Parents, could you help me with my grad school decision?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Parents, I need your help deciding. I love my parents but their canned response to this situation is “you’ll make the right decision” and right now, that’s not very helpful. Now that scholarship offers and such have come in for my MPH, I have it narrowed down to St. Louis University and University of Michigan and I just have no idea which one to pick. </p>

<p>At St. Louis, I’d be getting my MPH in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness & Epidemiology. At Michigan, it would be Health Behavior and Health Education with a certificate in Global Health. Michigan is a much higher ranked program (I have no idea what kind of difference that makes- there’s only 50 accredited schools of public health by the CEPH, many more unaccredited, and both of these are accredited- Michigan is 4th and St. Louis is somewhere around 30th… not that I put a ton of stock in rankings) but St. Louis has offered me a research position which gives me full tuition scholarship + small stipend + health insurance for me and my soon-to-be-spouse whereas at Michigan, I’d go at least 20k in debt after my scholarship (30k without any kind of GSI position my 2nd year) but I could live at my house for free (my parents are moving and are willing to let me live there while I get my degree, otherwise they’ll be renting out the house). </p>

<p>My biggest fear is that I’m going to graduate with more debt than I need to only to find out that I can’t get much work with HBHE (I’ll have just over 20k coming out of UG). My ultimate life passion would be to work in global reproductive health care, ensuring that women have access to family planning methods and maternal health care. However, I realize that this is oddly specific and that I might be able to get there anyway one day even with a background in something a little different. I will be happy doing anything that is related to public health- I just want to improve community health. It is worth noting that at SLU, I could take EPI classes in Maternal and Child Health and therefore tailor it a bit to my interests. I think that Biosecurity & EPI would be more marketable and the research experience is invaluable as I have virtually none. </p>

<p>I should also add that most of the SLU classes in biosecurity are going to be online. They’re tailored to working professionals. My EPI and core classes will be in-person though. A perk to SLU is that they’re really focused on social justice in health care, which is something that I am also passionate about. Michigan doesn’t quite seem to emphasize that. </p>

<p>Input? Things I haven’t thought about? I don’t know anyone else who has gone to grad school so I’m kind of at a loss as to who to talk to and in all the years I’ve been on here, you guys haven’t failed me yet :). </p>

<p>OH! Side note: I REALLY want to get away from the snow. But of course, the only person to offer me a really significant scholarship outside of SLU is Columbia… and not enough to justify living there and to stay in the snow lol </p>

<p>Thank you so much for any advice. Ultimately, the decision is one I have to make and I know this but I’m sure there’s many things I haven’t considered. Many of you have students in grad school or went their yourselves so I need the advice of those more mature and much wiser :).</p>

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<p>Do the schools’ career centers have statistics on the success rates of MPH graduates in finding jobs, and the list of employers and job titles of MPH graduates in past years?</p>

<p>Maybe here for Michigan: [Employment</a> Surveys - Students & Alumni - SPH Career Services](<a href=“http://www.sph.umich.edu/careers/job_search/surveys.html]Employment”>http://www.sph.umich.edu/careers/job_search/surveys.html)</p>

<p>St. Louis University does not seem to have a career survey: [Careers</a> in Public Health, Social Work and Criminal Justice : Saint Louis University School of Public Health : SLU](<a href=“http://www.slu.edu/publichealth/careers]Careers”>http://www.slu.edu/publichealth/careers)</p>

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<p>No, they don’t. I’m going down in a few weeks and I’ll ask then. I’ve seen Michigan’s already and it hasn’t influenced me one bit.</p>

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<p>In reading your post, it sounds like
SLU meets more of your criteria than Michigan. </p>

<p>They’ve had snow this winter in St. Louis!</p>

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<p>Sounds like you want to go to SLU. I’d go for the research/stipend/insurance and avoiding more debt. (I used to live in St. Louis–I loved it. A lot to do there. There will be some snow, but nothing like MI).</p>

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<p>I think you’re both right. I think slu is where I’m better off and I’m just scared of moving. I just need a giant kick in that direction to get over that fear.</p>

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<p>Have you been to St Louis? Any chance there are grad school apartments? There is a huge plus to graduating debt free, as you know. Plus unless I’m reading it wrong, the SLU program sounds more in line with what you are looking for.</p>

