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Full Version: Career Advice - MPH from Columbia or Boston University
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Hi everyone,

I have just been accepted to MPH programs in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Columbia and Boston University. My end goal is to work in biopharma as a biostatistician/bioinformatics/clinical trials manager.

I have honestly been going back and forth with the two schools. Columbia has the obvious prestige factor, but BU is offering me a scholarship (not sure for how much yet). To those with industry experience: Would the pedigree of having gone to Columbia make a difference to a prospective employer or do they see past names?

Any insights would be wonderful.

Thanks a ton!
OH .. of course it always matters !!

Columbia and Boston University, both are good colleges. Yes, getting a degree from a TOP END college matters a lot. If you have graduated from a top notch college, it not only boosts your self-confidence but also gives you an unbeatable edge during job interviews. Think yourself 10 years down the line - Would you like to say "I am a from BU'ian" or "I am a Columbian" ??

You should first get an idea much scholarship you are getting and difference in cost for both of them. How much student debt will you be end up with. If its a lot (Lot !!) then it should be a deciding factor, otherwise in a long run few thousand dollars (say $15K to $25K) do not matter so much.

Consider one more factor, alumini - In job market your college connections matter a lot, especially when you start to climb up the ladder. If the seniors from your college are placed in good positions, they will always support you over a person of comparable skillset who studied from a different college.