Ehphd

I was pretty much disheartened knowing this last year. My confidence on academia is gradually fading away. Yet, academicians are staunch advocate of transparency and access to information. Not only they're earning app fees but it is all about acceptance rating and the number of applicants they're attracting- these data are crucial for their reputation; receiving budgets, bragging and many more. 
Last spring I was accepted to UNC-CH PhD and had extensive email conversation with the prospective supervisor who is also the program director. My email title was clearly mentioned about funding but he never said a word about this. After 15-20 emails and conversation he finally gave his nod to apply and then I was accepted to the program but then he said we do not have sufficient fund at the moment. I heard similiar stories of my friends and colleagues from other universities as well. 

I just got accepted into the Epidemiology (PhD) program at Umass Amherst!

UCLA is driving me crazy.. I got contacted by another PI that I didn't write in my SOP (little research fit).
Having only contacted by UCLA so far, I am trying to be proactive with all the interview opportunities I can get. However, it is so difficult to make a choice between:
Research for 4~5 years in a field I am not super enthusiastic about (little research fit) VS No-funding offer for the 1st year, but in a field that I like (It seems like have to pay $15K~30K/year after speaking to the financial advisor.)
Any advice who was contacted by PIs not referenced in SOP??

Thanks for the encouragement. I am not too worried about the Harvard rejection. It didn't hurt. I started laughing actually because I knew it was coming. LOL. I told my mom that I am going to frame the rejection letter for motivational purposes. TBH, Harvard was actually at the bottom of my list.  I mostly wanted to attend due to the resources at the African and African American Research Center and the Center for Latin American Studies and my ability to possibly collaborate with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. My conversations with faculty didn't really go anywhere when I was reaching out to potential PI's. I also felt that I wouldn't thrive in such a cut-throat environment. I figured applying anyways would be better than selling myself short without applying. But I can always get those resources and make those networking connections through other people. 
 
My first choice is located in Mexico and is CEPH accredited. Unfortunately, I won't hear back from that school until June/July prior to a start in September but the PI that I am working for at the moment from there is Harvard trained and is in charge of a research institute within the Mexican government. I do have back up plans in case the entire cycle goes down in flames. Again, I appreciate the support! Staying mostly optimistic for the school in Mexico! 

I really hope it works out for you this year. I love @InEquity's reframing. I want to share my story in case it's helpful. This is my second cycle applying. Last year I applied to a few programs and didn't get in anywhere. I used the year to regroup and re-strategize. So far I've been accepted into three programs, and I'm still in the process of interviewing for a few more. Meanwhile, re: Inequity's point, my partner and I saw this "lost year" as a little unexpected window to start our family. We're expecting our first child in the next few weeks! I really hope it works out for you this year, but if it doesn't, I hope you keep trying! If you end up needing to do this all over again next year and want to talk through application stuff, feel free to reach out. Someone on the forum did this for me last year and it made a huge difference in how I approached my applications this year.

I just got an interview invitation from UCLA!

Rejections, Confirmed: UPenn Wharton Health Econ Ph.D
Rejections, Silent: Harvard Health Policy Ph.D, Yale Health Policy Ph.D, Michigan Health Policy Ph.D
Interviews, In Running: JHU Health Econ Ph.D
Interviews, Withdrew: Brown HSR Ph.D, BU HSR Ph.D
Acceptances, Withdrew: GWU Health Policy Ph.D
Acceptances: UMN HSR Ph.D
Down to two programs: UMN and JHU. Confirmed I'll likely hear about JHU sometime this week.
*Crosses fingers*

Wasn't trying to be insensitive. DrPH programs are generally intended for working professionals and are more practice-based than research-based overall, and thus follow regular tuition like masters programs eventhough there is a dissertation component. Ph.D programs in public health are inherently research-based, and the assumption is that you're doing research with professors at the school to further their grant goals and thus the university should be expected to pay you and provide full tuition-remittance in return. 
If you receive a Ph.D offer of admission without a guaranteed funding package, or a partial funding package, it is implied that the university doesn't really want to invest in you / doesn't want you there. Usually funding packages are what tie you to the department you're working towards your Ph.D in. 
Here is a decent reddit thread on the subject: 
 

This is sth to clarify with the POI. 
Usually the funding would be either a fellowship (which means no work requirement), TA/RAships at a certain % efforts that give you tuition waiver and a survivable stipend, or in more rare scenarios from external sources such as government scholarship. Sometimes the RAship will not be directly tied to your primary mentor, it is just a work exchange type of situation. This is very common for public health programs because many programs hope students to apply for a government training grant by year 3 to be more independent on funding, which international students do not qualify for. In many scenarios, students have to actively search for such RA/TAships and won't secure a position until close to the new semester. I am not sure how many would have to pay out of pocket. For UCLA, I knew someone who got admitted a few years ago with a clear funding mechanism because his POI had the money, he said not everyone was admitted with a funding package attached. It seems that you would need to figure it out with your POI/the department. 
I am an international student. This is my second season applying. UCSF Epi says they will not admit anyone they could not figure out a clear funding strategy. Then I was waitlisted ? . From past year stats, they would receive about half of applications from international students but enroll maybe one international student. I have a friend (international student) got admitted to UPitts Epi last season and they have to secure their own funding through searching for TA/RAships, he told me that his POI blatantly told him they were asked to prioritize US students so eventually he did not find any funding and deferred the admission. This season he reached out to a few professors at UPitts Epi and no one replied (but he got many interviews at private universities so I think he would be fine).
Well I learned my lessons and this year I applied to more PhD programs housed at private university medical schools that will have more guaranteed funding.  

Yep the struggle is real but we'll survive ?  It's a good sign that your POI said you guys should come up with a plan together! 

Yeah, it's very confusing ? I'm not sure about the timeline, or when they would help students secure funding, but I think talking to current students (I always reach out to them via LinkedIn or find their emails on the department websites) to see where they receive funding + asking your POI + asking the department coordinator would be the best way to go about it. Better to get a solid sense of funding then wait! 

Right, thank you for your kind advices! It really helps :-)
Just to clarify one more point, "they typically help students apply for funding":
Is this expected to happen after the acceptance and before the Fall semester? I mean, I can't just fly out and expect help from the department waiting for the funding while being in LA..
I am so confused with scholarships' timeline, I mean, I still don't get how securing a funding prior to an application works, and that's why I missed out on FullBright. I know it is a competitive scholarship, but in a million cases, if one ends up getting accepted to no where, does it end up being ghost money?

I applied to Environmental Health..! I also haven't heard anything from my applications but I hope we hear some good news soon

Yeah, the waiting is so torturous, I don't even want to call it a 'game' anymore..!! ? But I wish you the best luck with your applications! We're all in it together ?

The crucial week begins!! Rooting for everyone here!!