Is it worth it...

[kbui]

...to get an MPH?

 

What are the pros and cons for you?

 

For me:

 

Pros: Academic leverage, learning more about a topic I enjoy, meeting new people, being in an academic environment again, building networks, living someplace new, having an excuse to go abroad, being eligible for Fellowships abroad, getting a brand name degree (Harvard or Yale)

 

Cons: Probably have to take out ~60-80K in loans (OMG!), missing out on money I can make if I worked for two years (~60-80K), possibly making the same amount I would've made even if I didn't go to public health

 

After applying... if I don't get full tuition funding or a large part of it funded, I don't know if I want to go... What do you think?

[livenlearn]

i am surprised you applied to only two programs. are you interested in the "brand" or the education that you can get??  There are plenty of good( or better?) public health programs ( UNC, emory , columbia , michigan,UW, etc,,,)  and full funding for mph is very difficult to get.

[worldpeace]

Like what Livenlearn said, getting full funding is EXTREMELY difficult (e.g. Emory only gives full funding to only 1 person from all the entering students), and I'm not even sure if Harvard or Yale gives out full, or even half, funding. Also, if you decide to go to Harvard, 60-80K for 2 years for tuition fees and living expenses wouldn't be enough. 

[123hardasABC]

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want the prestige of going to a top university for your MPH, then yeah, you're looking at a $60-80K loan, plus living expenses. For me, an MPH is not my terminal degree and I don't care about the "brand." I plan on getting a doctorate level degree afterwards, so what I care about are the research opportunities and the intimacy of the education. I opted for a smaller program rather than an Ivy League one. It's also more affordable, which bodes well with my plans of getting a PhD. 

 

Anyway, that's my personal anecdote. The point is, whether or not an MPH is worth it depends on what you're looking for in education. If you see it as income lost, then no, it's definitely not worth it. If you see it as an opportunity to get a Harvard degree, and you have the means and the brains, then go for it. 

[dr_hopeful]

Being an international applicant I totally understand Latte's perspective. I would like to get a degree from the U.S. as I see U.S, universities as leaders in health systems. But I want my degree and university to be recognized and valued. That's where prestige comes in. I don't think the MPH curriculum varies drastically between schools. So one would get the same set of skills/knowledge from an Emory MPH as from a Yale MPH. But Yale's brand is big in  Asia/EU so the employment opportunities are way better with a Yale MPH. Moreover, the entry criteria for an MPH isn't very competitive (around 30%-50% acceptance rate is quite high) compared with a PhD (less than 10%). So I see no reason why one shouldn't try to go for the best!

 

Also, 'big brand' universities are more likely to help international students get loans. 

 

Opportunity cost is an important personal decision one needs to make. If you think over the long-run you are better off without taking a loan to finance your degree then the investment in a degree isn't worth it.

 

Good luck!

Edited January 19, 2014 by dr_hopeful

[PhDbefore40]

I'll put in my two cents for anyone who is considering this question...

 

I attended a state school for my undergrad and MPH degree, one without particular notoriety but with a top 20 ranking. I feel that I got a pretty good education, certainly not the best, but I think it was useful. The best part about it was that it was so cheap that I didn't end up needing to take out any student loans because I worked at the same time. I have absolutely no regrets about where I attended for that reason alone, and I am incredibly thankful that I don't have college debt I'm going to have to carry around with me and worry about for the rest of my life.

 

I got a job at the same university in a research position after graduation, which is something I have been doing in one capacity or another since undergrad. I've always wanted to do research, it just took me a while to figure out exactly what direction I wanted to go in. I'm making approximately $45,000 a year, so definitely not rolling in the dough, but for me it's sufficient. If I had to pay down exorbitant loans I'm not sure I'd be making enough money.

 

Now I'm applying for PhD programs. When I decided that's what I wanted to do, I swore to myself that I would not go unless I got tuition covered and a stipend. I've been out of school for almost 5 years, so the idea of going back and accumulating an overwhelming amount of debt was just not worth it to me. There's a good chance that I'll graduate and end up in a similar position I am in now, without making much more money. I'm ok with that, because it's what I'm passionate about, not so I can buy a boat. To be honest, one of the schools that I applied to was Columbia, and even if I did get accepted with a full ride I'm not sure I would go because it would still cost a lot to live there. I'd rather go somewhere less "prestigious" in a place and at a standard of living I know I'd be happier with. Also, to the point of the school I went to for my MPH, I don't think that is relevant at all to my chance of getting into somewhere like Columbia's PhD program, and I feel the same holds true for future jobs. In public health I believe it's more about selling your passion and experience, not the fact that you went to an ivy.

 

I hope this is helpful for some of you as you start considering what school you want to accept admission to. Anyone please feel free to ask me any other questions.

[hughesck206]

Anyone have any experience or any knowledge about Virignia Commonwealth University's mph program?  I am from Virginia and the program at VCU seems to be the best in state option.  However, I have also been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh and Boston University but the idea of out of state tuition for these schools has me completely freaked out.

 

Guess I am looking for further assurance that the program does not matter as much as what you do in the program.. and does not matter so much to put yourself in the stress of going into hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt once you consider tuition, additional fees, and living costs!

[katethekitcat]

Hi Hughesck206,

 

Please don't double post - it clogs up the forums. Thanks!