j12356

It's really helpful, thank you guys for the info!!!

No worries! In application reviews, emphasis is usually placed on the letters of reference and your own statement of interest (From what I've heard from other people). I believe that as long as you have a genuine passion for PH it'll come through in your app  

Sorry to hear that. Which stream had you applied for?

Haha oh my goodness, this is a question that I have an absolutely loaded answer to, so prepare yourselves... For anyone else who would prefer to message me privately to ask questions about your upcoming decisions, feel free! Or just reply as a thread here, so everyone can benefit. Anyways, here goes: 
Funny you mention that, because I actually was going to pursue an MSc initially.. I had applied to the MSc epi program at the University of Guelph and the MSc in Public Health and Health Systems at University of Waterloo (did my undergrad there). While the degree at UW was not a formal epi degree, I was going to work under an epidemiologist and do an epi-based thesis. Now initially I had tried to sway myself to doing an MSc because they come with funding, and of course that comes to mind for many students as they make their decisions. I won OGS ($15,000) for both UW and Guelph. I was actually very set on doing my MSc at UW and was even working for that supervisor last summer prior to the start of the school year.
However, I realized that the MPH Epi program at U of T was the one that I truly wanted, and I was letting money get in the way. For one, I wanted to do a formal epidemiology program. Two, before applying to any programs my plan was always to work in Toronto once I was done school. I knew that the U of T program would provide the best connections for that to happen. I also began to realize that I did not want to pursue an academic career, and wanted to work in public health, meaning the MPH was more suitable than an MSc. Of course, it doesn't mean you have to go for an academic career just because you're doing an MSc. Not at all! Just saying MPH is more geared towards working in an applied setting out of the gate. Because of all this, I made the very tough decision almost a year ago to walk into the office and let the supervisor know that I have changed my mind and will be attending U of T instead. 
Lastly, yes, I am very happy with the program. I am almost done this term, and will start my practicum placement soon. It's exciting to get actual work experience in an epidemiologist role, which of course is valuable as you try to obtain a job after graduating!
I apologize to everyone for writing such a long post. But this is a problem that students face all the time. Not just in terms of epidemiology, but trying to make the right grad school decision. There are so many factors to consider and it can get daunting knowing that your decision can potentially make a big change in your career. Again, feel free to message me if you have any questions about grad school, and I'll try my best. I usually try my best to provide unbiased answers

London school of hygiene and tropical medicine has a high acceptance rate. And you would be paying alot to be a international student. 
In Canada,  it doesn't matter about what school you go to,  it's how you present yourself, your experience/volunteer hours, and the connections you make. No employer in public health will ask for your grades but as long as you have a mph you will meet the requirements. 

I spoke to someone at the McGill office last week and she told me it was $300!

Just got an offer from Queens! For those who applied check your email

This thread is a great idea!
 
I found some stats for University of Alberta:
In an average year
there are 300 graduate students - 33% MSc, 50% MPH and 17% PhD 14% are distance students 15% are international students Since 2006 (2006-2016), there have been over 4000 applicants (over the ten year span) and 1 in 5 have been admitted. I'm assuming that the number of applicants has increased over the years as the program has become more established. 
Stats can be found here: https://www.ualberta.ca/public-health/about/report-to-community-2016/effective-education
 
 

"Alas, Harvard isn't ready for this jelly."

Hey everyone! I was hoping to see if we could get together a list of statistics for admissions for Canadian MPH programs!
I found UofT's:
Applications: Domestic - 792, International - 102
Offers: Domestic - 221, International - 7
Registration: Domestic - 103, International - 4
Link to document: https://issuu.com/dlsph/docs/2015-16_annual_report_final_spreads?e=25479276/36812031 DLSPH's 2015-2016 Annual Report
NOTE: If you found the stats online, provide a link for it please  If it's through word of mouth, alumni, etc, feel free to indicate 

Apparently McGill doesn't have these stats for the public but was given some info to to put things into perspective:

2017 McGill:
1. well over 200 applicants
2. approx 40 offers for seats
 

Hey everyone! I was hoping to see if we could get together a list of statistics for admissions for Canadian MPH programs!
I found UofT's:
Applications: Domestic - 792, International - 102
Offers: Domestic - 221, International - 7
Registration: Domestic - 103, International - 4
Link to document: https://issuu.com/dlsph/docs/2015-16_annual_report_final_spreads?e=25479276/36812031 DLSPH's 2015-2016 Annual Report
NOTE: If you found the stats online, provide a link for it please  If it's through word of mouth, alumni, etc, feel free to indicate 

Thanks for your input. I couldn't agree more with everything you said. It's great to know that other people have the same impressions/are getting the same vibes about different programs. 
The schools are definitely comparable in terms of the quality of the program, quantitative and research emphasis, etc. I definitely feel McGill has a very close-knit program, and have heard this from several graduate students who are currently studying in the program. Their class size is also quite small, at a maximum of 50 for core classes and much smaller for electives. These things make McGill very appealing for networking and getting to know fellow students and faculty. I feel like the environment would be very welcoming and the faculty members and administration are extremely helpful (I got this sense throughout the application procedure...and much more so than for UofT). 
UofT, on the other hand, has much larger class sizes. I emailed them about the numbers and they said that for core classes there would be a minimum of 50 students and that we could expect much higher numbers. However, their info session really made it seem like there are numerous networking opportunities, and that there are lots of opportunities for getting feedback from profs on assignments. I feel these things could compensate for their larger class size. They also have the option for a second practicum, which is great. After speaking with students from McGill, a few of them had mentioned that some people had a hard time securing a practicum, and many were not satisfied with their practicum experience. This is a major concern for me since the practicum is such a crucial component to the degree. I feel like at UofT, this won't be an issue because of how established the program is. Overall, UofT seems very flexible in terms of the course options and additional practicum option for the second year of studies. 
It's a tough decision, and because I now know so much about UofT's program, it's difficult to compare it to McGill's, which I know much less about. But ultimately, for me, it's about which program is going to equip me with the best skillset for working and open as many doors as possible for the future. After the info session, I feel like UofT will, where as with McGill, there are more uncertainties.
I emailed the MPH alumni at UofT because I haven't been able to speak with any students about their experience. Hopefully they can get me in touch with someone! I'm also going to visit the campus and city soon, and am hoping this will also help me make my decision.
Congratulations on your acceptance, that is great news! Best of luck! 
 

I actually didn't get into UofT! Or at least I haven't been waitlisted or gotten any news at all, which is pretty much the same thing. I'm not too surprised since I didn't technically fulfil the stats requirement. I participated in the webinar together with a friend of mine though and I think you'd be smart leaning towards UofT too. They've just got way deeper pockets and that's really important for grad school research funding and quality of profs. Plus, they seem to really push for helping grads with jobs post-MPH.
I did however put a bunch of effort into speaking with alumni for McGill and several of the faculty/profs in person, and since they're smaller, there's a lot more flexibility in the program and you'd really be able to customize your experience and develop useful relationships with the profs. I'm sure you're well aware of this already, but McGill's program's just a lot more tight-knit and personal (all of this is way more wishy washy compared to UofT's guarantee for career preparation though). All this said, I think UofT's better on paper, but if you put the effort and heart into it, I think it'd be easier to get more out of McGill and make it your own. (Btw, both McGill and UofT have super solid foundations in quantitative research methodology and epi; I don't think the quality of the actual study material itself is a deal breaker.)
Anyway, those are my thoughts, but I have zero authority on this really.
Just as a p.s. I'll be going to Imperial College London in the fall, and congrats on everything! It's a good dilemma to have, feel free to update when you decide!