Front-Loaded Program v Normal One

[MartialArtDPT]

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Hey, all. Please share your opinions or thoughts to help me process the differences between my top two programs. The main difference that I care about right now (let's assume all else is equal) is the loading of the material.

The 1st program has 8 terms of 20, 21, 13, 21, 18, 15, 16, and 9 credits, respectively.

The 2nd program has 9 terms of 15, 15, 15, 15, 14, 14, 13, 9, and 9 credits, respectively.

Looking at the first, I feel a bit nauseous and terrified. But, on the other hand, this loading allows more clinical experiences than any other institution and allows me to finish an entire semester sooner. What would you do?

Have no fear- I'm not taking anyone else's opinion on myself, but I like to hear other people's thoughts so I can sort out my own and give voice to thoughts I maybe didn't realize I had. Thanks!

 

[Kgoebs18]

I personally would rather have more in the beginning and more clinical experience!!

 

[PROMKing]

Depending on which courses constitute those 18+ credit hour terms of the first program you listed, I would steer clear if at all possible. My busiest term was 18 credit hours, and I felt extremely bogged down (even though I consider myself a good student, GPA in PT school was 3.86). 21 credit hours seems excessive. That's six or seven classes that you'll have to juggle.

We had 6.5 purely didactic terms, and 2.5 mixed clinical/didactic classes (full time clinicals with online classes/discussion boards). Personally, I would choose Option 2

 

[MartialArtDPT]

Depending on which courses constitute those 18+ credit hour terms of the first program you listed, I would steer clear if at all possible. My busiest term was 18 credit hours, and I felt extremely bogged down (even though I consider myself a good student, GPA in PT school was 3.86). 21 credit hours seems excessive. That's six or seven classes that you'll have to juggle.

We had 6.5 purely didactic terms, and 2.5 mixed clinical/didactic classes (full time clinicals with online classes/discussion boards). Personally, I would choose Option 2

That is fair. This program is at a top hospital with amazing clinicals, and has less than 30 students with a really good graduation rate, so my thought is that they have very good resources for the students. But yes, I share those reservations and appreciate the advice. Here are the heavy years for perusal, if you have any specific thoughts on that.

 

[MartialArtDPT]

I personally would rather have more in the beginning and more clinical experience!!

The clinicals are a huge draw... it's hard to beat the best hospital in the nation when it comes to clinical opportunities.

 

[PROMKing]

That is fair. This program is at a top hospital with amazing clinicals, and has less than 30 students with a really good graduation rate, so my thought is that they have very good resources for the students. But yes, I share those reservations and appreciate the advice. Here are the heavy years for perusal, if you have any specific thoughts on that.

I took a look at that picture, but I feel classes can be very program-specific. For instance, the class on that curriculum called Professional Management looks similar to a class I had called Professional Issues/Development, which was an absolute joke of a class. My hesitation would be if you had 5-6 "heavy hitter" courses concomitantly in those 18+ credit hour terms, though you wouldn't know that until you experienced it as a student.

Try making a pros and cons list, and make this consideration just one point. At the end of the day, you'll make either decision work and will graduate a DPT!

 

[kdubz7w7]

That is fair. This program is at a top hospital with amazing clinicals, and has less than 30 students with a really good graduation rate, so my thought is that they have very good resources for the students. But yes, I share those reservations and appreciate the advice. Here are the heavy years for perusal, if you have any specific thoughts on that.

This is hard to judge from, all my classes were for totally different credit hours so it is difficult to compare. My anatomy was also 6 credits but pharm was only 1, phys was 3, movement science 1 was 3 or 4....

My first semester was only 13 credits and I was overwhelmed. Looking back on it (I just started my third year) a lot of it was me needing to adapt to DPT school, as studying habits are so different. My classmates and subsequent cohorts also all get rocked their first semester so it wasn't just me. Anatomy is a LOT to grapple with and it tends to take up the vast majority of studying time, I can't fathom trying to keep up with 7 other classes at the same time. Even less complex 1- and 2-credit courses can end up being time-consuming if they include projects and presentations. My GPA is a 3.6 so I am a pretty decent student, just for some sort of reference.

We have two 8 week rotations and two 10 week rotations which I am fine with, not sure what other schools do.

Obviously if they have an excellent graduation rate then they are somehow offering the support and resources to get students through it, which is something to take into consideration. It just sounds like an unnecessarily wild ride.

I'd take the 9th semester/option 2 in exchange for being less rushed/*less stressed*/better info absorption. I'd be interested to hear from someone who has done a front-loaded program & what they thought because it sounds like a nightmare! lol

 

[MartialArtDPT]

This is hard to judge from, all my classes were for totally different credit hours so it is difficult to compare. My anatomy was also 6 credits but pharm was only 1, phys was 3, movement science 1 was 3 or 4....

My first semester was only 13 credits and I was overwhelmed. Looking back on it (I just started my third year) a lot of it was me needing to adapt to DPT school, as studying habits are so different. My classmates and subsequent cohorts also all get rocked their first semester so it wasn't just me. Anatomy is a LOT to grapple with and it tends to take up the vast majority of studying time, I can't fathom trying to keep up with 7 other classes at the same time. Even less complex 1- and 2-credit courses can end up being time-consuming if they include projects and presentations. My GPA is a 3.6 so I am a pretty decent student, just for some sort of reference.

We have two 8 week rotations and two 10 week rotations which I am fine with, not sure what other schools do.

Obviously if they have an excellent graduation rate then they are somehow offering the support and resources to get students through it, which is something to take into consideration. It just sounds like an unnecessarily wild ride.

I'd take the 9th semester/option 2 in exchange for being less rushed/*less stressed*/better info absorption. I'd be interested to hear from someone who has done a front-loaded program & what they thought because it sounds like a nightmare! lol

Yeah, and to be fair, I *love* Option 2, as well. Had the tour today, and they are very happy, tight knit, and well-rounded. Same as Option 1. But they also do team-based learning where they pair you with a group based on personality tests, which for me is a big draw because I have always been a bit of a maverick and whether I "fit in" somewhere can be hit or miss. I'm pretty much always on friendly terms with people; I just have very different beliefs and interests than many people around me where I've lived. So having a group that is almost certain to be pretty compatible with me to work with is a huge advantage.