<p>I was really keeping my fingers crossed for Emory…and no snow!</p>

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<p>Thanks, thumper. Me too-so hard but scholarships went out last week and it was silent for me. Oh well :)</p>

<p>I’ve never been to St Louis but I’m going on march 22. I’ve found some really great and affordable apartments close to campus. My sister has friends in the area and they’re going to show us around.</p>

<p>I think objectively the Michigan program is more in line with what I’m looking for but I’d definitely be happy with either.</p>

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<p>I truly feel that you will get any job you apply for, particularly in global reproductive care, which is obviously what you love. I think a masters in any field remotely related will be a plus, but your passion will carry the day. Both schools sound great.</p>

<p>Personally, I don’t think 20K is a deal breaker, and not enough money to be a huge part of the equation. That’s the price of an average car, and you live very frugally anyways. You will be in charge of something major one day soon, and that amount will be peanuts to you. There is also a huge benefit to living in your parents home, as long as it isn’t a burden to them to not rent it out. You can probably live cheaper there. And would your boyfriend live there also, what about the job situation for him?</p>

<p>I’m not saying one school over the other, because certainly I have no idea! But…I think you should visit SLU, and after that, maybe visit Michigan again. You might have a strong reaction either way, when you compare the area and visit the schools. </p>

<p>Any chance any of the other schools might come through with some cash, or is this definitely the final decision? Plus, if you decide you like Michigan better, can you show them SLU’s offer and ask them to match? Works for some undergraduate programs!</p>

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<p>BD, I think it will be closer to 30k but who knows? It will be 30k at the most though- that much I know. It’s not a ton but on top of the almost 45k SO and I have in debt already, it’s just a bit more daunting =/. Though I think he’ll get most of his paid off during my grad school as our housing will be… well… free :). </p>

<p>He is moving with me no matter what. He actually does have a PT job lined up where I’m from because he’s worked for my boss before and has said he’s welcome to come work for them. It’s seasonal work though. I have a ton of connections and I think I could get him a job if just searching does not. He wants to work with kids and plenty of people are looking for nannies and the like. In St. Louis, we obviously can’t guarantee any kind of income for him. He’s been working in a respite house and is skilled in care of those with mental and physical disabilities. He has a minor in something similar to that. I think that’s fairly marketable considering our aging population. </p>

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<p>You have far more faith in me than I do :p</p>

<p>There is always a chance of offering more money but D-Day is coming soon and I need to narrow down the schools I’m going to visit. </p>

<p>It’s worth noting that I’d have to commute to Michigan about a half hour each way every day. Between the two of us, we only have one car (mine) and I don’t know if he’d have enough to buy a car by then.</p>

<p>Also, I’m an idiot but I totally missed this. I’d also get a specialization at Michigan in Gender, Sexuality, and Population Health.</p>

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<p>However, that is on top of a like amount of undergraduate debt.</p>

<p>The more debt, the more constrained the OP will be at graduation (e.g. may have to take a higher paying job when the lower paying job is otherwise more desirable).</p>

<p>An average price new car in the US is about $30,000, but the cheapest new car in the US is about $12,000 (plus tax and license). Used cars can be significantly less expensive.</p>

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<p>You’re right, ucb, I didn’t know about the UG debt, and it sounds like closer to 30K.</p>

<p>romani, can you fax Michigan a copy of your offer from SLU tomorrow? Including with it a letter of how much you would love to go to Michigan except for the expense, maybe a bit more about what you have to offer them? With a mention, of course, of how grateful you are to have been accepted? A friend of mine’s daughter did that with GWU, and got an additional 10K per year.</p>

<p>Seems like there is nothing lost doing so, except for the price of a fax, the worst they can do is say no. And then, at least you might not have to consider the money so much when deciding.</p>

<p>I have complete confidence that you will rule the world some day!</p>

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<p>Too much responsibility :p. Though now you sound like my dad. He’s convinced I’m just going to get so angry about something one day that it’s going to convince me to run for office and then eventually I’ll be president. We shall see. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I’m still waiting for the print letter. It was all offered to me over the phone and in an unofficial email. I will definitely keep that in mind. They have an open house next Friday so maybe I can bring it up then. You’re right, it can’t hurt. </p>

