It seems that everyone on here is top-school bound. That's great and all, but does it really matter? I'm sure I could have been accepted into a top school, but we could never afford it or the move or anything. I'll be going to a state school and will not need loans. This, for practicality reasons, works far better for me, but will it hinder me later on? Isn't a Masters degree a masters degree? I plan to pursue a PhD later, and will probably do so at a state school, though ideally I would like to go somewhere higher ranked. (Depends on money situation then amongst other things) If I hope to work for the CDC in Epi or Biostats will it really matter where I was educated as long as I have great grades and loads or experience?
Does school really matter?
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I currently work at the CDC and I know the branch I work in and several other branches really look at what school you got your degree from. If you are planning on getting a PhD, I've been told it matters more where your PhD came from over your MPH. I've been encouraged to attend one of the top schools of public health. There are several state schools that have good public health schools that you could look into (UNC, Minnesota, etc.).
So if you cannot afford to go to a top school, even if you are able to academically, you are screwed with career options? That seems terribly unfair...I would love to go to Hopkins or Harvard but I just don't think it will be feasible.
So would I be ok doing my MPH where I am and trying to go somewhere better for my PhD? Its tough because we can't just pick up and leave, especially since we live off of his salary and jobs are hard to come by. I'm going here because here is where we live. I guess we'll have to plan on moving for my PhD.
If we do, I will probably have to work then and do my PhD part-time. Is that allowed at those top schools?
Thanks for the help.
So would I be ok doing my MPH where I am and trying to go somewhere better for my PhD? Its tough because we can't just pick up and leave, especially since we live off of his salary and jobs are hard to come by. I'm going here because here is where we live. I guess we'll have to plan on moving for my PhD.
If we do, I will probably have to work then and do my PhD part-time. Is that allowed at those top schools?
Thanks for the help.
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I disagree - I think your educational experience as a whole is more important than the name.
So if you go to a lower-ranked school, you need to get really high marks, be very active in student societies, have interesting internships, become close with faculty members, etc. Despite what you see on this board, not everyone can pick up and move their whole family and go 50k into debt so you should do what's best for you.
So if you go to a lower-ranked school, you need to get really high marks, be very active in student societies, have interesting internships, become close with faculty members, etc. Despite what you see on this board, not everyone can pick up and move their whole family and go 50k into debt so you should do what's best for you.
I totally understand that not every person can move to a new city. I'm 23 and single so I have a little more freedom to move if needed. If you graduate from a big name school it will help you get an interview but after that you are on your own and will have to rely on your work experience. Most of the people I work with that encourages me to attend one of the bigger name school of public health all received their MPH/MD or PhD from the big private schools of public health (Hopkins, Harvard, Yale, Emory, etc) so maybe they are just being bias but they said when they are hiring they prefer applicants with degrees from the top schools of public health. This is just the advice my CDC colleagues gave me.
Where did you go to school? And how in the world did you finish and get experience at 23???!!!
I'm 23 and just starting grad school...
Also, I'm thinking of doing an MSPH to make myself more appealing to top schools for my PhD. Is that a good idea? I will also being doing a certificate in Biostatistics and one in Health Management and Leadership. Is this a good start?
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One of the downfalls to not going to a top school or a school in a smaller area might be that they have less opportunities for mentoring or intern experience during your degree program.
I have been so happy with my school, and one of the big reasons for that is the connections I've been able to make and the job opportunities I've had while in the program...I graduate in May. Like you, I was unable to move, well, more like unwilling (because I have a child and don't want to move him around). I live in a city with a great state university, though. I am willing to move for a PhD program, however (I intend to start in 2010).
As far as MSPH vs. MPH...do whatever you're most interested in.
I have been so happy with my school, and one of the big reasons for that is the connections I've been able to make and the job opportunities I've had while in the program...I graduate in May. Like you, I was unable to move, well, more like unwilling (because I have a child and don't want to move him around). I live in a city with a great state university, though. I am willing to move for a PhD program, however (I intend to start in 2010).
As far as MSPH vs. MPH...do whatever you're most interested in.
I only have a bachelor degree. I'm going to graduate school in August. I have one of the few research positions for bachelor level folks at CDC.
I attended a school's open house today and they recommended going for a MS or MSPH if you are wanting to make yourself more appealing to PhD programs.
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I recently finished my MPH (September of 2008) at Boston University, dual concentrating in Epidemiology and Environmental Health. I went straight from undergrad into the MPH program.
I recently finished applying to doctoral programs for admission in the Fall 2009. I've been accepted at several schools, and I have been accepted to my #1 choice.
There is no major disadvantage to doing a MS/MSPH versus a MPH, but you do get a little more flexibility in the MS programs because you don't have the additional requirements of the terminal MPH degree (in my case, Social Behavioral, Health Policy, etc. non-epi classes). That will let you take more classes that are relevant to your field so you can better develop your ideas.
Is there an advantage to going to a big name school versus a lesser known school? Yes. At the interviews I was brought in for, the vast majority of students (more than 80%) all had at least one degree from a prestigious university (usually the master's). This was especially true of my Yale interview. Many of my fellow interviewees had degrees from: Yale, Harvard, Columbia, UCLA, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Johns Hopkins U of Chicago. The only school I remember not being a "big name" was Alabama Birmingham, but she was working at the NCI on a Fellowship, so she obviously had big research experience.
More so than MS/MSPH versus MPH or prestige of school, your research experience and potential areas of thesis work is far more important. You must have a well developed personal statement with research statement and goals to be accepted into doctoral programs.
