I am BACK!

[april004]

Graduated from Excelsior in 2009. Been playing around with the idea of going back to school for a while to obtain my Masters in Public Health. Applied to Southern New Hamsphire , my alma mater which is Excelsior, The Chicago School of Psychology, APU. Chicago School and SNHU have B&M campuses but that isn't my pull at all. It's their reputation for online learning. I know SNHU has a relatively well known online presence. I know little about the Chicago School. My sports psychologist went their and had a great experience but she didn't do the online program and I know a great B&M doesn't necessarily translate into a great online learning experience. I had a bad online experience with a B&M early in my studies towards my bachelors, so there is always that fear. Can any students of APU or SNHU and Excelsior chime in on their experience with pursuing masters degrees at these institutions?

[NAP]

Just wanted to say hi! It is nice to see so many forum members are graduating and pursuing graduate school, too!

[Mamasaphire]

I can't answer your question, but I wanted to thank you for asking it. Going on for Public/Community Health is what I am leaning toward also.

[alleycat]

SNHU is a major online school. Growing at an unbelievable rate actually. It's mixed on reviews of the online and campus parts of the school. As always depends who your instructor is. It also depends on the program you are in and how it is run. Your exact program I can not comment on but I know tons of people that have gone there and it is mixed. Some love it and some run in the other direction. Also check going forward how the classes you need your offered. I know a few that had a hard time graduating because of timing.

[jmgst71]

I just graduated from Thomas Edison in December and also have been looking into MPH programs (and Excelsior's program, which is not an MPH but is similar). I'm also curious to hear about anyone getting an MPH online. It seems like it's looked down on, since there is an internship component to getting the degree, to go to a school not in the area you live and work.

I've also been warned by a friend who has her MPH to be wary of any program that is not CEPH accredited, but that's because I am not exactly in a field yet where an MPH would be useful (I work in healthcare, but as a technical writer). She thinks if you're just looking to get ahead in a job path you're already on, it's not as important; you just need the piece of paper.

I suppose it also matters who is paying. My company does not have a great tuition reimbursement program, so if I were to go now I'd be paying my own way, and I'm not shelling out $30k or more for an MPH, especially since I would probably take a drastic pay cut getting into what I want to do in public health.

[Exfactor]

I can't speak directly on the online experience of SNHU, but I did seek to enroll there. Once I put in my application, I received countless emails and phone calls to enroll, the experience reminded me of a for-profit, which caused me not to enroll there. I then found out how much the alumni of the school have been criticizing the current direction and marketing of the school.

[april004]

Thanks for answering! Yes, none of the programs I am applying to are CEPH accredited save for Elmhurst College(they are a B&M with an online program for Public Health.) The Chicago School of Psychology also has an internship component yet it isn't CEPH accredited. Part of me is leaning towards Excelsior. It's a more a general Master of Science degree with a Public health specialization instead of a major. That could limit me in some ways, but hoping it could free me to pursue different avenues as well. And yes, I do need that piece of paper! I already have a position as a CRC waiting for me at the University I work at, if I get my Masters. But in case this doesn't quite work out, it behooves me to look at more places that are CEPH accredited.

[cookderosa]

Hi April, nice to see you again!

[rebel100]

Welcome back. I don't know about the out of state cost, but take a look at the online MPH at University of West Florida Graduate | University of West Florida

Ceph accredited and there are grad certs you can earn on your way to the MPH.

[april004]

Not at MPH but...I'd love to have Northwestern on my degree. I just applied today. http://sps.northwestern.edu/program-area.../index.php

I am not looking for the fastest or cheapest route to a Masters. I just want to get my Masters for the sake of learning and it doesn't hurt I have a job waiting for me at the end of it. The only thing is, I missed the cutoff for spring quarter so I have to wait until summer quarter. I don't find out if i am admitted until 4 weeks prior to the start date. I am itchy to start and I wonder if I should have patience and wait when I could start elsewhere as early as February.