<p>I almost wonder if Columbia’s offer will hold more weight though. They offered me a scholarship that would more than cover Michigan’s tuition and it’s more of a peer school. </p>

<p>I actually do think it’ll be closer to 20k. Fwiw, I already have an almost new car (2010 car) so I’m not worried about needing to spend money on that for a good long while. I am very lucky in that I have furniture, kitchen stuff, and all the fixins for when I move somewhere. I have zero problem living frugally. Both boy and I are very non-materialistic and I do have over a year’s worth of living expenses in savings.</p>

<p>It really is the debt that’s giving me pause. It’s making me nervous though I’m wondering if the relatively-small extra debt will be worth the connections that a Michigan degree might get me. </p>

<p>Also, the Michigan degree is much more flexible. I have no room for electives with SLU but Michigan offers me ~30 credits of electives (though ~15 of those will go towards my certificate).</p>

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<p>No responsibility, just confidence in you. You don’t have to live up to anything, just do whatever you want.</p>

<p>Send them copies of both Columbia’s offer and even the unofficial email if the print offer doesn’t come for awhile. Send them every offer that is better than theirs. You’re right, it absolutely can’t hurt, and if they want you (I know they do), they might just pony up some more cash!</p>

<p>But it would be very interesting to see what you think after visiting SLU.</p>

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<p>I don’t think you can pick without visiting. Not only the school matters, but the actual profs and their current interests/projects and the other grad students in the program or in similar programs. Would you be happy working in a lab or group project with THOSE people. Cultures at schools do vary to, although you will find your peeps wherever, will the rest of the people be on the plus side mostly?</p>

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<p>Maybe it’s unwarranted, but the prominence of on-line classes in the curriculum at St. Louis would give me pause.</p>

<p>Also, going into debt is bad, but it’s worse to not get the job you want after graduation.<br>
I would check out what each school’s track record is for their graduates getting jobs in the field. Also, maybe ask someone who has the public health job you want what they think.</p>

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<p>i am glad you will be visiting SLU soon, and you are fortunate to have people showing you around. Even though you could live at parents house in Michigan, commuting 30 minutes can get tiring fast. You could be out of loop for parties with other grad students.</p>

<p>The worm had 10 or so grad school acceptances. three times he ran into major snowstorms when interviewing. When he was deciding on 2final schools, based on proffessors and their labs, I pushed him to revisit. It is different when you are the buyer. I do not know the lenghth of your program, but I’d be telling you to look carefully at classes, profs, other grad students, etc. Where do the grads find work? ask questions time to graduate, drop-out rate, etc.</p>

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<p>Hi Romanigypsyes- First I want to congratulate you on some great offers. I also defer to the student on grad school selection because at this point, the student and his/her professors are much better experts in the field than I am and know the different programs better. However, I’m also biased towards minimzing debt as much as reasonably possible, so the better financial offer would carry weight in the decision. Ask professors who you trust for their advice. They often know people in different departments and have some insight into the different programs and how they would fit you. I agree that it is good to visit and see how you would fit into the program and the area, although both Michigan and SLU are in interesting places to live.
Online classes have pros and cons- but I think many programs are moving towards more of them. The pros would be flexibility, the cons, less personal attention, but that could be overcome by having access to advisors and faculty.
As to ranking of programs, I’d consider what the benefits are. If you were to stay in academia- rank could be a factor, but I’d ask about how much it matters in the area you wish to enter. Do any of the programs have a facullty mentor who is interested in what you would like to do?</p>

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<p>My sister, who worked for USAID for the last 10 years or so of her career, says it’s all about connections. She was told she should get a second masters at Johns Hopkins in order to get the job she wanted. She did that and immediately got the job. Can’t speak to the schools you’re looking at.</p>

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<p>Definitely visit before you decide. But I agree with those who have observed that it seems SLU seems to be the best fit from your original post. I have been there a few times and had dear friends who lived there and absolutely LOVED it. Sounds like a fantastic start to your life with your soon-to-be-spouse to me!</p>

<p>Best to you in making this decision…at the risk of sounding like your parents, I know you will make the right one. :)</p>