Thoughts on program prestige?

[agh2415]

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Most of the discussion here seems centered on the top ranked programs (JHU, Columbia, Emory, etc) I'd like to hear some thoughts on the quality of education and overall reputation of the lower tier schools in the public health world, i.e. Iowa, Arizona, Oklahoma, Ohio State, etc.

Personally those highly ranked schools are out of my reach, financially and academic profile-wise. What I'm concerned with is how these lower ranked schools could be received come internship/job search time. Thoughts?

 

[AustinTX]

Honestly, I think you can go anywhere you want to go with a degree from any reasonably challenging and reputable school. I think that while coming from a school like Harvard or JHU will certainly make networking easier, there are other ways to make connections for your future career. You also don't want to come out of school with an MPH degree that's not going to get you more than $50 or $60,000 a year with $100,000+ of tuition debt.
However, I do think that this argument does not apply to doctoral students, where prestige and connections are what will eventually get you a job in academia.

 

[what987]

I found that the much lower ranked programs tend to take a state-based focus on health policy. Their practicums tend to be limited to more local or statewide agencies.

 

[ebp]

I think it also depends on what you want to do after graduation. If there is a particular city, state, or region, you want to stay in, a less prestigious school in that particular area may be a good fit. You also have to look at the research interests of the faculty at different schools and opportunity for the work you would like to do. The bigger name schools are a great fit for some, but not necessary to get a good job. I had higher ranking options, but I chose my school because I didn't have to move and already lived somewhere that offered a lot of opportunity.

You have to figure out what school is the right fit for you, not necessarily which school has the best name.

 

[kateosee]

I'm in this same pickle myself.

I got a great offer to a lower-ranked college (SLU) which would leave me with no debt; a great offer from Columbia but would still leave me with debt; but nothing yet from my top choice school (Emory).

Prestige + debt or less prestige + no debt from grad school (and a chunk of undergrad debt paid off).

Ultimately, I think for me, I'm going with SLU because I have a research assistant position there. I am getting my MPH straight out of undergrad with absolutely zero research experience. I also don't want to live in the NE if I can help it. I am a midwestern gal through and through. The prestige just doesn't seem worth the extra debt (40k at Columbia- almost all for living expenses; 50k at Michigan; 100k-give or take- at Emory). Those are scary numbers.

I turned down a far more prestigious school for undergrad and it turned out great. Here's hoping I can do the same thing the 2nd time around 🙂.

Good luck with what you choose 🙂. I'm interested in what others have to say as well.

 

[ebp]

kateosee, that sounds like a really smart choice. If you aren't interested in living in the northeast, then going to school there doesn't really make sense, even if the school is highly ranked. Coming out of school with very little to no debt - seems like a no brainer. You will have so many options and may not feel the crunch of the job search that many of us with both undergrad and grad school debt have. Congrats!