Question about the Epi/Public Health PhD Application Process

[stereopticons]

Hi all,

I've been absent from gradcafe for a while, but I'm back, preparing for the Fall 2016 application cycle. I applied to psychology Ph.D. programs multiple times, with no success. I took some time to figure out what I really wanted to do, and have been doing suicide prevention research for the last two years. Now, I'm planning to apply to public health Ph.D. programs, mostly epidemiology, but also some behavioral science. In psychology, it's standard practice to email professors in advance of the application cycle to connect and ask if they are taking students. Do people also do this in public health?

[AlphacentauriC]

@stereopticons Congruts on your decision to pursue your dreams. I like the fact that, despite your previous disappointments with the application process, you haven't given up. That alone, trust me, will make you successful, in the eventuality of time. 

As for your question, yep, for some programs, they want you to reach out to professors. I remember last cycle, the University of South Florida needed a 'faculty sponsor' to support your application in order to be considered for admission to their public health phd program. On the other hand, that was not the case with the other schools I applied to. I got into phd programs in public health (health services research) without talking to professors at schools like Tulane, Kentucky, etc. 

So, the short answer to your question is that, contacting professors, depends on the program you are applying to. Take the time to learn about the programs you are interested in, and really understand what they want. I think you can achieve success this cycle. Wishing you the best! 

[themmases]

It does depend on the program. Some (I believe Michigan) wanted you to list faculty that you would be interested in working with. It didn't seem to be a requirement that you contact them, although I felt weird listing people I'd never met so I wished that I had.

On the other hand UNC's instructions said not to do that because match with an individual faculty member wasn't how the decision was made. They do consider the possibility of matching you with a mentor-- they interviewed me but ultimately decided they couldn't because of my heavy interest in GIS-- but it's not about your match with any one person.

I would open your applications with the schools you're interested in as soon as possible, because I found that there were often additional instructions inside the application that weren't out on the website. You could also contact admissions staff at those schools and ask how they prefer it to be done.

[Epi_2016]

It does feel slightly strange to list people that you've never met, but I had spent so much time reading the pubs of the faculty members I identified as aligning with my research interests that I found we had a lot to discuss when I did meet them for interviews. Showing interest in your application for the research of specific faculty seems like a pretty reasonable way to express why you chose to apply to that school and that program.

@themmases I can't tell if you're suggesting not to identify faculty members of interest for the UNC application or not, but I had the completely opposite experience. One of the faculty members that I identified in my personal statement reached out to me for an interview and was a wonderful advocate and resource during the application process (and is now my adviser). I think she's a large part of both why I was extended an offer and why I accepted it. My interests didn't align with many faculty members, but it only takes one. (Sorry if I misunderstood your sentiment!)

On May 26, 2016 at 1:50 PM, themmases said:

I would open your applications with the schools you're interested in as soon as possible, because I found that there were often additional instructions inside the application that weren't out on the website. You could also contact admissions staff at those schools and ask how they prefer it to be done.

This is really the best advice. Different programs operate differently, and while many faculty may not want to be bothered by the hundreds of potential applicants, some applications may require that you contact POIs. Another consideration is that a PI taking students may be dependent on whether grants come through, and they may not know that during the application process.

[EpiGirl2016]

I listed at least 3 people I'd be interested in working with in my applications. Some I had contacted beforehand, others I was just very familiar with their work. I echo the advice listed above about getting an idea of what the school wants you to do. However, finding this information isn't always straightforward. For some schools I found out that you need a faculty member to support your application only by having professors who had previously gone or taught at the institution I was applying to. SOPHAS does virtual school of public health fairs every so often and this can be a good place to ask whether you should reach out to faculty or not.

[stereopticons]

This is all great advice! Thanks, all! It was a hard decision to go back into this process after everything, but it has to be done. It sounds like the process is similar to psychology, so that helps. Thanks again for the info. I'm sure I'll have more questions as the process goes on.

[masgniw]

Don't just email - try to call (or have in person meetings if possible). Professors are basically hiring you for a job and will probably be choosing between a few candidates who "fit" their needs and interests.  You're going to want to have your profile stick in their mind when it comes to decision time. 

[Fatema Dhruba]

On 5/24/2016 at 1:22 PM, AlphacentauriC said:

I got into phd programs in public health (health services research) without talking to professors at schools like Tulane, Kentucky, etc. 

Would u mind sharing your undergrad and Grad profile? Because I, too, am very interested in Health service research and looking for a suitable phd in the next fall'17.