Anyone know about health care policy programs?

Graduate School
1

<p>I'd like to do health care policy analysis work, so I applied to public health programs with strong policy departments and public policy programs with strong health policy tracks (see list below). Anyone have any input on my options? MPP vs. MSPH/MHS? </p>

<p>PUBLIC HEALTH </p>

<p>-Johns Hopkins - MHS in Health Policy </p>

<p>(IN - No word on aid) </p>

<p>-UNC - MSPH in Health Policy & Management </p>

<p>(Interviewed, no decision yet) </p>

<p>-Columbia - MPH with Health Policy Track </p>

<p>(Nothing yet) </p>

<p>-Emory - MSPH in Health Policy & Services Research </p>

<p>(IN - No word on aid) </p>

<p>PUBLIC POLICY </p>

<p>-Carnegie Mellon - MS in Health Care Policy & Management </p>

<p>(IN - $12k / semester scholarship) </p>

<p>-Georgetown - MPP, health policy track </p>

<p>(IN - scholarship consideration) </p>

<p>-NYU - MPA in Health Policy & Management </p>

<p>(Nothing yet) </p>

<p>-Duke - MPP, health policy track </p>

<p>(Nothing yet) </p>

<p>I'm leaning towards Hopkins, because it's so well known in public health circles and the program involves a significant working component that would give me much needed work experience. But the money from CMU is hard to resist, as well. Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>I’ve received a lot of messages about this thread, so I thought I’d update things.</p>

<p>I ended up getting in everywhere except UNC. UNC really wanted more work experience.</p>

<p>Duke, Georgetown, and Columbia all offered me some type of scholarship. Incorporating cost of living and length of the program, however, Hopkins was one of the cheapest programs.</p>

<p>I ended up choosing Hopkins’ program for a number of reasons. (1) I went to undergrad in DC. I like the area. My girlfriend (now fiance) was established in the area. So, location was important. (2) The cost of attendance was cheaper than everywhere else, even though I didn’t get money from Hopkins. (3) For federal health policy, no other program rivals Hopkins (except, maybe Columbia). </p>

<p>Finally, I talked with a few people about public health vs. public policy (including a professor at Columbia), and here’s what I learned:</p>

<p>Public policy schools give you a great generalist degree with some very useful and marketable skills. If you’re not sure what policy area you want to work in, this degree is probably the one for you.</p>

<p>If, however, you’re like me, and know you want to do health policy, then a public health school is really the way to go. You get so much more health related policy work in a school of public health. My only complaint is the somewhat narrow view of policy. Most of the faculty and students (understandably) see policy mainly as a tool to advance public health goals. They aren’t necessarily totally in touch with the realities of policymaking (e.g., many don’t have a real concept of autonomy or acknowledge its importance). I have a feeling (though I’m not sure) that most public policy programs would be more balanced and perhaps more realistic; but I cannot say for sure.</p>

<p>The main things I would look for in a program are:
(1) What are they going to do to help you get a job?
(2) How much of the curriculum is devoted to the policy area you’re interested in?
(3) How costly is the program?
(4) Does the program have reach/influence in the geographic and substantive area in which you’re interested?</p>

<p>On all four of these counts, Hopkins topped the list. But this is an individual choice. If you want to do state-level or local-level policy going to a school in the region is probably much more important.</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m happy to answer any questions via reply or personal message. Best of luck to you all.</p>

3

<p>If, however, you’re like me, and know you want to do health policy, then a public health school is really the way to go. You get so much more health related policy work in a school of public health. My only complaint is the somewhat narrow view of policy. Most of the faculty and students (understandably) see policy mainly as a tool to advance public health goals. They aren’t necessarily totally in touch with the realities of policymaking (e.g., many don’t have a real concept of autonomy or acknowledge its importance). I have a feeling (though I’m not sure) that most public policy programs would be more balanced and perhaps more realistic; but I cannot say for sure.</p>

<p>This was the comment I was going to make. I plan to get a policy or administration degree after I finish my PhD (I’m at Columbia’s SPH but in sociomedical sciences) and so I was a little biased; a public health degree is going to be primarily focused on orienting you to the major discourses in public health and the policy stuff is almost secondary in a way. I personally want NYU’s MPA because of it’s flexibility and high regard (it’s ranked #3 in health care administration/management) but you can’t go wrong with Hopkins :D</p>