List of schools I've been accepted to:
-Arizona
-Oklahoma
-Yale
Interviews at (and awaiting word from):
-Colorado
-Illinois Chicago
No word yet from:
-California Berkeley
-San Diego State
-Drexel
Rejected from:
-Harvard
-Johns Hopkins
-Washington
-Minnesota
-Michigan
-UCLA
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Thank you all for your advice.
I love research. I already have two years of research experience and a soon to be published thesis. I think the MSPH is more my style.😍
Something wild and crazy....apparently my school is ranked 20th...WTH?😕
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=385908
I think I am going to shoot for Emory and Jonhs Hopkins for my PhD. Those programs seem to provide exactly what I'm looking for. Since they are so highly competitive (Emory accepts 5 a year! 😱) would anyone who has been accepted to one of their PhD programs be so kind as to PM me their stats, advice, etc. I would really appreciate it.
I love research. I already have two years of research experience and a soon to be published thesis. I think the MSPH is more my style.😍
Something wild and crazy....apparently my school is ranked 20th...WTH?😕
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=385908
I think I am going to shoot for Emory and Jonhs Hopkins for my PhD. Those programs seem to provide exactly what I'm looking for. Since they are so highly competitive (Emory accepts 5 a year! 😱) would anyone who has been accepted to one of their PhD programs be so kind as to PM me their stats, advice, etc. I would really appreciate it.
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Thank you all for your advice.
I love research. I already have two years of research experience and a soon to be published thesis. I think the MSPH is more my style.😍
Something wild and crazy....apparently my school is ranked 20th...WTH?😕
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=385908
I think I am going to shoot for Emory and Jonhs Hopkins for my PhD. Those programs seem to provide exactly what I'm looking for. Since they are so highly competitive (Emory accepts 5 a year! 😱) would anyone who has been accepted to one of their PhD programs be so kind as to PM me their stats, advice, etc. I would really appreciate it.
Public Health is not ranked on an objective scale according to US News. Their methodology is really pretty much bunk. Don't use those as a guide to where you apply to school. Basically search for schools that have faculty that do work in what you'd like to do your dissertation on.
As for Emory, they get a LOT of applications because their program is very big. I also believe that Emory enrolls approximately 5 a year, not accepts 5 (I believed they accepted 9 in the 07-08 year). I considered Emory but decided it wasn't somewhere I wanted to be.
My stats aren't very impressive and I'm not bashful about letting folks know that. It just goes to show that you don't need super numbers to get into a PhD program, just some good ideas and the ability to show you have the ability to make it through a program.
Undergrad (Biology): 2.9 GPA
Grad (Epidemiology): 3.5 GPA
GRE: 520V/730Q/5W
Also, you never have any clue as to what schools will take you, so apply even if you don't know you have any shot of getting in. It's not like undergrad where they have very high requirements on scores: the personal statement and research statement are by far the most important parts. The GRE and GPA are only used as a minimum proficiency cutoffs. They won't make your application.
I'm going to Yale next year and I have a full fellowship paying my way. Just goes to show you that you never know unless you explore all your options.
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Life isn't fair, and sometimes the market dictates things we don't like. I don't know what the MPH market is like (thus my latest post asking), but for example, if you're a lawyer, and didn't go to a top 14 school, then you're pretty much done as far as career options. Saddled with massive debt working in a declining profession making 30k a year.....
If JD's have it that bad, what about MPH's? That's the question I'm trying to answer. In quite a few fields, it really matters where you went to school.
If JD's have it that bad, what about MPH's? That's the question I'm trying to answer. In quite a few fields, it really matters where you went to school.
UConn = 46-50 depending on which ranking you look at and tuition is $37k if out of state
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/grad/law/search/page+2
Median Salary is $95k for those reporting.
http://www.law.uconn.edu/system/files/Class+of+2008+Graduate+Report.pdf
Just off the top of my head tuition for Yale/Columbia MPH stands around the $37k mark, and Rollins states that median income for an MPH first year out is slightly less than $50k. Solely in terms of earning potential to debt ratio, law is a much better choice.
Coastie, I've seen you give that stat twice now. Where are you pulling your numbers from?
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Wow, are you kidding? Law school employment stats are such a huge fraud. Anyone going into a non-top 14 law school these days is just asking for trouble.
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Coastie - I completely agree. I'm not aware of any specific stats, but I have a few friends that just graduated from law school (well a year ago) and they still don't have jobs and the ones that they are looking at are 30k - 50k per year. I'm not sure of the rankings, but they didn't go to a school that is nationally known for law, and although they graduated near the top of their class, this hasn't made a difference. Mostly they feel that they were lied to while in school about the broad application of their degree. Without any work experience, they are either seen as under-qualified for good law jobs or over-qualified for non-law jobs.
A
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Not that I've completed grad school but having career experience in general... it's not always about the school you go to, but what you do within that time that can bring on the success (volunteering, assistantships, internships, work experience). I've done post-grad research with alum from Ivy League schools (I went to a state university) and funny, I had the same qualifications and got paid the same. As for the talk about getting jobs with better income - I don't know much about the law field but if you're looking for the big bucks in general, you're going into the wrong profession. Ultimately, don't let the school define you.
And I'm asking you to present something remotely resembling documentation for your claims. If not these sources, what source are you to trust regarding such matters? Anecdotal evidence does not count.
The simple fact of the matter is that you have to use the skills you pick up in a degree and not just the degree itself and I believe that a JD empowers you to do this more than an MPH would.
