Picking between two very different school PLEASE help

[preOTkid]

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Ok heres the deal i got into American International college and baypath college both are 8 miles apart in Massachusetts and I'm not from the area. I just got back from visiting both colleges!!! i am soo confused!!!!

pros and cons for both

AIC: great school, hands on program....terrible area to live aka ghetto lol expensive and its 3 years long!!! great labs but the first year they have summer off (I don't know why) 25 people got in

Baypath: small school, old fashioned, great area....research based program, only 2 years long, very cheap $51,000 for the whole thing.... not a lot of classes from what i saw.... for anatomy u have to go to a different college to study with there cadaviors idk


So my question is will researched based program b helpful? Or hands on program? And baypath is ranked higher then aic but it feels like it has less to offer 🙁 help me please
I AM SOO CONFUSED ON WHERE TO GO....PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

[naijaboy]

Preotkid, I just PM you.

 

[FutureOT2013]

Go to the 2 year program which is cheaper. The rankings, especially in this case (#117 vs #149) don't even matter. Why not just graduate in 2 years and spend the extra year you save earning an income and more importantly work experience. Accredited schools should be teaching more or less the same subject material and preparing you to pass the NBCOT.

 

[BowlofSunshine]

I agree with Future0213, go with the cheaper school. By the time you get in the field and start working, where you went, really won't matter.

I've noticed a lot of OT have a bunch of fluff and filler classes instead of getting down to the nitty gritty (classes related to the program) I've seen programs that required 1 or more classes of pottery, knitting, etc. While I understand they have something to do with fine and/or gross motor skills, still.

Also, there are some colleges, one in NY that requires a whole semester of "filler classes" before you can even start taking your OT classes.

I said all that to say, go with what you feel is going to work for you. And make sure you're not going to end up paying a mortgage's worth of student loans when you finish.

 

[KatieC]

Im in a similar situation. i got into Dominican in California and NYU. Totally different but have no clue where to go.

Dominican is local, cheaper but I haven't heard the best things about the program and teachers.

NYU is way more expensive, 2 1/2 years, and all the way back in NY...but its NYU..


Any suggestions?

 

[FutureOT2013]

KatieC, I had to choose between USC and SJSU. I guess it was an easier decision for me because I've heard great things about both schools so it came down to costs and finding a job in the Bay Area afterwards. The only reason I might have gone to USC is if I really was intent on establishing myself in Los Angeles (which I wasn't). Where do you want to be after you graduate? I hear the NY has pretty good options as far as grants and paying them back by working for certain agencies, but I'm not sure if you have to be a resident. It was hard for me to turn down USC, but even they can't guarantee my success in the future. I was just confident I could do great things at either school, I spoke with the faculty at SJSU and many of them got their OT degrees from SJSU and went on to earn PhD's an various fields and returned to teach at SJSU. I liked the fact that there was precedence in that direction because teaching and research are routes I would like to go someday also. There are also several AOTA fellows among the faculty. As far as your dilemma, you should try and connect with Dominican alumni (via facebook or something) and ask them how they liked it. I have a friend who came out of Dominican, she graduated #1 in her class and she's an excellent OT at Kaiser and loves her job. No one can give you the right answer, you just have to go with what you think is best for you.

 

[Whistle Pig]

Wise counsel. The idea of going on the cheap/quick, while it MAY make sense, is not the simple solution.

 

[preOTkid]

Thanks guys!! For the help!! I am pretty sure I am going to the two year one!! Not positive