Philly Area Schools

[ajune]

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I am trying to make my decision about where to go in Philly! I still have applications outstanding but need to make a decision in the next two weeks.

Here is where I've applied: Drexel, Temple, Arcadia, Jefferson and Widener.

I've been accepted to Drexel and Temple and expect to hear back from the other three schools any day now. So far I am leaning toward Temple but not sure what I would do if offered spots at Arcadia and/or Jefferson.

Anyone else considering these schools? I know that a lot of it comes down to personal preference but I'd be curious to hear what others are thinking and to start a dialogue!🙂

 

[PT Dad]

Have you visited Temple? Its in a very rough part of town. My daughter was accepted there last year and after we visited the campus, I told her that there was no way she would be going there unless she had a bodyguard.

 

[Kyra4dpt]

Have you visited Temple? Its in a very rough part of town. My daughter was accepted there last year and after we visited the campus, I told her that there was no way she would be going there unless she had a bodyguard.

I haven't been to the campus yet, I will later this month. I spoke to a professor who teaches at the main campus earlier this week and was told that the area around the medical school/hospital was actually fairly safe. They wouldn't recommend straying from the campus area, but overall the area is OK. Anyone else have thoughts about the area around Temple to shed some light on this?

I'd love to hear feedback from others too, as I'm looking into Temple and Drexel...

🙂

 

[ajune]

I can understand the concern about Temple's campus but I have a lot of experience with the area and would not let the question of safety deter me from attending. My mom was a professor on the same campus for more than 8 years and never had a single issue.

I actually live in a very diverse, stable, mixed-income neighborhood that is less than three miles from campus (East Falls). Temple's campus does leave something to be desired and aside from the new med school is not that visual stimulating but it seems to be stable!

 

[MuscleHead]

i applied to all of those programs, but have only gotten into widener at this point. arcadia technically has the best program out of the ones you mentioned, but its in glenside...which is extremely lame.

my number one choice is jefferson. it has an awesome reputation in philly, has reasonable prereqs, and is right in center city philly. drexel is in a great location too. temple, as previously noted...is in a terrible location.

i would go to jefferson...if you dont get in....drexel.

 

[jesspt]

I'm not sure what the tuition of each school is, but I would strongly factor that into my decision. Having said that, being a father of 2, I wouldn't let my kid go to Temple. Yup, the campus is safe, but it is in a really rough part of town.

I attended Arcadia (back when it was called Beaver College, 1998) and thought I received an excellent education. The faculty are very well published and the program, at least at that time, had the best reputation with in Philly area, and had an extremely good reputation both regionally and nationally.

In regards to Glenside being lame; well, it is in the suburbs, but we were able to get down into the city quite a bit, and there were still quite a few diversions locally within Glenside, Landsdale, Jenkintown, etc.

So, if it were me, I'd look at the costs of all of the schools you are considering and if there is a considerable discrepancy, I'd probably go with the cheapest school. But I'd think long and hard about Temple. You'll know a bit more about the area surrounding the campus once you visit.

 

[PT Dad]

An earlier post mentioned that Widener's anatomy lab is held at the Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine, a 30 minute drive from campus. You may want to consider that since you will spend a lot of time in the lab.

 

[sapphirek3]

I haven't been to the campus yet, I will later this month. I spoke to a professor who teaches at the main campus earlier this week and was told that the area around the medical school/hospital was actually fairly safe. They wouldn't recommend straying from the campus area, but overall the area is OK. Anyone else have thoughts about the area around Temple to shed some light on this?

This is very accurate. I am a first year Temple DPT and having anatomy until 6 pm and then taking the subway home.... I have never had a problem (knock on wood 🙂) Of course, use the ususal precautions as one would anywhere in an urban environment (like if it's dark, walk with someone) and yes, do not go off campus. Other than that, there is no reason not to go to temple.

I actually chose to go to Temple over Arcadia, Drexel, and Jefferson and I could not be happier with my choice. The professors are AMAZING, they are really committed to teaching the students and teaching them well and, being a former teacher myself, I feel that the curriculum is great given what will be expected of us upon graduating. Even though we go through the summer, we have a light schedule during all of the semesters and plenty of breaks, which makes having a life during grad school easy. I feel like I am getting a top notch education.

With respect to the neighborhood also, you want to keep in mind that you want to be learning with a diverse population - because that is what you are most likely to see in practice upon graduating.

With that said, if your only reason for choosing not to go to Temple is the neighborhood, I think you would not be doing the school proper justice.

 

[MuscleHead]

I'm not sure what the tuition of each school is, but I would strongly factor that into my decision. Having said that, being a father of 2, I wouldn't let my kid go to Temple. Yup, the campus is safe, but it is in a really rough part of town.

I attended Arcadia (back when it was called Beaver College, 1998) and thought I received an excellent education. The faculty are very well published and the program, at least at that time, had the best reputation with in Philly area, and had an extremely good reputation both regionally and nationally.

In regards to Glenside being lame; well, it is in the suburbs, but we were able to get down into the city quite a bit, and there were still quite a few diversions locally within Glenside, Landsdale, Jenkintown, etc.

So, if it were me, I'd look at the costs of all of the schools you are considering and if there is a considerable discrepancy, I'd probably go with the cheapest school. But I'd think long and hard about Temple. You'll know a bit more about the area surrounding the campus once you visit.

widener, temple, arcadia, jeff and drexel are all basically the same price tag....and obviously way too much money

 

[Kyra4dpt]

widener, temple, arcadia, jeff and drexel are all basically the same price tag....and obviously way too much money

You are spot on there! I'm in sticker shock as I'm trying to figure out how to make this work...

