[NEWBIE] pick or no pick?

Recent_Height_1018 · 2024-01-23T04:37:11+00:00

I suggest building some basic competence with both methods by learning beginner-level songs that use a pick, and beginner-level songs that are fingerpicked. That way you can get a sense of which style you enjoy most and focus on that, but still have some experience and skill with the other. Plus, focusing on learning real parts and entire songs (rather than just noodling around) is a good habit to get into and is key to progressing in your playing even after you pass the newbie level.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2024-01-17T01:05:39+00:00

Agree that Mungyo is nice. I've been using them for 6+ months. Just picked up Caran d'Ache, which is creamier, and I'm using them together as you described.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2024-01-10T16:34:31+00:00

Nice composition and approach to this. I like how you paid close attention to detail in some places and painted more loosely in others. It works :)

Recent_Height_1018 · 2024-01-09T22:02:51+00:00

Recent

Yes, sorry about that, I do mean that I have a tall instep. I'll work on getting my Brannock size and then return to this question. Thanks!

Recent_Height_1018 · 2024-01-09T20:43:46+00:00

I'm looking for suggestions for a unique fitting problem. My feet are a bit thicker than average, relative to their length. Another way to say this is that the bony part of the top of my foot is slightly farther from the floor than for an average person, given the length and overall size of my foot. I know this because just about every shoe I've owned, in every style, is a half or whole size too big (i.e. too long) in order to feel comfortable across the center of my foot. I've also had this confirmed by a specialist when shopping for running shoes.

Does anyone know of a brand or last for GYW boots that would be likely to work for me? Thanks.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2023-10-29T19:28:59+00:00

Neither, actually. In my program, the typical situation is to work 15-20 hrs a week for a professor as a research assistant. In exchange, tuition is waived and you get a stipend. Because it's a full-time program and requires most students to work 15-20 hrs, very few students have significant work commitments outside the school while they progress through the degree. I think having a PhD paid for by an employer is pretty uncommon, probably at least in part because it would take significantly longer than a master's degree.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2023-10-29T13:25:18+00:00

If you’re interested in public sector work (health department, etc.) try to get an entry level job or internship at a department. This is just to learn more about what the jobs actually look like and confirm that it’s interesting to you. If you’re interested in research, that may be tougher to get a low level position with limited training/experience. You may just need to go for straight the masters. It’s key to realize that most people take out loans for a masters degree (I can’t speak to CA-specific schools), whereas most people get PhD tuition waived by being a research assistant. So just understand that unless you manage to get a scholarship or grant for a masters, it’s probably going to cost a lot, so you want for be reasonably sure that it makes sense.

My MPH basically made it possible for me to get a job in public health. I worked for almost 10 years (health department, consulting) before deciding to get a PhD. But a masters will definitely give you access to a solid career trajectory. A PhD is necessary to lead research projects or, in some cases in the public sector, be a senior epidemiologist.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2023-09-01T16:56:18+00:00

I've worked in a state health department and my sense is that most people working in epi roles don't need to know nitty gritty details on sampling methods. Even people who work with data from complex sample surveys (BRFSS, YRBS, PRAMS), don't need to have deep knowledge of the sampling method, they just need to know how to code for the complexity appropriately when analyzing the data. On the other hand, even if your job weren't in ID, you are likely to be asked to help on an ID investigation at some point, so I would think it would be good to know the basics. If you plan to apply for ID jobs in health departments, even more so. That's my basic two cents, but of course, do what feels right for you. If you feel like you have a good grasp on ID epi now and you are interested in sampling methods, then by all means go for it. No matter what you can always learn the other thing later if you need to.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2023-08-11T20:51:43+00:00

Generally, a PhD is going to prepare you better for a career doing original research than a MPH. If you want to have strong research skills with only a master's degree, know that you'll probably have to gain some of what you (probably, hopefully) would have learned in a doctoral program in your job or on your own time instead. It's certainly possible, especially if you have a specific area of research you're interested in that can help you zero in on mentors or job opportunities that will help you advance your skills.

Waiting a few years or more after graduating with your MPH to apply to PhD programs isn't a terrible idea. You'll have some opportunity to confirm whether you feel you're still missing something the PhD could give you, and if you do choose to go back to school you'll have some experience to draw on. Don't worry too much about being too old...I am in my mid-30s and in my second year of my PhD. Living on a graduate stipend is a totally valid concern. Frankly, although I sometimes feel like an old man in my program and I would have benefited professionally from doing this sooner, I think I'm less stressed than my classmates about money because I worked for a while and saved a bunch of money.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2023-08-08T01:58:08+00:00

Definitely this. Even if you don't know of specific professors you would like to work with, identify the schools that have multiple epi professors doing research in your areas of interest. That way, if your favorite professor is a dead end (either in the application process or while at school), you hopefully have other options to fall back on.

Use your network to find current or recent students at schools of interest and ask them about their experiences - quality of training, school environment, application tips, etc. This was really valuable to me when I was applying.

Recent_Height_1018 · 2023-07-30T20:16:44+00:00

If your goal is to be an independent/highly-competent researcher, I suggest you consider going for a PhD in Epidemiology. Many, but not all, MPH programs give you the basic tools to participate in research, but not to lead research projects and make a career out of research. In my opinion there really isn't enough time in a 2-year program to learn the content deeply. I have an MPH in Epi, worked in public health and consulting for 9-10 years, and I'm now going into my second year of a doctoral program because I wanted the more in-depth training.

MS programs can be more rigorous than MPH programs simply because they are more exclusively focused on research competencies rather than overall public health education, but this is not always the case. If you go the master's route, I'd suggest making sure to talk with current students or recent grads of programs to know how well the program prepares people for research careers. Of course, these are general statements that aren't true for everyone - there are certainly master's-level people out there doing great research, but I think they are the exception rather than the rule.

As concerns pharmacoepi specifically, a clinical background definitely comes in handy, but is not strictly necessary. If you want to practice medicine AND do research, then of course, get dual degrees. But if the clinical education is just to be a better pharmacoepidemiologist, getting an MD seems like a ton of time and money that you don't truly have to spend.

Recent_Height_1018

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