ODU, Radford, Shenandoah or Lynchburg?!

[csulb]

1. Hey Guys!

I'm currently deciding between ODU, Radford, Shenandoah, and... well Lynchburg if i get accepted. (application is still currently under review)

I'm going to share with you my PRO's and Con's list that I've made for each institution and would love to hear some feed back if there was anything that I forgot to include!

ODU

PRO's

1. Tuition- 48,204. This is insanely cheap when in comparison to big name programs like USC, Emory, Columbia, Duke
2. 97% pass rate
3. 5 clinical location sites -(with the option of doing one abroad)
4. Center for Brain Research and Rehabilitaiton Facilities
5. Located in Norfolk- Simply gorgeous

Con's

1. Faculty- Personally, I did't get a really good vibe at the interview
2. Starting anatomy and Pre PT in the beginning of Summer

Radford

PRO's

1. Tuition- 46500 Insanely Cheap
2. Hospital setting
3. Small Class size 28 student

Con's

1. Fairly new program
2. Only 3 clinical rotations
3. most of the clinical sites off of their website is located in certain areas of Virginia ( I would prefer to branch out)
4. Faculty was "ok"

Shenandoah university

Pro's

1. Great vibe from the Faculty
2. 6 clinical rotations ( Love how they get students in the clinics ASAP
3. State of the Art equipment

Cons

1. COSTS!! - 83,000 (before extra student fees)
2. not a fan of missing one summer after Freshman year.... forces the students to delay graduation up until the middle of august or july.. (IF students had not missed that summer, they could have possibly graduated 12 weeks earlier) 12 weeks earlier means 20 thousand more dollars in my pockets.
3. Location- Although I'm scheduled to be placed at the Leesburg Campus which is only 60 minutes from DC.. there wasn't much to do around here
4. Video Conference- I really would prefer to have a teacher in front me when teaching

Appreciate the time anyone took to read this!

any feedback is appreciated

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[trika22]

I've shadowed under several ODU grads. They were all great and knowledgable. If I were in your shoes I'd pick them.

 

[atcdpt]

Shenandoah had a lot of great things to offer, but im going to go with ODU..I too, have heard many great things about their program.

 

[elefuntsumbrero]

I'm experiencing a similar dilemma in choosing. As a Leesburg resident who is leaning towards SU, I will say that cost of living is another expense you should consider. Roanoke is insanely cheap compared to here, Norfolk is a tad higher than that but still well be low Northern Va. I would be lucky enough to live at home decreasing my expenses, but looking at the other locations I would imagine tacking on an extra 10 grand (at least) a year to live.
Additionally, the clinicals. Radford wants you completing clinicas within 200 mi of the Roanoke campus. I understand the need for PTs in rural locations, but if that is not for you choose wisely. The other two schools, while having rural opportunities, give much more variety.
A huge plus with SU is that they are partnered with two HUGE hospital systems, one nearly extending into DC giving so much opportunity. Additionally, I work as an aide at an ortho clinic literally down the road from the Leesburg campus. We have a few 1st year students in once a week getting hands on experience early in the program and they could not be happier at SU. Working with a Shenandoah graduate DPT is also a joy, she's confident, skilled, and well educated which speaks volumes for the program.

Sorry for writing a short novel. I hope you come up with a decision! That deposit date is creeping up quickly

 

[JGibson1]

I am in a very similar situation. Last December I made my deposit for Radford University after receiving notification I had been accepted. At the time, it was the only offer I had received so I really had no choice but to take their offer. I did enjoy there facility and the professors seemed nice. However, I've now received formal offers from ODU, Lynchburg, and Hampton. I am humbled to have so many options but feel so pressured to make the right decision. I agree with most of the pro/cons you mentioned. ODU requires that I make a security deposit by Feb. 6. I never actually visited the campus at ODU and was planning on making a trip to the information session on Feb. 14. I am afraid to commit to sending them $500 (which I don't really have at the moment) without know that much about them. I've heard nothing but great things about ODU but I've not heard any bad things about Radford either. Both of them have graduates with present jobs and their licensure pass rates are both above the pass rates. I am absolutely torn between the two!

 

[heaq12]

I am in a very similar situation. Last December I made my deposit for Radford University after receiving notification I had been accepted. At the time, it was the only offer I had received so I really had no choice but to take their offer. I did enjoy there facility and the professors seemed nice. However, I've now received formal offers from ODU, Lynchburg, and Hampton. I am humbled to have so many options but feel so pressured to make the right decision. I agree with most of the pro/cons you mentioned. ODU requires that I make a security deposit by Feb. 6. I never actually visited the campus at ODU and was planning on making a trip to the information session on Feb. 14. I am afraid to commit to sending them $500 (which I don't really have at the moment) without know that much about them. I've heard nothing but great things about ODU but I've not heard any bad things about Radford either. Both of them have graduates with present jobs and their licensure pass rates are both above the pass rates. I am absolutely torn between the two!

I will say that I've shadowed clinicians who went to both programs and I felt much more confident in the clinicians that went to ODU vs. Radford. That being said, I'm sure their program is continually improving since it's so new.

 

[JGibson1]

1. Hey Guys!

I'm currently deciding between ODU, Radford, Shenandoah, and... well Lynchburg if i get accepted. (application is still currently under review)

I'm going to share with you my PRO's and Con's list that I've made for each institution and would love to hear some feed back if there was anything that I forgot to include!

ODU

PRO's

1. Tuition- 48,204. This is insanely cheap when in comparison to big name programs like USC, Emory, Columbia, Duke
2. 97% pass rate
3. 5 clinical location sites -(with the option of doing one abroad)
4. Center for Brain Research and Rehabilitaiton Facilities
5. Located in Norfolk- Simply gorgeous

Con's

1. Faculty- Personally, I did't get a really good vibe at the interview
2. Starting anatomy and Pre PT in the beginning of Summer

Radford

PRO's

1. Tuition- 46500 Insanely Cheap
2. Hospital setting
3. Small Class size 28 student

Con's

1. Fairly new program
2. Only 3 clinical rotations
3. most of the clinical sites off of their website is located in certain areas of Virginia ( I would prefer to branch out)
4. Faculty was "ok"

Shenandoah university

Pro's

1. Great vibe from the Faculty
2. 6 clinical rotations ( Love how they get students in the clinics ASAP
3. State of the Art equipment

Cons

1. COSTS!! - 83,000 (before extra student fees)
2. not a fan of missing one summer after Freshman year.... forces the students to delay graduation up until the middle of august or july.. (IF students had not missed that summer, they could have possibly graduated 12 weeks earlier) 12 weeks earlier means 20 thousand more dollars in my pockets.
3. Location- Although I'm scheduled to be placed at the Leesburg Campus which is only 60 minutes from DC.. there wasn't much to do around here
4. Video Conference- I really would prefer to have a teacher in front me when teaching

Appreciate the time anyone took to read this!

any feedback is appreciated

Hi csulb!

I was just wondering how you came up with the tuition rates for Radford and ODU. Thanks!

 

[krissybear]

Hey all, not sure if any of you will answer, but could I'd like to ask a few questions:

1. those of you who were accepted, what are your stats?
2. when did you hear back on being accepted/rejected?
3. I originally was accepted for undergrad at ODU, but turned down the offer to stay local at GMU... does my previous acceptance have any weight/indication of acceptance to the PT program?

any advice is appreciated 🙂 thank you