Dartmouth MPH 2009

[slumdog]

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Who is going to Dartmouth in July? Interested to hear your perspectives on this very expensive program with no scholarship aid. Do they know what public health salaries are? Thoughts?

 

[honeysuckle]

It seems to me that in the grand scheme of things, paying 50k for your MPH at Dartmouth is still less than you'd pay at other private schools. If you don't get substantial aid through a scholarship or assistantship, then you'll be paying at LEAST 50K for an MPH at schools like GWU, BU or other private schools where the program takes longer than a year. Dartmouth is only one year, so you're only paying tuition for one year. Also, I'm guessing the cost of living is much cheaper in rural NH than it is in Boston or DC or NYC or wherever.

 

[slumdog]

That is definitely one way of thinking about it. The one year thing is attractive from a financial perspective, but from a career perspective, it doesn't give you much time to do an internship, look for a job afterward, etc. The nice thing about the 2 year programs is that you have a summer to work an internship.

I am 90% sure that I will accept the offer at Dartmouth. I don't really want to specialize as I already have a graduate management degree, and simply want the MPH to get analytical job opportunities in health care management organizations like hospitals and HMO's. I also really like their focus on quality care management which seems to be a very in demand part of the health care industry. Their program is very unique in the fact that it covers such a broad range of public health.

One thing I have noticed on this board is a real lack of economic rationale among many applicants. A lot of second tier business schools produce graduates that earn as much as these top tier public health programs, and charge a fraction of the tuition. Even the MHA earning numbers aren't that great relative to decent MBA's. I know the economy is bad, but has everyone considered the payback here? Some of these schools are just simply a rip-off. Especially for those who want to go to Med School afterward. I will make an uninformed postulation based on my experience this year. I think schools are letting in more students than normal. From my conversations with admission directors, students, etc. I think a lot of these big name schools have taken a bath in their endowment income, and are using their grad programs to soak students to offset all the committments that they have made for "affordable" undergraduate access. I would really encourage all candidates in public health (especially the terminal degree seekers) to think about the cost/benefit after you graduate. Good luck to all.......

 

[Stories]

That is definitely one way of thinking about it. The one year thing is attractive from a financial perspective, but from a career perspective, it doesn't give you much time to do an internship, look for a job afterward, etc. The nice thing about the 2 year programs is that you have a summer to work an internship.

I am 90% sure that I will accept the offer at Dartmouth. I don't really want to specialize as I already have a graduate management degree, and simply want the MPH to get analytical job opportunities in health care management organizations like hospitals and HMO's. I also really like their focus on quality care management which seems to be a very in demand part of the health care industry. Their program is very unique in the fact that it covers such a broad range of public health.

One thing I have noticed on this board is a real lack of economic rationale among many applicants. A lot of second tier business schools produce graduates that earn as much as these top tier public health programs, and charge a fraction of the tuition. Even the MHA earning numbers aren't that great relative to decent MBA's. I know the economy is bad, but has everyone considered the payback here? Some of these schools are just simply a rip-off. Especially for those who want to go to Med School afterward. I will make an uninformed postulation based on my experience this year. I think schools are letting in more students than normal. From my conversations with admission directors, students, etc. I think a lot of these big name schools have taken a bath in their endowment income, and are using their grad programs to soak students to offset all the committments that they have made for "affordable" undergraduate access. I would really encourage all candidates in public health (especially the terminal degree seekers) to think about the cost/benefit after you graduate. Good luck to all.......

Remember, Public Health in it of itself is not a high paying field and everyone going into it already knows this. The MPH is a mandatory degree for nearly all PH related jobs as there are almost zero PH programs at the bachelor's level.

If you really feel that the MPH degree is one that doesn't carry a good value, then please do not come into these forums and preach about the "cost/benefit" analysis from an economic standpoint because there is much more to the education than the monetary outcome. Money =/= Job Happiness.

 

[erikalindsay]

Remember, Public Health in it of itself is not a high paying field and everyone going into it already knows this. The MPH is a mandatory degree for nearly all PH related jobs as there are almost zero PH programs at the bachelor's level.

If you really feel that the MPH degree is one that doesn't carry a good value, then please do not come into these forums and preach about the "cost/benefit" analysis from an economic standpoint because there is much more to the education than the monetary outcome. Money =/= Job Happiness.

Totally agree!

 

[honeysuckle]

I think slumdog was just trying to grapple with the sheer exorbitance of the cost of tuition in his post, and was contemplating the prospect of having to pay so much money. I can definitely relate to that; I also think some of these schools are getting away with tuition piracy, and that can make you stop and think when you know that you're not going into the field because of the money. I didn't take him to be preaching anti-MPH propaganda or anything like that, so I wouldn't worry 😉.

 

[Stories]

I think slumdog was just trying to grapple with the sheer exorbitance of the cost of tuition in his post, and was contemplating the prospect of having to pay so much money. I can definitely relate to that; I also think some of these schools are getting away with tuition piracy, and that can make you stop and think when you know that you're not going into the field because of the money. I didn't take him to be preaching anti-MPH propaganda or anything like that, so I wouldn't worry 😉.

The big thing to remember is that the cost of tuition at schools doesn't come from the SPH/CPH, the credit hour cost and per semester cost comes from the university board/trustees. Regardless of whether you're going into a MBA, MPH, MSW, MEd, or MM program, these prices are going to be similar across the board, and the university certainly doesn't care what the return on monetary investment is. As far as the university is concerned, you are utilizing services the university is providing and for that the university must be compensated at a level which it feels is appropriate.

I don't think the cost is necessarily fair, but you have understand that the university doesn't view a master's level student as someone they need to invest a lot of time into because the vast majority of students will not be bringing the university much recognition or publications in return for their education, unlike doctoral students. It's simply how academia is.

 

[slumdog]

Sorry Yale PhD guy, I wasn't trying to preach. I just simply think these schools are ripping all of us off. As you can see from my other posts, I say go for it and spend the money as long as you are willing to work in public service afterward. But make no mistake, there is no payback here. I just think these younger applicants should know that before they run off and pay Yale boat loads of cash. Yale undergrad is one thing, Yale public health is another. Same for Dartmouth, Harvard, and all the other Ivy's. Not ripping on your school, but it's just a fact. We all like the names, and apparently, we are all willing to pay for them. And these public health schools are sitting back, collecting our money, and riding their affiliation with "the name" all the way to the bank. That said, I am probably willing to pay Dartmouth $50k just because it's Dartmouth!!! Ha, they even got me to bite!!!! But I am older than most, and willing to spend some of my own cash. If I were 20-25, I would at least think about the cost/benefit, or commit to public service before borrowing the money......

 

[srt52]

i am a dartmouth mph graduate, returning to the area in august to continue graduate studies. i am looking for a female roommate to share a 2-bedroom apartment in lebanon. $550 a month + 1/2 utilities. message me if interested, i can give you all the info. id love to live with an mph student.🙂

and as far as the dartmouth mph program, i absolutely loved it. highly recommend it to those seriously interested in public health.