jordanami

I think my Pitt app was sent by SOPHAS almost a month after the due date, so I have a feeling I may not have been given full consideration. I did get a confirmation email that it was received, but that's it. Thanks for confirming my suspicion Spore. It's okay really, I wasn't sure I wanted to go quite that far east to be honest, so I'm okay with it.

I'm still waiting on word from two schools. Is anyone else in this position? I was thinking I would have word by April, but so far I have 2 answers (one yes, one no) with UT Austin and UPitt still unanswered. Has anyone else heard from them? Or is anyone else waiting on apps submitted in Jan/early Feb?

I am just finishing up an online MPH program and I would say it's been a good experience. I think so much of graduate education is self-directed anyway that it is well-suited to the online format. I did have some professors who were a bit lazy, and I think they could get away with it because of the online format, but those were in the minority. Overall, I am looking back on the experience and feeling like I really learned a lot, got a lot out of it. For employment purposes I don't think the online is any weaker, except maybe in that you might miss some networking opportunities that you would have if you were on campus.

It seems like you will be fine- all but your verbal GRE is strong. You may want to cover your bases and apply to a few different schools though.

DeeLovely, when did you submit your application for UPitt?

So far several have been lenient with me in that regard. I also had one for which a reference did not respond until 2 days after the deadline and they are still considering me, even though their listed policy is that all info must be received and verified before the deadline, so I think it's probably okay.

SOPHAS took more than 4 weeks to update my transcripts/GPA after they received them, and even then it only happened after an email. It seems like the schools I had applied to are accepting my application anyway, so I am lucky there, even though in the FAQs those schools are listed as only accepting apps for which all documentation has been verified by the deadline. But yes... I actually applied through SOPHAS last year and they were much quicker about things than they were this year. I'm not sure what happened there.

The Community/Behavioral. No, I haven't interviewed. Do they do interviews?

Very cool! I had looked at that program, but my application wasn't ready in time for the deadline. Exciting! Congratulations!

I have just finished a master's while going through a divorce. I have found it's actually been helpful for me to have the scheduling flexibility (I can take off when he gets sick, have holidays off with him- although mine is school-aged, so it's different). Not bad though... it's a good time to go a little thin on money when your kid(s) are young; better to set yourself up for a good career when they're older. I will probably enjoy having a little more extra cash in the coming years, but I haven't minded it so much for the past couple. Actually, I really must not mind having little money because I am applying to doctoral programs for next fall. Good luck! It's fun being a parent and a grad student!

I am just wondering who has heard, from what programs, so far. I have been asked to select a mentor prof from University of Arizona DrPH. I am also applying to UT Austin and UC Denver-Anschutz (you can see my geographic bias). I also applied to UPitt, but it seems other have heard something from there, but I have not, so I am kind of writing that one off (plus, it's really outside of my preferred geographic region;)).

Nope, nothing yet.

Not only do you want CEPH but you want ASPH as well. There are a lot of fellowships, etc. that are dedicated for ASHP member schools. The CEPH is important if you want to move forward and get a doctorate after a masters, as they will only accept people with masters degrees from CEPH accredited schools.

Thinking of applying to doc programs in this track (preferably DrPH) next season. Any suggestions, especially schools with good funding options:). So far so good on my stats, but no real enviro work experience.

I am in the same position. I asked last year to get into my master's program, again this year as I was trying to jump into a doctoral, but I didn't get in so I will be asking them again for next year, as I will reapply to doc after finishing the master's. Last year I just sent out a thank you email, but this year I will send a small gift, some chocolates or something, in addition. I think it would be nice to receive something little like that if I were in their position. I know they are busy and writing a letter/filling out eval forms for different schools, takes time and energy for them to do.

You might also try some other schools. What are your stats like? I am currently working on an online MPH through New Mexico State University and they are still accepting applications for the fall. You might try them. They even let you pay in-state tuition if you take only 2 classes per semester. If not that, you might see if there is somewhere you can take some grad level classes non-degree, or apply to a pub health certificate program. Most of those are still accepting applications for the fall too. I tried to apply directly to doc programs before finishing the MPH and wasn't accepted anywhere for next fall myself, so I know how it feels. It's like you thought you had some opportunity and hope out there and then it evaporates. I thought I would get in with my stellar GREs and good work history, but no. Now I am back to being grateful for the MPH admission.

- 4.0 GPA at the master's level, publications, conference papers, teaching experience. You do sound like the ideal candidate!

I am half through an online master's and I do like it. I think there is more interaction with other students than I expected. Mostly, what we do is post "discussion" points, then comment on those of others, receive comments on ours. What I like about it is that I get to see how other people write, and think, it gives me a better sense of where I fall relative to others in the class academically. I also have a son, so I love the flexibility of being able to be home with him for school holidays, sick days, etc.... If I were younger, I would have done this from some very affordable, exotic country, like Costa Rica. But, as it stands, it is a good enough arrangement, and it is giving me a nice respite before taking a full-time job/going for a doctorate, so I am grateful.

