MSW/MPH or MS (Harvard)? Advise, please!!

[phmandsw]

I applied into dual degree MSW/MPH (Health Policy and Management) programs at UW, Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA and one Public Health MS program (Harvard- 80 credit, Health Policy and Management).

I have been accepted into Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA and Harvard for Health Policy and Management. Still waiting to hear from UW and social work schools. Assuming the trend continues and I get into Social Work schools:

My dilemma:

1) Harvard or not?: Originally my thought was that I would pursue the dual degree, get licensed as an LCSW, and eventually would like to pursue a doctorate (public health). The acceptance into Harvard has really thrown me off (originally didn't expect it). Harvard does not have a MSW program so I would just be getting the MS and probably pursue a Phd next? and figure out the MSW later? Really hard to turn down Harvard and not sure what would be the best choice? MSW/MPH now or Harvard MS now?

2) West (home) or East Coast: I live right next to UC Berkeley's School of Public Health/ Social Work- literally like 2 blocks away. I also have an employer that would bend over backwards to accomodate my schedule. But have lived here my ENTIRE LIFE and have a lot of distractions here and a change to the east coast would probably be good and less distracting.

Yet it would be A LOT cheaper for me to stay here and much more expensive to move elsewhere (plus lose this job and tenure and benefits) unless one or more of the other schools decides to give me a generous fin aid package which hasn't happened yet.

Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks in advance-

[drhyder]

Me: MD, MS (Epidemiology) HSPH

I am not sure why you would like to get an MSW AFTER an ScD. If the 'MSW' title isn't important, but the knowledge is, then you can consider cross registering to other schools during your ScD, even those outside Harvard. I am sure that you would find courses covering all lot of the material that courses in an MSW program would cover. Anyway, an ScD at HSPH and an MSW/MPH are totally different ballgames. I'll only talk about the HSPH MS-ScD route. Think about whether you want an HPM MS or ScD as your terminal degree, or not. Here's the key, during your MS, you can take courses in SHDH at HSPH which is closer to social work and social issues, and then decide. You might choose to pursue an ScD in SHDH. HSPH happens to be very strong in SHDH as well.

Do remember that MS programs at HSPH are cash cows for the school. Not berating your achievement, but I learned after spending time there that acceptance to the MS programs is lenient, you will find some people there and you would go 'how on earth did this guy make it to Harvard?'. It's a whole different story when it comes to their ScD programs. Most (not all) of the people in the ScD program make it clear why they are there. In the job market, an ScD from Harvard would sell better, especially in the North East but worldwide, Harvard is Harvard. Period.

An MS-ScD does cost a lot more than an MPH/MSW, ofc, and there is no guarantee whatsoever that you'd get accepted into the HPM ScD or Policy PhD program after your MS, for reasons mentioned above, but an MS from HSPH is almost a pre-requisite for acceptance into the ScD program at HSPH so you do improve your chances - get your foot in the door, so to speak. HSPH is arguable the top health policy school, and KSG is unarguably the top public policy school, they are at the top of their game, and that means that you will be on top of the game and on top of the job market when you graduate with the ScD. If you had great grades during your MS at HSPH, and someone willing to work with you, then you can get in. Just make sure that epidemiology, biostatistics and other weird stuff like that comes easily to you and you don't fail courses, i.e. get a B- or C on anything. These subjects didn't come easily to two of my buddies, who both had full external funding, were MDs, got < 3.0 GPAs in the MS program in HPM at HSPH, and were told that they will not get accepted to the HPM ScD so they shouldn't bother applying.

I applied into dual degree MSW/MPH (Health Policy and Management) programs at UW, Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA and one Public Health MS program (Harvard- 80 credit, Health Policy and Management).

I have been accepted into Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA and Harvard for Health Policy and Management. Still waiting to hear from UW and social work schools. Assuming the trend continues and I get into Social Work schools:

My dilemma:

1) Harvard or not?: Originally my thought was that I would pursue the dual degree, get licensed as an LCSW, and eventually would like to pursue a doctorate (public health). The acceptance into Harvard has really thrown me off (originally didn't expect it). Harvard does not have a MSW program so I would just be getting the MS and probably pursue a Phd next? and figure out the MSW later? Really hard to turn down Harvard and not sure what would be the best choice? MSW/MPH now or Harvard MS now?

2) West (home) or East Coast: I live right next to UC Berkeley's School of Public Health/ Social Work- literally like 2 blocks away. I also have an employer that would bend over backwards to accomodate my schedule. But have lived here my ENTIRE LIFE and have a lot of distractions here and a change to the east coast would probably be good and less distracting.

Yet it would be A LOT cheaper for me to stay here and much more expensive to move elsewhere (plus lose this job and tenure and benefits) unless one or more of the other schools decides to give me a generous fin aid package which hasn't happened yet.

Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks in advance-