amazing Race? Instead of representing one program, adcomm could be comprised of members who represent the various schools we want to attend. We could form teams...and later become colleagues in some strange, interdisciplinary sort of way (the possibilities are endless here - i.e. examining the ways in which medieval lit has shaped contemporary health policy, etc...).
  16. This sounds like a fantastic idea! Would it have to be regional cuisine, just to make sure the applicant is able to adapt to her/his new geographic surroundings? I guess judging by your top schools, it would be lobster roll for you? (Not so bad, though I still don't understand how anything that comes in a hot dog bun is more than $6). But for me, it might be...scorpions. Scorpion bowl, I can do. I'm afraid I might not be able to handle the former, though.
  17. My top choice is the University of Arizona. I've applied for a doctorate in public health policy - and I want to focus on migration and border health issues (specifically violence against migrant populations). Why? More than half of the professors in the department are focusing on migration and health, and the geographic location will give me great access to immigrant communities (AND I'll be able to brush up on my Spanish!). Fingers crossed for all of us... *Edited to say that I also fell in love with the faculty during my visit. Those I spoke with take a very social justice/human rights approach to public health, which is very much in line with my ideals.
  18. I'm applying for a DrPH ~ is it OK if I crash this thread? I only applied to U of Arizona. My focus is on border health/migration, so the dept. research and geography are perfect for my interests! Just hoping everything works out...this wait is absolutely killing me.
  19. So sorry to Modernity and all who are going through tough times. I've been dealing with issues similar to some on this thread. About a month after relocating to the Boston area to pursue my *dream job* (upon completing my MPH), my dad was diagnosed with stage IV duodenal cancer. I tried the back-and-forth thing for another eight or nine months, but the Boston-to-Philly-to-Boston drive every weekend was too much (and I kept wanting to be in Philly while I was at work), so I left my job to take a temporary (year-long) position with an agency close to home. Since the position was only for a year, I figured it would be a good time to think about going for the DrPH (doc of public health ~ something I had wanted to do, but envisioned happening at a later stage). Long story short, I ended up working on applications at my dad's bedside while he was in hospice care (he passed away in mid-October). Who knows where my head was during that time. I had a really difficult time dealing with anticipatory grief/mourning and getting my act together with grad school applications. So much so that I actually only applied to one program (I was invited out for an interview in November, and just fell in love with the faculty). I just couldn't be bothered going through the motions with other schools/programs, so here's hoping that my first choice pans out...and that I can make my dad proud. (One of the hardest parts, I imagine, if everything does work out, will be not being able to pick up the phone - or drive to my family's house - to share the great news with my dad.)
  20. I'll definitely post something on FB if I get into my top choice...particularly as it will also serve as my official soon-to-be-moving (across the country) announcement! I do have a FB friend who went about this in a pretty arrogant way. I was excited for him when he was accepted to his top choice PhD program; however, the subsequent (DAILY) posts about X University's ranking, admissions requirements, etc. were enough to make me lose my lunch.
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