DeeLovely79
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Posts posted by DeeLovely79
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For me the most difficult part about working in middle class society is the ambiguity. You have to read between the lines so much that it's easy to see something that isn't there. I find I usually walk away from conversations thinking "I know they said X, but what are they really trying to tell me".
It's also very hard to know where you stand since very people will tell you anything flat out. This is part of what makes this graduate school application process so difficult since you not sure if you get a call from a POI if means "you've been accepted" or "we'll let you in if you don't screw up" or "our top choice went to another school and you're an acceptable substitute" you got to read tea leaves to figure all of this out because to flat out ask would be rude.
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I applied to the University of Michigan and they ask your about parent's academic achievements;if you attended a comunity college, HBCU or single gender institution; if you grew up in rural or urban area and whether you/your family experienced economic hardship to finance your college education. Unfortunately I don't think any of the other programs that I applied to asked for this information.
I believe this is a part of a larger effort to diversify institutions of higher learning since race can't be used as criteria in admissions decisions. I believe that the Obama administration put out guidelines regarding this last year.
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I am a straddler as well. I agree with the posters above, white collar/middle class world has its' own language that can be difficult to learn if you don't have mentors and colleagues willing to "translate" for you.
My difficulty has been that my position involves me working directly with clients from blue collar backgrounds and aiding my white collar supervisors/mentors in understanding their experiences. It's challenging because being that I grew up blue collar (I have the term working class, it implies that non-blue collar workers don't work, we are are non-blue collar workers and I'm pretty sure that we have all worked hard just to get to this point) that is the first lens through which I view everything and so I really identify so much with the ethics and beliefs but at the same time I don't want my kids to struggle the way I did. In order to break that cycle I'm moving deeper into a middle class career path which involves accepting a new set of behaivors and beliefs. In some sense you feel like you are rejecting your past, the very past that got you where you are now.
I've recieved my bachelor's degree from an Ivy League college, have a master's degree from a university that's in the top 20 of my field and I've worked with renown researchers, CEOs etc and I still struggle with the notion that don't belong. It all starts to click when I come across a young straddler who is in undergrad or getting their masters and I am able to give them the benefit of my experience. A large part of why I am pursuing my doctorate is so that I can help other straddlers navigate this world.
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Thanks. I'm excited but still nervous (it just doesn't seem real).
I've had some informal discussions but they were prior to me submitting my application. I find it best to have a list of questions that you want to ask the program prepared in advance. If Google "graduate school interview" or "graduate school questions" you can find a list or two to start you off.
Every conversation is different because you'll get such different vibes from the faculty. Some faculty will want to talk about theory but most will want to know who you are, what your experiences are and what are your career goals. A few will ask the big question, "Why do you need a PhD? You have an MPH you can do what you want to do with that." You need to have a concrete answer to this.
Overall all the informal conversations I've had have been very enlightening and motivating. My experience is that most SPH faculty are very interested in mentoring students and it shows during these conversations. I wish you well next Thursday. Come back and let us know how it went.
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I was contacted by Pitt for a phone interview (I'm applying to the DrPH program). It went well and I was invited for an inperson interview!!
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Wow, everyone is coming out the wood work!! Here is my first update: I had a phone interview with Pitt this week and I was invited to an in person interview.
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You should give the department a call. I am apply to U Michigan in a different field but I have experienced the same issue. I spoke to the administrator in my prospective department and she told me that she had recieved everything but she had updated the system to reflect that. I submitted my application 6 weeks ago and I spoke to the staff person four weeks ago and my application is still listed as incomplete.
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this is ultimately the ONLY thing that matters, at least if you're applying to a scientific phd program. i don't think any department in the world will reject a student that a professor both wants and has money for.
Not to scare anyone but this has actually happened. It was at one of the schools that I was *thinking* of applying to for a PhD in public health. I meet with a current faculty member who informed me of some the departmental politics and methodological shifts occurring. There was a student that the faculty member mentored (the student had already received her masters at said school, was working for the faculty member at said school) and offered to fund her PhD but the department rejected her application.
Moral of this story: sometimes if you don't get in it has absolutely nothing to do with you and your qualifications.
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So who is applying to PhD programs in public health for Fall 2012?
I think it would be good to have list of applicants so we can encourage each other and have a place to post results as the application season continues.
I'll go first
I'm applying to programs in Health Behavior at
U Michigan
Johns Hopkins
Emory
U North Carolina Chapel Hill
U South Carolina Columbia
Tulane
U Pittsburgh
I received my MPH in '05 and I am currently working and preparing to return to life as broke graduate student! I finished my apps awhile back and now I'm focusing on training for my first triathlon so I won't go crazy waiting to hear from schools.
