USC or BU...

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BU and USC, It's really hard for me to make a decision...

These two programs all concentrate on Health Policy and Management.
USC offers MPA degree under the Price School of Public Policy and BU offers MPH degree under the School of Public Health. I think both USC's MPA and BU's MPH are strong...

Another thing makes the choice more difficult is the money. Received scholarship from both schools...$12000/program from BU and $18000/year from USC..

I'd appreciate it if you guys could give me some idea about these two schools!

I can't say much about the quality of either program, but if any school offers me $18000 a year, I would definitely lean towards that.

I was actually accepted to both schools (with similar funding). However, do you mean to say MHA (Master in Health Administration), not MPA??? Anyhow, congratulations! And although I decided to attend neither, here was my thought process:

Location: Post-graduation, where do you want to live, East or West Coast? Both are strong regionally, however I was told it diminishes the farther you move away from host city.

Time: Boston can be completed in 3 semesters, USC is a 4 semester program.

Cost: If you factor in scholarships and length of attendance, USC appears to be a little cheaper. Los Angeles and Boston are comparable in living price.

Curriculum: Boston is a School of Public Health, USC MHA is lumped in with MPP, MPA students (MPH is separate). Not sure who has the advantage here.

Weather: Let's not be silly.

Transportation: You will need a car in Los Angeles, Boston has decent public transportation (no car).

X-Factors: USC has a unique Administrative Residency requirement where students only take 8 credits for the summer and last whole year. This is supplemented by working 20-40 hours (decent pay). I thought this was highly attractive to mitigate cost of attendance and work experience.

Good luck on your decision!

If it weren't for my irrational, unwarranted desire to live on the east coast for part of my life I would have applied to USC and stayed in California.

Usc

a degree from a School of Public Health is much different than a degree from a School of Public Policy. They may both be strong, but in different disciplines.

I'm completely confused with this decision as well. I absolutely loved BU's program and the research available in Boston. However, being from CA, USC is an appealing choice since it's closer to home. Any more advice??

1. Work wise - If I move to the east coast after USC, will I find a job? Same with if I attend BU and move back home to the west coast, will I find a job?

2. Does the "name" of the program matter? I know USC is an up and coming program while BU is its own SPH and is a well-rooted program. How much weight does this have?

Originally Posted by AnkPat

I'm completely confused with this decision as well. I absolutely loved BU's program and the research available in Boston. However, being from CA, USC is an appealing choice since it's closer to home. Any more advice??

1. Work wise - If I move to the east coast after USC, will I find a job? Same with if I attend BU and move back home to the west coast, will I find a job?

2. Does the "name" of the program matter? I know USC is an up and coming program while BU is its own SPH and is a well-rooted program. How much weight does this have?

In terms of finding a job, this is of course individual specific. I am not an expert, but if you get your MPH where you want to work, as in a similar geographic area, I would guess that this would help with the job search. In my state, if you go to one of the public health schools, then you sort of naturally get plugged into the research/connections that will lead to a job.

BU doesn’t have a well known national reputation, it is similar to a local state/private public health school in that it is known in the state. Going to BU will most certainly not get you an “in” when looking for jobs in California.

Harvard or Hopkins would help, but not BU.

Public health schools aren’t trees in the sense that you are looking for a “well rooted” school, older schools might lose their edge. From my experience applying with BU, I think that they sort of see so many applicants that they don’t really see them as individuals anymore. I won’t be attending BU though I was accepted after a painful application process.

Up and coming programs might be working harder to please their students and make sure that they get jobs upon graduation. In terms of research, go where they are doing the type of research that you want to do.

Best of Luck!