UNC vs. Columbia MPH (and some other options)

[gspeks]

Hi guys,

I have been incredibly lucky to have some good options when it comes to my masters, but I'm confused as to which to select. I have applied for both MPH and MPP programs, but I'm very much leaning towards PH. I am mostly choosing between:

- UNC Gillings Maternal and Child Health with full funding, incl. a small stipend

- Columbia Mailman Population and Family Health, which gave me a 16k grant a year, making it substantially more expensive

Gillings has generally been really wonderful to interact with so far (after the initial application frustrations). They've been very engaged and supportive, and have overall have been incredibly helpful. My main concerns are whether Gillings is globally focused enough and whether it's connected enough to international organizations. I definitely want to work in global health M&E, so another concern is whether there will be enough good quality technical classes to take at the department; some conversations with the faculty suggest that this will be ok, but I'm just not sure. Finally, I don't know much about the strength of their maternal and child health department in particular, although I'm really interested in the faculty's research... Any info on that would be welcome!

By contrast, Columbia accepted me last year (I deferred), and has been incredibly unreasonable and unhelpful this year, smacking down an arbitrary early deadline for my response, not sending financial aid info on time for that deadline, not being very useful in helping me to visit the school, etc. When they did finally send financial aid, it was lower than UNC by a large margin and is lower than my offer last year. On the other hand, I know plenty of people who went there and they loved their experience (same with UNC), and I know the school's quality in my particular interests is excellent. I really like the faculty and know that there are many options to engage with internationally focused organizations in NYC. In other words, it's just a great enough option to make the choice of UNC not a given.

Some other viable options are:

- University of Michigan Epidemiology (with half-tuition)

- University of Washington - Seattle Health Metrics and Evaluation (no aid, but they are known to help students get full aid once you're there)

- Harvard Kennedy School MPP -- no funding, but it's hard to let that one go; plus, I'm not 100% sure I want an MPH over an MPP

Does anyone have any advice? Do you know much about the maternal/family health focus at these schools? What about M&E? Global health?

Thanks!

[justastudent]

Congratulations on your accomplishments! What a wonderful list of choices. UNC is number 2 in public health. Doesn't seem you can go wrong there. Plus they want you, they were nice and are willing to pay!!!!! If you decide on Columbia make sure that you are eligible for the loans they say you can take. I know someone who had a foreclosure on their credit rating and couldn't take grad plus loans. The school didn't even know/understand this rule and gave them bad advice. Good luck. keep us posted.

[rising_star]

Go to UNC. UNC has programs internationally that you can get involved in once you're there.

[dianav88]

I would suggest to decide between UNC and the MPP of Harvard. I agree with you that it is hard to let Harvard go, so do it only if you are 100% sure that PH is what you want to do.