Arcadia would be too much of a commute for me (my fiance goes to school in New Brunswick, NJ), so I didn't apply: that said, I REALLY like their program! Jefferson, I withdrew my application due to prereqs: I'm a career changer and some of my coursework was older. I couldn't find a way to work in everything into the timeframe they needed, since I still work full-time. 🙁

Temple has a great faculty and I'm impressed with their research. I have spent the last 10 years living in NYC and its suburbs and lived in downtown Baltimore for a few years back in the 1990s. I'm used to (and prefer) a diverse community and handling myself in safe, yet tough, neighborhoods. So I will keep an open mind to Temple's location when I interview. I can't wait to hear more about Temple's program when I'm there: I'm really excited about my interview! I can't tell how much the Temple program is for the three years, anyone know? I can't tell if the tuition they post is per year or per semester. I'd be out of state...

Drexel...I just got a great vibe there, loved the fact that they have their own anatomy lab and that you're in the lab a lot longer than 4-8 weeks! I love the tech aspect of the program, like that the rehab hospital is next door, and think it academically suits me. I've done the quarter system before and like it. I like the 2.5 year curriculum. But is it worth 25K more than the state NYC/NJ schools? If I don't get into anywhere else, I'll have no choice but to spend the extra money. But know I'll get a great education there and will be happy overall. But if I do get into other programs...?

I'm waiting to hear from some NYC/NJ schools in the upcoming weeks, too. Tuition will be cheaper, but cost of living will be more... 😕

 

[sapphirek3]

Temple also has their own anatomy lab and anatomy goes the entire semester. That gave me lots of time to really learn it well. The anatomy lab is brand new, very nice, the locker rooms don't stink (so your street clothes don't get stinky) and instead of having two atlases (one for home and one for lab), the cadaver lab has searchable Netter plate software. Only 4 students to a cadaver too!

 

[PT Dad]

Kyra4dpt, you should go to where you believe the best fit is for you and where you feel most comfortable. Over the long term the cost difference won't matter (I assume you are taking out loans) much if you aren't happy with the program. It sounds like your dilemma was similar to my daughter since she was accepted to most of the schools she applied and had a very difficult time deciding. But as it turned out, her first impressions of the school ultimately had the greatest influence on her decision which was Pitt.

sapphirek3, don't let Eagle fans know that your a Steeler fan or they may give you more grief than the mean streets surrounding Temple! You have a light schedule? I never have heard that from a PT student! You must be brilliant.

 

[ajune]

I was surprised to hear that Temple was in the same price category as the other private schools but after adding it up that seems to be the case. Kyra, like you I got a good vibe at Drexel. I liked their facilities, including the sim labs, and the connection to the 11th street community health center, and the location is fabulous. I agree that the rehab hospital is a key factor. Maybe
It shouldn't matter but I still can't get a great read on the program's reputation.
Temple has a solid rep and great faculty. The anatomy lab and library are great but the PT lab and the rest of the facilities are only ok. As we all agree location is less then ideal.
When I interviewed I got the sense that Temple's program is rigurous and it left me now doubt that I would be expertly trained.I really liked Arcadia and think the location is great. I would have a short commute so Might be biased. It seems like they really put their students first and have worked tirelessly to design a program that really works! It is ashame that they don't have a hospital or anatomy lab but they have a great building designed for PT classes!

Lots to consider!

 

[Kyra4dpt]

Kyra, like you I got a good vibe at Drexel. I liked their facilities, including the sim labs, and the connection to the 11th street community health center, and the location is fabulous. I agree that the rehab hospital is a key factor. Maybe It shouldn't matter but I still can't get a great read on the program's reputation.

Ajune, if I recall correctly, the student that did the Drexel tour for my group said that they have the cadaver lab for the full year. This is a huge factor for me, as I'm such a visual learner and kinesthetic learner. Drexel has an outstanding first time pass rate, so you will be prepared. It s rigorous. It's just, would having the extra 6 months be better? They have some great affiliations--i.e., Johns Hopkins Hospital, etc... But most PTs that I talk to don't know anything about the program, but it could be because I'm in the NYC area or because "Drexel" is newer to the community, as it was Hahnemann until Drexel took over the school. However, those in the medical field do and say you'd get a solid education at Drexel. And it's said to be on the up-and-up...

Bummer about the cost for Temple. I'm really surprised. But I like that Temple's is a semester long, at least! I like how their curiculumn is set up, as well. Do they offer graduate assistantships? If so, then that might help reduce the cost of the education. How is their neuro?

It's just hard to weight the pros and cons of each school... 🙂

 

[Kyra4dpt]

OK, I was at Temple yesterday for an interview. I LOVED it there. I didn't think the neighborhood around the school was that scary, loved the students, faculty, facilities, etc. What struck me the most is the sense of community there, which is exactly what I'm looking for. So does any one know the answer to the following....

Their website states that graduate full time tuition is $18,468 (out of state). Now is this the tuition for the FULL year (including summer session)? 😕

Now to wait for their answer....

 

[ajune]

It is great to hear that the neighborhood wasn't a big deal for you! I think it depends on an individual's prior experiences and what you want from a program. Someone mentioned to me that at another school the anatomy labs were on top of a Kenneth Cole (or something similar.) If that is what you are looking for than Temple will not stack up!

All I need are great facilities, a strong program and great faculty. I will not be shopping at Kenneth Cole while I am in grad school!😉