Columbia vs Emory vs UC Berkeley

[bunkey]

Trying to decide between these three-- EPI mph at Columbia and Emory, and Infectious Disease at cal

Columbia: pros- highest ranked, ivy name, NYC, connections; cons- price, unwelcoming vibe so far, high average age (I'm 24), difficult to reach facultyn(or so I read)

Emory: pros- great Epi program, cdc, very friendly, involved faculty nice campus; cons-cost, Atlanta location

Cal: pros-costs WAY less, location near hometown, Bay Area connections; cons- specifics of program, location near hometown (hah)

Is it crazy to spend more than double on a private school? I also could have one year tuition covered because of parent's veterans benefits. So like 25k vs 70k... I haven't found out grant/scholarship info yet but I doubt I'll get any/much.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[588211]

.

 

[364462]

Trying to decide between these three-- EPI mph at Columbia and Emory, and Infectious Disease at cal

Columbia: pros- highest ranked, ivy name, NYC, connections; cons- price, unwelcoming vibe so far, high average age (I'm 24), difficult to reach facultyn(or so I read)

Emory: pros- great Epi program, cdc, very friendly, involved faculty nice campus; cons-cost, Atlanta location

Cal: pros-costs WAY less, location near hometown, Bay Area connections; cons- specifics of program, location near hometown (hah)

Is it crazy to spend more than double on a private school? I also could have one year tuition covered because of parent's veterans benefits. So like 25k vs 70k... I haven't found out grant/scholarship info yet but I doubt I'll get any/much.

I would go to Berkeley. There are too many variables, of course, but at the end of the day, you want to go where you believe you can both benefit from and contribute to the program, both personally and professionally. The connections you mention are no small matter. Columbia is an excellent program, but Berkeley is unquestionably prestigious in its own right. (Both Berkeley and UCLA consistently rank among the top universities worldwide, and more critically, are the only two public universities in those rankings, whereas the others are private institutions. This, too, is no small matter.) The debt you will incur is something to seriously consider, and frankly, the Ivy name will not in any way offset the cost of tuition. The name opens doors, although again I don't think any more significantly than the doors that Berkeley would widely open. A $45k difference in tuition is a huge difference for a "name" in a place where winter is 6 months of the year (an obvious exaggeration, but you get my point) - all things being equal otherwise. Go to Cal.

 

[Pdesai8]

Unless you definitely want to work in NYC or Atlanta after graduation, there is no reason to choose those schools over Berkeley...in-state tuition is a no-brainer!!! You are lucky to have such great state schools!

 

[Stories]

Also consider going to school where you'd like to live afterwards. If that means staying in the NorCal area, Berkeley would seem like a no brainer. If you'd like to live somewhere else (like NYC), Columbia would be a great bet.

 

[VV2RB]

Trying to decide between these three-- EPI mph at Columbia and Emory, and Infectious Disease at cal

Columbia: pros- highest ranked, ivy name, NYC, connections; cons- price, unwelcoming vibe so far, high average age (I'm 24), difficult to reach facultyn(or so I read)

Emory: pros- great Epi program, cdc, very friendly, involved faculty nice campus; cons-cost, Atlanta location

Cal: pros-costs WAY less, location near hometown, Bay Area connections; cons- specifics of program, location near hometown (hah)

Is it crazy to spend more than double on a private school? I also could have one year tuition covered because of parent's veterans benefits. So like 25k vs 70k... I haven't found out grant/scholarship info yet but I doubt I'll get any/much.

I'm pretty much in the same position you are, trying to decide between Columbia and Emory. Regarding Columbia, you said you got an "unwelcoming vibe so far." May I ask what you mean by that? I know a lot of times, people think it's just a little thing or two, but they do add up and they do matter, so I believe this is a major factor and was just wondering what specifically you meant by that.

Thanks and I wish you the best of luck in your graduate school process!

 

[VV2RB]

bump

 

[bunkey]

I'm pretty much in the same position you are, trying to decide between Columbia and Emory. Regarding Columbia, you said you got an "unwelcoming vibe so far." May I ask what you mean by that? I know a lot of times, people think it's just a little thing or two, but they do add up and they do matter, so I believe this is a major factor and was just wondering what specifically you meant by that.

Thanks and I wish you the best of luck in your graduate school process!

There was confusion with my visit, a mistake on their end, that they didn't handle very well. And comparing it with Emory, none of the students-welcome emails with offers to answer questions, etc, little things really. Just the fend-for-yourself nyc vibe.