hipopotam

katalytik--just curious what your background is like and what you want to do in the future after the PhD? I've been thinking about a PhD down the road, but have a while to decide. My stats: Applied for: MPH in health policy & management at Berkeley & Columbia; MPA in health policy & management at NYU Accepted: Columbia Pending: Berkeley, NYU GRE: 710Q/570V/6AW GPA: 3.2 overall; 3.4 & 3.6 in majors (public health & mass comm) Background: worked in health journalism and nonprofits during college; health policy thinktanks for 2 years post graduation, almost 2 years in China in a completely different industry I agree that the numbers probably don't matter so much in the master's programs. My GRE score wasn't exceptional by any means, and the main reason why I didn't take it again because 100 points more on my verbal probably wouldn't have made a difference to the AdComms. The story I got from a lot of people in MPH and MPA programs was that the verbal score matters a lot more if you aren't a native English speaker...

Thanks for all your feedback! For now, it looks like I'll be going to school, as I'd really like to move on with the next step of my career and not have to apply for schools a 3rd time.

I'm wondering if anyone is going to defer admissions and for what reasons? I sort of have a complicated situation and would like to try and defer for a year... though I don't think the reasons would be compelling enough to have them allow for it.

American In Beijing--What're you doing currently in Beijing? I assume something research-based based on your stats? We should talk...haha

I'm just wondering... is anyone's "Plan B" a "Plan A" alternative? I went through the school application process 2 years ago, got rejections and a waitlist that didn't come through. At the time, I had quit my job and came to China to improve my Chinese. Ended up liking it so much that I stayed since then. I reapplied this time around thinking I was really ready to go back to school and the States, but now I think I'd like to stay in China and make sure I'm fluent in Chinese before I leave... logic being that might be a more marketable skill in the long-run no matter what industry I decide to enter. And while I'm still in my 20s, I'd really like to travel more... so I'm thinking if I actually get in this time, I'll try to defer. Anyone in a similar situation...? Anyone know under what circumstances programs/schools usually grant deferrals?