Harvard incoming Fall 2018

[rosemary_]

Hey yall, I wanted to start a thread for folks who are going to (or thinking about) going to Harvard next year!
Some starting questions:

• Has anyone thought about when they are going to move to Boston and how they are going to find housing?
• Does anyone know what kind of acceptance rate the PhD progam has for their own master's students?
• Thoughts on working the first semester? I have worked every semester of undergrad, but I don't know how difficult the curriculum will be compared to my middle tier undergrad.

I would also love to connect with future potential classmates!

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[dandelionfluff]

Hey rosemary! Are you going to Visit Day on 3/23? I'm staying kind of near the school to get a feel for what neighborhood I want to live in (hopefully cheap and walkable - not bringing a car).

Does anyone know what kind of acceptance rate the PhD progam has for their own master's students?

I don't think I'm really cut out for academia (we'll see after this year I guess) but I have done some creeping on the student profiles for the Health Policy program. There seem to be a few who went from the SM to the PhD at Harvard. My account is too new to directly link there but I found their profiles on healthpolicy.fas.harvard.edu.

To be honest I'm torn between Harvard and JHU...did you commit to Harvard?

 

[dandelionfluff]

Would you be willing to share your insight with me about neighborhoods after your visit?

Yes of course! Is there anything in particular you're looking for in terms of housing?

I feel you about taking on more debt. I actually was not considering Harvard at all but they offered me some funding which made me reconsider. But my dream was always Hopkins...it's close to DC, very international, and close-ish to my family.

This may sound really stupid but I also feel really awkward about going to Harvard. When people ask me where I applied I excitedly list the names of my other programs and then sort of mumble Harvard. A lot of my peers view it as an elitist school for rich white people. I know it's not like that anymore and I need to get over what my community thinks. But I also know there are people who are a better fit and more passionate about the school that deserve my spot. (Obviously Hopkins has an equally elitist history but the name has never caused a reaction the way Harvard does. My parents have never even heard of it and keep calling it John Hopkin's).

 

[dandelionfluff]

I also know what you mean about Harvard...The name has an elitist connotation for many of my activist peers, and I honestly feel a little nervous to tell people it is my top choice. At the same time, they offered me enough money that it is the cheapest program for me, the education is top notch, and they have some great researchers in my field, so I think I will go there anyway.

Is cost the primary reason you are still considering Harvard?

I'm glad you're in the same boat as me! I've never admitted that to anyone but I figured I should be honest on an anonymous forum. :D

I'm considering it more and more as I do my research. My understanding is that while Hopkins is absolutely dominant in research/epi/biostats, Harvard has its own strengths in the humanities. But I also think Hopkins has a better web presence so it's hard to tell. What are your thoughts? And have you found any Facebook groups for admitted students?

 

[ConfusedAsUsual]

Hey all!

Can’t wait to see some of you at admitted students day It was a tough choice for me to choose between Hopkins and Harvard as well!

 

[cowboyupyall]

Hey all!

Can’t wait to see some of you at admitted students day It was a tough choice for me to choose between Hopkins and Harvard as well!

See you there! Any advice for us still at a crossroads? I'm interested in global health too so I'd love to hear your thought process.

I booked a hostel-style AirBnb and just realized it has 2 twin beds, so if anyone needs a place to stay please DM me. I am a 20something female and paid $50/night for Thursday and Friday. I accept sliding scale from my future colleagues.

 

[ConfusedAsUsual]

See you there! Any advice for us still at a crossroads? I'm interested in global health too so I'd love to hear your thought process.

I booked a hostel-style AirBnb and just realized it has 2 twin beds, so if anyone needs a place to stay please DM me. I am a 20something female and paid $50/night for Thursday and Friday. I accept sliding scale from my future colleagues.

Harvard’s SM-80, in addition to the weight the name carries (and HSPH itself is ranked #2) has a much stronger quantitative and research focus which I know will look attractive career-wise. Also because of the sheer amount of resources, you can really do anything you want. And since you’re at the medical campus, there are a lot of part time research jobs available! An employer also told me that the community oddly doesn’t have the same competitive cut throat feeling as JHU. Also, the program size is apparently only 10-15 students.

I’m in a little bit of a unique position where an independent fellowship will cover costs, and because of a pre-existing partnership with Harvard, the decision ended up becoming easy! Hope this helps!!

 

[Dwan]

I'm glad you're in the same boat as me! I've never admitted that to anyone but I figured I should be honest on an anonymous forum. :D

I'm considering it more and more as I do my research. My understanding is that while Hopkins is absolutely dominant in research/epi/biostats, Harvard has its own strengths in the humanities. But I also think Hopkins has a better web presence so it's hard to tell. What are your thoughts? And have you found any Facebook groups for admitted students?

Harvard's yearly research funding in public health is on par with Hopkins (both >$100 million in NIH funds towards PH research) Epidemiology is very strong at both Harvard and Hopkins. Source: NIH Awards by Location and Organization - NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT)