General Admissions & OTCAS Advice for choosing between schools

[PuppyloverOT]

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I am very lucky to be accepted to 2 of my top choice programs. Does anybody have any advice on how they selected their program? I'm torn between a very well known, but first year OTD, program in my home state and another relatively well known program in the south. I know that rankings shouldn't matter but I am having problems looking past the "top 4" OTD program compared to the "top 20" masters program. The master's program is a year shorter and much cheaper, but the OTD program is in a research university with ties to an amazing hospital so I wonder if I would be making a mistake turning it down.

I would love any advice for those who picked between 2 programs they really liked.

 

[MrTL]

Do you want to do research (OTD necessary) or do you mainly want to practice (You could get an OTD, but really only need MSOT)? Is cost an issue? Is moving further from home an issue or do you want to experience someplace else? That's what I think of when in your situation.