<p>With deadlines fast approaching, I've found that I'm nowhere close to making a decision about where to attend graduate school in the fall and was hoping to get some input about each of the schools.</p>
<p>I was accepted to several programs and have narrowed my choices to two - Emory/Rollins School of Public Health and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.</p>
<p>My main area of interest, at the moment, is infectious disease epidemiology. I haven't decided what disease(s) specifically, but I did some undergrad research on tuberculosis and have an interest in foodborne, vector-borne, and parasitic diseases, among others. I am considering pursuing a PhD after I receive my MPH but want to make sure I receive adequate training with the MPH that if I did not pursue a PhD I would still have viable career prospects.</p>
<p>From what I've researched, Minnesota has a very strong program in epidemiology but does not have much as far as infectious disease (great for cancer, cardiovascular, and chronic disease epi, but not so much ID). There are some great faculty working in foodborne illness - Michael Osterholm, most notably - as well as Minnesota's Team D (recently in the news for their work on the jalapeno/salmonella outbreak last summer and the more recent peanut tainting scare). Costs at MN are more affordable (~27-30K/year plus opportunities for RA/TAships with tuition remission), but I worry about a potential lack of research opportunity/experience/coursework in infectious disease.</p>
<p>Emory accepted me for their Environmental and Occupational Health program (not epidemiology), which I find intriguing but does not necessarily meet my current interests or long-term career goals (though it's possible I can mold the program to better suit my needs, there's no guarantee I could take all the electives that most interest me). Emory has a ton of great classes in infectious disease epidemiology, but since I wasn't accepted to the epi program, it may make it increasingly difficult to take those classes, especially if they don't have anything to do with EOH. However, the name/reputation and access to CDC are really pulling me to pack up and move to Atlanta. The cost of attending Emory would also be more prohibitive (estimated at 47K/year with no possibility for tuition remission) and I worry I may not have enough epidemiology coursework under my belt upon graduation to get a job working as an epidemiologist.</p>
<p>At this point I'm leaning toward MN but really don't want to give up Emory if it will end up costing me potential career opportunities in the future. How much does name matter in public health? Would going to Minnesota (ranked 10th by US News) limit my options more than going to Emory (ranked 7th)? </p>
<p>Do I go with the school that offers the program I want, but with limited electives in my field of interest or do I go to the school that has all the courses but which will likely limit the number I can take because I'm enrolled in a different program?</p>
<p>Anyone practicing or studying in the field of public health or epidemiology that could give me some much needed advice?</p>