movingon

Hey guys, keep your hopes up and be patient and I think we all have already tried out best! This is what I know from the PHS-SBS interview, which is my lifetime first interview, ever: 1) One faculty told me the results should be out at a standardized time, although I can email the program assistant to confirm (but I didn't); 2) The other faculty told me that both faculties would evaluate my candidacy to make the final decision. So, it definitely would take into account the fact that I screwed up the interview with my POI (I was really nervous and English is not my native language); also, it means that maybe it does not matter that much even I feel like the other interview went well. But I just feel like the whole evaluation process is pretty fair. If you get an interview, does not mean your candidacy is "clinically" higher that those who dont; if you did not get an interview, you still have a chance. Hope this help!

Hi There! It's been one month that I did not check this forum out (nerve-wracking)!!! I just want to tell you that no interview does not mean rejection. I got interviews from two SBS faculties; but for sure I screwed up the one with my POI. From the results page, I saw someone also did not get offer because he/she did not nail the interview. My interview was early Jan; I am pretty sure they contacted someone else after that. I did not her back anything since then; radio silence, the same thing during the last couple months. and I was told the final result for SBS should be out at a standardized time as last year, i.e. 20-ish Feb. And, good luck with you and everyone else who is waiting!

Hi all, I submitted all my applications, just now! Finally! Harvard: Population Health Sciences - Social and Behavior Sciences (Harvard - PHS-SBS) UCLA: Environmental Health Sciences (UCLA - EHS) USC: Health Behavior Research (USC - HBR) USC: Population, Health and Place (USC - PHP) 3 schools, 4 programs ... we'll see how it goes

I would not address the low GPA in my SOP. First, this is a PhD application, so I don't really think it is a "personal statement". Second, I sent my SOP to couple friends, one feedback I really appreciate is that, they all seemed to be a bit confused about some of my writing (some comments like "could you explain this terminology/concept further?"), which is largely due to the fact that there is a word limit (e.g. 1000) on SOP. As a result, I would rather spend more words on something I want to say (my strength) rather than something that I am not good at. Hope this helps.

I second this! I only had ONE phone call, which I am very grateful for and which was better than nothing. I don't know if that helps/hurts an application, which makes me very anxious (after the phone call). But I guess we'll see in not a short time...

Hi all, < 1 month now (HANG IN THERE!). This thread is not very active, as what I expected (compared to last year's one). I applied in 2016, when I was very lost and did not know what I was doing, nor what I liked. I chose 2 schools (randomly, I am not kidding) couple days before the deadline. Not surprisingly I got neither an offer, nor an interview. Last year (2017), I was still not sure if I was ready/qualified for a PhD; I was only sure that I was not that motivated enough to even start ONE application. Now it is 2018; the end of 2018. I re-tried GRE couple times this year: the last but one time, I almost vomitted after the test (I hate verbal!!!); the last time, I felt so relieved after the test, because I knew that I did not want to do it any more!!! Then, I am going to use the score from the last but one try, still the verbal is under 70% (YES, my verbal score is decreasing by time hahaha). I gave up (there is just something out there that I am not able to go through it). My background: 1. Demo: international applicant 2. Education: both BSc and MSc in Public Health 3. Work: one year full-time work experience as RA (not counting any experience as a student) 4. Publication: two 1st-author pubs, four 1st-author oral presents, one 1st-author poster presents (not counting any non 1st-author works) 5. Applying-to: four schools (all in US) 6. Recommenders: three, all professors I was going to apply for 5 schools, but eventually my school list got cut down to 4. I have reached out all 4 schools, a total of 8 POIs; I got 4/8 replies (50%) from 3/4 schools (75%). I have been very frustrated about: 1) my GRE; 2) my procrastination in SOP writing; 3) the lack of information of what a program wants, which might help 2); 4) the contacts of POIs wherein I found limited information. This process is not easy; but I never knew it would be this tough. I wouldn't be surprised if I don't get into any of the schools, because 1) I am applying to a short list of schools and 2) there are so many applicants out there who have a very strong background. I also wouldn't be surprised if I really get into one of these programs, because I am trying my best in this cycle... So GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!