Please Help! 3 days left

[ubercoo]

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Hi Everyone,

I am really trying to decide between 2 programs!! Of course, I can't...but must in about 3 days. Of course ultimately its a decision I need to make alone, yet any opinions would be sooo warmly welcomed!!

University of Michigan International Health Epidemiology with a Global Health Interdepartmental Concentration

OR

Yale Epidemiology of Microbial Disease


(There's someone I'd be interested in working with at both schools if possible)
I am aware I probably couldn't go wrong at either...Emory's Global Health is also an option, but I didn't get to see them..so can't compare so well 🙁

Thanks for ANY opinions guys!
😕 😱 in no particular order!

 

[JNT]

Hi Everyone,

I am really trying to decide between 2 programs!! Of course, I can't...but must in about 3 days. Of course ultimately its a decision I need to make alone, yet any opinions would be sooo warmly welcomed!!

University of Michigan International Health Epidemiology with a Global Health Interdepartmental Concentration

OR

Yale Epidemiology of Microbial Disease


(There's someone I'd be interested in working with at both schools if possible)
I am aware I probably couldn't go wrong at either...Emory's Global Health is also an option, but I didn't get to see them..so can't compare so well 🙁

Thanks for ANY opinions guys!
😕 😱 in no particular order!

Hey, ubercoo:

I'll give you some advice that others gave me when I was panicking and seeking advice as to which school to choose: BREATHE! 😀

Ok, now on to the techinical stuff: Honestly, I don't know much about either schools, but after a month of debating between two schools myself, I know much about the decision making process. What helped me, besides communicating with students and faculty from both schools, was writing down my goals for both schools and reading the list over and over again to make sure I wasn't being too idealistic about either schools or my goals.

Then, financial aid and housing matters aside, I focused on the academic programs themselves. Questions I asked myself included: what will each program afford me? what resources are available to me to facilitate my work at either schools? (disregarding rank, prestige, and location) which school's environment fosters collaboration and will allow me to learn and grow from and with my peers? These are questions you cannot ask anybody else because we all perceive each school's unique characteristics in varying ways. These are questions you may want to try answering with practical optimism and try envisioning yourself at Yale or UM for 1.5 to 2 years and see if you can imagine yourself accomplishing all of your goals at either institution.

And if you just can't decide, after trying all of the above, I say flip a coin and be done with it!

Just kidding. Seriously, stop thinking about it for a day; go for a walk, read a good book, have some ice-cream or do something to take your mind off of it and then go back to it with a refreshed mind.

You have great options on your hands here. There is no 'wrong' decision. A faculty member at Hopkins gave me some very good advice: don't think about this as a permanent decision...it's completely remedial...you can always do more after the MPH...this decision will not define who you are for the rest of your life nor will it stop you from doing anything else post-MPH.


Good luck and all the best to you!

 

[Ariel22]

Hey,
I am a 2nd year Epi student at school in the east coast...and I had applied to UMich's Epi program with Global Health concentration and I was admitted there. However, I didn't end up choosing UMich but I did meet a student from Yale who was doing an internship in DC and she was doing Infectious disease Epi at Yale. She was quite unhappy with the program and I have heard similar stories about Yale's program--regarding classes (not as varied as other schools), about professors, etc.

I think UMich is a great school and you will be very happy there as I had met few profs there when I visited the school 2yrs ago (when i was applying) and they were wonderful. I cannot tell you what school to choose, but I really think you should email the Public Health Student Organization of both schools and ask the students' opinions.

Good Luck! 🙂

 

[ubercoo]

Well, for better or worse the decision is made. Although I agree, the program is stronger at Michigan, they do not have the Yale doctor I want to work with now and potentially in the future for my PhD. There were actually more advantageous points at Michigan, yet a few of higher priority at Yale!
So, after much agonizing and a GREAT thanks to all who gave opinions (!), I guess I'm moving to Ct!

thanks guys!!

Hey,
I am a 2nd year Epi student at school in the east coast...and I had applied to UMich's Epi program with Global Health concentration and I was admitted there. However, I didn't end up choosing UMich but I did meet a student from Yale who was doing an internship in DC and she was doing Infectious disease Epi at Yale. She was quite unhappy with the program and I have heard similar stories about Yale's program--regarding classes (not as varied as other schools), about professors, etc.

I think UMich is a great school and you will be very happy there as I had met few profs there when I visited the school 2yrs ago (when i was applying) and they were wonderful. I cannot tell you what school to choose, but I really think you should email the Public Health Student Organization of both schools and ask the students' opinions.

Good Luck! 🙂