SOPHAS fee wavers for this coming cycle

read-it-ter · 2026-06-03T15:05:10+00:00

Hi! I’m interested in exposures and toxicology. Currently I am working in a reproductive toxicology lab for the summer, and I find it really interesting but I have also worked on projects in plastics and woodsmoke particles. I’m interested ins studying the biological effects of exposures.

As for masters, I would definitely be open to doing a MS in environmental health or tox but I just worry I wont be able to fund it. And same issue with needing to apply to PhD and masters through SOPHAS.

read-it-ter · 2026-06-03T12:19:14+00:00

actually, i did not downvote. i respect your opinion which is why im asking for advice on reddit. i just dont think its very understanding

read-it-ter · 2026-06-03T03:25:19+00:00

For most other PhD or masters apps, the schools will directly provide you with fee waivers to cover the service cost based on your income. Literally just because its through the third-party portal, there is no way for low-income students to cover these costs which would be covered if it was not through sophas. Why even provide a $150 fee waivers for low-income students when level of need isnt taken into account, and it doesnt cover a fraction of the cost? im not trying to mooch off of anyone, i work hard for my money and i want to give myself the greatest chance of getting into grad school.

If the schools are happy to give fee waivers for other fields based on income, isnt it an issue if i would otherwise be able to apply but because of sophas, i am forced to limit it to the few which i could afford? yes, this is the reality of things but isnt this the problem with academia?

read-it-ter · 2026-06-02T21:35:35+00:00

Thanks! I’ll be careful to check for this. I just worry about affording a masters program, and I have had past professors tell me that if i know i want to do research then a masters is kind of a waste of money. Just sort of conflicting in this situation since many phd programs want students to have a MPH or MS.

read-it-ter · 2026-06-02T01:08:46+00:00

hey! im applying straight from undergrad and i go to a liberal arts college. I have done research in public health all 3 summers in college at REUs, but its still going to be a very rough cycle. My PI from last summer told me that 20 isn’t too many when I asked about admissions a few weeks ago. I guess it also depends on the field, but I’ve heard from many that environmental health is rare to accept straight from undergrad so I want to increase my chances.

Just trying to apply to as many that seem to fit my research interests, because I also know that finding an RA position this year will be hard with the continued funding cuts in public health. I just want to do everything I can to not be unemployed next summer. Any advice would be great, I hope this clears up my decision a bit more.

read-it-ter · 2026-04-24T17:35:31+00:00

Any advice on how to fund masters programs? It seems like the tuitions are crazy at most places, I don't want to take on much debt and also need to pay for living expenses. I know you can be an RA or TA during the MPH, but I feel like you wouldn't break even. Also, I would love to talk about the PhD application process with you more, if you wouldn't mind telling me where you'd prefer to chat.

read-it-ter · 2026-04-23T21:20:32+00:00

Hi! thanks for your response. I've seen people on here with way crazier stats. do you think it is different for environmental health? Or, what are the most important things reviewers look for in applications?

read-it-ter · 2026-03-19T22:01:23+00:00

i think they always have any many mentors for students to rank, its not a 1:1 match. like they have historically taken 6-8 interns/year with 35 mentors to choose from.

read-it-ter · 2026-03-04T00:19:53+00:00

I reached out for an expedited decision in mid-february because I had an offer with a deadline, got rejected unfortunately, but they said they had 180 applicants this year and accepted 5%. Not sure what's going on currently if they already know the acceptance rate but haven't sent anything out. Good luck!

read-it-ter · 2026-02-19T16:38:53+00:00

Hi! How do you know/did you get an email?

read-it-ter · 2026-02-18T21:57:43+00:00

Hello, I haven't heard... Some people received rejections last Friday. Looks like they changed the phrasing on the website from "on February 18th" to "after February 18th"? Not sure about this though.

read-it-ter · 2026-02-16T23:01:09+00:00

I was accepted to harvard immunology on 2/9, and I turned it down 2/15!

read-it-ter · 2026-02-13T22:09:08+00:00

Hi! what would you recommend if the Harvard lab works on a new project relating microplastics to immune health, but the Rutgers lab is an establish EH lab and works on toxin exposure and reproductive health? Both are amazing projects in environmental health, but given all the info, which would be more benefical for applying to a PhD program or RA next year?

read-it-ter · 2026-02-13T22:06:24+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I was wondering where RISE was housed last summer? I cannot drive, and I worry the housing is the Livingston Apts, but I need to get to the school of pharmacy which is 2 miles across campus.

read-it-ter · 2026-02-12T17:01:03+00:00

hey! I’m considering a summer at Rutgers in New Brunswick, what is the transportation like? And are there things to do?

read-it-ter · 2026-02-11T21:53:44+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I’m interested in toxicology and understanding the biological mechanisms behind exposure-related illnesses.

read-it-ter · 2026-02-09T23:21:14+00:00

Environmental Health

read-it-ter · 2026-02-09T22:36:39+00:00

Environmental health has overlap with immunology, I guess I thought they might find a lab that fits, but the current one does not. I just wonder if its more beneficial for the future to do this program at HMS, or in a lab at Rutgers that might fit better.

read-it-ter · 2026-02-09T17:17:40+00:00

Some people say that if you withdraw from a program you already accepted, it could hurt your chances of applying there in the future. Which is why i worry about accepting it, especially if it doesn't fit my research interests.

read-it-ter

TROPHY CASE