"Public health"... for people not qualified for the real thing
Hi ATG!
I am a junior and I finally think I've found what I'm interested in - public health. I like epidemiology and the social aspects of health policy. I've looked at the courses at Harvard's MPH program and they get me ridiculously excited. As I have had a very difficult time focusing myself intellectually, getting excited about post-grad studies is a Very Good Thing for me. However, I know I am not qualified for Harvard's program and I'm actually pretty sure an MPH is not for me. They seem to be geared toward people who already have advanced degrees or experience in a health-related field. They also are freaking expensive. I know, I know, people go into lots of debt for education... but as a science student who always just assumed I would do a straight-up biology PhD, I am used to the idea of funded education. I also don't come from a 'privileged' background and the idea of that much debt terrifies me and is a deal-breaker.
So, ATG, I ask you for help here to
1) provide ideas for other, related degrees that are funded and to which someone can apply straight out of undergrad (I intend to take one year off after undergrad to work in a health-related NGO abroad, but after that, I'd like to get right back into more school)
2) provide ideas for funding, if they exist
I feel extremely unqualified for fellowships -- I haven't done my own research. I haven't done much other than my studies, actually, and I am not at the top of my class. I go to one of those fancy schmancy top10 schools... and I am just an average fish in this pond. I love it, but I'm nothing special.
I am an ecology & evolutionary biology major (also getting a couple of unrelated minors). I am interested in biostatistics but there is no way I am strong enough at math to apply to a pure biostat program. I am open to suggestions for PhD or Masters programs. (Are masters programs in epidemiology generally funded?) I also don't intend to go into academia when I'm done with my education.
Thank you!
I am a junior and I finally think I've found what I'm interested in - public health. I like epidemiology and the social aspects of health policy. I've looked at the courses at Harvard's MPH program and they get me ridiculously excited. As I have had a very difficult time focusing myself intellectually, getting excited about post-grad studies is a Very Good Thing for me. However, I know I am not qualified for Harvard's program and I'm actually pretty sure an MPH is not for me. They seem to be geared toward people who already have advanced degrees or experience in a health-related field. They also are freaking expensive. I know, I know, people go into lots of debt for education... but as a science student who always just assumed I would do a straight-up biology PhD, I am used to the idea of funded education. I also don't come from a 'privileged' background and the idea of that much debt terrifies me and is a deal-breaker.
So, ATG, I ask you for help here to
1) provide ideas for other, related degrees that are funded and to which someone can apply straight out of undergrad (I intend to take one year off after undergrad to work in a health-related NGO abroad, but after that, I'd like to get right back into more school)
2) provide ideas for funding, if they exist
I feel extremely unqualified for fellowships -- I haven't done my own research. I haven't done much other than my studies, actually, and I am not at the top of my class. I go to one of those fancy schmancy top10 schools... and I am just an average fish in this pond. I love it, but I'm nothing special.
I am an ecology & evolutionary biology major (also getting a couple of unrelated minors). I am interested in biostatistics but there is no way I am strong enough at math to apply to a pure biostat program. I am open to suggestions for PhD or Masters programs. (Are masters programs in epidemiology generally funded?) I also don't intend to go into academia when I'm done with my education.
Thank you!