Columbia or Emory MPH

[heyitsabell]

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Maybe a repeat thread but most of the threads that I saw weren't very recent so here we go again!

Got accepted into Emory and Columbia and am having a difficult time deciding between which one I should choose. Both of them have their pros and cons. My gut feeling is Columbia but it seems that most people ended up picking Emory which makes me feel uneasy with my decision. I feel like I'm going to have regrets either way...

Just FYI, I was a Public Health major and Health Communications minor in college, and I also have a MS degree in Global Medicine with more than 1 year experience working and researching abroad, so I'm not really interested in what each school's global health programs or epi have to offer.

Columbia: Sociomedical Sciences w/ possible certificate in Informatics (still deciding) (SMS)
Pros:
Rank 5; in NYC, I already studied in NYC before and I loved it so I kind of know what I'm getting myself into below the Harlem area at least; being able to get a certificate in a specialized concentration like informatics which I expect to be of huge interest in the future of PH job-wise but difficult nonetheless; Ivy League (I know I shouldn't care but I kind of do anyways); huge support system; going to move to NY after MPH so maybe I should get settled there now?

Cons:
Area (Washington Heights seems a little sketchy), program seems really intense and not as interesting compared to Emory or UW; many people say that research is hard to get and that professors aren't as "welcoming" (I might be a little spoiled by having such great research opportunities and super open professors from before); student housing!!! I can't imagine dorm-ing ever again! and the fact that Columbia doesn't have any pictures of the housing online makes me feel uncomfortable...; and it's really, really expensive!!!

Emory: Behavior Science and Health Education (BSHE)
Pros:
Rank 6; program seems really interesting and I love how there's communications/ marketing/ mass media classes; forums keep saying how wonderful and welcoming the teachers are to student research; all of the PH orgs around there are top notch; cheaper area in comparison to NY

Cons:
The regional area, I never been to Atlanta before (CA born and bred) and I have no support system there so I'm a little worried; must get apartment + car(?); although all of the best PH orgs are around there, with 500 matriculating students/year and I'm assuming at least 50%+ students are all vying for the same spots...what are the odds?

I am going to visit both schools in March anyways but I think that orientations versus the actually program itself is completely different.

I'm also kind of interested in what campus life itself is like. I went to the same school for under and grad and they were COMPLETELY different, mostly because they were on different campuses (main vs health) but I'm not going to lie, the grad campus life was not that great. Columbia's is separated as well so I wonder if it's similar?

Former and prospective students help me out please! Thanks! 🙂

 

[what987]

I'm going through the same dilemma as you!

I think grad campus life is probably going to suck in general, because as you probably well know, professional degrees leave little time for recreation. Emory's medical campus is directly integrated with the main campus, so I thin that helps with the social life. In the meantime, Columbia's medical campus is segregated by a 15 minute subway ride in a not as fun neighborhood. But it is all NYC, so that's an important consideration.

I posted this in another Emory thread, hope it helps:

1) Emory has poured money into Decatur (the sub-city/community in which Emory is located) over the past few decades, resulting in the development of a culturally rich and beautiful college town. This is an added benefit of being in Atlanta, one of the most happening and culturally diverse cities in the Southeast. We have lots of beer festivals. And Emory is a really pretty and diverse campus with lots of medical resources. And the food. Oh god the food around campus (*but not in the cafeteria*) is great. Southern food is the best (and worst for your health). Finally, Atlanta is the forested city. You really notice just how much more beautiful this city is than most other metropolises. The green really helps.

2) You'll want a car if you can afford it. I mean, you can certainly live off Emory's public transport (which is good but limited in range), but if you want to soak up all Atlanta has to offer (and trust me, you will), you won't want to rely on Atlanta's subpar and incredibly unreliable bus services to get around (the buses are more reliable near campus, but less so the further out you go). The subway isn't bad (and there's a stop near campus kinda but you gotta take the bus to get there), but the trains dont go as many places as one would hope. Atlanta is a spread out city. The car is totally worth it for day trips to the mountains IMO — you can camp out in beautiful state parks after driving for only 60-90 minutes north.

