RWJF health & society

[Double reject]

Both sets of rejections are out.

[Questions]

So if I didn't hear about HP (only program I applied) what does that mean -- waitlist or invite, I guess.

[Foxxy]

Just got an an invitation to interview for HPR. I didn't apply to HSS program.

[I wonder]

Do you think they send invites all at once, by program, or name. Checking email like crazy

[I think it's Monday now.]

I don't think they'll send invitations over the weekend, so if you didn't hear either way, I think that means you're on the cusp (for when the dual applicants make their choices... it must be very complicated since each dual applicant decision can open up slots at any combination of sites for the program they don't choose). I think that means you will hear by Wednesday latest, because we dual applicants have to choose by Tuesday end of business hours. Good luck!

[confirmed]

The above is exactly right. You will know by Wed at the latest.

[dual people]

folks who have to choose between the two programs to interview--what are your thoughts? what does the difference seem to be? how are you gonna make this decision?

[Depends on who you are.]

I chose HSS because it's a better fit for me. Health is my main area of research, and my particular research agenda would benefit more from being around medical researchers than from being around people studying policy. Look at the faculty lists at the sites; in both programs, you get people doing a very wide range of stuff, but there are real differences in the emphasis when you consider the faculty as a whole.

That said, I think that if all else is equal, many sociologists will have better luck with Health Policy, because HP guarantees a slot for a sociologist at each site. In Health & Society, you could in theory end up with two sociologists at a site, but you're also competing against people from every kind of social science field, including epidemiologists, medical anthropologists, and occasionally even natural scientists.

[How many]

I think most people end up getting more interviews at one program or the other, and then just choose the one where they had more offers.

And I agree that the diversity of fields makes H&SS seem more challenging.

[I wonder]

How many people are on the "waitlist" or cusp and a slot will depend on those with multiple offers? For those with multiple offers, kudos. I'm one of those waiting for HP so I still have a fighting chance.

[well]

^i am leaning towards HSS, so hoping that tips HP in your favor!

[Also geography.]

I chose HSS because my partner has a job in New York and it would solve our two-body problem for two years, at least, if I ended up at Columbia, which doesn't have HP. (But I'm not hopeful... from what I've heard [though who knows how accurate these kinds of rumors are], a LOT of people try to end up in New York.)

[For the dual applicants]

Did you make your decisions already or was this before the HP decisions came out?

[Dual applicant]

We got the invitations on Friday afternoon and are supposed to make our decision between the two programs by the end of business hours on Tuesday.

[For the dual applicants]

Thanks! Again congrats!