runningincircles

After my dejected post about Davis, I just found out I got accepted!!! I was truly convinced I hadn't made it in...so to those still waiting, don't give up hope just yet!

Has anyone else on here applied to Davis? I'm still waiting for a response, and this is pretty late in the game for them to give any acceptances. I contacted them two weeks ago, and the coordinator informed me that they were still reviewing applications and the notifications would be out in the next 1-2 weeks...2 weeks later, and still nothing. It's the only program I could apply to, and I'm just totally deflated - can't apply anywhere else, and this is my third and final attempt...after this, the PhD dream of the past 10 years and counting is done...this with 2 freaking masters degrees, and a teaching qualification, research experience, and going all the way back through a bunch of math courses to improve my GRE scores..ugh...

I've been stalking all of y'all for a few weeks now. I've only applied to one program (Davis) - long story, but I'm long in the tooth, and Davis is the only place I can apply to. I just finished my MPH at Davis, and I have an MA in gender studies from the U.K. (I'm a British transplant to the U.S.) My GRE scores are o.k., but I have two very good LORs, and one reasonable LOR from my POI in the program (she provided me with a recommendation to admit). Davis hasn't got back yet, and I'm stressing pretty heavily. You guys are all extremely well accomplished with publications and great GRE's!! I have no publications, but I've been working as a GSR in public health for the past 18 months at the university, and working in public health/HIV/Non-profit sectors for a number of years. The coordinator indicated that they're still evaluating applications and that responses will be out in the next two weeks. I'm not enthusiastic about my chances, and this is really my last (of 3) attempts at trying to get into a PhD at Davis. I'm interested in the sociology of health and illness, with a focus on gender, hence the reason I'm applying to a Sociology program as opposed to Epidemiology or public health. I have a job lined up at the university if I don't get in (it's research based, so it's a good alternative), but I would love to get to do the research I'm interested in. I feel like I need some support from fellow PhD applicants within this traumatic, nail-biting wait period..I can't stand the ambiguity..it's driving me nuts!! Anyway, good luck to you all

Well, no need to worry as I just got my acceptance letter from Davis. To say I'm thrilled is an understatement! This is quite amazing considering I only applied three weeks ago, and the actual completed file was only submitted two weeks ago!! No more waiting!! Hurrah!!

So here's my deal. I've only applied to one program, Davis (this may sound ridiculous, and it is, but I'm limited by one program - husband won't consider moving anywhere else, and I have three year old twins - so Davis is/was my only choice.) I'm a perm resident in the U.S., but my undergrad and grad degree are from the U.K. I took courses at community college to bone up on math and a bio course (3.79) GPA. Also have 4.0 from state university in grad certificate. GRE quant score 60th percentile, verb 84th, analytical writing was 80th. All of these scores are well within their 'average' ranges, and for verbal its way above. I have 9 months experience volunteering for health departments in HIV surveillance, and another 6 month internship with a local student coalition working on tobacco control. I also worked as aboard member for non profit working on micro finance programs for Dalit women in Nepal, included sanitation programs and health education for women. Have worked voluntarily doing research for academics, but have never managed to find paid work related to public health. I applied a little late, because of the GRE, and some misinformation from the program, however, the director of the program said that if I applied by Feb 13th, that I was guaranteed to get reviewed. Have any of you applied to Davis? If so, did you get in? Anyone with any ideas about this program would be much appreciated. Obviously with this being the only program I've applied to, I'm nail biting and driving myself crazy! I'm trying to be calm, but I can't stop checking the website! :/

Thanks.

Anyone attended UC Davis Mph? I'm planning on applying for fall 2015. I'm interested in the epidemiology/biostats track. Does anyone know how competitive it is? I have a masters in gender studies already, currently studying second semester calculus, interested in looking at maternal fetal health, with particular reference to stillbirth. Also interested in violence epidemiology as well. I have a 3.8 GPA in the U.S. And a 3.5 GPA from the U.K. - which is where I am originally from - and where I got both my undergrad and graduate degrees. I'm limited to applying to UC Davis because of familial responsibilities. I'm planning on applying to phd's in epi once I've done the masters. Anyone have any experience of their epi phd as well? Any info would be great.

Currently weighing up options between these two kinds of programs. Main questions are: 1. Experience: MS in stats doesn't provide an internship experience, I don't have experience in the field, the only experience it would provide is the opportunity to do some consulting - of which there will be a limited number of opportunities available. MPH provides a internship for one or more semesters (which they help you find/find for you.) 2. Skills: Stats provides you with specific skills that are sought after. From what I've heard, SAS and experience with R and MatLab etc, are what will get you employed. Having the skill-set that an MS in stats provides makes you an employable candidate in many different sectors. MPH has a more general curriculum that is less aggressive/less rigorous, and therefore may be problematic in providing the skills that an employer is looking for. Overall the issue is: experience with a work place, versus a specific skill-set used in multiple fields? I'm leaning towards the stats. One more point: I don't have an undergrad degree in math/eng/science - is that likely to hamper me in my efforts at finding work in stats/analysis if I only have the MS? Thanks.

