[PhD in Community Health Sciences or Social & Behavioral Sciences with MA in Psychology?]

Eloise, how did things turn out?

[Ask me anything: Advice from a 3rd year public health PhD student]

On 4/17/2019 at 1:49 PM, drunkenduck said:

Do you have any advice on how I can demonstrate in future applications that I am ready/ excited to transition from psychology to social and behavioral sciences/ public health?

Hey Drunken Duck, 

I am/ was a LCSW running a clinical mental health program and was in the same boat having received the same feedback in 2017 that you received this year. Applied again and am now finishing (need to stop procrastinating) the first year of the DrPH. 
 

It is a specific question which I believe I can shed some light on. 

 

look for a private message

[Anxiety about the rigor of graduate school]

On 3/29/2019 at 7:40 PM, Logic said:

Fortunately I'm doing much better personally as well these days. My health has been much better, and I've been taking care of myself (diet, exercise, hobbies, social relationships, etc.) much better than how I was in college. I've had to reckon with the truth of traumatic things I experienced during my childhood and teenage years that caused my psychological health to suffer in college. But I've been learning how to overcome those things.

 

So this is the most important part of your post. Taking care of yourself and experiencing a lot of growth are the reasons you are going to be successful at whatever your next step is. Your mind/ body/ soul won't be dealing with the drag of these unresolved issues, allowing you to better spend your energy on your priorities. You had to hit that wall to get past it. 

Your psychological issues will probably come back, they always do for me. But you yourself said you've done a lot to learn how to overcome them. Your circumstances are different than undergrad so expect different results. It will be hard, but you can do it. 

I recommend coming up with a wellness plan to keep you moving forward. Often we, I mean me, realize things are bad only once we are deep into the shit. It's hard to pull myself out when I get completely beat down by life and my own negative thoughts. Much better to have some plans in place to help you when you start to struggle and head it off.

Check out the Wellness Recovery Action Plan model. You don't need to be a mental health professional to make one: https://mentalhealthrecovery.com/wrap-is/

Mental health professional in a doctoral program with a lot of successes after a TERRIBLE (GPA: 2.27) undergrad showing here. Serious mental health challenges continue to impact my life, but it is not as bad as when I was 20. I am able to be successful, which is a struggle to see many days, by being a little less hard on myself and doing a little more to take care of myself every year.

Assessing our progress and growth, not comparing ourselves to an imaginary standard existing only in our heads, is perhaps the best way to take a measure of a man or woman.

 

[First time presenting a conference paper]

Just found this thread. 

I am leading a panel at a conference this month for the first time. It's helpful to see other people felt nervous about it. It's my first noteworthy "academic" accomplishment so I am pretty excited.

[Anyone want to join/start a virtual writing group from the "How to Write a Lot" book?]

Hi Adelaide, I'm halfway through this book and have put it aside until the end of the semester (May 20th or so). I am going to pick it up for the summer.... Wow sounds like I am making all the excuses that the writer highlights in his book! 

 

can you private message me your email or a better way to contact you than this forum? 

 

 

[Grad school and mental illness--how do you cope?]

It's good to see people talking about this. I am coming out (hopefully) of a serious depressive episode right now. My professors have been incredibly accommodating. The key was talking to them before the assignments were do. I felt myself slipping so talked to a few of them. Worked out alright. 

My best advice is take care of your health (treatment and self-care), be proactive when you are starting to slide (easier said than done), and get a support system. 

Life's hard. Adding grad school on top of that is a lot. 

 

Best of luck, all!

[Doing Army reserve while in a funded PhD program]

It sounds like you are not prior-service military. I don't recommend adding this kind of commitment to your life right now. The recruiter's version of what the Reserves are is probably very different from the real situation. While there is relatively little utilization of Reserve units now, that was not the case 10 years ago. I knew reservists that were getting called up for deployments (3-6 mo training + 12 months+ overseas) every other year. Also do not expect to easily transition from a deployment back into the PhD world. 

I did 4 yr AD and have worked as a mental health professional serving veterans and AD for a dozen years. The military can be a fulfilling experience - my service most certainly was - but I don't recommend adding this to your plate while you are in a PhD program. It adds too much stress and uncertainty to an already busy life.

