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[twist]

Hello! Being the obsessive type, I’m kind of thrilled to have found this community. I finally got around to taking the GRE last weekend. I wish I’d done a bit better on quantitative (710Q, 720V), but not nearly enough to study for the new version. Or pay for it

Comments

[lifeofbai]

I’ve read some opinions about other joint degrees that some people consider a waste of time/money.It depends on what you want to do with your degree. For example, if you were to go into medicine but wanted to be a medical researcher/academic rather than solely a practitioner, then an MD/PhD program would be very appropriate. In your case, if you want to get into health management/policy, then an MPH/MPP might be an appropriate avenue to achieve your goals... although I think you can do that with just one or the other, it certainly wouldn't impede you when you're looking for jobs

[twist]

Thanks! Yes, I'm really interested in policy development/analysis/implementation specific to the American healthcare system. I think that both programs would have gaps in preparing me for that, but together they'd be great (the question is if it would be ~$22,000 + living worth of great).

For the SoPs, can I/should I mention that those are my interests at this point in time? Like.. would it be better to say "I want to be a policy analyst for reasons A, B, and C" or to say "I want to be a a policy analyst for reasons A, B, and C; I'm interested in policy in fields X, Y, and Z for reasons Q, R, and S."

.. if you followed that, ha. My SoP will obviously be a bit more coherent and less alphabet-soup.

[lifeofbai]

I'd check what the SoP guidelines are for the program. It may want you to talk about your reasons for wanting to attend grad school in this field, your specific interests and career goals in the field, the academic and professional preparation you've had that will make you successful in the program, and the reasons why you want to attend that school's program in particular (so mentioning classes or programs, co-op opportunities at the school, etc. would be good here). I think this might be a good way to structure your SoP.

- Ray

[roseofjuly]

I'd narrow down your policy fields to one or two.

[tisiphone]

I would be clear that you're applying for the joint program in the SOP for both programs - you want to be absolutely clear what you're doing, and it may change your eligibility. For your research/policy interests, pick one and develop it fully (I suggest not "social and economic considerations", since you haven't even taken an economics class yet). Remember, it's not a contract, it's intended to show that you want to do research and that you're conversant with what's going on in your field and how research is expected to be done. For a practice-based master's, I'd suggest emphasizing your future goals and policy interests over a research plan anyhow, since you won't be doing much research.

[roseofjuly]

Well, I don't know if it's a waste. You could simply do an MPH in health policy and management, though. The MPH program here in that track only takes 1.5 years, and those students got jobs far more quickly than the students in social and behavioral sciences and even the epidemiology students

[socgradadmit]

On your first question, I'd definitely mention it. Just be sure not to frame it negatively, like you're making up your deficiencies in econ, but rather frame it as part of a narrative about your drive your approach this field from many angles