pubhealth2019

Sorry for being unclear, the $7500 is per semester (and I was low the first time, it's actually $7850). And I'll mention that this is the minimum stipend, so you may be able to find an RA or TA gig that pays more. Plus this is beneficial if your adviser doesn't have funding to pay your tuition already. This is my case for the Fall. My adviser only has funding available beginning in the Spring, so for the Fall semester I'm looking for a full-time RA/TA. So all total if you get a full-time RA/TA you're getting your tuition paid for, healthcare, and $15,700 for the year. Not counting whatever you do over the summer. I haven't lived outside of NC, but I do hear from others that cost of living is pretty low here, even though it's comparably high to other places I've lived in the state. I pay $1400/month for a two-bed, two-bath, 1200 sqft. apartment that's about a six minute drive from campus.

I don't have a UNC buddy, but I have had the chance to talk to some current PhD students in my department, health behavior. Apparently there's scholarships and grants of course, but for everyone else there's three options for funding: full RA/TA, half time RA/TA, and stipend-only RA/TA (these all have official names but I don't know what they are). Full RA/TA: Work 17-20 hrs/week, tuition covered completely, health insurance covered, "full" stipend which is ~$7500 Half RA/TA: Work around 10 hrs/week, tuition half covered, health insurance fully covered (?), "half" stipend which is ~3500 Stipend-only RA/TA: No tuition covered, stipend depends on hours worked So obviously this isn't very detailed but it's how two students have explained it to me so far. Compared to other schools (ahem, JHU...) it seems like a pretty good deal to me. Cost of living is definitely lower here than the places some folks on this thread are coming from (Boston, NYC, etc.), but is actually a bit high for NC. Maybe I'm spoiled from growing up in a very low cost area haha. Depending on where you live around here, you don't necessarily need a car because Chapel Hill has a good bus system, but it sure is nice to have. Anyway, I work and live at UNC so I'd be happy to answer any questions folks have about the area.

Has anyone gotten financial info from UNC? I'm specifically in HB but am curious to hear if anyone has gotten info from other departments, too.

I've gotten accepted to the MSPH-to-PhD program in Health Behavior at UNC and I'm thrilled! However, this was the only PhD program I applied to - all the others are Masters programs (I don't have any graduate degrees, just undergrad). I've been matched with an adviser and am feeling very overwhelmed because she wants to meet me in person tomorrow and I have no idea what to ask. I feel like I know everything there is to know about Masters programs but have no idea how to judge if this PhD program is right for me. So PhD applicants, what kinds of questions will you all ask of your potential advisers? How will you tackle that first meeting? A PhD is such a huge commitment - what questions will you ask to decide if that program is right for you? Thank you!

HELP! I've gotten accepted to the MSPH-to-PhD program in Health Behavior at UNC and I'm thrilled! However, this was the only PhD program I applied to - all the others are Masters programs (I don't have any graduate degrees, just undergrad). I've been matched with an adviser and am feeling very overwhelmed because she wants to meet me in person tomorrow and I have no idea what to ask. I feel like I know everything there is to know about Masters programs but have no idea how to judge if this PhD program is right for me. So, what kinds of questions will you all ask of your potential advisers? How will you tackle that first meeting? A PhD is such a huge commitment - what questions will you ask to decide if that program is right for you? Thank you!

Jumping in to say I received the same email which says I should have gotten an email from the grad school, but I haven't. It makes me feel a bit better to see that someone else is in the same boat. But it's looking like we're definitely in, so congratulations! Are you in for MSPH-to-PhD or PhD only?

I interviewed the last week in January and haven't heard anything either I'm applying for the MPH-to-PhD but they told me it's the same process as the regular PhD. Which are you applying for?