[University of Denver MSW]

On 3/14/2019 at 10:09 AM, ioseirdne said:

I got accepted 3/1 for the online advanced standing option.  I'm curious how other people got scholarships, I am waiting to hear back about my financial aid packet.  I plan on starting in the summer.  They were the only school I applied to because they had the concentration I wanted.  I have to do online because my family needs me here and also this area really needs quality msw's but I was drawn to the synchronous format.  It appears lot of people turned this program down because of the expense.  My gpa is 3.92- I'm just wondering if additional paperwork was submitted or were the scholarships offered without asking?? Maybe the scholarships are just for people who attend in person.

I also wonder if scholarships are for in-person students. Give the admissions or financial aid department a call and emphasize that cost is a determining factor... 

[University of Denver MSW]

On 3/12/2019 at 11:28 AM, Msw_2019! said:

Hello! I was accepted to DU 2 year track program with a 22k scholarship. I was also accepted to Columbia University's 2 year track and I am waiting to hear on the financial aid award. Does anyone know which is the better program? It's difficult to choose not having visited the actual university/program. 

Any advice?

Columbia looks better on the resume and will open doors anywhere. If you can afford it, go there. If you really want to live in Denver right now, come on out. If you can wait 2 years, go to Columbia and come on out in 2021. Also, the campuses have very different feels. I'd recommend visiting on accepted students day. 
Factoring in your total student debt is very important. Social Work positions do not pay well, he said stating the obvious. I have multiple friends who are being crushed by their debt which is impacting their decisions across all areas of their life. 

[University of Denver MSW]

On 3/7/2019 at 3:03 PM, lsg0629 said:

Got in as well with a 32k scholarship! Turned them down though - still so ridiculously expensive

I assume you got into other, better programs. If so, good choice. I don't think it's worth the cost for a school with a regional, but not national, reputation

[Ask me anything: Advice from a 3rd year public health PhD student]

DrJack… 1st-year DrPH student here. 

I am kind of in rut with seeing a long 3 years ahead of me. Any advice on how to keep focused and successful in the early years?

[DrPH Applicants Fall 2019]

On 3/13/2019 at 3:30 PM, brittany18 said:

This is anecdotal on what's changed for me since last year, so I can't promise what specifically made the difference, but hopefully this is helpful for those waitlisted/future lurkers who are planning their applications...

• I happened to have started a new job (this wasn't intentional) so I was able to easily expand my skill set in the new position.
• I revised my personal statement to reflect my new responsibilities, and tried to clarify what I wanted to get out of the degree, how it could affect my current work, and my ultimate career goals. I tried to emphasize how I can contribute to the school, i.e. what I bring to the table.
• I also connected with several professors at the school, to understand how they may be able to help support me in my prospective dissertation.
• I also reached out to current and past students to understand more about their experience and how the schools pitch themselves.
• I definitely encourage you to get at least one new recommendation letter, you can also try for a letter of support from those professors.
• I'd also make sure the language in your resume matches the language the program uses in how they describe desirable candidates. 

Good advice Brittany. I was also rejected my first year. I came from a Social Work background and don't think I really understood what PH was or how I would use the DrPH to meet my goals. Some of my advice may be specific to those without an MPH/ PH background:

- really clarify my vision and how the DrPH was a necessary part of getting there.

- built relationships with faculty and students is a must. Name recognition can really help.

- engage in events with the school: webinars, on-campus events, whatever you are able. 

- If your GREs can be improved, do that 

- Take any feedback you received seriously and show you have addressed it.

- gaining admission may be a 2 or 3 year process so don't get discouraged.

- research experience if you can get it

- get a new job that is closer to what you want to do with the DrPH

 

Don't give up!

[George Washington University or Colorado School of Public Health??]

Current DrPH student at Colorado School of Public Health. I echo what Epiapp… said. The cost of GW is outrageous and a degree from there doesn't necessarily guarantee the contacts and access I'd assume you want. CSPH isn't cheap either for out-of-state students but you can get residence after the first year. Denver has a fair amount of NGOs and students are making overseas practica work. Off the top of my head, I have two friends that completed practica in Belize and with the UN in Switzerland. They are also both Community and Behavioral Health concentrations, so assume Global folks would have higher percentages of international experiences. Colorado's location may be a plus as many students do come here for the quality-of-life then stick around after they graduate. Cost-of-living isn't terrible and recreation opportunities abound. That said, this is a regional school with a growing national and international reputation. If you want to work for a fancy NGO, and can handle the debt, GW is probably the way you want to go. I don't have a lot of student loan debt but many of my friends in the professional world do and it is crushing their lives and stifling their choices - career, family, location and otherwise. 

