I'll do my best to answer these questions however some warrant a more intimate answer that I don't think would be appropriate to mention for hundreds of people to see so if you feel you want to hear those as well please feel free to PM me. I've talked with many of the prospective individuals in this thread at one point or another via PM and a few over a phone call. I'd be happy to do either for you or mpeter.
First and foremost, if I'm not incorrect you have until April 15th to accept. If that is still the case, I wouldn't rush accepting and would weigh all options especially since you have interviews with some very well respected programs.
1. The accelerated program has it's ups and downs. It is pretty fast-paced but entirely manageable, we've still been able to go out on weekends and have fun. You just need to be cognizant and budget your time accordingly. Generally we have 4 terms the first year (8 week terms). Each term tends to have 5-7 classes. Out of those classes 1 or 2 are online so as far as physical class time goes you can spend 1-5 hours per day. It really just depends on what classes you have. One thing to note is during first term we had classes M-Th, this was because we have seminars Friday usually where organizations come and present themselves for potential residency opportunities for your 2nd year. During 2nd term we had classes M-F. However during this term (3rd) we only have classes Monday - Wednesday. The reason for this is because Thursdays - Fridays are reserved for out of state interviews for residency sites as well as group projects, consulting practicum etc. I think this may be the case with many programs but some classes you'll find highly useful, others you may question why on earth we have to take this class. You do get to offer your input at the end of term and they tailor it for the incoming class next year, I know the previous class before us had done that. Another thing I think that is important to keep in mind is because of the nature of the accelerated program you're really getting an broad overview of the topics and not an indepth understanding. To some, this can pose an issue because maybe that isn't the way you want to learn. If this is something you feel, then a 2 year program certainly has it's benefits. I know on some classes this was an issue for me because I felt I didn't really get the understanding I was looking to get but I've been told by 2nd year students that you get to hone your skills and gain a deeper understanding once you're in your residency so there are definitely pros and cons to the accelerated program.
2. There may be one person in our program doing additional work. It's not recommended unfortunately due to the nature of the program. Most don't pursue any research so if that is something you want to do then I would look more into it. That's not to say you can't do it, I'm sure if you spoke with the directors etc you may be able to find a way but you'd be pressing yourself thin in my opinion. I know someone that is currently a second year did research and he found ways to do it so it really is user preference. Some people can handle it, others can't.
3. I chose not to pursue certificates because I felt my class schedule was already fast paced and I didn't want additional stress. That's not to say others in my cohort haven't pursued certificates. I believe 4-5 out of the 25 are on par of completing a certificate. You take the certificate classes in conjunction with your normal terms. Some certificates may not work because of overlapping class times but the 4-5 in my cohort that did take up a certificate course have been able to do so. The nice thing is that a lot of classes are offered online so it is a possibility. Another possibility is if the certificate is offered online you can take some of those classes during your 2nd year (depending on credit amount).
4. I would say the alumni network is there if you need it. When we have potential residency sites come down for seminars, generally it's the 2nd year students doing their residency that also come so you are able to get familiar with them. I know if you are looking to go to a geographical location then you can reach out to the program directors and they can try to get you in touch with individuals from that program. This is a topic I'm willing to talk about over a PM or a phone call but won't publicly bring up specific details as I don't think it'd be appropriate to do so. So far, I haven't had or felt the need to utilize alumni network services so my opinion definitely is differently tailored.
5. I definitely know everyone in my cohort and talk to them when I see them in my classes or at events. While I may not be close friends with all I have definitely made 3-4 really close friends through the program and am glad I met them. I don't think this is something special though, any program you go to, you will encounter these same outcomes. Most programs are 25-50 people so due to the smaller size in your cohort compared to the MPH programs you develop a sense of closeness that you may not have in other degrees.
Hopefully this helps provide some insight and answers your questions. It's important to know and understand that this is all just my opinion and as we all know opinions are biased. As mentioned before, I'd be more than glad to speak about it in more detail over a PM or call. If you have other questions you can also post them here and I'll do my best to respond.
Best of luck!
Thank you for this info! I will be applying to MHA programs this fall and am now in the process of researching various schools. I have a friend who is in Cornell's MHA program and another friend who recently graduated from Minnesota's MHA program. I talked with both of them this weekend and got a lot of really useful info that I thought I'd share with you all.
Minnesota:
Pros:
-Amazing networking opportunities throughout the country
-Direct access to high level executives within the U. Minnesota health system
-Fantastic faculty with lots of applied learning experiences
-Cohesive and academically talented cohort of students (100% of students who apply for fellowships get fellowships)
Cons:
-Winters in Minneapolis are brutal
-School of public health is in an older building so the facilities leave something to be desired
-Less brand recognition
Cornell:
Pros:
-Pretty campus
-Ivy League reputation
-Most classes and faculty are good
Cons:
-Isolated location with long winters
-Very few networking opportunities in the surrounding area due to lack of a major health system in Ithaca
-Several students who wanted fellowships did not get them
-The school where the MHA program is located will be under construction for the next few years so classes are taken at random locations throughout campus
-A decent number of the MHA faculty are not great. Also, the program director is super nice but at times is a bit too involved with students' personal lives
I asked both of my friends if they would have gone to their respective schools if they had to do it all over again. My friend who went to Minnesota said most definitely. The only other program she would have considered is Hopkins because of brand name recognition and the unique format -- the second year is valuable work experience with full salary and benefits. My friend at Cornell said he would have chosen a different program. The lack of a university hospital is a major drawback and he has found his overall experience to be somewhat disappointing. He would have picked a school with a direct/local connection to a major university hospital and specifically named Columbia, Minnesota, and Hopkins.
Both of my friends said brand name/rankings are important but the US News MHA rankings are determined purely by surveys. They are far less objective than the US News medical school, business school, or undergrad rankings that take into account a very wide range of criteria.
Hope you find this helpful!