Biking is safe on most parts of campus thanks to bike lanes, but in most of Atlanta and especially on the major arteries in the Decatur area, you will get your ass run over if you bike around during rush hour. And Atlanta gets so humid during the summer, you'll have to shower at your destination, wherever it is 😛 (but that's just a personal preference on my part)

But driving a lot can suck — Atlanta has bad traffic, and the traffic is truly abysmal around Emory's campus because the roads are pretty thin and crappy. Rush hour can go from 7a-10a and 3p-7p on weekdays, and sometimes traffic just wont die around Decatur. I still think the car is most definitely worth it, but try to get a feel for alternate routes and stay off the roads during rush hour if at all possible. Atlanta drivers are generally fast and furious, but they are pretty safe compared to the nutcases in Florida, LA, or the Yankee 😛 states.

3) Yes! As I mentioned above, both Decatur and Atlanta are big hotspots for college partying and clubbing and cultural celebrations/festivals. Plenty of sports, music (make sure to visit Athens/UGA for the proper musical experience), you name it. Not that you'll have a social life in grad school

4) There are nice, safe houses for rent and many, many apartment complexes within a mile or two of the public health school, which is on the medical edge of campus. Without roommates, you can pay anywhere from $600-$1000 (the 1k figure is for fancy ones right next to campus). With roommates, it gets a good bit cheaper, maybe $400 to $500 tops. If you want to live right next to campus, prepare yourself — the ambulances are coming. The public health school is right next to the hospital, and you will be hearing ambulances allllllll night looooooong if you live anywhere near Clifton Road. So maybe consider newer apartments that are a bit better soundproofed.

5) Emory is easily the most competitive campus in Georgia, and it has its eyes set on being one of the top 10 schools in the nation in the coming years (I think it actually used to be a top 10 a decade ago). The medical campus is well known for partnering with Georgia Tech to attract some of the best and brightest scientists in the country. And since the CDC is quite literally next door to Rollins, you'll be surrounded with lots of smart public health people. But it isn't cutthroat (an attribute the undergrad program is sometimes known for). Every Rollins person I know is smart, but also quite friendly. So are the professors.

6) You are in one of the safest (actually, I think it is statistically the safest) neighborhoods in Atlanta. It's a really wealthy area of the city, filled with college students and well educated families often affiliated with Emory or another college in Metro Atlanta (GSU, Perimeter, Mercer, Tech, etc). Oh, and the gigantic Orthodox Jewish neighborhood surrounding the synagogue North of campus. Again, a very safe area.

South Dekalb and South Atlanta and West Atlanta (past GATech) have some dicey parts, but you'll have no reason to even drive through them — there's nothing to see in those areas. Projects like Little Five and EAV (East Atlanta Village) are really helping to develop the poorer areas of East Atlanta, which used to be much more crime ridden (and still can be in a few parts, but to a much lesser extent). Emory is much safer than Tech or GSU's campuses. So yeah, Atlanta is a much safer city than it used to be, which is in general true for most major American cities.

 

[hopefulchanger]

Maybe a repeat thread but most of the threads that I saw weren't very recent so here we go again!

Got accepted into Emory and Columbia and am having a difficult time deciding between which one I should choose. Both of them have their pros and cons. My gut feeling is Columbia but it seems that most people ended up picking Emory which makes me feel uneasy with my decision. I feel like I'm going to have regrets either way...

Just FYI, I was a Public Health major and Health Communications minor in college, and I also have a MS degree in Global Medicine with more than 1 year experience working and researching abroad, so I'm not really interested in what each school's global health programs or epi have to offer.

Columbia: Sociomedical Sciences w/ possible certificate in Informatics (still deciding) (SMS)
Pros:
Rank 5; in NYC, I already studied in NYC before and I loved it so I kind of know what I'm getting myself into below the Harlem area at least; being able to get a certificate in a specialized concentration like informatics which I expect to be of huge interest in the future of PH job-wise but difficult nonetheless; Ivy League (I know I shouldn't care but I kind of do anyways); huge support system; going to move to NY after MPH so maybe I should get settled there now?

