Some advice please...LSHTM or Columbia.

[jjright212]

Hello all,

I have recently been admitted to both Columbia and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I will be studying PH management. The LS program is through the external program which is done mainly online with tests occuring at many centers throughout the world. Although it is online, the London school stands by the degree, stating in the bulletin (and apparently this memo is included on the degree) "candidates granted degrees and other awards still have attained the same academic standard irrespective of mode or place of study or examination".

Columbia is also a great school. But here lies the question. I am currently in bigtime debt from undergrad and could potentially owe Columbia approximately 80k after all is said and done. However the L.S. program would run for about 20k. I am a bit confused and wonder if people would look at the LS degree in disdain, due to the fact that it is external. I am confident though that I can obtain very good grades in whatever program I attend. I also have some work experience already, so getting an internship will not be hard. I am also thinking about getting an MBA after the MPH, and so I know that will be very expensive as well.

Any advice guys? Id really appreciate any feedback.

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[deleted179449]

I didn't apply but the LSHTM is really prestigious and someone else on this forum wrote that it was the best SPH in the world. I can't find it right now but I'll send you the link when I do.

20K is great compared to 80K (I was accepted to Columbia w/no scholarship and am debating whether to go) but I'd try to find out whether the online program will require you to make a few visits to the school every year (JHU's does) and that could add up.

Also, personally, I'd prefer the classroom interaction with students and professors. Either way, sounds like you have great options. Congrats!

 

[tt13]

how do you that you have no scholarship already? they told me they're only starting to review scholarship info right now...

 

[deleted179449]

I was told by Dr. Joseph Korevec that I did not qualify...

 

[WantAnMPH]

Based on what do you not qualify? How did you manage to talk directly to the Dir of Financial Aid?

 

[tt13]

oh i see, thanks for the info epid1234. i haven't received the actual paper notification, but i'm sure it wouldn't contain that information anyways. perhaps i should contact my department...

as for jjright - personally, i don't really know anything about the london school, but i just think face-to-face interaction is important in any type of schooling... another benefit of going to columbia, in your case, would be the networking with fellow classmates. i'm not sure how much of that would be available for an online schooling system... however, that's a personal preference.

 

[nibzq]

Hey I don't know much about this London school (it's the first I've heard of it).....If it is as prestigious as was mentioned above, then, based on your stated financial situation, go with this option, but at the same time :
A) work in a related field or B) pursue your MBA concurrent with this online degree

But, If you plan on making public health school your full-time commitment (ie. you WONT be working >20 hours/week, you WONT be pursuing your MBA at the same time), then to me there is no sense in doing this online.....I would go to Columbia.....I'm guessing that course selection may be more limited via an online degree...what if you suddenly become interested in a subdiscipline you want to explore? At Columbia, you can prob. take classes outside your degree..

The only thing I would worry about with the London School is whether it will note on your degree or transcripts in any way that this is an online program....while some online programs may be okay, there exists (fairly, or not) a stigma attached to online programs (with some exceptions), and I could see having to unnecessarily explain yourself to employers or future admissions committees (if you pursue education, ex. an MBA, beyond this PH management degree)

 

[Leejwwc]

I would personally choose Columbia over LSHTM in this case. Although a lot of the coursework probably overlaps, you would be missing out on the opportunity to discuss issues and establish connections with your peers, or gain real-world experience in the field in pursuing an online degree. You may want to ask yourself what it is you want to do after finishing your studies. If money is a concern and an MBA is a typical credential in that line of work, than LSHTM may be the better choice. On the other hand, if a good MPH experience is sufficient, you may be better off going with Columbia and foregoing the MBA altogether.

 

[sistamama]

jjright212,
congrats on both acceptances.
I would say for sure that LSHTM is a prestigious school when it comes to public health, and Columbia is also prestigious but you will need to consider the disadvantages of online schooling. You might also need to make some trips to the UK, which is an expensive place to live in.
I was accpeted at the Imperial College Londons' masters in International Health Management (ranked #3 after oxford and cambridge universities) and was asked to pay a non refundable deposit fee of 1000 british pounds=$2000😛. I thought it so expensive considering that i had not gotten any conclusive admission decision from the schools i applied to in America which are also top schools.
In summary, you need to be sure of the financial implication at LSHTM.
ALL THE BEST IN YOUR DECISION MAKING AND CONGRATS

 

[deleted179449]

Based on what do you not qualify? How did you manage to talk directly to the Dir of Financial Aid?

I called the school Friday and said I was recently accepted and wanted to check the status on my scholarship application (I didn't realize we were supposed to wait). I was transferred to the Dir of Admissions and he pulled my file and said that he was sorry but I was not being considered for scholarship. He never said "you don't qualify", that was just my assumption...I have a funny transcript.

 

[jjright212]

thats interesting. I wonder if you are still eligible for financial aid though. Do you mind clarifying what you mean by having a 'funny' transcript?

 

[deleted179449]

Here goes:

"funny" meaning terrible undergrad gpa of <2.8 but I got a 4.0 in a postbac premed program (no intention of being a doctor just needed to improve my status) from an elite school. Got a decent GRE score of 1450 and I've been published as a coauthor in journals like JAMA 4 times. I also presented at CDC conferences a few times. I think my work experience was impressive but my academics as an undergrad were just terrible.

 

[jjright212]

The degree diploma would state that I was an "External Student" and also the disclaimer (the one I put in bold in the original post I wrote). Don't know if this is a real stigma to overcome?

 

[buckyd]

Having a graduate degree from one of the most prestigious schools in public health worldwide would not be looked down upon because you are an "external student". I do not believe it is a stigma at all. Congrats on the acceptance by the way!