Peace Corps or MPH first?

[vr7987]

I'm very interested both in volunteering for the Peace Corps and in obtaining an MPH, but I'm torn as to which order to do them in.

On one hand, I think that getting my MPH before going volunteering would make me more of an asset to the community in which I would be placed. However, on the other hand, I feel like I may be a better candidate for MPH programs upon returning from volunteering, have more public health experience and may be able to get into a more competitive program.

Does anyone have an opinion on this? From my research I've found that normally an MPH takes 2 years to complete... so if I did the MI program, would I not come back from my service and graduate for 4 years?!

Thanks for your help / opinions!

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[markglt]

mph hands down.
education 1st, always.

 

[Seci]

It really depends on a lot of things. Depending on your bachelor's degree you could easily benefit a community. It also depends greatly on where Peace Corps eventually places you and remember what Peace Corps says you'll be doing isn't usually what you'll actually be doing esp regarding community health development/water and sanitation etc...

I imagaine I could've benefitted from having an MPH first but I still did a decent job and got my projects finished. Also the Peace Corps mission is 2/3 about cross-cultural relations and 1/3 about technical skills application.

 

[hankea4]

Have you considered a school of Public Health that has a Master's International Program? I know BU has one (http://sph.bu.edu/index.php/menu-id-574.html?task=view), Emory (http://www.sph.emory.edu/cms/academic_programs/MI_Main_Page.html) and a few other schools.

 

[hankea4]

nmvd sorry i see that you mentioned MI programs in your post.

 

[socialepi]

Do the MI program. It's one of the few ways that you can get into UW's highly selective global health program and I think your masters will be mostly if not completely paid for. It's a great set up-you get one year of classes to help you get your bearings, then you get to apply what you've learned, and then you come back with your practicum completed plus something to write your masters paper on, and professors will want to work with you because you have in country experience.

 

[swaffles]

Yeah, on the Peace Corps website it says:

Tuition and fees will be reduced to a nominal fee for practicum and thesis development credits that will be completed during the Peace Corps experience.

That's for University of Washington, so it's a pretty good deal. However, it also takes 4 to 5 years to finish, as you stated, according to the timeline on UW's website. There's always a catch =(

 

[IntrepidTravele]

I just finished serving as a community health volunteer with the Peace Corps and am in my first semester MPH. I can definitely tell you that I feel PC first was the best call. The PC will provide you with great insight into the field of public health. That's key unless you have multiple years experience in the field already.

Firstly, that practice will not only make you a better candidate when applying to MPH programs, it will also make you a better MPH student. I definitely appreciate the other people in class that have substantial field experience; they bring so much more to the conversation.

Secondly, your MPH education will benefit from those stories and examples from the field when approaching your studies. The readings and group work will have much more meaning. I served along an MI and he definitely wished he had done the PC beforehand because he would've appreciated his experience when approaching a lot of his classes, especially Theory.

But, only consider PC if that is an experience you genuinely want. Don't think of it as a resume-builder. It is not easy, and it is quite a committment--27 months.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[eckerd82]

Just do Masters International. Killing two birds with one stone: a solid year of MPH study, two years in the PC and then come back to wrap that baby up over a semester or two.

 

[Nibor6000]

Check out the University of Arizona's SPH. They have a program for returning peace corps folks.

 

[Epi2013]

Tulane has the Masters International I think.

 

[Temple]

Here's an important link and info for people thinking about Peace Corps and the MPH, the following public health schools do the Master's International.

Boston University School of Public Health
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Loma Linda University School of Public Health
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
University at Albany SUNY School of Public Health
University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Public Health
University of Illinois, Chicago School of Public Health
University of South Florida College of Public Health
University of Washington School of Public Health For more information about the Peace Corps Master's International programs in public health, please see:
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol.eduben.mastersint
​

For a number of reasons I would advise against applying to BU public health school as it is way too expensive and the teachers have a trying attitude towards the students—to put it mildly. More of a degree mill than graduate education as the integration of the school with substantiative research projects is subpar.

 

[Temple]

Check out the University of Arizona's SPH. They have a program for returning peace corps folks.

The Arizona school of public health does not have a master's international program, only vague promises of support . . . buyer beware!🙄

 

[Awapi]

I'm actually doing both! I am a PCV who is closing of service this week...I'm applying to Master's International MPH programs to do Peace Corps again. My advice would be to look at the programs carefully, some programs allow you to finish your masters while you are still a volunteer (so you would still be in the Peace Corps in 4 years, but you would already have your degree). Schools also offer deals for MI students, but honestly, the better deals are for Peace Corps Fellows programs which are for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers applying for grad school (so doing PC first). After looking through things and working personally with PC staff who deal with the grad programs it was clear that Fellows (doing PC first) would save a lot of money on school...however, I didn't know I wanted to do Public Health before my first PC service and I want to do PC again, so for me it makes sense even if it's the slightly more expensive option 🙂. Good luck!