Also consider whether the MPH will get you to where you want to go professionally. It is still a generalist degree and you will be competing with many others for entry-level positions. I recommend heavy engagement in extracurriculars from the start that take you toward your desired next step.

Good luck! 

 

[Getting published in a journal as an MSW Candidate?]

Congrats on your admission. So I didn't attempt to publish during my MSW but have hired MSWs for internships as well as real positions. Freshly-minted MSWs are in a tough position when they enter the job market. They don't have a lot of experience or skills, usually, and it is hard to differentiate one from another. Essentially, new MSWs are commodities. In discussions with other managers, we talk about how we make hiring decisions for entry-level positions. We all came to similar conclusions in that we look for indications that the candidate has gone above and beyond. Publications, presentations, serious volunteer work, awards, work experience are some of the indicators that set candidates apart from their peers. 

I recommend any MSW student create a plan before they even start to have a certain amount of extracurricular activities on their schedule. Try to use extracurriculars to craft a trajectory that aligns with professional goals. 

The hardest job for a social worker is her first job. Give yourself options by being an all-star.

Just by asking this question months before the start of your program indicates to me that you have the attitudes that are necessary to be successful. message me if you have any other questions or want to bounce some ideas around.

Be awesome,

 

[MSW GPA?]

Congrats to both of you. Thanks for sharing your story

[Status of LPC/LCSW in Different States]

Colorado LCSW here who worked at a community mental health agency that primarily employed LPCs.
LCSWs are rarer in Colorado and highly-coveted due to Medicare reimbursing for their services. LPCs probably have superior training to be therapists, but social workers have advantages looking for jobs. Many LPCs I know wish they had went for the MSW instead. LCSWs I know that went to expensive private MSW programs generally regret it and counsel prospective MSWs to go to a cheaper state program. I generally agree with that.

[MSW GPA?]

@K_Anne hi. 

I had to take the GRE since my GPA was low and I would have probably done so anyway as I do well on those assessments. 
I would expect anything about 70th percentile on the GRE would be big points in your favor. Low scores probably wouldn't hurt. 
Social Work programs are generally looking for applicants that will be good social workers, not necessarily those with the highest GPAs. Work experience, commitment to the SW values and mission, maturity, commitment to social justice and service, overcoming personal adversity and learning from it, as well as leadership potential and experience can all be indicators of that. Powerful essays/ personal statements are likely more important than high GPAs since they set you apart from other candidates. 

I'd also recommend tailoring your message to each school as to why their program, not just any MSW, is where you really want to be.

Remember, half of the accepted applicants had GPAs lower than the median. 3.3 is not bad. Don't sell yourself short. Remember that the school is looking for diversity, not cookie-cutter candidates.
Glad to have a conversation, answer specific questions, look over essays. send me a private message if needed

Good luck!

[MSW GPA?]

University of Maryland School of Social Work. I was rejected in 2009 and accepted in 2011 and did well despite a GPA well south of yours (rhymed with eww point tea). Strong work and volunteer experience along with GRE scores in the 90th percentile got me in. 
3.3 is probably sufficient for most state schools. Did you take the GRE? 

[How do you deal with the fear about debt?]

On 1/19/2019 at 7:25 PM, doctormelody said:

Would you recommend it even if it was from an Ivy League school? There are only two Ivy League schools that have MSW programs, and Case Western is higher-ranked than Penn. Not disagreeing with you about the cost being absurd, the Ivy League comment just kinda threw me. I got into Columbia last year and everyone told me it wasn’t worth it because of the price. I saw someone saying on here that they kinda coast on their name and I pretty much agree with that. 

I would not recommend spending $1400 a credit hour for an MSW from any school unless cost is not an issue to you are looking to leverage their name in an area where the name is more important than the education. If you were to say, look for a position on a major museum's or foundation's board, a degree from Columbia may help. Social Work just doesn't have the return on investment. 

[Will GRE Quant score keep me out of M.P.H. programs?]

On 12/2/2018 at 6:38 PM, Mandali245 said:

I’m in the process of applying to three MPH programs: Emory, Georgia southern and university of Arizona for heath behaviors. I just took the GRE for the second time and I got a 151 V and 141 Q ? (quant this time around was the same as last). However my GPA was a 3.5 and I have some work experience. How bad will this horrible quant score affect me?? Or should I try for a third go around? 

 

You should probably be fine. Don't take the GRE again this cycle

[How do you deal with the fear about debt?]

