Environmental Health!

[Kayla123]

Anyone out there?  

have some really general questions about schools and whatnot haven't heard back from any schools yet but the lovely portal that is SOPHAS only just sent out my applications (*tears hair out*).

 

But, let me know what you're going for (MPH, MS, PHD?) and what your thoughts are on schools.

 

[BoilerEpi]

PhD.  Got accepted into the environmental epi prgram at Colorado State which was my second choice.  Very excited, I have to apply seperately for their GTA positions which they hold for incoming students, I think I'm a slam dunk to get one of um but won't be sure if I'm going to go there until I secure funding.

 

Btw the only school I haven't heard from is a SOPHAS school, said my app was completed and "mailed" as of Jan 29th (completed according to them on Jan 22nd) with a deadline of Feb 1.  Still haven't heard back

[Kayla123]

Oh SOPHAS.  If I am ever born again and have to re-live my life, I'm filling out all my apps separately.

 

With epi, are you looking at primarily at the spread of contagious diseases?  how does it work when it's under enviro health?

[BoilerEpi]

Since my PhD specialization will be in epi my focus for courses will be in epi methods like study designs, survey development, qualitative/quantitative biostats analysis.  Since it's under environmental health I'll focus my ancillary coursework and research on the spread of disease as it relates to the built and natural environment for issues like ambient and indoor air pollution and how they relate to cancer and heart disease mostly.

[Kayla123]

that...is completely awesome.  sounds a lot like what I want to do.  good for you!

[BoilerEpi]

Thanks, can't wait but I have to apply for their GTA positions separately which they hold for incoming grad students, so hopefully I'll get accepted for one of those.  Where'd you end up applying and what areas?

[Kayla123]

7 Schools--

Johns Hopkins (top pick), UNC, Columbia, GWU, Michigan, Texas A&M, SUNY Albany.

 

Kind of a combination of MPH/MSPH/MS degrees, depending on the school.  I'm really interested in epi type stuff, as well as toxicology.  Particularly as it relates to water (my undergrad was in enviro sci, hydrology), and I'd also love to look at at-risk populations to see what kinds of things they're exposed to and what might be done to mitigate those exposures.

Absolutely no idea if I'll get in or not.  Okay GPA and good GRE, but I'm biting my nails.  My deadlines were late but I still haven't heard back from anywhere yet.

[mmajum01]

Hey Kayla123! It sounds like we have a lot of research interests in common. I am doing my MPH right now in epi/biostats, but I applied to a few environmental health PhD programs in December. My top pick among those was Columbia, and I heard back good news from them a few weeks ago. However, I just heard back from MIT's Engineering Systems Division as well. It's my top pick in the Boston area (that's where I live now) - so I may not end up at Columbia after all. (I know these two programs seem very different, but I was an engineer in undergrad and have spent a lot of time working on engineering interventions for water-related diseases as well as for groundwater arsenic contamination; I'm especially interested in using my experience with environmental modeling from undergrad to create climate-sensitive forecasting systems for diseases like cholera, dengue, and malaria.)

 

My advisor at MIT would be someone who has a joint appointment at MIT and HSPH, which is really ideal. From what I could tell when I visited though, Columbia EHS is exceptional at all of the interests you noted! That said, I'm sure JHSPH would also suit your needs; my only qualm about their EHS department is that it's REALLY big compared to Columbia.

 

As for SOPHAS - my Columbia and HSPH applications were through them, but both schools evaluate online, so mailing out applications doesn't matter at all! I haven't heard back from HSPH yet, but Columbia was very prompt with their review. SOPHAS sucks, but try not to worry too much about it! I'm sure it'll all work out.

[Kayla123]

mmajum--thanks for the reply!  In your experience, does an MPH set you up pretty well for a PhD?  Or do most people who get an MPH kind of leave it at that and then go out into the real world?

Also, what kinds of avenues does an MPH tend to open?  I applied for MPH programs as well as MS and MSPH degrees.  I thought it'd be good to get a lot of options, but my undergrad is a BS in Enviro Science.  I don't particularly want to do ONLY research, because I really want to work outside of a lab and interact with people out in the real world.  But, on the other hand... I love science so much.  My entire life has been nothing but chemistry and environmental science.  I know I probably sound like a geek, but I'm afraid of limiting myself if I pick one degree over the other.

[VBD]

Water people unite!  I'm more interested in microbial detection (with experience in bacteria, viruses, and parasites) in water. 

I will say this, UNC has a HUGE water emphasis, especially for these next two years and they have the water institute, and other resources for students. Many of their students who got a masters choose to stay and continue on to a PhD. Other than what mmajum said about the JHU's environmental department, I don't know much about the other programs. In passing, I know that Michigan has excellent placement record for those interested in industry work, and that Texas is excellent for tox work. 

The MPH is 100% what you make of it. I had others in my MPH cohort who did not do as lab-y or quantitative stuff and instead did more people interactive research. That's the beauty of a public health degree it's all so versatile and what everyone does is important. Since I knew I wanted to continue on a PhD I made sure my MPH could set me up for that. Others treated it as their terminal degree and go into the "real world" and even others more plan to go back to school a few years down the world for a DrPH. The MPH opens all those opportunities, as long as you look for them. I don't think picking an MPH vs. MSPH limits you in anyway. 

For the MS degree there may be more a leeway for NOT finishing all of ASPH's competencies (Health Behavior, Epi, Biostats, Policy/Management, and our favorite Environmental health). But MSPH and MPH, you will have to take all those classes for degree completion.

Edited March 12, 2013 by VBD

[Kayla123]

UNC is one of my top choices for that reason!  My concentration was in hydrology and I've always been fascinated with water.  

 

and that's great advice about MPHs, nice to know they're so versatile!  what was yours in? (or did you go for a different program all together)

[VBD]

My MPH was in population health which was my program's mix of HSR, epi, biostats, and environmental health. I could have easily gone for global health though since the classes I chose were similar.