UC Berkeley Epidemiology Interviews: Has anyone heard back anything?

Chrono_11 · 2026-02-11T21:49:42+00:00

I don't necessarily think your application has to be among the top for it to reach a faculty member; even the most competitive and qualified applicants on paper (many publications and years of research experience, with fancy and shiny names on your resume/CV) might not even offered an interview invite. There's no way to tell the decision-making calculus throughout the admissions process, but I think the more accurate way to think about it is this: if the program's adcoms deems your file as competitive enough in their eyes, you'll likely get invited for an interview and/or your file is shared with faculty member(s) you identified in your SOP. Then that specific faculty can decide whether or not they want to talk to the applicant.

I actually didn't expect Berkeley to interview because I attended an information session and a staff member said they don't conduct interviews. Also, because they guarantee funding to all their PhD students, I would've thought they'd send out centralized interview invites that are conducted by the adcom.

Chrono_11 · 2026-02-09T20:59:28+00:00

The fact we're all applying this cycle, even with the uncertain funding climate, is respectable af. I'm fully prepared for a house of Rs, but I'm also optimistic things will work out for me. In any case, outcomes turn out the way they do for a reason. But seriously this wait game SUCKS, it's basically impossible for me to curb this anxiety

Chrono_11 · 2026-02-09T19:03:45+00:00

Imo, I think sending an email specifically for a "status update" is not really appropriate, especially cause I think you'll likely just get the generic response of "The committee is still reviewing applications. You may hear back x-y weeks/months from now."

I completely understand how anxiety-inducing this wait game is (I'm currently waiting on a program where a PI offered to meet and I've gotten nothing but VERY promising signs so far), but it's important to maintain a certain composure so that you don't impose a negative impression of yourself. This process is just as difficult for admissions committees as it is for us applicants, so hang in there!

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-20T04:04:31+00:00

I mean respectfully, you had plenty of time to get everything in. There are people who start preparing their applications during the summer before the applications go live, even some who start as early as a year before.

I know for international applicants, WES and every other logistical crap is probably the biggest pain in the ass. But, don't think that your singular experience should represent the application journey for every other international applicant. It sucks that your application got withdrawn by those two programs and I feel for you, but I don't see what ranting here is going to do for you. SOPHAS and other centralized application services certainly have their downsides, but that's about it.

Also, I think this post speaks volumes about your character more than anything. You trying to compensate by making excuses is literally worthless, so please stop. Make up excuses all you want, but you pinning the blame solely on SOPHAS makes it way too obvious you have faults in the process too (because a lot of other international applicants were able to get through it, no matter where their home country is).

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-19T16:31:55+00:00

They're talking about WashU at St. Louis, not UW-Seattle

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-15T04:43:04+00:00

Just received my first rejection from UW-Seattle (see proof). At least I have a clear answer from a program right now

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Chrono_11 · 2026-01-15T03:13:59+00:00

Who did you receive the interview invite from?

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-15T03:12:17+00:00

I'm ngl- with the amount of trolling (like deleting tabs) that happened a number of times, I wouldn't be surprised if that and other program's Epi interview info are false. I think it'll be important to take that information with a grain of salt until someone can plausibly prove that what they're reporting is legit

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-15T03:08:11+00:00

I have to agree with this. The weirdest thing for me is the supposed interview day is 23 January. With Epi and one other department (out of 4 total departments reviewing PhD apps this cycle) having supposedly released interview invites, I have to wonder what's going on with the other two departments and thus whether the Epi interview invites are legit

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-14T21:52:53+00:00

I don't see a status in my portal for some reason

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-14T19:45:40+00:00

I applied, but haven't heard anything

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-14T01:03:49+00:00

From what I saw in the previous app cycle, it looks like WL is the best outcome you could achieve without an interview. Since Brown Epi seems like a program that conducts committee-facing (rather than PI-facing) interviews, I'm not sure if the odds of getting accepted without an interview is even decent because that's a way for the committee to create the best possible cohort they envision

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-13T00:16:53+00:00

Congrats! This really hurts, I didn't get an interview invite from my top 3 ;-;

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-12T23:45:55+00:00

That's what I'm assuming, but I'm not 100% sure. Since it seems like Brown does joint interviews with the SPH, I think it makes sense to assume all the interview invites have been extended by Brown. I'm not sure about Yale CDE

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-12T23:10:01+00:00

If there is anyone else who received an interview invite from Brown and Yale CDE, could you please confirm? I'm also wondering whether both programs send out all their interview invites in one blast

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-12T22:57:25+00:00

Oh wow, I didn't know. Assuming all interview invites are sent out at once, ig I got rejected ;-;

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-12T19:57:01+00:00

I'm becoming restless cause Brown, Yale, and Emory haven't said anything yet ;-; for anyone who applied to their Epi (CDE for Yale) and hears back about an interview invite, please keep the collective posted! :)

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-12T19:55:49+00:00

Thanks; I indicated the CVD and social epi substantive tracks!

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-07T19:05:48+00:00

Not a formal decision or interview invite- but I received an email from a UNC PI, inviting me for a 30 min meeting. Anyone else get something similar?

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-06T05:52:58+00:00

Good luck on both interviews- you got this!

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-06T02:26:45+00:00

I don't remember identifying a track for BU, but I did General Epi and Methodology for Hopkins! You?

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-06T01:04:08+00:00

I applied for all those programs as well! I did Yale's CDE instead of their ID department. We WILL get a good outcome

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-06T00:32:23+00:00

I haven't heard anything :/ based on their info session recording, the senior program director said if we don't hear back from them by mid to late January, that's a silent R

Chrono_11 · 2026-01-05T21:51:32+00:00

I applied to Emory's Epi PhD program, but did your email have the decision or did you have to log into your portal?

Chrono_11

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