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avdarling

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  • Location
    Singapore
  • Program
    Sociology / Development Studies

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  1. Hi there, I'm writing to ask about how a LSHTM PhD is perceived in the US? In addition, would I even be considered for a postdoc or (dare I say it) faculty position in a sociology or other NON health department anywhere? Like many in these forums, I've been on a roller coaster during the apps cycle for fall 2012 entry. I applied to mostly sociology programs in the US (I'm of a non-sociology background) and didn't gain admission to any (for reasons that in hindsight are all too apparent!) I have offers from interdisciplinary programs at UW Madison, Oxford and LSE (unfunded), and a statistics masters at UPenn (funded). I've decided that funding will be the determinant of where to go, so right now its between Penn (masters) and quite possibly, LSHTM for a PhD in Public Health / Policy dept. I'd have to make a decision this week. If LSHTM doesn't come through, I'd def. head to Philly and re-apply for Soci. programs for fall 2013. The LSHTM project is a specific topic chosen by PIs already and is v interdisciplinary, catering to all of my interests in gender, migration, behavioral science and health. The program would involve taking some political science courses at a neighboring London university. In that program, I'd try to take coursework in demography / statistics, that could be applied in non-health work. My dilemma is that I do not want to be "pigeonholed" in health so to speak, which I fear that a PhD from a health school would do, regardless of whether the actual content of the work was highly interdisciplinary. My questions (to you knowledgable public health folks) are: 1. Is a LSHTM degree well-perceived in the US? 2. Would a degree in public health limit my options in a sociology or development studies department, in the US or the UK? LSHTM is v appealing on account of funding, time to degree (3 years) and broad fit right now, but I'm trying to get some perspective on how the decision to take the PhD there will affect future opportunities in the US and elsewhere in the non-health world. Thanks in advance for any insights folks, much appreciated.
  2. Thanks for the advice tt503! It sounds like you've taken a really varied and interesting route. I empathize with the "making up for lost time" part. I had an average undergrad record, did some volunteer work with an NGO overseas, before doing an MS back in the UK with the aim of articulating a substantive research area and getting the best thesis grade I could (in the UK this is pretty important for PhD applications). After that, I've spent 2 years at in the public policy department (again overseas) publishing and presenting at conferences thinking that that might swing it for the US apps. I think I've been pretty naive about this, especially with the crazy ranked schools I'd applied to. Grades in undergrad and masters seem to be super important (and your thesis topic, much less so) along with GREs. With your experience across research and teaching, it sounds like you have a really strong profile. Good luck with this years round - let us know how you get on! I'd applied to Madison and Harvard on your list, I didn't get into either's Soc program but did get into the Devt Studies program at Madison. That doesn't have any linked funding like the Soc dept, but could be one to consider depending on your interests (you can specialize in Soc). I'm considering doing this MLA at the other school and deferring entry to Madison whilst looking for funding sources next year, in addition to applying for Soc programs elsewhere. The search is eternal but the rewards great (one hopes)!
  3. Hi there aspiring and current sociologists! I'd applied to Soci / Demog PhD programs in the US and didn't get in this year. I'm pretty gutted but have some options in the UK in Devt. Studies / Geography (my research interest for a thesis is inherently interdisciplinary between soci, geog and econs, which I think may not have helped in US apps). I bombed the GRE quant, although verbal and writing were decent, and my LORs and 2 years experience as an RA were plus points in the application, I think! I'm writing to ask how it would be seen by US Adcomms for a candidate to have done a Masters in Liberal Arts, with a focus on Sociology / Econs? I have the option to do one at a school where I was rejected from the Demog program (separate admissions to Soci - I would try for entry to the Soci PhD next year instead. I already have an external scholarship for the MLA, that I would have used for the PhD program, had I gotten in. I am wondering whether anyone knows how an MLA, and not a terminal MA in the subject per se, is perceived by Adcomms? I see in some forums that an MLA seen as non-specialized, and an "easy route" into a top ranked institution. And that it may not be useful for employment stand alone, but it could be a decent prep. route for a PhD. Has anyone out there taken this route? Any and all insights are much appreciated! Thanks in advance.
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