The journey of summer self-discovery-Part 2

From my second informational interview this summer--pure amazingness...especially useful for those with a background similar to me. 

1)  On what one should do as an undergraduate at MIT

Cross-register with Harvard to take some courses on global health

If necessary, one should contact people in Harvard to get course evaluations and syllabus.

Most Harvard classes have a heavy focus on reading, writing and verbal discussions. As such, one might be at a disadvantage as a MIT undergraduate. One relatively easy class in this aspect is Global Health Challenges ( refer to their website for the complete list ). Other classes to consider are those on statistics and data analysis, especially if one is not confident and familiar in these two areas).

Develop as extensive a network as possible as a student at MIT. Get to know administrators working in your department, faculty members, TAs, in and outside of the classroom.

Look into alternative career options if you have been focused sorely on academia/non-government agencies. Experiences such as consulting is likely to come to handy one day. It also increases your credibility when applying to future graduate programs and employment openings.

Really polish your communications skills. Take HASS classes and speak up in class. These skills are essential for the future prospect as a graduate student in global health and beyond.

Spend some time in MIT library and search for journals/course materials etc that are relevant. The medical journal Lancet sometimes has interesting articles about global health.

2)  On applying to graduate degrees in public health/global health

If you are thinking of doing any sort of graduate degree in global health, a Master of Science in public health is something good to start with. An alternative is a MPH (master in public health). However, MPH often requires previous working experience or a MD degree.

To be considered for admission, one should have some rudimentary skills in quantitative data analysis skills and a strong passion for global health. To gain a head start, one should contact the admission office for the particular program one is interested in and get to know the faculty members sitting on the admission committee. Another added advantage is working experience prior to applying. If you are not sure about going into global health or think you are lacking in the skills/assets other applicants might have, taking a gap year is a good option. Places to look for work include 1) Research Assistant openings in different  universities 2) Academic & government institutions like IHME 3) consulting opportunities.

If you are worried about money, most master’s degrees in global health are not funded, as you probably already know. However, there are ways around this! Harvard for example, offers funding for master’s degree candidates in environmental health. Although the content of the program isn’t strictly within the domain of global health, it still teaches some of the important skills that are transferable to global health studies. Degrees such as this one will serve as a good springboard for options in the future, for example, applying to a PHD degree in pubic health.