socialepi

You have some great stats and I think you will be a competitive applicant. Some general thoughts: - 9 is not an unreasonable number of schools to be applying to. I applied to a similar number last year (a combination of various masters and PhD programs) and am glad that I did but it was EXPENSIVE (around $600 total) and so time consuming when you account for researching all the schools, talking to professors I would want to work with, and dealing with all the paperwork - Talk to professors - I think the fact that I reached out to several professors at each of the schools I was interested in and made an effort to visit if I could really made a difference in my chances. After all, they are looking for people to help them do their research. It's always a good idea to let them know that you want to work with them and to put a face or voice with a name so they can vouch for you come decision time. - Consider applying to a range of programs - I found that the MsPH and other variations on the Masters of Science degree to be good alternatives to the MPH. Not only are they less competitive, they are more researched based, and you won't have to take the required MPH course (e.g., health behavior, environmental health...) that is unless you want to. If the PhD is what you're ultimately after, the professional degree (i.e. MPH) is going to be less important. Most MS degrees also either require or allow for a practicum so there is not need to have it written into the requirements of your degree. I did not apply to multiple programs within a school. - If you do end up getting a MS/MPH first, consider getting it at the school that you ultimately want to get your PhD at. Most schools have their own way of teaching methods, and if you switch schools, you'll have to take these first year classes over again. In terms of your schools: - I'm pretty sure Hopkins, Emory, Columbia, and UW do not let you apply directly into the epi PhD program without a masters first. At Columbia, most of the PhD students do not come directly out of the MPH program, meaning they work for a few years and then come back or come from different masters programs. At UW, the transition is pretty fluid and you can apply after your first year I believe. - Harvard says that they don't accept epi PhD students unless they have a master's first, but I know someone who did get in so maybe this is a possibility? - UNC will allow you to apply without a masters through their MsPH/PhD epi program Hope this is helpful and good luck!

Thanks so much for the advice! Are there specific social epi profs at Michigan that you would recommend? I'll confess that I know the least about their program but applied since my boyfriend is considering law school in that area. Also, thanks so much for the tip on Susan Allen. I'll definitely reach out to her. Finally, I can't remember if you said if you got into WashU, but if you did, without going into too much detail, can you compare WashU's financial aid package to Harvard's? I don't expect to get any money as a Masters student but it would be nice to know what my chances are at funding for the future. Future funding opportunities and the likelihood that as a master's student I will be admitted into the school's PhD program is going to play a large role in my decision.

Congrats to you too raredisease! What are you considering in your decisions process? I applied to many of the same schools (though I applied to masters programs for all except UNC since most schools require a masters first) and am feeling so overwhelmed by the decisions process (though I suppose I would rather be in this position than to not have choices). So far I've heard from UNC, Emory, WashU, Michigan, and Tulane and am still waiting on Columbia and Harvard. Are you going to any of the visit days? UNC and Michigan unfortantely have the same visit days. I guess that will be the first choice I'll have to make... And for those of you applying to PhD programs - how did you like your master's programs? I'm interested in social epi, HIV, and global health.

Congrats immigrant! I think you might be the first person to hear back from any department at Columbia on both gradcafe and SDN. What area of epi are you interested in?