My 2 cents, take the job. Unless you want to get into academia, which from what you've said you don't, then the MS will be a waste of your time. The experience you get on the job will be worth 100% more than the grad degree ever will. The only real reason for someone to do a terminal MS is to get your foot in the door, which you've already got with the job offer. If you want to go back and get the degree later, the experience you get on the job will also help with getting in to those programs at that point. Good luck!

Thanks for your response. I'm going to take linear algebra, multivariable calc, diff equations, and two courses in probability theory, which make up 2 of the core courses for UC Davis MS in Statistics. I'm also planning on taking the GRE, which I know will be a lot better on the quant side now!! Thanks for the advice about the personal statement too. I definitely think that's the correct route to take.

As someone who is changing fields (I have a masters in gender studies, and I now plan on applying to ms programs in statistics/biostatistics,) I feel that it is more incumbent upon a student like myself to have a deeper knowledge of what I'm getting myself into, as opposed to those with a STEM background. Is this correct? Like a lot of other people, I don't have a background in statistics or statistical research that I can refer to, so I'm going on the impression I've gained of the field through my own research. I've written below a very rough draft as to my reasoning for pursuing an MS in statistics. Any opinions would be very welcome, but please be kind. My reason for going towards stats, with the possibility of maybe pursuing a Ph.D at some point, is the fact that when I've looked into research careers, I've come across the need for research associates and assistants to have the ability to process and analyze statistics. I have always wanted to get into research, and due to my rejection to a Ph.D program in my prior field, I was forced to go back to school to improve my quantitative capabilities (I got a very low score on the quant side of the GRE.) As a result, I found out that I was naturally more suited to the study of mathematics than the social sciences, with mathematics being less emotionally taxing than the field of gender violence and the awful things that I studied previously. All in all, I feel that my personality is suited to research, and preferably the research of data that I don't have to connect with as rigorously on an emotional level. As someone who is extremely analytical, and has a mind that works over time, I feel that the past few years studying math have been the most pleasurable for me personally, and I truly believe that this is where I belong. I don't want to discount my prior education, as I know it definitely enhances the education I am receiving at present. However, given the chance, I would probably go back and do an undergrad in mathematics or statistics instead of political science and Japanese. Is the above a good starting point? I can also highlight the fact that as a female, I was subjected to the social stereotype that often prevents women from following careers within a quantitative field, and additionally had an upbringing that didn't foster good practices with regards to studying math (my parents liked to move a lot, and I ended up going to five different high schools and dropped out at 15). My GPA is currently 3.8 in all math classes I've taken, I'm in calc 1b as of now. Finally, I'm a Brit who immigrated to the U.S., and all of my undergrad and graduate education was obtained in the U.K. I'm a perm resident, so I wouldn't be classified as a foreign student. Thanks for reading!

Anyone know anything about this program? I'm wary of the online aspect of it, but I know how to study, and have taken graduate courses online in the past. I know Texas A&M has a fairly good reputation for its campus program, just wondering whether anyone has any info about the online one - or online programs in general? Thanks.

Thanks for your response. The job outlook does seem promising from what they've told me. I should be mathematically prepared when I apply. I'm currently taking my second semester of calculus, linear algebra is planned for the summer, with calc iii in the fall. I'm also planning on taking the two core courses for the ucd ms stats program as an open campus student next winter and spring quarters in probability theory. I'm also going to take c++ courses through a local cc at the same time as the calc iii and probability. My undergrad and grad GPA is equivalent to 3.5, and I have around a 3.8 GPA over here, with a 4.0 GPA in all grad courses I've taken in the states. I'm probably going to apply to ucd, but I'm not expecting to get in.

I'm interested in applying to CSU Hayward MS stats for next fall. Anyone know anything about their program? Anyone attended their program? Any thoughts about it in general? I know it's not an Ivy League or even a UC school, but I think it's probably going to be my best chance of acceptance. With an undergrad and grad degree in the social sciences from the U.K., and being an older student that's basically been a stay at home mom for the past few years, I doubt many schools will do anything but throw my application in the trash. CSU has always been positive when I've contacted them, and my background doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. UCD on the other hand, likes to portray itself as the best of the best, and therefore isn't exactly the most encouraging when I try to contact them about the program. I don't have the flexibility of applying out of state, or even outside of about a 70 mile radius, so my choices are extremely limited. Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks!