Stories
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So I have less than 2 weeks to decide where to go for my PhD in Epidemiology. I have it whittled down to Emory, UNC, and UCLA. Just to give you some background, I received my MPH in infectious disease epidemiology and have been working at the government-level doing HIV prevention research (focusing on the social, behavioral, and clinical epidemiology of HIV/AIDS) for the past 3 years. I've described the pros/cons of each of the programs below. Any advice (on the decisions process) or insight (into the individual programs) from current or prospective students would be greatly appreciated.
Emory:
A big advantage of the program is that all admitted students are fully funded (tuition and stipend) for 4 yrs., which also makes for a smaller program. Students are required to complete 2 research assistantships (aside from their dissertation research) with 2 different faculty, and a teaching assistantship as part of the funding requirements. I've been assigned to a faculty advisor whose research interests are closely aligned to mine. He seems really great and highly invested in the success of his students (but he is also very busy given the large number of projects he’s involved in). Emory has a strong epidemiologic methods program, its strengths in quantitative epi-methods. The faculty overall seem pretty accessible and they help to foster a collaborative and supportive environment. Also, the students seem to be a close-knit group willing to help one another out. One of the major disadvantages of the program is its lack of infectious disease (ID) faculty (however, students often collaborate and work with people at the CDC since it is next door to Emory). I’m not too familiar with Atlanta, but the cost of living is cheaper when compared to Los Angeles, where I currently live.
UNC:
Unfortunately, I wasn’t guaranteed any funding at UNC. Given the downturn in the economy and the school’s reliance on state funding, research assistantships are harder to come by (especially if you’re interested in infectious diseases, due to the large number of students focused in that area). Having said that, all of the current students I talked to mentioned that most, if not all incoming students find some source of funding by their first semester there (but still scary considering I’d have to pay out-of-state tuition if the department isn’t able to help out). UNC has one of the strongest epidemiologic methods program in the country and has a ton of ID faculty doing HIV research. I was assigned a faculty advisor who seems to be very helpful/friendly and has similar research interests (her focus is on HIV prevention efforts internationally, whereas my current and past work has focused on domestic HIV efforts). Like Emory, the faculty seems highly accessible and invested in their students’ well-being. The students seem to work well together in a non-competitive way, due to the program’s emphasis on group work/collaboration. One of the unique things about the program is that it’s geared towards PhD students (few masters-terminal students are accepted into the program; PhD/MSPH-PhD students comprise the majority of people in the program). UNC is also one of the bigger epidemiology programs with ~20 PhD students enrolled each year. All of the students I’ve talked to say they love the program and their experiences there. I’m not familiar at all with the Chapel Hill area, but it seems like your typical quaint, small college town with more of an undergraduate vibe to it (also cost of living there is cheaper).
UCLA:
Like UNC, funding at UCLA is hard to come by due to California’s budget problems. Fortunately, I was able to acquire a modest departmental fellowship for my first year and a partial GSR position (both combined will cover my tuition). Also, it’s likely that I can keep my current job (at a part-time level) to help supplement my income. UCLA seems to also have a strong Epi training program emphasizing theoretical methods. My would-be faculty advisor at UCLA has similar research interests (in behavioral epidemiology of HIV and a good mix of domestic and international work) and seems to be a good overall fit. I plan on going to the upcoming open house where I’ll get more information about the program and the atmosphere amongst students and faculty. The advantage going to UCLA is that it wouldn’t be a difficult transition since I already live in the area and have family and friends in Los Angeles. Although I would likely be a poor student again given how expensive it is to live in the area.
I apologize for the long post, and I don’t want to come off as if I’m complaining about this process. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to choose between three great schools and really don’t think I can make a “bad” decision. Nonetheless, it’s still stressful! I’d greatly appreciate any advise/comments. Thanks for listening and the best of luck with your decisions!
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.
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I think MPHs are a waist of time for multiple reasons. The first being many major universities' mph programs are diploma mills for MDs or residents so the quality of education is poor, especially at the big names in pub. health e.g., johns hopkins, harvard, berkley etc.
If you cannot get into a PhD program today, I would suggest getting a master's degree in a math/statistics/science type discipline. Do NOT get a master's in something like nursing or kinesiology or nutrition. These majors are for people who cannot do science and they generally end up in very remedial schools, if they choose to transfer over to pub health later in life.
I know a few Dr. PHs and they are very smart but have very limited skill sets. They have not brought in any dollars from research grants at least not from NIH which is very important to do especially if you want promotions and tenure. Dr. PHs are more analysts than anything else. They do a lot of consulting and generally teach data analysis courses to MPH students, if they have to teach at all.
Pub Health is one of the best disciplines in academia, if you are good at what you do. You have opportunities to help people at a mass level and the opportunity to earn a very comfortable salary.
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.
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It's not true that almost all PhD students hold a prior master's. At many research universities' nursing programs, there is pressure to enter the doctoral program direct from undergrad, since master's degrees in the OP's field (nursing) are clinical degrees.
In public health disciplines, almost all PhD students do have a prior master degree. In most other disciplines, though, you're right (ie. nursing).
