Hi - I am having the same exact decision to make between Emory and Columbia! I was accepted into Global Health MPH at Emory and Pop Fam MPH at Columbia.
If you have any thoughts about this too, please let me know what you all think
Emory (Global Health MPH)
Pros
- Emory is by the CDC (somewhere I would love to work.. potentially), great opportunity
- Nice atmosphere, great program for me
Cons
- Emory is far away from home (travel costs)
- Don't know much about Atlanta (and accounting for the current situation with COVID-19, I feel like any kind of uncertainty right now is something I'd like to avoid)
- I would like to do the Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (CHE) certificate, but it is really competitive (I don't think I'd get it based on my lack of experience and such)
Columbia (Population and Family Health MPH)
Pros
- New York City is the headquarters of many international NGOs/UN and will be good for connections to UNICEF, WHO, etc (it's my dream to somehow consult or work for one of those)
- I am planning to do the Public Health and Humanitarian Action (PHHA) certificate, and have already talked with certain professors in it - seems like a really good fit for me
- I know NYC well and it will also be easy to go home (my parents live in NY, 1hr train ride)
Cons
- NYC is really expensive
- Unsure that I actually be able to get a job with an international NGO just because I am in NYC/Columbia - probably very competitive and ya...
- Big school of public health, less individual support (or so I hear?)
I am also thinking about pursuing PhD eventually (probably in Epi) just because I think I'd like to go into academia. But this is contingent on how my experience with the MPH goes!
I know this was a lot, but it would be so so much help if you have anything to say about this!!! Thanks in advance!