Tulane vs. Drexel vs. UMDNJ

[dj1234]

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Please share your thoughts.

Obviously, ranking wise, Tulane is significantly higher. I also feel because of this, and the amount of time SPHTM has been around, there is a lot more potential for growth and connections at Tulane. However, as I'm coming from New York, Louisiana is MUCH farther than Pennsylvania or New Jersey.

I have been accepted to the EHS program at all three.

Thanks.

 

[PinkIvy08]

How ironic...I just decided between these three for MD/MPH programs and went with Tulane. Personally, I found the MPH aspect of Tulane superior to the other two programs, and found New Orleans a better location for me for the next few years (from Jersey and hate Newark, and lived in Philly a year and am over it). Go with your gut.

 

[ebadevil]

I don't want to be a party pooper but I was supposed to go to Tulane last year. I had my room at Deming, registered for orientation and everything... I was stupid enough to not actually visit the school prior to going there which was a big mistake. Being from Michigan, downtown New Orleans was straight up scary. There are random homeless people hanging out all around the area, walking around I got offered drugs like 20 times, the area stinks TERRIBLY, and oh yeah in the 4 hours I was there, like 5 people got arrested right by the school/dorm area. The French Quarter was not much better. The area just does not seem to be safe AT ALL! I wouldn't even dare wandering outside of the school/french quarter area and I have done some crazy things in my life, I'm not your average grad student lol. The sign at the entrance to the dorm pretty much begged students not to let anyone inside. Another sign warned not to go to 2 of the 3 super markets in the area... they were "not safe"... So I moved into my dorm, spent about 4 hours there, LITERALLY packed my things and went home... yes I decided to not go to grad school at all for a year than go to Tulane. I was terrible... this year I chose Emory...

 

[JMM051]

If you are able to visit, do so. My visits really helped to decide what school was best for me. That said I think of those three Tulane has the best rep but Drexel is also a good school too and shouldn't be discounted. There are a lot of great ways to get involved in PH in Philly.

 

[235750]

Sorry you had a bad experience ebadevil. That said, nothing what you described seemed out of the ordinary for any major city

Signs in dorms telling students not to let in vagrants...the homeless living nearby...people being arrested...nothing out of the ordinary really.

You should know OP that some of the best PH opportunities will be in areas of high need. Drive around Bloomberg to see what I mean. Now Baltimore is bad, but none the cities you listed are in that rough of areas. Hahnemann hospital and the area surrounding is quite nice actually, love park and city hall are a couple blocks away.

Tulane would be an excellent choice, and Drexel too. What are the costs like?

Good luck!

 

[dj1234]

I'll be visiting Tulane soon (June) to get a closer look before making a final decision. I know New Orleans isn't the safest city in the US, but is the immediate area surrounding the academic campus THAT bad?

 

[JMM051]

I think it depends where you are from and what you are used to. I have a friend who is attending Tulane in the fall and did make a visit and still chose to attend. That said the medical campus (where the school of PH is located) is a bit more..(shady?) than the main campus. I think from a visit you will be able to gauge if it is a place you could see yourself living.

 

[dj1234]

Tulane would be an excellent choice, and Drexel too. What are the costs like?

I did a simple cost analysis:

Tulane (from what I can see) is a 18 month program:
Fall 2010 - 15 credits
Spring 2011 - 15 credits
Summer 2011 - 3 credits
Fall 2011 - 10 credits

The 2010-2011 tuition rate is $946 per credit.

Drexel, on the other hand, is a two year program:
Fall 2010 - 10 credits
Winter 2011 - 11 credits
Spring 2011 - 10 credits
Fall 2011 - 13 credits
Winter 2012 - 10 credits
Spring 2012 - 10 credits

The 2009-2010 tuition rate is $845 per credit, but since this isn't the most current estimate, I imagine it may be slightly higher.

 

[timaq]

I'll be visiting Tulane soon (June) to get a closer look before making a final decision. I know New Orleans isn't the safest city in the US, but is the immediate area surrounding the academic campus THAT bad?

No, it's not that bad at all. Ebadavil, you're an idiot.

 

[235750]

There's no need for name calling, she/he is probably from Kansas or somewhere equally as rural. Urban areas can be difficult to adjust to.

If you're set on earning an MPH I'd go Tulane all the way!! Didn't know it was an 18 month program, nice

BTW, I can't believe how much schools are charging per credit hour. For how much you make when you're coming out, I wouldn't pay that much.

But, do what you love, and like I said, good luck to you!! And congrats on getting into such great schools 👍

 

[235750]

I know New Orleans isn't the safest city in the US, but is the immediate area surrounding the academic campus THAT bad?

I only visited once a few years ago, and honestly, I thought it was fine.

 

[dj1234]

BTW, I can't believe how much schools are charging per credit hour. For how much you make when you're coming out, I wouldn't pay that much.

But, do what you love, and like I said, good luck to you!! And congrats on getting into such great schools 👍

Yeah, there's no doubt that tuition rates have increased dramatically. But, I want to use the MPH earned towards eventually attaining a JD (environmental law), so hopefully the salary outlook will be better after this.

 

[curious14]

Just want to point out that the public health school is located in downtown New Orleans, which during nighttime isn't the safest place to be. (Though there are security guards to escort you to your car). However like others have said, this is with any urban city.

If you had gone to the open house ebadevil, the students tell you NOT to live in Deming b/c it's overpriced, kind of gross, and most importantly located downtown 🙁

Most students live around the Uptown area which is where the main Tulane campus and other University's are located. Therefore there is a lot more young life.

Anyway, I'm sure you learned an important lesson Ebadevil, for everyone like JMM051 said, VISIT a school before you attend or at least talk with former students and get all the pertinent information. It sounds like you didn't make an informed decision for yourself at all the first time and lost a year 🙁

 

[PinkIvy08]

Um, that description of downtown NOLA is quite an exaggeration. 1) Most people don't even live in Deming (the student housing)...most live in Uptown or the Garden District (cheaper and safer). 2) Really, it's not any worse than any major city...cities all have pockets of crime - Philly, Newark, New Orleans...just use common sense.

 

[JMM051]

I would say Newark has more pockets of crime than some of the other cities you listed ;-)

 

[dj1234]

I would say Newark has more pockets of crime than some of the other cities you listed ;-)

I would think so too. My program would be in New Brunswick though.

My decision largely comes down to Drexel vs. Tulane, as UMDNJ (from what I can gather) doesn't have the same reputation and potential for networking. I'm visiting Tulane in two weeks and hopefully the trip will give me an idea of other issues like housing etc.

 

[NOsquid]

downtown New Orleans was straight up scary. There are random homeless people hanging out all around the area

Oh noooooooooz homeless people violent schizophrenic drunks, the lot of 'em!

 

[powersr8810]

I am about to start my second year at Drexel if you have any questions about it. I like it here and its a pretty cool program, a little different than many programs out there.