Allison Cosslett, BA Sociology, TU 1998; MA, Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 2001

 1.  What have you been doing since graduating from TU in 1998? 

After graduating from TU, I served as Team Coordinator for the National AIDS Fund AmeriCorps program in Tulsa, OK, gaining tremendous teaching experience while educating at-risk youth, adults, religious community members and others about HIV/AIDS and issues related to the disease.  My work that year led to a job working at Planned Parenthood with the Healthy Start program, a government initiative to lower the nation’s infant mortality rate.   I worked in low-income communities in Tulsa talking with women (and sometimes men) about their reproductive health options, perinatal care, and state health insurance for children.  After spending a year at Planned Parenthood, I began my master’s degree in health sciences in the Dept of Population and Family Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.  I graduated in May of 2001.

2.  What are you doing now?

Now I am working as a research assistant to several faculty members at Johns Hopkins.  Most of my work is funded through a grant our department received to evaluate the Healthy Steps Program, an experimental child development program that has been integrated in to pediatric practices throughout the US.  I analyze data, write reports and everything else that goes along with the evaluation of a national study.  Some of my time is also spent working with several faculty members researching health topics like maternal depression, childhood obesity and child development so that the info can be incorporated into grants that we write.  I’m learning tons. 

I also have a part-time job working on an epidemiologic study of cardiac arrests in Maryland.

 3.  What are your plans for the future? 

That’s the question of the hour.  And the answer -- to be happy, healthy and do sound work.  Really, I’ve considered a PhD in Epidemiology (thus the part-time job on the epi study), I’m seriously considering medical school, or I may go for a more general public health degree (called a DrPH).  Life is really just an evolving path for me.  I’m trying to keep my passions, strengths and weaknesses in mind and make the best decisions.

4.  What have been the most rewarding experiences for you in the last 3 and 1/2 years?

My two years working in public health in Tulsa gave me the opportunity to gain some real world knowledge and let me see first-hand the major health problems Americans face.

My year studying at Hopkins was tough.  It was extremely demanding and very competitive.  I learned to work hard, keep out of the competition games, but most importantly (to me and to TU students) is that TU grads can hang with the ivy leagues grads!  So, in short, my work and studies have been my most rewarding experiences over the last few years.

5.  What have been the most difficult experiences you’ve faced since graduating?

Moving away from my family and friends in Tulsa and working to create a network of friends here in Baltimore.  I’ve always been near my family and I lived in the same house growing up.  So the change was a difficult one for me.

6.  What kinds of obstacles have you faced? 

Same as above, but also having enough money.  However, that’s a problem for most graduate students.

7.  What sources of support have you drawn on? 

Throughout my life my parents, siblings, and friends have been an unwavering source of support.

One of the major criticisms of Hopkins Public Health is that students feel like they’ve been dropped in deep water and told to sink or swim – no life jackets.  Finding support can be difficult in short master’s degree programs at top universities because faculty members are under severe pressure to get grants and to publish (that’s how they earn their livings).  So if you’re only going to be around for a year, they simply don’t have time to invest in you.  So, you have to be bold, ask to get involved, and start developing a network of people you can talk to and count on.  I found myself most supported when I began a work-study job and started getting to know faculty members by working for them.  That’s what led to the work I’m doing now!

 8.  What advice do you have for current sociology majors?

Find an area of sociology that interests you, like health, criminology, or the environment.  Get a little work experience in that area (if you don’t already have it) and then look at master’s programs.  I feel strongly that completing a master’s degree before jumping into a PhD is the best route to take.  Here are my reasons: 

a.  You learn what it’s like to be in graduate school without committing to several years.

b.  You’re much more attractive to PhD programs because you’ve got more experience and have shown that you can do well in a graduate program.

c.  It’s a great way to “try-out” a school before you make a major commitment.

d.  You can be sure your area of interest is truly something that you want to commit to do for an extended period of time.

 9.  Anything else you'd like to add?

Just that TU students are welcome to contact me any time!

Update 2002:  I am now enrolled in a special program (a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program) at Goucher College in Maryland as preparation for medical training.  This program allows people with little background in biology and chemistry to be fully prepared by the time they enter medical school.  After finishing this program in the summer of 2003, I plan to attend medical school. 

Update 2004:  I have been working at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Embryology for the last year, researching genes that affect musculoskeletal development. I have been accepted to several medical schools and will begin studying at one of them in the Fall of 2004.