Hunter, BU, UCSF, etc.

[plaster]

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Oops, I posted this in the NON-Pre-DPT forum, so I'm reposting in this more appropriate space:

Hi all,

I'm an aspiring DPT student, coming from a very different field: I got my BID (Industrial Design) from The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 2010. So in other words, my student loans are already crippling.

Anyway. I have been researching all sorts of DPT programs, and the following three have stood out to me:

1. UCSF as a good bang for your buck program. Seems to be about half the price of most of the other top-ranked DPT programs, and is in the best city in the world to boot (SF native here )

2. Hunter. Cheap as f#ck (relatively speaking) and in the other best city in the world.

3. BU: I'm actually currently located in the Boston area, but this has nothing to do with it. BU offers an accelerated/combined Athletic Training/DPT program that you can do over the course of six years (versus 7.) Problem is, each of those years will end up costing about 55-60k per. Talk about prohibitive... BUT. I am a HUGE hockey fan, and there are so many hockey resources in this area. It is a huge part of my life. And as of right now, I am interested in sports therapy. So it seems like this program, disregarding cost, is the ideal program for me. The thought of working with any of the many many many sports clubs over here makes me absolutely salivate. I am not particularly fond of Boston, but if it does anything right, it's sports and medicine. Hmmmmmmmmm....

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on any of this. Anyone go to any of these schools? I would probably be paying back loans until I die if I go the BU route. But it really seems like a great program. Hunter seems to be the most practical. I can work a few more years in my current field, save up some money, regain NY residency and then apply.

Also, I've read/heard from various sources that $80k is the median salary for a PT. Is this about correct? Some girl I know who isn't that much older than myself is a PT and recently bought a condo, so it seems like a pretty good deal to me...

Grateful to hear anyone's comments/advice on applying/advice on these different schools.

Cheers.

 

[jblil]

My first love was Industrial Design, but I couldn't pursue it for various reasons. How is the job market in that field these days?

Salary for DPTs: if you have time, read this thread; or you can go to the very last post to get the "executive summary."
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=931151

IMO, piling on even more debt for the DPT wouldn't make a lot of sense.

 

[plaster]

I personally have a solid career ahead of me, if I can maintain interest in doing what I'm doing... and there's the problem (I can't... I already kinda don't.) Which is what brings me here. Many of my classmates from Pratt are now in similar corporate design type jobs. Some are studying abroad in graduate design programs. I would guess that I'm probably making the average or slightly above average salary as compared to my peers.

Hunter is feeling like the right choice, though because I went to design school, I probably have about three years of prereqs ahead of me... do you have any advice on the best way to get these done, if I'm already working 9-5?

Also- are there any other state schools that I may not be aware of that offer competitively priced education? I love NYC but am completely open to exploring a new part of the country/world.

A PT friend of mine from the UK says that the UK and Australia have some of the world's best programs. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for sending me that salary link, good to know! And great to see how updated the info is.

 

[Azimuthal]

Hunter was under water last month. Anyone heard of their PT campus recovery process?

I would focus on the state schools in which you are eligible for in-state tuition and Hunter. It sounds like you may already have a decent amount of loans already accumulated.

 

[nomattic]

Pratt! I went there for a semester before transferring to get a lib arts degree in Boston. It was one of the best 5 months of my life if you take into account meeting the fuggin coolest people, ever.

Anyway, considering you have to take all the prereqs ($), already have Pratt undergrad debt ($$$) and have to pay for PT school ($-$$$), pick a state school or cheap institution. In my opinion, you have to kiss schools like BU goodbye, as the salary you'll make as a DPT won't come close to justifying your debt. This leaves your options somewhat open, however. If you're willing to take the risk, research state schools, move to the state you want to go to school in, take your prereqs there, get residency, and apply. I did it, and so far it's working out. Also make sure your goals are realistic by researching the school's average acceptance stats and making sure you're up to par before taking said risk. Good luck!

 

[plaster]

Yeah, I know something like BU is a pipe dream, but the program seems so exciting. It's like the only scenario where Boston is better than NYC... har har.

I have friends who went to Hunter for similar reasons (for undergrad) so I know it's generally a quality institution. But can you recommend any other state schools (I guess UCSF counts as one too, though it's more $ than Hunter.)

As far as taking pre reqs, my plan is to take 2 a semester if I can, while keeping my 9-5 job. This way I have to worry about money less. BUT it also means it will take about three years to complete 'em all. I'm thinking of doing the non-lab ones on this schedule, and then once I have those out of the way, possibly quitting at that point and getting a part time job/s and doing the lab classes (things like chem/physics have never been my strong point, and I want to give myself my best shot at these types of courses. And regarding this...: how much do things like chem/physics come into play in actual PT settings?)

As far as completing my 150 hours, that literally just constitutes calling up different PT offices and asking to volunteer, correct? Sounds pretty cool, but do they really just let people come in to their offices and do things? What should I expect to do? Am I going to be laughed at if I say, "btw I'm three years away from even applying, but I'd like to get this experience in now."

 

[plaster]

Re: Hunter:

This is posted on their website:

Admissions Process
The DPT program begins each June. The application deadline is December 1st, and a Hunter College Graduate Admissions application is required. This online application becomes available approximately August 15th. We are not participating in the APTA CAS. The DPT program is a collaboration between the Graduate Center of CUNY and the physical therapy programs at Hunter College and the College of Staten Island. These two sites have different admissions deadlines and admit separate groups of students. You may still apply to CSI through the Graduate Center Admissions Office.

What does this mean exactly? Aside from "Chapters and Sections."

Does this mean that graduates of this program are not members of the APTA? Sorry if this is a "dumb" question... trying to learn on the fly all the lingo/workings of this field.

 

[nomattic]

Re: Chem and Physics - equations and problems will not likely show up in your career as a PT. From what I understand, courses like those are required because they require you to think critically. If you can succeed in them, it shows PT schools, in part, that you could successfully complete their program since much of the curriculum requires similar styles of thinking. With that said, they look at a lot of other factors when making that judgment.

Re: Volunteer hours - call or go online and search for places wherever you live. I applied to a few via their website. Also, once you meet a PT or two, try to become friendly with them enough to get some other references. Through the first PT I shadowed in pediatrics, I was able to shadow her friend in geriatrics, and then yet another at a neuro rehab center. Also, as many others on here will tell you, get diverse experiences. If you're going for 150 hours, try to get 50 hours in 3 different settings.

Re: Hunter - I've never heard it called APTA CAS. Pretty sure they're talking about PTCAS (http://www.ptcas.org/home.aspx) which is just the centralized application service for PT schools. Not all schools participate, as Hunter apparently doesn't, so they're telling you that applicants have to apply directly. Has nothing to do with being a member of the APTA or not. I'm not familiar with Hunter, but just verify that they're CAPTE accredited and follow their specific application instructions.

 

[Azimuthal]

Does this mean that graduates of this program are not members of the APTA? Sorry if this is a "dumb" question... trying to learn on the fly all the lingo/workings of this field.

Nah. You are referring to PTCAS, our version of the centralized application system. It consolidates your info and sends it to your selected schools. Not all PT programs use it.

CAPTE accredits PT programs. Hunter et al that you mentioned are accredited - so no worries there. Accreditation is required to sit for the national exam and licensure. The APTA is our professional organization. They lobby on our behalf amongst other things and membership is contingent upon membership dues.