Question about scholarships...

[dms6005]

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I promise this isn't going to be a big complaining rant about the cost of PT school and debt etc etc. I understand that, if I am accepted somewhere come 2017-2018, that it will be a whole lot of money and a lot of paying back loans.
However, I do have some questions about how different schools handle scholarships.

I was recently at an open house for Drexel University. They said that they give merit-based scholarships ranging from $20K to $60K to half of the incoming class, which would be giving out scholarships to about 25-30 people. I had always heard that Drexel gave good scholarships but I wasn't really sure, so when they said this I was very excited, especially because I liked everything else about the program. Who knows if I would even qualify for one (I am a good student, but nothing that spectacular), but a 50/50 chance sounds pretty good to me.

So my question is, is this typical of a PT school? Do other schools usually give out decent merit-based scholarships? More specifically, what are other schools in the Philadelphia area like when it comes to scholarships and financial aid?

Any input is much appreciated!

 

[low5059]

Arcadia gives some scholarship money which was a pleasant surprise. I'm not sure to how many students within the class though.

 

[NJ DPT HOPEFUL]

Drexel is the only one I have heard of who gives that much. I am on the other side of the river but I know Rutgers south gives some small ones for out of state (Still much more expensive than instate but any money helps)

 

[Slotbass49]

Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia offered me 24,000 (8,000 per year) in merit based scholarship and to be honest, most schools do not have merit scholarships for incoming students

 

[PTpursuit]

Boston university (a private school) offered me and others $7,000 a year. Others received $9-10,000 a year (need-based btw). As for merit, I am not sure how much and how many receive that, but I bet it is substantially more money given out. Drexel I heard is pretty giving in regards to scholarship as well. MGH IHP offers merit based scholarships too.

 

[beyoutiful_sunshine]

Oh wow that's A LOT of money! How much is tuition though?
That's out of your location, but I know Angelo State University in Texas gives to every PT students scholarships based off undergrad GPA at time of application so pretty much everyone ends up paying in-state tuition, and the whole program costs $34K.

Texas State offered me a $9,000 merit based fellowship for the first year, which is more than half the tuition for that year. And the whole program costs $45K

I've been looking for outside scholarships to help cover the remaining, but without much luck and APTA scholarships aren't available to first year DPT students

 

[dptwannabee1]

There are not a lot of schools that seem to offer considerable PT scholarship money. Drexel was definitely one, University of Delaware has some, especially if you apply Early Decision. Boston University has some, but it is so expensive to start with, MGH also, plus living in Boston would be very costly. Duke has a little, and so does Miami. Columbia gives a small amount per year for a high GPA. It seems that for most states, your instate option even without scholarship can be your best bargain, but often is also the hardest to get into. If you have really good stats, like @beyoutiful_sunshine said, Texas can be a really
good bargain, even for out of state. They do have some scholarship money, and if they award you $1000, they will often award an instate waiver which is between $35-45,000 for the whole three years. Probably the most expensive options are some of the for profit schools, or the private schools that are not as selective.

 

[ptstudent408]

Thomas Jefferson (in Philadelphia) is giving me $5000 per year ($15000 total) merit based. Tuition is about 35k a year.