Program-Specific Info / Q's Columbia vs BU - Advice needed!

[OT2020hopeful]

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I was accepted to BU this morning and Columbia earlier in February, so am now trying to decide between the two... looking for any and all advice from folks who have been accepted to either or any current/former students still on this forum! The curriculum structure at the schools is pretty different and I'd love your thoughts on it.

Some context: I have lived in NYC for 8 years and went to undergrad here, so being able to stay and go to Columbia is a plus. I have family in and around Boston and have always loved the city, and I'm not totally opposed to moving to a new place. I just want to be confident if I were to move that it's because the program is the right fit for me.

I am a career changer, so am looking for a program that will give me a strong foundation in coursework because of how out of left field my background is (I majored in Communications and have worked in marketing for the last 4 years.)

BU offered me a nice scholarship but that brings the cost to be roughly the same between the two programs!

Any advice is much appreciated -- thank you!!

 

[YoginiOT]

I am also deciding between different OTD programs and I'm finding the tried and true pro/con list very helpful. It's given me a clear idea of what my values are and what I really want in a program. Factors like tuition, cost of living, moving logistics, housing options, curriculum, fieldwork options, etc. It may only come down to one or two differences but seeing it all written out on paper has been helping. It's a lot to think about, but only you can evaluate your likes/dislikes and weigh the two options well. That being said, if it were me I would avoid the hassle of moving if I had a great program like Columbia right outside my door!

As a side note, I was also accepted to BU this morning. My interview last week was virtual so unfortunately I have been unable to tour the campus which is really making it difficult for me to decide if it would be a good fit for me. The curriculum seems vastly different from other programs I've been accepted to and I have heard that it is very research focused. Did you get that impression? I know it's a fantastic program and I am very interested in conducting research as it is a big need in our field.

Hope this helps! I feel slightly better knowing I'm not the only one feeling indecisive. 🙂