Stories

Even if it's likely you'd get funding, it's not a guarantee. Personally, I'm not a risk taker when it comes to education because who knows what might happen with the current congress slashing budgets everywhere? There's been talks of reductions upwards of 40% in NIH funds which would directly translate to a reduction in funding of faculty which in turn limits potential funds to get RA help. Also, the quality of life you have when you're guaranteed an income is worlds better than being extremely poor. Unless you might consider taking out student loans to live on. I don't want to persuade you too much, particularly if you're not fond of being at Emory, but money is a really scary subject. Guarantees mean *a lot*.

I just bolded to me what is the most important aspect of any doctoral work. I can't tell you how much it puts me at ease to also have a financial guarantee in my studies.

So much hate in this post... why bother posting here if you're just negative and don't truly understand much about what us getting doctorates in a public health discipline are about? I was a biology major in undergrad and I work with genetic markers in my research (SNPs, Haplotypes, and adducts). Is that not doing science? Am I at a remedial program? Yeesh.

In public health disciplines, almost all PhD students do have a prior master degree. In most other disciplines, though, you're right (ie. nursing).

It's up to each individual faculty member to send out the interviews (whether it's email or phone call). So it could be staggered.

I can confidently say that research fit with faculty/department is *the* most important item in your SoP. Even if everything else is awesome and that aspect doesn't fit, you won't see an acceptance.

Check out this thread I wrote over on SDN: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=644314 1.) MPH or MS. Almost all PhD students do hold a prior masters. They're just the most competitive applicants. 2.) There are no "true" road blocks, but you rarely see DrPH holders that are researchers in the typical sense (academic, government, industry). Not sure if it's just the way it works out or not, though. 3.) I've never heard that it's a bad degree, but then again, few schools offer it, which might explain the small volume. 4.) I never even considered a DrPH because I have little interest in practice--I wanted quantitative and molecular research training, and that's what my PhD is giving me. DrPH research is much more integrated/health systems oriented, and it wouldn't provide the same type of research output as a PhD program would (for me).

B's in any public health course will certainly harm your chances, so definitely re-take it and get an A in the course. I'd also be concerned with your GRE score, you should absolutely re-take that and get it up into the 1300's at the very least, particularly the quantitative section (shoot for at least 750+ there).

Following up what rising_star said, I did my MPH at one school and am following up the MPH with my PhD at another. Getting classes transferred over was a bitch, so I'd recommend you not take that route if you can help it. It's no fun spending several years of your life for no reason to have it all thrown away.

You probably won't develop the exact skills you're looking for through a MPH program. The closest thing you'd learn is program assessment/development and community health in the Social Behavioral Health Sciences divisions of public health schools.

As an international student, you're going to be at a distinct disadvantage applying to any NIH (government) funded fellowships. NIH fellowships are given only to US-citizens. Many schools have fellowships/training grants available, and you'll often be considered for one if you're a good fit for the requirements of that training grant. Sometimes you'll have to submit a separate application. It really varies. As for getting into an epi program--most schools want to see a focus on whatever you're trying to get into. Whether it's demonstrated interest by past work history, past research work, or past class papers that show your interest in that area. A MPH is almost a certain requirement for the vast majority of PhD programs, particularly epi where there are a TON of applicants. I know for sure that Yale and BU (both schools which I attend/ed) had acceptance rates in the 5-10%. Other schools which publish data on this (Emory) also reports a 5% acceptance. Hope this helps you get started.

I think it's fine to elaborate on why you love research and why you see it as an important thing to do. That's what I wrote as a significant portion in my SoP.

People seem to think I'm going to become a MD and treat cancer rather than do cancer research. It comes with the territory.

I just asked professors I took class with if they might need/want help. You should talk to your adviser, too. Does your school offer an undergraduate research option? (like an independent study in lieu of a class).

I blew $1900 on buying stuff the first week I was here (and yes, part of that is the unnecessary" necessary HDTV :-)). Thank goodness my first stipend check came two weeks after.