Need advice on choosing between 2 programs in Boston. Help please!

[Nasara25]

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I am very happy that I was accepted to all 6 of the DPT programs I applied to, but I have narrowed down my final choices to Simmons College and Boston University, because both programs offered me great scholarships. Does anyone have any experiences with either of these programs you could share? My opinion is that they are both excellent programs, but they seem pretty different. Simmons has small classes and a very personal feel, while BU has better research faculties and is higher ranked. They seem to have pretty comparable clinical offerings. I haven't been able to visit either school because I am currently volunteering abroad and won't return to the US before I need to make my decision, so I am having a really hard time getting a feel for either one. Any insights you can give me on quality of education, reputation, atmosphere, your experiences ect would be very much appreciated!

 

[NMSK89]

I don't have much experience with either school personally, but I can relay what current PT's in the area have told me. Both PT's I worked under while completing my observation hours graduated from BU and had nothing but great things to say about the program, faculty, and facilities. Actually, when I stated volunteering one of the PT's that works there was doing his last clinical and by the time I finished he was working full time, so he must of been hired immediately after graduating. The only other thing I can tell you is that when I asked multiple PT's where they like to take student's from the answers were always BU, MGH, and Northeastern. Wish I had something to tell you about Simmons, but I don't know much about the program or anyone who does.

 

[Nasara25]

I don't have much experience with either school personally, but I can relay what current PT's in the area have told me. Both PT's I worked under while completing my observation hours graduated from BU and had nothing but great things to say about the program, faculty, and facilities. Actually, when I stated volunteering one of the PT's that works there was doing his last clinical and by the time I finished he was working full time, so he must of been hired immediately after graduating. The only other thing I can tell you is that when I asked multiple PT's where they like to take student's from the answers were always BU, MGH, and Northeastern. Wish I had something to tell you about Simmons, but I don't know much about the program or anyone who does.

Thanks so much for your advice! I really appreciate it. I have started leaning towards BU the more I research it. It just seems to have a better reputation in the field. But I am still not totally decided. I will definitely take this into account.

 

[Melanie726]

Hi Nasara25,

Congrats on getting into these awesome programs! My goal is to attend BU next year so I think you're making a great decision. Do you mind posting your stats? It seems as though BU acceptances are few and far between. I would really appreciate it!

Thanks

 

[Nasara25]

Hi Nasara25, Congrats on getting into these awesome programs! My goal is to attend BU next year so I think you're making a great decision. Do you mind posting your stats? It seems as though BU acceptances are few and far between. I would really appreciate it! Thanks

Hi Melanie. I am happy to share my stats:
Cum GPA: 3.66
Prereq GPA: 3.46
GRE: V150/Q157/W5
Observation hours: about 1000 (I worked full time as a PT aide for a year)

As you can see, my stats are fine but not exceptional by any means. I think my volunteer and work experiences had everything to do with me getting into so many good programs (I was also accepted to MGH IHP, UMass Lowell, UNC Chapel Hill and Emory). I had lots of observation hours which def helped. But I have also been volunteering abroad for over a year, working on education and health outreach and I think that unique cross- cultural experience focused on behavior change and health education really helped my application. I found that in almost every application and interview there were questions about ability to work with people from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds which I had a lot to contribute to. If I could give you one piece to advice it would be to do something (def doesn't have to be as big as going abroad for 2 years!) to set you apart in this area from other applicants with just as good stats (like doing volunteer/observation hours at a clinic that serves undeserved populations ect). I really think that made all the difference for me. In fact, BU gave me a very generous scholarship, and I am sure I wasn't the applicant with the best stats. Let em know if you have any other questions. Good luck!

 

[Melanie726]

Thanks for the advice Nasara25!

I'm taking a gap year and doing everything I can to find a PT aide job and build up my resume some more, so that's awesome to hear 🙂 Also, your experience sounds phenomenal! Congrats again