jonpalisoc

Sorry to lean on everyone here and be a pain, but would anyone be willing to share a bit more about how they asked programs for constructive feedback if they were rejected? I'm really nervous about asking and want to make sure I ask in a way that will maximize chance of response and not sound wierd ?

Same, rejection for Econ track. Only Stanford and UNC health policy floating out there... but expecting rejections from both, tbh.

Man, I wish I had read this before applying. I think my applications were fine, but the way you outlined it was very eloquent and well-reasoned and I think my application would've been even stronger if I had worded it this way. I also think I really fudged up by telling Harvard I would be willing to consider the Methods track if they didn't like me for the Econ track. I spent a lot of hours and talked to a lot of professors debating on which track fit, and while I thought on paper I looked like the better fit for Methods, I had very concrete reasons for requesting Economics and I don't think my statements were clear enough as to why I chose the track. And another pitfall I fell into that maybe others did: while I did have more interesting questions I could have posed in my statement, I chose to pick research areas that I had interest in but also were very much aligned to professors. I probably lent too much to that cause. TLDR: Went too broad/general and tried to people please instead of challenge. Agh, your whole blurb makes me want to try again next cycle, but I need to not be greedy

What in the world, decisions in April?! I am also waiting on them (+Harvard, Yale, UNC) and have two open offers with deadlines, both with mid-April deadlines for acceptance. I certainly understand it's a strange cycle for programs, but was really hoping to have full information to make my decision by mid-March...

I am a California native, so I would love to do UCLA, but to be completely honest, I think I'm leaning Michigan at the moment. UCLA seems like the choice if I want to do state policy, Michigan for more federal. And I mean absolutely no disrespect to the programs and people there - they are both great - but UCLA seems a bit discombobulated. I recieved 4 separate emails congratulating me on my admission over the course of about a week, and each were phrased like they though they were the first to tell me. One professor offered to speak to me and offered dates which we scheduled, but then he thought we were meeting on an entirely different day so we had to schedule again. And he said he thought he would be my advisor, but he wasn't sure. Michigan sent all the info up front (advisor, funding, etc.), same day, with everyone on the same chain, and also offered more money and for all 4 years (UCLA only offers for 2 years, and it declines after year 1). In the end, I don't really care about the above though - more about fit with advisors and the overall direction of the research of the department. And to that end, I think Michigan looks like the better fit. But I will be attending both admit days and chatting more to be sure! Also, I'm very jealous that you interviewed with Harvard (and @HealthPolicy21 for Stanford) - good luck! My first choice and best fit professor there went to work for the Biden Admin so I'm thinking that really hurt my chances at an interview. TBH, I'm not sure Stanford is a great fit so if I don't get an offer I won't be too disappointed. Yale would be amazing, UNC too, but we'll see.

An update for those who are also PhD in Health Policy appliers - have recieved a few rejections since last posting: Stanford - ? Berkeley - rejected 1/26 Johns Hopkins - interviewed mid-jan, rejected 2/4 Harvard - ? Michigan - interviewed mid-jan, full offer 1/19 (woo!) UCLA - no interview, full offer 2/5 (woo!) Yale - ? UNC - ? Penn - rejected 2/19 USC - rejected 2/6 Brown - rejected 2/11 Notes: All basically Econ track, if there was one. USC was PubPol, Brown was HSR, Penn was Health Mgmt and Econ. I'm not super hopeful on Harvard or Yale since it sounds like interviews may have gone out? But we'll see I guess.

I was not interviewed at all - straight offer.

Yeah, I definitely did.

Update - UCLA HPM offer came in today a couple hours ago! Sending good vibes to everyone else!

Guess I'll add my info since I am starting to get nervous with all of you peeps. I applied to PhDs in Health Policy at: Stanford Berkeley - denied 1/26 Johns Hopkins - interviewed mid-jan Harvard Michigan - interviewed mid-jan, full offer 1/19 (woo!) UCLA Yale UNC Penn USC Brown No responses from the rest. I haven't checked websites. All of the programs I applied Econ track, save USC (Phd PubPol) and Brown (HSR), and I did say in my Harvard letter that I would consider Policy Research Methods too. I can post my linkedin if people are curious (if that's allowed? I dunno how to use gradcafe sorry), but my stats nothing too wild I think.