Maybe you could try going into the Peace Corps instead. It seems to me that you will need significant work experience to overcome the low scores. Co-teacher recommendations are probably not considered to be that strong. Maybe try to take a few graduate classes non-degree, pull A's and get some recommendations from those professors.

I agree, the three most important factors when choosing a PhD program: Funding, funding, and funding. Atlanta's not bad, nice and warm and congenial. Different from LA, but that might make a nice change for you, take some of the pressure off of living expenses and otherwise. But if you feel like you just want to stay where you are, that is something to consider too. Having been to both LA and Atlanta, I would probably choose Atlanta, just for the friendly vibe (Californians are friendly too though) and the lower cost of living.

The debt is a real issue. I am okay with $40,000, but more than and I have to start thinking carefully about how much I will really gain from that education. I hear academia is a rough road, financially and otherwise. Personally, I think people in their early 20s are too green to be great doctoral candidates. I mean, how many people really know what they are and what they want to do/contribute to the world at that age. I think a lot of people just go on to higher education (not all, don't get mad at me younger grad cafe-ers) because that is what they think is expected of them, or they don't know what else to do, or they want the status of a doctorate. Part of the reason I have not done this sooner is that I didn't want to get into it for any of those reasons. I just want the doctorate because most of the jobs that I am interested in having require it. But, I received my 4th rejection letter just now, so I have pretty much resigned myself to finishing out the MPH program that I am halfway through with before going on to a DrPH. I am thinking I might try teaching at a community college and working on a DrPH online- probably works out pretty much the same as being a TA and student at the same time, but I might have a little bit more autonomy and flexibility if I go that route. You know, honestly, in my 20s, I was hardly even fleshed out yet. Whether adcoms can see it or not, us generation x-ers have something unique to offer. Good luck everyone!

I am 35 with 5 applications to doc programs, and so far 3 rejections. Two programs basically said they do not accept without a masters, period. I am halfway through a masters, so I will probably just reapply next year. For me, I worked for about 8 years in my field, had a small business for 4 years, then took the last 5 off to raise my son. I have received some favorable responses about my work experience, even though I thought it might be too old to count for much. My GRE scores are great, my UG GPA is mediocre, but so far I have a 4.0 in my MPH, so I think I will be fine. I do think that if I were them I would be looking to make sure that someone who is older is genuinely a good fit, not just hunting around for "something" new. I might want to see some recent work experience that is similar to the program of interest, etc. I think if my other two apps come back rejected, I will look for some volunteer or job opportunity that is a good precursor to higher level public health work. For me, although I am not in mid-life crisis mode, I am reentering the workforce after an absence, and I am shifting from what I was doing before- a diagonal kind of shift, not a big leap, but still.... I think I need to show the adcoms that I am serious and committed to this new path, and that it will be a solid fit for me long-term. The MPH will help, as will some kind of work/volunteer that is directly public health, not social services like I have done in the past. But so far, I have had some good commentary on my work experience- one rejection letter saying that if I were to apply again next year (when I have my MPH) my work experience would make me a sound candidate; another email, separate from the rejection email, saying that my work experience makes me a strong applicant. So, I guess they do appreciate it, even though to me it doesn't feel like I have accomplished as much as I would like to at this phase of my life, and I thought they would really frown on the years I have taken away from working, but it seems like people might be willing to overlook that somewhat.

Yup, I am with you. I thought I was all set with my near-perfect GRE scores. I figured I might have a problem getting funding, but not acceptance. So far though, 3/5 are in and they are all rejects. Two wanted me to finish a masters first, which is understandable, I'm halfway through. But I may take the one school up on their offer to advise me about "how to approach my application if I decide to apply again next year". The only consolation I can really take is to see all the rejections on the results board. Most of us have decent, even great stats, and many people post about being rejected from safety schools only to be accepted, and even funded, by dream schools. Some of it, I think, is just goodness of fit... do we say something in our POS that sparks an interest in one of the adcoms, etc.. It looks like you still have several schools left to reply, don't give up hope yet! I did see, just today, someone who posted (identical stats, so it must have been the same person) of a rejection from one school with a pretty sizable funding and acceptance right below.

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I could answer this for myself: if I want it enough, I will be persistent enough to make it happen. I think just the 3-in-a-row rejections shook my confidence a little bit. But, my GRE scores are really good, I have a 4.0 in my MPH so far, and 8 years of work experience in health education. I think if I reapply next year to 7/8 schools instead of 5, I will be fine. I just need to keep at it. Thanks for you support! I haven't really told any family or friends yet, I think they will just feel bad for me, but I don't think this result is all that bad- I am actually kind of enjoying the way my life is running right now, so one more year of the same is really okay.

Okay, so I'm down to 2 of the 5 left to respond and so far, no bites. I have a feeling one of the remaining will be a reject, the other may accept but I am not so sure about funding. And yet, I remain encouraged! I have received two personalized emails (one a week after the form rejection letter) and a phone call telling me to reapply when I have my MPH (I'm halfway through right now and was hoping I could jump right into the DrPH). Is this a common/polite way to reject, or should I take some real encouragement from this?