PHPhDApplicant
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Posts
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Posts posted by PHPhDApplicant
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1 hour ago, MNCH Hopeful said:
I’m in a similar situation. I love my job and the pay. Going completely full time would be a significant pay cut for me. I have no desire to go into academia after my PhD. I also want to use my PhD to transition into a leadership position focused on research and program development. I’m currently in a position where I can get an hourly RA position (about 10hrs) for tuition remission but not sure if I can keep my full time job AND devote time as an RA lol while managing coursework. Although, I have a colleague that’s full time, full time phd student and a TA. No idea how he does it. Especially while traveling to another continent for work lol!
Is he a magician? Sounds like you and I are in a similar position. I've found that most FT programs actually prohibit students from working, at least at anything near full time, elsewhere. At least in writing that's what they say
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11 minutes ago, MCH_Hopeful_2021 said:
Wouldn’t hesitate to go part time if that were an option and I were in your shoes.
Edit: Funding needs to involve 0 debt or near that or I’d likely go full time.
That's helpful! Both wouldn't involve taking on debt. The part time program doesn't offer funding but it's a public institution so in-state costs are very affordable and because I would be working and pulling my salary it would be an investment for me but not one I would need to go in debt with. The FT program is a private institution with tuition covered and stipend but obviously a big cut from FT salary as a mid-ish career professional. Thanks for being so generous with your thoughts and time. Good luck to all making these types of decisions as April 15th approaches!
- IAAJ and MCH_Hopeful_2021
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13 minutes ago, MCH_Hopeful_2021 said:
What do you plan to do with the degree when you’re done? That would be the deciding factor for me. If I wanted an academic career or research career (at a university, medical school, think tank, etc), I’d do full time. If I wanted to climb the ranks of my current company, work in government (but not a strictly research capacity), a NGO, etc., Id go for the part time model
Absolutely right -- I'm currently in an evaluation role in a large non profit that is primarily an implementing organization. With a PhD I would like to transition to a leadership role in a non-profit that focuses more exclusively on research or conducts more rigorous research more regularly. Think the PopCouncil's of the world... Part of me is certainly scared to make the full time leap!
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Is anyone here weighing options between PhD programs that allow them to continue working vs more traditional / 'prestigious' ones in which this would not be possible? As a mid-ish career professional (I'm 32) I see benefits to both approaches. Attending a less traditional program and continuing to work would ground my research / academic pursuits with more applied connection, would allow me to continue to build momentum within my current network as opposed to losing it / completely starting afresh, and would be more financially beneficial at least during the short term of the program. On the other hand, a more traditional program would allow more time for scholarship and close mentorship from PhD advisor, and could open different doors for career advancement down the road. This is probably only a decision I can make based on my very specific circumstances but thought what the heck, let's see if any of the smart folks on this forum are grappling with similar questions.
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59 minutes ago, teabunny said:
Adding my two cents:
The funding situation within the IH department at Hopkins is much more precarious than the Epi/Health Policy departments (at least that's what I gathered from chats with current students) since they don't guarantee stipends. For Human Nutrition within IH, they have made nice-ish strides to implement a TA requirement that pays a small (tiny) stipend at the start of year 1 and year 2. You do have to TA 4 classes through that requirement before you can TA for full pay, though... There are other opportunities to get larger awards, but they're crazy competitive so most students cobble together RA hours.
I ended up declining my offer because of this. Many students I talked to said that funding was the number one stressor they had, especially during the first year when they were swamped with coursework (so unless you had someone else supporting you to cover living expenses, be prepared to squeeze in 20 hrs/wk of RA work). The Center for a Livable Future, which I was hoping to be a funding mechanism during years 2-4, unfortunately has frozen its funds to new fellow applicants. Only one cohort has been eligible for re-funding for the past 3 years, and it's still unclear if they can re-open applications to new students even in 2022.
