<p>I'm interested in applying to health economics phd programs for next year and I was wondering what my current chances of admission roughly seem to be like. I am an economics and environmental studies major and math minor with classes ranging from econometrics, international/develpment economics, linear algebra, calc 3, (will soon be taking differential equations) and some bio classes like microbiology and ecology. I have prior experience doing research with biostatistcs, and this past summer I did research on electronic cigarette usage in European countries in the health behavior department of this huge cancer research center in my home city of Buffalo. I am not taking the GRE for another 3 weeks, but when I took a practice test last year I had a 148 verbal and a 156 quantitative, but now that I've actually been studying I think I can get those scores up by at least 5 points or so, but I'll take another practice test soon to gauge where I'm at currently.</p>
<p>Anyway, I think I'm going to be applying to programs at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan, Yale, Columbia, and then probably one crappy school as a backup. So do I have a decent chance? I also have a 3.8 overall GPA, can probably churn out an excellent personal statement and I have 3 people that LOVE me to write recommendation letters!</p>
<p>We can’t offer you an idea of your “chances”, as they are based on a lot of factors other than your GPA and GRE scores, several of which have nothing to do with you personally.</p>
<p>Also, there are no “back-ups” in graduate admissions. Even mid-ranked programs have competitive admissions, and besides, you want to go to the best program for you. You don’t want to go to a program just to be somewhere.</p>
<p>Thanks very much for the response. I guess I’m just freaking out about this whole process!</p>
<p>In your knowledge do you think that fulfilling job opportunities are more available to do those who go for Phd programs in health economics rather than say a masters in that field/health policy?</p>
<p>I think it depends on what you mean by “fulfilling.” It’s all about your personal preferences and interests. Economics is not my field (I am in public health, but a different part of it). From my second-hand experience, there are good, well-paying jobs to be had at both the MA and the PhD level. I would imagine that both MAs and PhDs can get applied, analytic jobs at firms (both for-profit and nonprofit/NGO/government), although the bulk of that kind of lower-level work is probably done by MA-level analysts. PhD-level analysts will get more autonomy; they may design studies and surveys, create analyses, direct the work of the MA-level analysts, and rise to management positions of research teams/firms/divisions. And, of course, PhD-level economists can become professors, probably both in economics departments and in business schools if they do the right research (and also other kinds of places, like a school of public health).</p>
<p>One way to split the difference is to get an MA and to work for a little while to get a feel for what’s out there. If you get a well-placed assignment you can sort of survey the land and see who in your firm, and your field, has what degree.</p>
<p>I was in Boston this past weekend and I talked with admissions reps from Boston University’s school of public health. Basically what I found out is that their health economics phd almost never accepts people without a master’s degree unless the person with a bacehlor’s degree has such a degree of experience and research that indicates as full of an understanding as one with an MPH or MS in health services.</p>
<p>Boston University is my top choice right now because its a pretty good school and I love the area, so I might just apply for one of their MPH programs first, either in Health Policy in Management, Health Law/Bioethics, or Global Health before I get my PhD if I decide to keep going on for it. I am however a bit concerned by the costs of going for an MPH without directly going into a PhD program after, however it is my understanding that only true economics, or natural science/math phd programs will accept directly from undergrad with funding and everything, rather than the applied interdisciplinary public health related areas.</p>
<p>Yeah, requiring an MA or an MPH first is quite common in public health. I came into my program without one, but I was in a small minority of students.</p>
<p>I was going to recommend my own PhD program but it appears they recently discontinued the economics concentration What are your interests? A health policy and management program or a health services research program might also fulfill your needs. Emory’s program in health services research & health policy, for example, does not require a master’s.</p>
<p>The cost of an MPH is a concern. You don’t want to incur $100K in debt just to get into a PhD program. What state do you live in? Many public universities now have well-regarded MPH programs at much lower costs than the top schools. Also, many PhD programs in public health will admit students with master’s degrees in other fields, like the social sciences. You should investigate the possibility of a funded MA in economics, perhaps at a school that has a school of public health, so you can take a few classes there.</p>
<p>Another option is to apply for PhD programs in regular economics departments, but economics departments that have a health concentration and potentially at schools that also have public health courses. Doctoral programs are often flexible, allowing you to build in your own structure to study a particular interest of yours. I know nothing about economics, but a quick browse shows a few people in BU’s economics department that do research on health economics, and you could potentially collaborate with folks in the SPH and work on projects there, as well as take some classes over there.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the advice! I’m interested in doing work in research with evaluating economic efficiency and outcomes of various health care systems, as well as improving access to health care in general. </p>
<p>I live in the state of New York (buffalo native) and I’m pretty willing to go to any school on the east coast, but I’d prefer an urban area if possible because I need to get a change of pace from the small rural town that I’ve gone for undergrad. I’m certain a health policy and management MPH would serve me fine, but I’ll look into a health services MS (or any similar field that I find interesting and useful enough) to see if it could be funded. I doubt I’d get into traditional economics Phd programs though, as I haven’t had real analysis and probability theory in undergrad (despite having every other needed math class), which is supposedly pretty necessary.</p>
What are your interests? A health policy and management program or a health services research program might also fulfill your needs. Emory’s program in health services research & health policy, for example, does not require a master’s.</p>