nervousphd2021

Accepted into Penn State's DrPH program. Applied 1/5
 
 

Accepted into Penn State's DrPH program. Applied 1/5
 
 

Ya’ll, maybe I’m just too old or just an odd duck but I don’t view anyone here as competition. I only applied to schools I really dug, so there’s no losing for me. And if someone got into one of my programs, then maybe they’ll be in my cohort (because that is a thing) and if not, I can say “hey I know someone with similar interests at X school. Maybe we can collaborate!” I say all that to say: this ain’t the hunger games. We’re all looking to alleviate real people from real suffering. Why the hell wouldn’t I cheer you on?? I want every one of you to be rockstars because myself, my family, and my community benefit. It’s self-destructive nonsense to think otherwise. 

Accepted into Penn State's DrPH program. Applied 1/5
 
 

Accepted into Penn State's DrPH program. Applied 1/5
 
 

This post makes me sad, it sounds like you are in a bad place right now. But instead of trying to bring others down, perhaps the community can help lift you up? How can we support you?
 
We are all going to end up where we are meant to. More importantly, regardless of where we end up, we all are going to be colleagues. Why not help each other along the way? 

Salam fellow applicants,
I have been viewing this message board for some time now, and have two questions for the general community:
(1) Has absolutely nobody applied to state schools, or is it a matter of only claiming JHU/Harvard/Yale to show off to the other anonymous posters? Posting your “stats” on page 5 didn’t get you enough of a dopamine rush?
(2) What’s with the “we’re in this together” and “good luck” posts? We’re absolutely not, and we’re competing against each other for limited spaces, respectively. I mean, unless it’s a southern-sweet show of force, then that’s sensible. This isn’t tennis. 
 
Alright, have a nice day. 

I'm not sure if this post warrants a reply but...
(1) UCLA, UC Irvine, University of Washington, Berkeley, UCSF, and University of Michigan are all state schools. 
(2) Not necessarily the case... Not all schools/departments are suitable for every applicant, so you can wish someone well in their endeavors. Also, it doesn't hurt to send out good wishes to others

Meeting invitation with the director of the PhD program in Population Health at Stony Brook University. Applied 12/28.

Meeting invitation with the director of the PhD program in Population Health at Stony Brook University. Applied 12/28.

Meeting invitation with the director of the PhD program in Population Health at Stony Brook University. Applied 12/28.

Accepted to the University of Pittsburgh PhD degree program in Epidemiology! I'll include my stats below. Does anyone when we find out about funding?
Currently finishing my MPH (Epidemiology & Biostatistics track)
Undergrad GPA - 3.66
MPH GPA - 3.99
3 published articles, 1 first author. One cited by the CDC
1 poster presentation at a large, annual infectious disease conference
4 years of research experience in undergrad, internship at state department of health, currently working as a full-time project coordinator for a federally funded research program. 
LOR from chair of public health sciences at my institution (my advisor), associate director of the MPH program, epidemiologist (a coauthor), vice chair of research (boss).

I think it's also a little bit of a confidence boost, since it shows your application made it above the majority of people who applied, even if you didn't make the ultra competitive final cut.

Hi! I also applied to the DrPH program at Penn State College of Medicine. 
I can tell you that currently, all applications are being reviewed! They did have an uptick in applications this year (as did almost all programs). I'd say expect to hear sometime during mid to late Feb. You are still in the running!
 
Keep your head up. This process is grueling and emotionally exhausting, but it all works out in the end!

Hi! I also applied to the DrPH program at Penn State College of Medicine. 
I can tell you that currently, all applications are being reviewed! They did have an uptick in applications this year (as did almost all programs). I'd say expect to hear sometime during mid to late Feb. You are still in the running!
 
Keep your head up. This process is grueling and emotionally exhausting, but it all works out in the end!

Hey HealthMatters, I'm so so sorry to hear about your brother. That is devastating and I can't imagine how much pain you've fought through in the past months, and are still fighting through. Please know you are incredibly strong to have even picked yourself up from that traumatic loss and apply for these programs! And no matter the final outcome they are absolutely not a reflection of your ability! You are of great value to the world and I know you are going to eventually find a way out of the job you dislike and make a difference - because even in the midst of perhaps the greatest crisis in your life you are still resilient and committed enough to public health to actively work towards advancing it + striving to further your expertise with a PhD/DrPH. That is incredible and inspiring, and that is why I know someone like you will excel regardless of whether you get into a program this year or the next. I know you will make it. I cannot offer much besides a listening ear/someone to stress out with about results, but please reach out if you feel like it. If this year doesn't work out and you'd like a fresh pair of eyes to review your applications for the next, I'm happy to help with that too (in my limited ability as a fellow applicant). 
You got this! Please don't give up! Sending love. 

I know this may not help with anxiety but I'll share the info. I was accepted into a DrPH program last year and rejected at some. Now that I've started the program it's very clear that it was the best fit for me, which is why I got in.
Interviews are not a reliable measure of acceptance. Some people get accepted without interviews. Some programs say they aren't required but they interview everyone anyway. It's just hard to know so don't torture yourself by guessing.
One year ago this week I was OBSESSIVELY hitting refresh on my phone looking for news about my applications. I told myself it was bad for my mental health but I couldn't resist. I really wish I let it go and wait for the response to come to me without obsessing over it.
I was on the trip of a lifetime in late February, at the literal end of the Earth in Ushuaia, Argentina. And yet every time I got service I hit refresh on my applications. I got one rejection during that time. I let this take some really good days from me where I wish I was enjoying myself more.
I returned, just as the pandemic was hitting the US. Work got turned upside down and then I got a wonderful acceptance.
I'm not going to offer platitudes of "let it go and what will happen, will happen." I will just say that obsessing doesn't change the outcome, it only makes the process more painful for you. If you can, truly let it go when you can no longer control the outcome. 
Good luck!

Thank you!
I believe it was late November? Sometime around the 25th.