Cons:
Area (Washington Heights seems a little sketchy), program seems really intense and not as interesting compared to Emory or UW; many people say that research is hard to get and that professors aren't as "welcoming" (I might be a little spoiled by having such great research opportunities and super open professors from before); student housing!!! I can't imagine dorm-ing ever again! and the fact that Columbia doesn't have any pictures of the housing online makes me feel uncomfortable...; and it's really, really expensive!!!

Emory: Behavior Science and Health Education (BSHE)
Pros:
Rank 6; program seems really interesting and I love how there's communications/ marketing/ mass media classes; forums keep saying how wonderful and welcoming the teachers are to student research; all of the PH orgs around there are top notch; cheaper area in comparison to NY

Cons:
The regional area, I never been to Atlanta before (CA born and bred) and I have no support system there so I'm a little worried; must get apartment + car(?); although all of the best PH orgs are around there, with 500 matriculating students/year and I'm assuming at least 50%+ students are all vying for the same spots...what are the odds?

I am going to visit both schools in March anyways but I think that orientations versus the actually program itself is completely different.

I'm also kind of interested in what campus life itself is like. I went to the same school for under and grad and they were COMPLETELY different, mostly because they were on different campuses (main vs health) but I'm not going to lie, the grad campus life was not that great. Columbia's is separated as well so I wonder if it's similar?

Former and prospective students help me out please! Thanks! 🙂

CONGRATS ON YOUR ACCEPTANCES!!! 👍👍

Is there a specific population you want to work with?

Is there a specific professor you want to work with?

I visited both schools in the fall and Emory professors seemed more welcoming, as you mentioned.

I've spoken with some Mailman students and they were open and easy to talk to. One of them posted a blog about Washington Heights on Mailman's site: http://columbiapublichealthstudentvoices.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/a-vibrant-community-in-the-big-city/

As far as the potential of finding a job in NYC afterward, I think Columbia obviously has the advantage there. I think Emory would still have connections to NYC employers, but I think you should start establishing your brand sooner. Make yourself distinctive however you can.

Informatics is definitely the way to go! I didn't consider that one cuz I'm trying to get away from my former data life (Computer Information Systems undergrad), but having skills in informatics will help you market yourself to potential employers, given all the trends for big data, HIT investments, and generally just where the market is headed.

Debt, as you mentioned, is a big factor. Do you think it's worth the extra monetary investment? What are you hoping to do after you graduate? How does your future potential salary compare to the total tuition/living expenses?

 

[JMM051]

I want to add that most students do an internship between their first and second year at Emory. If you wanted to work in NYC there are opportunities to do so. NYCDOH actually has the Health Research Training Program that offers full time employment in the summer. I went to Emory, worked in NYC for a summer, and could have gone back if I had chosen that route.

As for Emory (and Atlanta), I don't know anyone that wanted a job at the CDC (or another Atlanta based org) that didn't get in there somewhere after graduation. That said, many people chose to move somewhere new after graduation. In terms of the east coast I know people that moved to Boston, NYC, and DC.

Another major factor in this decision should be how much debt you are willing to accumulate. Yes, you are going to mostly likely have debt no matter where you go. But living in NYC is EXPENSIVE. Not just expensive, but EXPENSIVE. If you plan to live there long term you will have plenty of time to blow your money in the city.

In the end, many people get a clear view of where they fit in best from the school visits. I know that it helped me decide between schools as well as many others on the board. I am an Emory BSHE alum but also from the NYC area with friends that went to Mailman. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

[what987]

I want to add that most students do an internship between their first and second year at Emory. If you wanted to work in NYC there are opportunities to do so. NYCDOH actually has the Health Research Training Program that offers full time employment in the summer. I went to Emory, worked in NYC for a summer, and could have gone back if I had chosen that route.

As for Emory (and Atlanta), I don't know anyone that wanted a job at the CDC (or another Atlanta based org) that didn't get in there somewhere after graduation. That said, many people chose to move somewhere new after graduation. In terms of the east coast I know people that moved to Boston, NYC, and DC.

