Unafraid: Secrets to succeeding at the VCU School of Public Health
Classes start in two weeks, on Tuesday, August 19. To help our new (and returning) students feel more at ease and make the most of the year ahead, we asked students and SOPH community members to share their best advice. A strong theme emerged: be unafraid; support and resources are readily available!
Lean on your new community.
“Don’t be afraid to lean on both professors and classmates as you work through your courses! Every professor has been very helpful during office hours and after-class discussions, and text groups with classmates helped tremendously. You are not alone!”
– Johnny Ramey, M.P.H. student and Graduate Admissions Specialist for the VCU College of Engineering
International students, you’re in good company, too.
“Resuming my doctoral studies as an international student new to the U.S. meant navigating a lot at once. There were so many boxes to tick, from getting an apartment, my SSN, opening a bank account, shopping for groceries at the right stores, figuring out which forms to fill out, and how to fill them properly. Even figuring out how not to miss my next bus stop proved elusive at first.
What made the transition easier for me was asking questions, asking the right people, and cross-checking the answers. Don’t be afraid to seek help, especially from the right sources. It can save you time, reduce stress, and help you make better decisions.”
– Samuel A. Sijuade, Ph.D. student, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
A great resource for international students is the Global Education Office. The Fall 2025 International Student Orientation (ISO) is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. Please register for ISO before the event date.
From a recent graduate
“As a student, be willing to invest in yourself to get what you want and to develop yourself as a professional, knowing you’re going to receive help.”
– Emily Edwards, M.P.H.’25, Cancer Support Care Patient Navigator at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Learn how Emily invested in herself through an internship at the American Cancer Society, a leadership role on the Public Health Student Association board and as an ASPPH This is Public Health Ambassador.
Speaking of help…
Get advice and resources from your friendly VCU librarian and liaison to the School of Public Health.
“VCU librarians can help with finding anything you need for research. We can help with searching databases like PubMed, accessing articles that are paywalled, thinking through a research question, using citation software, making sense of the scholarly literature, and lots more.
Did you know? VCU Libraries have a lot more than books and articles. For example, there are newspaper subscriptions; streaming video; data and statistics; makerspaces (3D printing and beyond); and we can help with identifying grant funding and journals to publish in; and lots more!
– Samantha Guss, M.S.L.S., M.A., Research and Education Librarian at the Health Sciences Library, VCU Libraries.
You can email Samantha directly or [email protected] or chat with the library any time (staffed by real humans!)
Categories MPH, Student success