Masters #2 -- Public Health -- Value Advice

[WMMG]

I recently graduated from a fairly prestigious university (top-50) with a BA in Philosophy. I had a 3.5 undergrad GPA with just over a 3.8 in my major (as well as for my final three semesters of undergrad). I completed the degree fairly early (2 years, one semester) last winter and still did not know exactly which direction I wanted to go with it. I am beginning the master's program in Bioethics at Columbia this fall, which I will either complete in the summer or winter of 2015 (depending on a few factors).  However, I am also interested in pursuing a degree in public health (specifically, social/behavioral sciences). I am specifically interested in the MS program in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia and the AM program at Brown in Behavioral and Social Sciences Intervention.

 

Would the completion of either of these programs add significant value to my employability (are they worth the additional cost)?  I am not yet sure what specific career I would like to pursue, but I am very interested in work at policy/research organizations. Provided I perform in my current graduate program, would I even have a shot at getting into these programs? My GRE scores are: 156V 157Q 5.0W (should I retake them?) I appreciate any advice you can give, thanks!

[GradSchooler]

I would recommend that you get some work experience before getting another degree. It will help you confirm whether a public health degree and career is really for you and whether you need it. If you are interested in a policy/research job, could you get a research assistant job on campus or an internship to give you experience? Plus getting a bit of work experience can help you get into top tier public health schools if you decide you still need the degree. If you decide another career is right for you, you'll have saved yourself a ton of money. A public health degree is not cheap as little financial aid exists so you want to be sure you need it. Plus, after working in research you might discover that you are really interested in a phd where you could apply without an mph. Not saying this will happen, but working can help you figure out what's right for you!