I just received my acceptance to CSUN today. So I'm deciding between CSUN and WesternU. (Im not trying to brag here, I just really need help)
I know that CSUN will be about 30k cheaper than WesternU but if I go to WesternU, I can live with my relatives and save money on expenses (I'll still have to pay rent though).
WesternU has low graduation grates (79-81%) while CSUN has 97%.
PT exam pass rate for WesternU is (97-100%) while for CSUN is 95%
Employment rate for WesternU is 95% and CSUN is 100%.
Since CSUN does not have interviews, i don't know anything else about their program.
Can someone give me info about the CSUN program that I should consider?
I went to a preview day at CSUN and visited other private schools (Asuza & St. Augustine). Here are my thoughts, hopefully it helps. This is my opinion regarding my likes/dislikes about my visits. This may not apply to you.
COST:
Hands down, CSUs will be more affordable. Being someone who will definitely need loans and will have no help from family, CSU will be a desirable choice.
PARKING:
When visiting CSUN, parking took me back to undergrad days. I felt as if I must arrive an hour or two to find parking. If you will be living at a walkable distance, you should have no problem. I did not ask if PT students get parking spaces, but most CSU graduate students get the same priority parking as undergrads: free for all.
At the private schools I visited, there was no problem with parking. Also, after a night of over studying, you can just park fairly close and run to class without being out of breath. Again, if you go to CSUN, you must plan on getting to campus 3 or 4 hours before class starts. It is a far walk from all parking lots (I dont mind walking/running), I am just thinking about those late nights of studying and rushing to class the next day).
ENTRANCE TO LABS:
Entrance to classrooms at CSUN may be limited. At the private schools, every student has an access card, and has access to classrooms/labs at certain times (Asuza: 24 hours, St Augustine: Until midnight). This may be valuable if you need to practice anything hands on.
ENVIRONMENT:
Asuza's program is all on one level, everyone knows everyone, and everyone you see is usually in the program. St. Augustine was just the same. The entire building was for PT/OT/PA Students that have taken classes you have taken/currently in/will take. To me, this means even if I may not know the student I am passing by, there is a good chance if I have a question about something PT or class related, they could direct me somewhere, or help somehow. The students looked like a family and close knit. When I visited Asuza on a random day, I was able to talk to 4 professors, the admissions coordinator, and they had two students give as a tour and sit in and observe a few classes. They were all interacting (with each other and with their professor) and seemed like they were having so much fun. Professors office doors were open. It was amazing how helpful everyone was.
At CSUN I believe many other programs are within the same building (I think engineering but I could be wrong). Most classes are nearby, with few classes somewhere else on campus. Hallways seem very empty and quiet. I saw only one professor, which was the one giving the presentation. Many of the professors office doors were closed. When observing the classes, the only one that seemed like students were having fun was in the cadaver class (but maybe I visited close to examination time?). Although we walked through other classes, I did not see a professors present in many of them (lunch time possibly?)
I dont know how much the professors get paid, but I assume that private schools pay their professors more. I cant say this leads to happier professors that are more helpful and willing to teach, but the professors seemed very involved at the private schools.
PASSING RATES:
During Asuzas preview day I learned graduation rates, Licensure passing rates, and employment rates have very little meaning. Graduations rates may vary, depending on grade rules certain schools may have. Is B passing? Is C passing? What minimum GPA do you need before you get kicked out? Is it a bad school if they have higher standards? Even if it takes a student 4 or 5 times to pass the licensure exam, they are counted as a pass. Employment rate can mean they were employed right out of school or 3 years after school. Eventually, they are employed, unless they take a different route, or go back to school for another degree.
I may have just have visited CSUN on an off day, but I was very impressed with my visits to other schools. If there are others that visited CSUN and had an entirely different experience, please feel free to post. I will be applying to schools soon. It is important for me to visit all the schools and experience the environment that I may be in!
. Try to avoid driving on the freeway from 4-6:30 especially if you choose CSUN. It can take an hour to drive 5 miles during traffic 
.Chapman has the safest location and is close to Newport beach. CSUN is in the valley and is about 20 minutes from Hollywood. It's a relatively safe area but not as safe as Chapman. Nothing to be worried about though. Western is in Pomona and is 30 mins away from downtown LA. It's kinda ghetto and isn't as safe the other two schools but nothing to be scared about. I've heard all 3 schools are really good.. CSUN is the most competitive since its a state school.