At the end of the day, students agreed that they had awesome research opportunities and it was worth the burden. Personally for me, I didn't want to burn out in year 1 in addition to the dissertation years. Plus with better financial support at other schools with equally compelling research landscapes, I felt that the overall PhD experience would be better elsewhere if I at least had peace of mind about funding. It's a little sad, since I definitely went into this cycle expecting to accept an offer from Hopkins if I got one. But my interests and values don't quite align as well as I thought they did, so here we are ?
This is great insight. And I got some of the same tinglings from talking with folks in other tracks of the department before applying.
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41 minutes ago, publichealthPhD said:
I ended up applying to a different department, but I believe the funding is the same. The change is that tuition is now 100% covered, whereas before it wasn't. My understanding is that there are some stipends available via department scholarships, but most students will need to piece together their own living expenses through TA-ships, consultancies, etc.
Thanks for the info. Fascinating that one of the most well-funded public health schools is only just now providing full tuition coverage and not really on par with less-well funded peers when it comes to stipends. The program does look like a great fit for my interests so I'll keep my fingers crossed all the same. Thanks again.
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12 minutes ago, publichealthPhD said:
I did my MPH at Hopkins and most of my classes were in that department. My advisor / LoR-writer is the SBI program director. I LOVED my experience working with professors from that department. They're all incredibly supportive. Early in the process I connected with my advisor and she got me in touch with current and recent students. I'm sure she'd be willing to do that for you too. I ended up not applying to that department for research fit, but it is a great department. Hope that's helpful.
Thanks @publichealthPhD this is super helpful. Do you know any more about typical funding for PhD students through this program? there isn't much on the website about stipends and it seems like there have been recent changes at Bloomberg when it comes to this, at least that is what folks alluded to in my informational interviews before applying
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Anyone else recently waitlisted at JHU International Health SBI PhD program? I'm surprised because I didn't interview so was anticipating a rejection. Curious of other waitlisted folks interviewed. I did have conversations with some professors before applying but if I am offered admission would be hard for me to make a decision without having gone thorugh the more formal interview process. Sure, the interview is mostly for you to showcase your fit but it also is insightful when it comes to learning about the program and getting a sense of faculty. Anyone in a similar position with JHU or otherwise?
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Curious if anyone else waitlisted on Emory GHD program has had any updates or heard anything about timeline etc. I doubt those accepted would have any Intel. I'm waiting on one final program decision, likely a rejection, and just trying to gauge when I might hear definitely from them. Thanks group.
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I thought I would let folks know that I just received an update form Emory GHD program. I've been waitlisted but it appears that first round of acceptances have been sent out. Congrats to those accepted and good luck to those waiting to hear.
- ChiccaChica, blakepancake, mr444 and 1 other
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Anyone heard final decisions from:
JHU SBI program within International Health
UNC Health Behavior
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In fear of the responses I might receive (no news is better than rejection?).... I'm wondering if anyone who interviewed with Emory's GHD program has heard anything?
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Has anyone heard one way or the other form UNC Health Behavior program and / or JHU SBI program? Thanks for the intel in advance.
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Updating in case helpful for others that I've heard back on interviews from Emory's BSHE program -- the email said they are conducting interviews and other info session type events from Feb 3rd - 9th
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1 hour ago, ChiccaChica said:
Congrats! I also applied to this program but haven't heard anything. Did you get the impression that there are rolling interview invites, or the people who got that invite were the ones who made the cut?
It was a bit hard to interpret. The email was clear that interviews were happening last week Jan / first week of Feb but then also mentioned a 'recruitment week' with perhaps other events. It wasn't clear if that's the same time frame as interviews or later. If later I think you could assume rolling interviews are possible
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Information is power so sharing here that I got an interview request from Emory's new Global Health Development PhD program. They are scheduling interviews and other information sessions the last week of Jan / first week of Feb.
PhD/DrPH Applicants: Fall 2021
in Public Health Forum
Posted
Any other folks accepting or thinking about accepting offers to emory GHD program ? It's a new program so would love to talk to anyone attending or considering it. Feel free to DM me