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Hi stories,
I know you are currently a PhD student in Yale SPH. I saw someone posted yesterday that he/she received an email from Yale SPH(EMD PhD)to schedule an interview. Unfortunately, I did not received such email and I applied the same program.
just wondering if Yale SPH sends out all the interviews at once or sequentially( like: for domestic applicants, on-site interview, for international applicants, phone interview, with a different date, etc...)
Thanks
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.
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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.
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Hey all, I'm seeking some advice about entering public health. I am considering applying for some sort of public health program in the next few years but I am not sure what is right for me. I have a couple of questions:
1) Do many people start with an MPH and then go on to get a PhD? Would this be a waste of time and would I be better off just going straight for a PhD, or is there some value in getting an MPH first?
2) What are the pros and cons of a PhD vs. a DrPH? I realize that the former is more research-focused and the other is more "practice" oriented, but what does this translate into as far as jobs go? Is choosing one or the other going to significantly alter my job prospects, or is there some blurring of the lines, so to speak? Are there any types of jobs you simply can't get with a PhD that you can get with a DrPH, and vice versa?
3) Is the DrPH degree respected / valued in the public health community? In my own field (nursing) there is a practice doctorate as well (DNP), but it is controversial and some people do not respect that degree (with some good reasons). I have heard of PA doctorate degrees that do not significantly improve clinical skills and mostly just focus on "fluff." Is the DrPH seen as a light-weight degree that is the result of "degree inflation", or is it truly challenging and respected?
4) If anyone here applied for / is applying to a DrPH or PhD, can you explain the reasons you chose one over the other?
Thanks for anyone that can answer any of these questions.
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).
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Hi-
I am applying for Fall 2012 Public Health PhD programs next fall-winter and was wondering if anyone out there is as well.
My GPA should be around 3.5-4.0 by the time I apply and so far I have one RA job, a possible publication on the way, and
a 3.8 GPA in a public health certificate. My GRE score is 1200.
My only worry is that I have to retake Epidemiology next semester, I previously scored a B in that course during my public health certificate,
but now am wondering if retaking it during my MPH will hurt my chances of getting into the public health PhD program of my dreams.
Any thoughts?
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).
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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.
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Hi everyone,
Apologies if this is the wrong thread, but since this is the most active one, I thought I'd ask my question here. I am an international student keen on working in the health communication/health education field. My original plan was to pursue a PhD in Communication with an emphasis on health communication. However, I am now starting to think that perhaps it would be better to apply to (more practical) MPH programs. What do you guys think ? I already have a master's in mass communication by the way.
Thank you in advance for your replies.
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.
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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.
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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.
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People seem to think I'm going to become a MD and treat cancer rather than do cancer research. It comes with the territory.
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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).
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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.
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I know a friend who received an invitation 2 days before classes started off the waitlist (this was a medical school).
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You're not going to be very competitive at either PhD program. It's a simple fact that for public health-related PhDs, a MS or MPH is almost mandatory unless you're an exceptional applicant. It also depends on how focused your research interests are.
You should be competitive to most of those MPH programs.
Just be sure to keep your GRE scores at the least in the 70th percentile for all sections. Higher in quant if you can.
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I've been working with faculty as a RA the past week. I've worn t-shirts and shorts. Summer is super casual. Wear what's comfortable.
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I have 3.
1.) Backpack: when I have my normal array of stuff for class. Notebooks, laptop, textbooks, etc.
2.) Messenger bag: when I'm going to quick lecture and only need a small notebook or a few papers.
3.) Gym backpack: draw strings and easily fits a change of clothes. Light weight and no nonsense.
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I applied blindly to all my schools without visiting. I seemed to do ok.
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No. Just do the PhD if strict research is your career path. The MD/PhD programs are designed for physician scientists. If you want to practice medicine AND do research in BME, then the dual-degree option is the way to go.
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Yale
in 2009 Archive
Living on Prospect St in the Science Hill-area. Moved in and liking the area quite a bit. I second cogneuro's comments, the cheap big national stores are just a short drive up the highway, and there's also a ton of stuff about 15 minutes like a Costco and Trader Joe's. Definitely pretty easy to find stuff. The downtown-area near Chapel St. is pretty neat, and there's some really neat bars, too.
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Fun? Uhh... I'd say that college was way more fun. I was far more social, far more out and about than I was during grad school #1. I imagine grad school #2 will be much more like grad school #1 than undergrad. Grad school is far more stimulating, gratifying, and interesting intellectually, though.
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GRE reports arrive at schools all at once twice a month. ETS will send all scores for that period of time when the scores are requested every two weeks.
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I have a similar question. I have an overall 3.61 GPA from the University of Connecticut, and a 4.0 in my major field for which I am applying to grad schools; I have had two stories published in magazines, and I have done a teaching internship. (I have not taken the GREs yet, but I am studying for them.)
What are my chances of getting into Brown or Yale for a PhD in English Literature?
Thank you!
Yale: http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/acad ... gelit.html. 3.2% accept.
Everyone that applies to Yale and Brown is going to have similar scores as yours. What makes you a good fit for Yale or Brown is if they have faculty you're interested in working with that feel the same about you.
Epidemiology PhD Decisions
in Public Health Forum
Posted
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*.