Another major factor in this decision should be how much debt you are willing to accumulate. Yes, you are going to mostly likely have debt no matter where you go. But living in NYC is EXPENSIVE. Not just expensive, but EXPENSIVE. If you plan to live there long term you will have plenty of time to blow your money in the city.

In the end, many people get a clear view of where they fit in best from the school visits. I know that it helped me decide between schools as well as many others on the board. I am an Emory BSHE alum but also from the NYC area with friends that went to Mailman. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Yeah, that's a great point about school fit. For undergrad, I picked the school I felt like I fit best at during the visit, and lo and behold, despite my various reservations about the school, I LOVED my four years there.

 

[nainabobaina]

Hey everyone! I am having the same dilemma right now. I've lived in NJ my whole life, and I'm really comfortable with NYC. I was accepted to Emory's BSHE program and Columbia's SMS with a certificate in Health Promotion and Research. My family pretty much thinks that its a done deal with Columbia, mostly because its an ivy league and having that stamp on your resume opens doors for you. However, I've had reservations about Columbia which has lead me to make this pro con list over the past few days:

Columbia

Tuition: $33,990 per year, $67,980 total tuition + $10,439 fees = $78,419 total
Housing: On campus, 3 person suite: $857-$956; Off campus, $700-900 a month

Pros
- ivy league, ranked higher
- close to home
- can make connections in nyc, work at NYCDOH
- transportation is easy
- research opportunities
- cohorts (80-100 people you have all of your classes with)
- core curriculum, gives a solid base of all public health fields
- graduate housing is cheap
- also get a certificate in health promotion and research

Cons
- large classes
- not sure if i'll like SMS (but i can probably switch if i want)
- faculty is busy, doesn't have time for students

Emory

Tuition: $28,800 per year, $57,600 for whole program + $6,158 fees = $63,758 total (might include more for insurance, couldn't find recent data)
Housing: $620-$825, off campus housing complexes

Also have to consider about $500 in plane tickets each semester ($2,000 in total) and cost of relocation if I don't get a furnished apartment.

Pros
- extremely small classes, only about 22 people in my program
- warm weather
- CDC connections and job opportunities
- strong student faculty relationships
- fellowships and jobs during semester
- Practical experience program; work 10-20 hours a week, $12/hr; make about $4,000 a semester
- Shutte bus stops outside most graduate housing complexes

Cons
- bad transportation to Atlanta, might need a car
- far from home, need to pay for plane tickets
- not sure if ill be able to make nyc connections
- not likely to give scholarships

I've concluded that money is the biggest factor here. I really need to see what the financial aid packages look like for each school and if I end up getting any scholarships. If anyone has any counterpoints or suggested add-ins to this list, let me know!

 

[klebandb]

I'm having the exact same issue! So far just heard from Emory and Columbia, only really waiting on Berkeley and Harvard now.

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CHOOOOOOSE. Are you going to the admitted students days for both?

 

[Abbeyroad1791]

I'm sorry, are we the same person?! Literally. Identical.

Hey everyone! I am having the same dilemma right now. I've lived in NJ my whole life, and I'm really comfortable with NYC. I was accepted to Emory's BSHE program and Columbia's SMS with a certificate in Health Promotion and Research. My family pretty much thinks that its a done deal with Columbia, mostly because its an ivy league and having that stamp on your resume opens doors for you. However, I've had reservations about Columbia which has lead me to make this pro con list over the past few days:

Columbia

Tuition: $33,990 per year, $67,980 total tuition + $10,439 fees = $78,419 total
Housing: On campus, 3 person suite: $857-$956; Off campus, $700-900 a month

Pros
- ivy league, ranked higher
- close to home
- can make connections in nyc, work at NYCDOH
- transportation is easy
- research opportunities
- cohorts (80-100 people you have all of your classes with)
- core curriculum, gives a solid base of all public health fields
- graduate housing is cheap
- also get a certificate in health promotion and research

Cons
- large classes
- not sure if i'll like SMS (but i can probably switch if i want)
- faculty is busy, doesn't have time for students

Emory

Tuition: $28,800 per year, $57,600 for whole program + $6,158 fees = $63,758 total (might include more for insurance, couldn't find recent data)
Housing: $620-$825, off campus housing complexes

Also have to consider about $500 in plane tickets each semester ($2,000 in total) and cost of relocation if I don't get a furnished apartment.

