Biostats MS- Yale or Columbia??

[strangestranger]

So I'm trying to decide between Yale and Columbia for an MS in Biostats. For Columbia, it is through their school of public health, while Yale's is through the graduate school of arts and sciences. I think that Columbia is supposed to have a higher ranking? Or does it not matter for just a master's?

Please give me some advice! Thanks!!

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

From all that I've read, I think they are about equal in terms of prestige.

I think it should depend on your financial situation... What sources of financial aid do you have at each school? Look at cost of living because I would assume that NYC would be higher than New Haven. Personally, If I got sufficient funding at either school (i.e Tuition waivers and/or TA/RA, etc.) I would choose Columbia because I'd prefer to live in NYC... However, if I had to pay for it all out of pocket, I would probably choose Yale due to the higher cost of living in NYC.... Also, do you plan on pursuing a PhD after a MS? If you haven't already done so, it would be beneficial to visit both schools and decide which department you fit better with.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your GPA & GRE scores? I'll be applying next year, and both Columbia and Yale are on my list of schools.

[strangestranger]

Financially, they are about the same. I've done the calculations for tuition+housing in my situation and they are very similar, so finance is not a determining factor for me. And I honestly don't know if I want to pursue a PhD, so I guess at the moment, it would be a no. I had been leaning a little more toward Yale, since I went to Columbia for undergrad and wanted to try something different, but of course nothing can compare to NYC. I think my main concern right now is determining which school would be more attractive to employers once I have the MS.

My GPA wasn't so hot: ~3.2. But I went to Columbia Engineering and only took math/science/engineering courses, so I suppose that helped me. GRE: Q164, V163, W5.0. I got into Yale, Columbia, UCLA, USC, Northwestern, and George Washington, all for Biostats, either MS or MPH. Good luck with apps next year! BTW, if you're applying to schools of public health, SOPHAS is seriously annoying. I would like to punch it in the face. Be warned.

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Yale may be slightly better known among the general public, but honestly, I think Columbia and Yale sound equally attractive, I mean they're both highly respected ivy league institutions and I don't think potential employers will see one better than the other.... Either one would be excellent choice.

And also.... Finally! Someone accepted to decent programs that doesnt have a 3.9 gpa with perfect GRE scores.... It's depressing looking at the results survey and seeing such awesome scores.... Makes me feel less than adequate, even though Ill graduate with a 3.5.... I dont know if its necessary, but im paranoid about not getting in somewhere, so I'll be applying to Columbia, Brown, Yale, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Boston, Pittsburgh, UNC, Michigan, Washington, Hopkins (I know Its long shot, but my dream school), and then a few "safety" schools like Florida State and UIC.... It's gonna cost me a small fortune just to apply, lol....rightfully assuming I don't get into Hopkins, I would love to go to UCLA or UC Berkeley simply because I've grown up in Georgia and want live in the west for some time, though I would also be plenty happy at Columbia, Yale, Boston or Brown....I sure hope I have to make the decision rather than having it made for me with rejections.

I've already done a ton of research into graduate programs, so I know what SOPHAS is, but what makes it so annoying? I plan on starting my apps ASAP come the fall.

[Hanyuye]

Edit: Never Mind..

I guess it all depends on your research ambitions, I chose Yale for their involvement in Chinese affairs.

Edited March 20, 2012 by Hanyuye

[strangestranger]

Hanyuye,

No I don't have an MS yet, and I got a BS in 2011 in applied math. I did go to Columbia for my BS though, and GPA-wise over there, mine isn't too bad.

And Noco7, in theory, SOPHAS seems efficient and helpful. But it's pretty flawed overall, and it takes forever to ensure that everything is submitted/accepted/valid- that's the frustrating part.

[Hanyuye]

Hanyuye,

No I don't have an MS yet, and I got a BS in 2011 in applied math. I did go to Columbia for my BS though, and GPA-wise over there, mine isn't too bad.

And Noco7, in theory, SOPHAS seems efficient and helpful. But it's pretty flawed overall, and it takes forever to ensure that everything is submitted/accepted/valid- that's the frustrating part.

SOPHAS lost ALL of my original transcripts at first. And they notified me two days before the first deadline (UCLA, UM). I then had to send it again, and never got reimbursed. $95 down the drain.

[cyberwulf]

I've heard a lot of complaints about SOPHAS. Trust me, faculty dislike the problems it creates as much as students do.

[genesis7]

Columbia and Yale are both very good universities, but for the public health and biostat program, Columbia is better (rank NO.5/NO.13, NO. 33/Yale doesn't have a rank in Biostat)

However, Columbia took more MS students than Yale, the class size is larger, and the students there may not as elite as at Yale. There is a reason for this, the biostat program at Yale is very small, so Yale took a small number of elite students.

which school would be more attractive to employers ... I would say Columbia seems better than Yale from what I've heard, the location is an important factor.

I have a friend who had the same situation like you last year, she visited both schools and finally chose Columbia.

BTW, I am a student from North Carolina, and also got MS admission from Columbia this year, and I will go there as a TM track student.

Edited March 30, 2012 by genesis7

[ANDS!]

Yale's BioStats seems lost in their school of Public Health. I would definitely go for the MS at Columbia.

[mintnchip]

From your options, why wouldn't you consider UCLA? Isn't their School of Public Health ranked higher than Columbia? I'm also between a few schools and the rankings on biostats specifically are hard to find.

[ANDS!]

From your options, why wouldn't you consider UCLA? Isn't their School of Public Health ranked higher than Columbia? I'm also between a few schools and the rankings on biostats specifically are hard to find.

There is probably a marginal difference between the two (according to USNEWS).

[public health]

I will be applying to MPH programs in the fall. I have no idea how competitive the admissions process is so any input would be much appreciated!! I went to Upenn, graduated with a 3.5 overall 3.8 in major (neurobiology), with an honors thesis. I have spent two years as an analyst at a boutique healthcare and life science strategy consulting firm. I took the GREs earlier this year and got a 161 Q, 163 V, and 5.5 W, I am retaking them this week but am not sure how much my scores will improve. i have looked in to Columbia, Harvard, Hopkins, Berkley, UNC, NYU, Yale, UMich. Any thoughts?

[cyberwulf]

I will be applying to MPH programs in the fall. I have no idea how competitive the admissions process is so any input would be much appreciated!! I went to Upenn, graduated with a 3.5 overall 3.8 in major (neurobiology), with an honors thesis. I have spent two years as an analyst at a boutique healthcare and life science strategy consulting firm. I took the GREs earlier this year and got a 161 Q, 163 V, and 5.5 W, I am retaking them this week but am not sure how much my scores will improve. i have looked in to Columbia, Harvard, Hopkins, Berkley, UNC, NYU, Yale, UMich. Any thoughts?

I am pretty confident that you will get into mots of the places you applied. Heck, I think you'd probably be admitted straight into PhD programs in Biostatistics at most of the places you list!

Edited August 13, 2012 by cyberwulf

[BessXu]

Yale's BioStats seems lost in their school of Public Health. I would definitely go for the MS at Columbia.

What do you mean 'lost'? Could please introduce more info abt Yale biostat?

 

Thanks for answering my question. I'm admitted student of Yale Biostat mph program and other biostat programs. So I'm looking for useful information.