I am currently considering a Michigan MPH Epi and Hopkins MHS Epi. Any insight? I want to go into public health practice after earning my masters, and I know some people say that an MHS is en route to a PhD, but that it could also be considered a "comparable degree" to an MPH. Thoughts? Also, what about Michigan vs. Hopkins? I have heard Hopkins is very competitive in nature, whereas Michigan and other schools seem more collaborative.
"Very competitive" = not true. My impression is that the Johns Hopkins "competitiveness" rap actually comes from the undergrads (80% pre-med or something ridiculous like that) --
I don't think it's really true at the grad school level . In fact, I know a bunch of master's students in Epi organized a group to motivate each other in writing their theses, students study in groups (voluntarily) all the time, there are Epi-department intramural sports teams, and generally a collegial atmosphere. Yeah, there are probably a few uber-competitive people and some grade-grubbers, but you'll find such people anywhere and I don't think it's Hopkins-specific.
Also in contrast to what Field Rat has said, just about everyone I know who's gone MHS in Epi at Hopkins has found a good job afterwards (most of them didn't go on to get a PhD, at least not immediately). It may vary by department - some of the other departments, like Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, have a reputation for being full of premeds a the master's level. The Epi MHS vs. MPH degree didn't hamper people I know; people know that Hopkins Epi MHS is roughly equivalent to an MPH at some other schools (a little more focused/less broad, perhaps, and with a thesis instead of a capstone). Many of these Hopkins Epi MHS people also had prior work experience, or did internships at NIH, or worked with local nonprofits while in school, so there are definitely opportunities to get hands-on experience.
I've heard plenty of people complain about the way the Epi curriculum is taught at Hopkins (compared to, say, Columbia), but I don't think it's less demanding - and it may be more demanding - than most other places. The Hopkins program is very intense by reputation, they have a weird 4-term-a-year system (and 16 credits required each term the first year), and there's a comprehensive exam at the end - so it's tough, but I don't get the sense that people are in competition with one another.
One more potential downside about Hopkins (besides the lack of green space near campus - Michigan could run circles around Hopkins as far as niceness of living nearby!) is, of course, the cost. Hopkins is generally more expensive. However - and I'm not sure how well they advertise this - if you pass the comprehensive exam at the end of your first year, they'll automatically give you a 75% tuition discount your second year. Since you're not required to take many classes at that point, some friends have told me they didn't think it was such a great deal. But it's still something to factor into the 2-year cost for the program. Michigan is cheaper to begin with, and also gives money more freely to good applicants (often half-tuition discount the first year).
Either way you go, if you do good work, I think you'll do fine as far as finding a job. Honestly, barring strong differences in terms of faculty/strength of your area of interest, I'd choose based on cost and quality of life.
Hope this helps!
(haha...yeah)