On 1/9/2019 at 7:52 PM, bloome said:

I am very much in the same boat! I am so stressed about the amount of loans I'm going to have to potentially take out. My boyfriend is currently in medical school and will end up with about $200,000 in debt and so I want to add as little to that as I can. I want to go to Case Western so badly but its so incredibly expensive it's really worrying. 

$1400 per credit hour sounds insane for an MSW that is not from an Ivy League. Have you checked out Cleveland State's program? https://catalog.csuohio.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=26&poid=5872&returnto=1991
Likely not as strong as Case Western's, but close to 1/3 the cost.
 

[DrPH Applicants Fall 2019]

38 minutes ago, sarcasmandcoffee7 said:

Thank you so much! There are pros/cons of all the programs I applied too, but I approached the programs by finding a mentor I wanted to work with, not necessarily the school, because I hear your mentor makes or breaks your doctoral program. So, where ever I do end up going, I know I will learn from some terrific people! 

UT is my top choice, followed my Colorado, and Washington!

1st year DrPH at Colorado. Glad to answer any questions about the Colorado School of Public Health. 

[Personal Statement Question]

On 1/6/2019 at 10:33 PM, MarkPatJoeBillDinosaur said:

Hello all. I just graduated from undergrad and am taking a gap year to work in the field before applying to grad programs for 2020. I have a question I have been curious about for a while though. I had a rough few years in my early twenties which involved fairly extensive drug abuse and ultimately lead to my arrest in 2012. Luckily I was able to avoid any time in jail, and thankfully was able to clean up my act and turn my life around. Through family support, rehab, and perserverance I was able to turn things around and just graduated with my B.A. in psychology and landed a job in community mental health. 

My question: How much of this should I disclose in my personal statements? I know that programs like to see personal experience and the ability to overcome adversity but I fear that discolsing too much to some schools could hurt my chances. I also would love to avoid  being labeled as 'the guy who used to be a drug addict' within my cohort, as I keep that part of my life very private in my professional role. I feel like I could write a pretty compelling personal statement with my experiences but fear it may backfire and programs will shy away from me for understandable reasons. Let me know what you all think I should do and if you have any similar stories or advice. 

Congrats on your recovery!

I helped a now-graduated social worker with this same issue a few years ago. He had a felony related to his substance/ MH issues and was accepted and successfully completed a MSW program.

I recommend you DO NOT go into great detail about your personal struggles. Allude to having challenges and overcoming them, but no one needs to know you had extensive drug and legal challenges. You definitely don't want to get that label.
 

Sending you a PM

[Level of difficulty/rigor of MSW programs compared to other grad/professional programs]

On 10/15/2018 at 10:49 AM, Bodhicaryavatara said:

Recent law graduate here.  How rigorous are MSW programs compared to other grad programs, specifically JD? Are you graded on a forced curve like I was in law school? Should I expect to spend significantly more time on classes compared to in a JD program? Is the stress level much greater?  I'm just concerned that I can't "hack it" or that I'm not fit for graduate-level studies.  

If you completed any JD program, you should be well-prepared for any MSW program in terms of workload. 
You should expect less time and less stress in an MSW program and to get a 4.0. In most of my MSW classes, UMaryland class of 2013, nearly all the students received A's, no curve.

 

[How do you deal with the fear about debt?]

Doctormelody, glad to hear you are asking these questions before you have accumulated additional debt. 

I had the Post-9/11 GI Bill cover my MSW and living expenses, and for that I am grateful. I had several coworkers at the community mental health agency where I worked who took on loans to complete their MSW on top of the undergrad loans. Sounded like similar numbers to what you describe. They were rather frustrated about their financial situation, even 5 years post graduation. They were under the 10-year income-based repayment plan and couldn't qualify for the Public Service Loan forgiveness, despite working in community mental health. 

Their income did not support their goals like buying a home and having children. We are in Denver, which is a high cost-of-living area, so that may explain part of the problem but not all of it. The income-based repayment plan felt like a trap as they were essentially stuck in jobs that burned them out. They recommended not taking on this debt.

I recommend you do an honest assessment of your financial future before taking on debt for an MSW. Don't expect to get a fantastic scholarship or grant, a high-paying job, or qualify for a special loan forgiveness program. Figure things out based on median salaries, not the high end. New social work grads, and social workers in general, are commodities in the places that highly-educated people want to live. The MSW does not suddenly open a world of high-paying jobs to you and there is tough competition for entry-level social services positions. 

Sorry to be the dark cloud, but I think you need to hear this other perspective.