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Thought it was about time the public health section had an applicants thread. So please list
- Basic background: undergrad degree, previous masters (if any), current status (still in undergrad, returning professional), experience (public health practice or research) and anything else you deem relevant
- The school and concentrations you are applying to
- Are you still submitting or done with apps?
- (When the time comes) Interviews and acceptances
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I'm looking for feedback about my chances for admission to PhD programs in community health science type programs and how to sell myself in my SoP.
Undergrad GPA: 3.26 UCSB
Graduate GPA (I have a MPA): 3.82 NYU
GRE: Q: 156 revised (90%) = 720 old version
V: 164 revised (74%) = 640 old version
AW: 5.0 (87%)
I should have 3 great letters of rec.
I have worked for a professor doing research since I was in my graduate program (2003). I have managed many large-scale research and evaluation projects and participated in all aspects of the work including design, data collection, interviewing, analysis, and writing. I've also published and presented at conferences including APHA. The prof I work for has allowed me to do whatever I want. I'm going back to school though so I can be a colleague and work on projects I want rather than what she is funded to do.
My issue is that all advice (and it makes perfect sense) is that you have to be the right fit for a school. However, I don't have a strong preference as to my content area. I just love to do research and can get excited about many topics. I've done research/evaluations on obesity/diabetes prevention and health services. Though I'm more interested in other topics including substance abuse, tobacco control, reproductive health, violence prevention, and obesity. What I really like to do is to figure out the most rigorous design possible given the limitations of an applied setting, I like figuring out data collection methodologies, and I like being in the field to see the real world. I guess my question is, how should I sell myself to schools in my SoP?
I think have already spelled out your disease interests and your desire to understand and develop data collection methods (hint you may want to research the field of psychometrics) I think you should focus on applying to schools that have strong focuses in those conditions. You may want to think about a focus on adolescent health as many of those topics are especially relevant.
I have an MPH but this is my first time applying to PhD programs so I don't know this definitively public health and academia in general seems to be biased towards specializing in a few topics. I do feel that generalists have a place in public health but in my opinion the field seems to prefer researchers who specialize. You need to find a way to balance presenting your interests (the more of them you have the more faculty you can be matched with) without seeming too scattered and unfocused. My guess is if you spent more time thinking about your interests you could probably narrow them down even further.
Another thing to consider when writing your SOP is "What qualifications do I have /perspectives that I can offer that are not obvious from my transcript/CV/recommendation letter?" Many schools of public health do not conduct interviews for doctoral so your only opportunity to show them what sets you apart from the other candidates (if you haven't spoken to any faculty) is your SOP. So you should think about using your SOP to tell the story your other materials can't.
Hope this helps.
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The funny part is I currently work on a research study addressing this very topic. I haven't reviewed every public health program out there but I don't think there are any programs that focus on this issue. I think your best bet is just to focus on programs with a concentration in health behavior/society/education. You'll need to review individual faculty to see if any of them have similar projects.
You should look into Johns Hopkins MPH program in the department of Health Behavior and Society (beware they many not answer your inquiry e-mails either), You should definitely consider UNC Chapel Hill and Michigan as well.
I went to GWU for my MPH but my concentration was Maternal and Child Health, the school is great. The only reason that I'm not applying there is because there few faculty aligned with research interests but I do remember someone there having a strong anthro/sociology focus.
Check out those programs and let me know what you decide.
Tulane, Berkley, UCLA and the University of South Carolina have interesting programs that may meet your needs (they all seem to do a lot of community based work but I not sure if they have the specific research focus you are interested)
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Just to be clear are you interested in medication adherence (compliance is a dirty word in public health) or substance abuse treatment?
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So they've already started reviewing your file? I don't think they put you at the bottom of the queue because they didn't have your transcripts. From the SOPHAS website it looks like nothing is happening and then poof your courses will be verified and applications mailed out that week.
I take it that you applied to Columbia through SOPHAS, some of the folks at the Student Doctor Forums and have contacted the admissions office and found out that the submission deadline is actually after Dec 1st. There was some mistake so SOPHAS has their deadline listed as Dec 1st. You should be fine.
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If submitted your SOPHAS application by your school's e-submit deadline you will be fine. The e-submit deadline factors in processing time.
If the Dec 1 deadline was a "received by" deadline then the processing time is something that you should have planned for. I'm not a fan of SOPHAS but the website clearly states that it can take up to 4 weeks to process and "mail" your application. I put mail in quotes because SOPHAS has some type of electronic submission system so if your application is sent today your school will receive it today or tomorrow.
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@litjust
I'm applying to the PhD program in public health (concentration in health behavior).
So I contacted staff at Michigan they have all of my letters they just haven't updated the application status.
