UCLA vs. BU MPH

[MPHlove]

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Hi everyone!


I have been accepted to the MPH programs in community health sciences at UCLA and the social and behavioral sciences at BU for this coming fall. I am having a really hard time deciding between the two programs. I have only 10 more days to decide 🙁 I want to go to a school that provides me the opportunities for research and doing international health projects…also has a better program that will help me to make great connection with people in this field. Your advice and help would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂

 

[avotresante]

Hi everyone!


I have been accepted to the MPH programs in community health sciences at UCLA and the social and behavioral sciences at BU for this coming fall. I am having a really hard time deciding between the two programs. I have only 10 more days to decide 🙁 I want to go to a school that provides me the opportunities for research and doing international health projects…also has a better program that will help me to make great connection with people in this field. Your advice and help would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂

They are both interesting schools, and have their individual strengths, however, I would rate UCLA above BU in terms of international health opportunities, and perhaps more importantly, in terms of the comprehensiveness of the education.

While BU's Center for Global Health and Development Center houses some international health research, I think that the school has fallen behind in terms of reinvestment in student educational opportunities, as I think that student enrollment is up and this makes finding a mentor/research project somewhat harder. Plus, while Boston is super-saturated with public health schools, as the population center of the country moves southwest, there will be more of a need for PH grads who have worked in states with growing populations. Having talked to someone who was interested in international health, and went to BU, and I just get the feeling that the school is on the decline.😕

At UCLA I get the feeling that there is a greater breadth of courses available, plus the atmosphere is really supportive for international health, and UCLA overall is a better public health school than BU, plus you can't beat the beach when everything is frozen and grey in Boston! 👍

Good luck making the decision that works best for you.

 

[MPHlove]

thank you so much for your helpful answer!! 🙂

 

[behealthy]

I can't specifically comment on the curriculum for CHS but as a current UCLA student, and ( for a while) a potential BU student, I can say that both schools are solid. UCLA is more well known, but I can say that BU seems hungry and has a strong desire to move up in the field. Honestly, the advice I was given before entering my MS is the advice I'd pass on: pick the place you'd rather live, and the place that costs the least. It sounds a bit trivial, but MPH programs are all very similar ( within a certain rank), and you will get more out of a program if you're happy with your life.

 

[splashnchaos23]

Honestly, the advice I was given before entering my MS is the advice I'd pass on: pick the place you'd rather live, and the place that costs the least.

Good advice, behealthy. Would you be willing to provide some insight into the cost of living in LA (monthly rent + utilities, gas, food)? UCLA is my top choice location-wise, but I'm thinking the cost of living will make it an impractical choice.

 

[MPHlove]

great advice, thank you!

How is the living expenses in LA? Is it higher than boston? Also what bothers me about LA is the traffic...I dun really like sitting in a car and be mad in the traffic all day haha. I loved public transportation in Boston.

 

[behealthy]

Living both places is expensive, but from what I know about Boston, they are fairly similar. Expect rents to be from 1100-1600 for a single bedroom place. Closer to the beach ( or a few trendy areas... or UCLA) will be higher. Utilities depend on how much you use your ac, or heater, but should be less than Boston. Food isn't horrible, just depends on what you want. Are you a mac and cheese guy, or do you like eating out?

As far as transportation- LA has traffic. You can schedule yourself around traffic, deal with it, or attempt public transit. I know a lot of people take the bus and are usually quite happy with its performance. Bicycling, or walking is also doable.

I'm located right near the beach, and I drive to school ( although I do carpool). The ~20 minutes it takes to get to school (varies from 15-45 min actually) isn't horrible ( despite being only 8 miles from school), but the $10 a day parking is horrible. Make sure you get a parking pass, saves you tons of dough (and I didn't get it).

 

[MPHlove]

Ok great thanks! doesnt sound bad at all! 😀

So as a current UCLA student, are you happy with your school decision, faculty and the school as a whole? 🙂