Pros
- extremely small classes, only about 22 people in my program
- warm weather
- CDC connections and job opportunities
- strong student faculty relationships
- fellowships and jobs during semester
- Practical experience program; work 10-20 hours a week, $12/hr; make about $4,000 a semester
- Shutte bus stops outside most graduate housing complexes

Cons
- bad transportation to Atlanta, might need a car
- far from home, need to pay for plane tickets
- not sure if ill be able to make nyc connections
- not likely to give scholarships

I've concluded that money is the biggest factor here. I really need to see what the financial aid packages look like for each school and if I end up getting any scholarships. If anyone has any counterpoints or suggested add-ins to this list, let me know!

 

[nainabobaina]

I'm sorry, are we the same person?! Literally. Identical.

haha seems like it! I am so incredibly conflicted. I will definitely be going to the accepted students day at Columbia on the 15th, although I haven't heard about any registration or anything yet. I'm also thinking about taking a nice road trip with the family down to Emory to check it out before I make a decision.

Also, if anyone (female) is looking for a roommate at either school, which at this point is up in the air, I was looking to get an off campus apartment with two others. When I called Columbia's housing dept they said that individuals who live in the tristate area get last priority with their graduate housing. Which is understandable, but really sucks for us.

 

[Member201259]

haha seems like it! I am so incredibly conflicted. I will definitely be going to the accepted students day at Columbia on the 15th, although I haven't heard about any registration or anything yet. I'm also thinking about taking a nice road trip with the family down to Emory to check it out before I make a decision.

Also, if anyone (female) is looking for a roommate at either school, which at this point is up in the air, I was looking to get an off campus apartment with two others. When I called Columbia's housing dept they said that individuals who live in the tristate area get last priority with their graduate housing. Which is understandable, but really sucks for us.

I have never posted before (longtime lurker), but I am most likely attending Columbia next year and I will also be looking for female roommates to live off-campus. Let me know what you decide! I am also from the tri-state area and I am not expecting to get campus housing.

 

[nainabobaina]

haha yeah i've been a lurker for a while too, decided I badly needed to figure out this situation and finally joined in. i'll send you a pm with my email info so we can get in touch if i decide on columbia.

 

[klebandb]

Agreed, also looking for female roommates if I go to Columbia! So conflicted currently.

 

[jfb9109]

I am in the exact same situation. Columbia's living expenses are freaking me out. I live near Atlanta and have seen Emory Rollins, super pretty, super welcoming and CDC is right there..like several steps away.
Also, my friends have nice apartments for great prices...as opposed to what you would get in NYC, cramped, expensive, etc...

The only dumb con I see with Emory is that it doesn't have the reputation that Columbia has.. I don't know if that is enough to convince me to take up on all that loan money for the prestige of Columbia.


So my question is, if anyone can answer it, is the added debt of Columbia worth it in the end???????????

 

[JMM051]

In the public health world, they very much do have the same reputation.

 

[pillowface]

Hey guys! Sorry if this is unrelated to the feed but thinking about Emory...I'm a 23 year old female so let me know if you guys are thinking about a roommate PM me 🙂

 

[lhd]

I have never posted before (longtime lurker), but I am most likely attending Columbia next year and I will also be looking for female roommates to live off-campus. Let me know what you decide! I am also from the tri-state area and I am not expecting to get campus housing.

I'm most likely going to Columbia (unless Emory accepts me and offers something substantially better in terms of financial aid) and will be needing a female roommates too. Lets connect!

And I too am wondering if Columbia (reputation, prestige, education, etc) will be worth it at the end.