SOPHAS only reclassified 5 of the 7 classes but since my applications were already mailed they are going to send a revised application.
Unfortunately my application at UNC has taken an interesting turn. After trying to find out what else I can do to make sure they have my scores, I've been told to "be patient" as it can take "4 or more weeks to match GRE scores". Meanwhile it's been 4 weeks since my scores were sent and 3 weeks since I've submitted my app.
It makes you wonder if this how administrative matters get handled for applications what would it be like for me as lowly graduate student?
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I guess this is word limit issue varies by discipline. I adhered to every word limit/page restriction since in public health and biomedical sciences grant submissions that go over get tossed out.
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Thanks to both of you. There were a lot of good ideas in both posts.
I am actually having trouble with both. I have a few accomplishments in mind, namely overcoming anxiety disorders and getting an article published during my undergrad.. I have been asking people I know and they keep telling me to write about my article, however I don't see that setting me apart from anyone else and I am worried my anxiety story will either say "feel sorry for me" or ""I cannot handle the added stress of grad school" despite not meaning to say either..
At first I was going to say not to mention your anxiety issues but I see that you are applying to social work programs. The faculty in your department were/are practicing clinicians and so I think the anxiety disorder may not carry the same stigma to someone without clinical experience. I actually think that the faculty will value the courage it takes to be so transparent.
I think you should discuss both accomplishments since you feel like both are equally challenging. Just make sure to frame your ability to deal with your anxiety disorder in a positive light ie focus on what the disorder has taught you and how those strategies will help you met the challenge of a graduate program. Your discussion of your research article should also underscore how this prepares you for a graduate program.
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It all depends. If the program that you are applying to is a school-wide program then there may be an admission committee for the program that makes admissions decisions. The prospective applicants are then sent to the department they would enter for final approval. The only way to find out who makes these decisions is to ask admissions staff for the program.
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If you send an e-mail and get no response you should follow up in a week or 2. I usually forward my original e-mail with a note saying that I'm unsure if your received my initial e-mail so I'm re-forwarding it. I would love to talk to you etc. I've had several professors say that they were glad that I re-mailed because they never received the first one, they were meaning to respond, they were busy with grants etc. My feeling is if you get no response after 3 separate e-mails then it's not worth any further contact.
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You should take some time and just think about your life and some of the situations you've dealt with during and after college. I'm sure there is a challenge you've had to face but you were able to overcome (hint it doesn't have to academic). Having to work multiple jobs while in school, caring for a sick loved one, working on a research project that didn't seem to go anywhere. What about some of your volunteer experiences? Did you help a potential client with a seemingly unsolvable problem? It may help to go over any old notebooks, journals or e-mails so that you can remember some of things that you've accomplished over the past few years. There is something that you have done that is special and will help you demonstrate to the ad comm why they should choose you over other applicants.
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One of my apps is due next Thursday and I have a dilemma. The university website is showing that it has not received my GRE score report. Yet I have an official GRE Score Report dated 10/21/11 showing that my GRE report was sent to this school (with the right department code- I double and triple checked). All other parts of the app are complete and I paid the app fee.
To make matters more interesting, I communicated with the point person for the department two weeks ago to ask whether they had received all of my supporting materials and she responded with a (deservedly) curt: "That info is available on-line." So, lets assume that any further request for info will be met with a cool reception...
Anybody have any thoughts or experiences as to how to follow up with the department- do I offer to email my score report report?
Thanks for the help and Happy Thanksgiving!!
Uh, I'm going through the same thing. I was told to e-mail a copy of my scanned score report showing what department at the school I sent it to. If the admission's department is still unable to upload my scores from the GRE database they will accept my scanned scores as official. The person I was in contact with is out due to the holiday so I still need to confirm receipt/acceptance of my scanned score report.
My advice would be to go up the chain, e-mail all relevant departments (the department that you're applying to as well as the graduate school admissions department) explain how you sent the scores but according to the website they haven't been received and so you need guidance on how to proceed. If you don't get a response in 2 to 3 days forward your original e-mail to the directors of said departments. If you don't get a response 2 or 3 days later call said directors and refer them to the 2nd forwarded e-mail etc.
You want to make direct contact with the admissions/department staff to make sure they are looking for the right name, confirm that you have the right codes etc. There is no point in resending scores if 1) You don't have the correct code or 2) There is some school specific problem with GRE scores. You need to find out from them what alternatives they will accept in regards to submitting your GREs.
Also you'll need to find out what their absolute deadlines are for receiving test scores so that you can determine a deadline re-sending scores (if it comes to that).
2012 US PhD Program Applicants
in Public Health Forum
Posted
@50_50
My advice would be to search the results section for either the individual universities you are applying to or the general field. You be able to see when previous application cycles were offered interviews and acceptances.