DrWhisk

Yes, I was accepted to UMass Amherst for Epi via email about a portal change on Feb 20th! I'd reach out to the faculty - they have been responsive to email! Fingers crossed for you!

Haha congratulations! How cool that we are two peas in a pod That's great that you have the option to defer for a year and I'm sure people will totally understand! I do - I was lucky to have a few acceptances and I am ultimately going to go to my first choice school (yay!) but totally freaked out about having the conversation with my advisor to be. I'll send you a message - happy to chat more!

I'm sorry to hear this and I hope that your other program works out! I applied twice...last time I had zero interviews and was rejected from all 4 schools. I spent months talking to, I kid you not, 52 professors across 9 of the 11 schools (2 schools' professors just never replied to any of my emails ever) I applied to in the Fall to really gauge schools/departments, fit, and research interest and ability. An MPH mentor I still am in touch with recommended this was the biggest thing lacking from my first round and this time - it did the trick. Also what @MCH_Hopeful_2021said - this year was INSANE. All the cards had to line up just so in order for anything to work out. I don't think age should be a factor - if you want to do this, you should totally do this! If anything, your depth and breadth of experience is going to make you an amazing addition to any program. If giving up your dream makes you sad, you shouldn't give up your dream - so hoping for the absolute best outcome for you this year! And if this year's not the year, then I'm so hopeful and confident for you that next year will be

Thank you! Yeah seriously - when it rains, it rains haha. Thank you for sharing that it's possible - nice to know it's been done successfully! And yes will definitely try not to stress (lol always so hard) but you're right - for now we'll just take it as it comes and hope for the best!

Aw thank you!! I was clearly a mess this morning when I got the call with lab results lol. I appreciate your insight and advice. I love the mindset of this is not an obstacle but an amazing joy in my life; if I'm part of the problem how will we ever fix unconscious biases? Will see how things go over the next month and put a game plan together. You're right though - I asked every program I interviewed at about what it's like to have kids (thinking I wouldn't be able to until 3rd year), and all except one had responses I liked. The one place that had a less than ideal answer, the interviewer was a mom herself and said she constantly needed to keep her male colleagues in their places...haha. Hopefully it won't be too much of a problem to (hopefully) have a baby in November - maybe I'll get a head start on research and audit classes or something...I'll figure it out and maybe can use personal experience to my advantage for this degree Thanks so much for the uplifting response - I definitely feel MUCH more relieved!

Hi everyone - long time lurker first time poster. I am freaking out because I've been struggling with infertility for some time...was about to go in for some tests when I actually got pregnant. I'm only about 5.5 weeks but hCG is wayy better than last time, so it's all very fresh. But I'm freaking out because this is my first, I have wanted this baby for so long, and I have wanted to go back for my PhD for so long too. I got in to my top choice program this Fall and I'm beyond thrilled but now I have this to contend with and have no idea what to do. I have no idea if this pregnancy will last; my last one ended in a miscarriage so I'm not getting attached until I get an ultrasound and confirmation from the OB, but still the anxiety is through the roof right now. I think I'm just looking for advice from all of you on how and when to navigate this discussion. The first year is coursework and doesn't seem flexible!? I don't want people to think I don't take school or research seriously (and the irony is, I'm going into maternal and child health), and I don't want to ruin any relationships that could effect my career in the future. Sorry this is all over the place. Any insight would be most appreciated.