Need NYU vs Boston U Advice

[mphHuskie]

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This is my first time posting on this forum, but I’m trying to finalize my decision on grad school in the near future. To those ends, I was hoping I might be able to gain some information from people on this board.

Of the schools I’ve been accepted to, I pretty much decided on Boston U for their Social and Behavioral Sciences program. The university seems fairly well regarded in public health (although I have seen some negative feedback on this forum) and I really like the city. Also, while not a large sum, I was offered some merit scholarship funding. In order to secure my spot and scholarship, I have to let them know by March 25th.

The only real dilemma is that I am still waiting on a response from NYU’s Community Health program specializing in nutrition. I really want to be in a large east coast city and would like to be in NYC more than anything. My main concern between the two though is the quality of the MPH education and that I might be losing something but not going to a full School of Public Health (though if I don’t even get in to NYU it’s a nonissue).

I was also accepted at Drexel and Pitt, but really want to get out of PA especially the Pitt area so that has swayed my decision away from both of these options. Although I know location shouldn’t, it is playing a large part in my decision because I want to be happy where I’m at for the next 2 years. At the same time, I don’t want to sacrifice education just to live in a certain place. I know I’m a really wordy typer so thanks to anyone that read all that.

Basically, I was hoping I might be able to get some insight from you guys on the differences between BU and NYU’s programs. Also, has anyone heard back from NYU yet because it is getting towards crunch time for me?

 

[zose]

This is my first time posting on this forum, but I’m trying to finalize my decision on grad school in the near future. To those ends, I was hoping I might be able to gain some information from people on this board.

Of the schools I’ve been accepted to, I pretty much decided on Boston U for their Social and Behavioral Sciences program. The university seems fairly well regarded in public health (although I have seen some negative feedback on this forum) and I really like the city. Also, while not a large sum, I was offered some merit scholarship funding. In order to secure my spot and scholarship, I have to let them know by March 25th.

The only real dilemma is that I am still waiting on a response from NYU’s Community Health program specializing in nutrition. I really want to be in a large east coast city and would like to be in NYC more than anything. My main concern between the two though is the quality of the MPH education and that I might be losing something but not going to a full School of Public Health (though if I don’t even get in to NYU it’s a nonissue).

I was also accepted at Drexel and Pitt, but really want to get out of PA especially the Pitt area so that has swayed my decision away from both of these options. Although I know location shouldn’t, it is playing a large part in my decision because I want to be happy where I’m at for the next 2 years. At the same time, I don’t want to sacrifice education just to live in a certain place. I know I’m a really wordy typer so thanks to anyone that read all that.

Basically, I was hoping I might be able to get some insight from you guys on the differences between BU and NYU’s programs. Also, has anyone heard back from NYU yet because it is getting towards crunch time for me?

mphHuskie, I am unable to give you any input on NYU's program, but you should call BU and ask for an extension. I called Admissions and they gave me a 2 week extension to accept the offer (4/8). This will at least give you more time to decide. Good luck!

 

[RuleofRescue1]

This is my first time posting on this forum, but I'm trying to finalize my decision on grad school in the near future. To those ends, I was hoping I might be able to gain some information from people on this board.

Of the schools I've been accepted to, I pretty much decided on Boston U for their Social and Behavioral Sciences program. The university seems fairly well regarded in public health (although I have seen some negative feedback on this forum) and I really like the city. Also, while not a large sum, I was offered some merit scholarship funding. In order to secure my spot and scholarship, I have to let them know by March 25th.

The only real dilemma is that I am still waiting on a response from NYU's Community Health program specializing in nutrition. I really want to be in a large east coast city and would like to be in NYC more than anything. My main concern between the two though is the quality of the MPH education and that I might be losing something but not going to a full School of Public Health (though if I don't even get in to NYU it's a nonissue).

I was also accepted at Drexel and Pitt, but really want to get out of PA especially the Pitt area so that has swayed my decision away from both of these options. Although I know location shouldn't, it is playing a large part in my decision because I want to be happy where I'm at for the next 2 years. At the same time, I don't want to sacrifice education just to live in a certain place. I know I'm a really wordy typer so thanks to anyone that read all that.

Basically, I was hoping I might be able to get some insight from you guys on the differences between BU and NYU's programs. Also, has anyone heard back from NYU yet because it is getting towards crunch time for me?

Living in NYC is fantastic, there is a huge community of public health professionals and you have better opportunities for networking there in my opinion. NYU's program is very good, including the community health program. I would contact NYU and express continued interest and see when word might come, no harm trying. I got the sense from BUSPH that they are somewhat insular when it comes to contact with other institutions and it didn't seem nearly as friendly as NYU. I would agree with asking for an extension from BU.

 

[mphHuskie]

I got the letter from NYU today and I'm happy to say I was accepted. I haven't heard on financial aid yet but I think this is really where I want to be. I'd like to visit Steinhardt just to be absolutely sure but I'm pretty excited.

 

[twocentnews]

I got the letter from NYU today and I'm happy to say I was accepted. I haven't heard on financial aid yet but I think this is really where I want to be. I'd like to visit Steinhardt just to be absolutely sure but I'm pretty excited.

Congratulations!

I have a quick question for you (feel free to say you would rather not), but I was wondering if you would be willing to tell me your general stats, i.e. GPA, GRE score, previous experience, etc.? You can send it to me in a PM if that is more comfortable? If you just don't want to, then don't worry about it. I wouldn't want to invade your privacy.

 

[mphHuskie]

Decided just to pm these instead

 

[Stories]

I'm a BU alum, so I can tell you a bit about BUSPH and Boston. I don't know much about the SB program, though.

The medical campus (where SPH is located), is a bit far away from the main BU campus, but a bus connects the two campuses for easy transport. SPH itself is pretty nice as is the med campus, although the surrounding area is not. I lived closer to the main campus and commuted on the shuttle everyday. The area in which the main campus is located is pretty nice. Boston itself as a city is pretty fantastic. I love Boston.

And to let you know what I'm doing: I was just accepted to Yale SPH to do my PhD with a full fellowship and one of my classmates was accepted to UWash SPH for her PhD and also with a full fellowship 🙂 So I can definitely say good things about BU's alums (both of us epi).

Merit scholarships are given out on a basis of your potential to do well in the program. They are simply there to try and entice you to come to that school. The vast majority of schools offer little in the way of scholarships/fellowships/funding at the master's level, so this is one way they try to attract students.