Help! Tough decision

[PH2011]

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Hi y'all,
I could use some help in making a decision. I've been admitted to 5 programs (Boston, UTexas, Columbia, Brown, UC Davis) for an MPH. Still waiting to hear from UCLA, although it doesn't look good since I haven't heard yet. I've narrowed it down to Columbia, Brown, and UC Davis. I know Brown and UC Davis are PH programs, which is obviously quite different from Columbia. Columbia's program (sociomedical sciences) is really suited to my interests, but a)my financial aid package was pretty frugal, leaving me with $35,000+ in loans for each of the two years and b)I don't particularly want to live in NYC, although I could definitely handle it for two years. Between Brown and Davis, I'd rather go to Davis because I'd get in-state tuition, it's only a year, and the small size appeals to me (although I realize the size could also be to my disadvantage).
So, really, it's between Davis (advantages: cost, location, size; disadvantages: newness, being a program rather than a school, not many electives) and Columbia (advantages: top-rated program, ideal academically, larger alumni network; disadvantages: cost, location).
I just don't know how much it will matter, in the long run, where I go. Both are accredited programs, UC Davis is well-respected as an institution, but it's certainly not Columbia and all the prestige that goes with that. Anyways, if anybody has any advice, I would be most grateful!
THANK YOU!

 

[futureepi]

If you applied UCLA MPH-Epi, it seems there are a lot of us that haven't heard yet.

Don't know if it means anything, though.

 

[PH2011]

Not epi-- MPH in CHS

 

[Ilovecoffee]

Considering Columbia means that living in NYC is a major part of your decision. I don't know much about UC Davis - but I do know a decent amount about Columbia since I was considering it for a while... I spoke to a few people about Columbia as well as reading what people had to say about Columbia on here... so here's the picture I got:
- Columbia has prestigue, but the halo of being an ivy is jaded at best.
- core MPH classes are large - like 60 to a 100, after which they get smaller, like 25-40
- career services is as helpful. well in today's economy there isn't much one can do about that - there arent many jobs anyhow.
- on-campus housing is hard to get. so if that doesnt work out - then you'll havfta figure that out on your own...
- professors are great tho - scope for interaction and relationship-building/doing research with them etc.

- On the whole, Columbia didn't look like a great package to me. I am going with Johns Hopkins, mostly because they work in an 11 month field placement in the curriculum - which seemed like it made the most practical sense.

I hope this helps... I'd go with UC Davis. Its California - if I had the option of moving there, I would in a heart beat. I didnt get into Berkeley and I didnt apply anywhere else on the west coast unfortunately...