Question on being a good PT

[kcgregor]

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There are two schools I want to apply to next year. One I know turns out phenomenal therapists and interns but is REALLY expensive. The other school is a lot cheaper (I could come out with very little debt) but I would only get an MPT and I'm not sure how good the therapists are that come out of there.
Is there anything I could do while I am (or before I am) a PT student that would help me to be a really good therapist?

 

[wacokid]

Your two points/questions seem somewhat unrelated. But anyway, as to the first, go for the DPT program that trains good therapists. Don't settle. You have all your life to get rid of debt.

The second question I am not qualified to answer. 🙂

 

[jesspt]

If you've been reading this forum for even a little while, you'll see that most practicing clinicians will tell you to go to the cheaper program, as long as their graduates have good pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Exam.

 

[kdpt3]

If your priority is to avoid the debt, I agree that the cheaper program would be fine in terms of getting a job, assuming the good exam pass rate someone mentioned. If it's the training you're concerned about and there really is a significant difference, then go with the better program because even if you can get a job with another program, you might be a better PT with a more quality education (although more money can, but certainly does not always, translate to higher quality -- that is an assumption too often made in academia). I think it's important to figure out what your priorities are and then go with whatever program you feel the most comfortable with. If it were me, I would honestly go with the DPT program because I think the field is shifting toward DPTs and if you get an MPT, you may end up paying for a DPT transition program anyway in the future. You could be spending that time and money some other way, like taking continuing education classes that advance your career and don't just focus on playing catch-up.

 

[kcgregor]

I want to apologize quickly. I was typing this question while in a rush and I didn't get a chance to read over what I said. Anyways, I'm leaning towards the cheaper program, but the therapists I've seen coming out of this program, which granted is not a lot, are not as good as the ones from the private school. I want to know if there is anything I could do before or during PT school to help me become a really good therapist.
BTW both schools have good passing rates. 🙂

 

[PTWannabe]

What is considered a good passing rate? I've heard from current students that even a 90% passing rate is 'not that good.'

If you've been reading this forum for even a little while, you'll see that most practicing clinicians will tell you to go to the cheaper program, as long as their graduates have good pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Exam.

 

[CLGUY]

As far as passing rates, 90% is only good if its "first time pass rate". 90% is not that good for ultimate pass rates. The schools I've applied for have 97, 99, and 100% ultimate pass rates.
Edit: Those stats are from the APTA website

 

[jesspt]

but the therapists I've seen coming out of this program, which granted is not a lot, are not as good as the ones from the private school

How do you define "good?"

 

[kcgregor]

The passing rate at the private school is 100% on the first time. The public school has a passing rate of 98% on the first try but they all eventually passed.

Jesspt- what I am talking about when I say good is how they go about treating people. The PTs out of this particular private school seem to approach how they treat patients differently than how the PTs out of the public school do. The PTs out of the private school seem to consider the body as a whole rather than just the injured area where as the PTs from the public school seem to focus on just the injured area and the immediate surrounding areas.

 

[jesspt]

kcgregor -
That may or may not be a better way to go about treating patients. I'd caution you to look at the outcomes that the therapists get, rather than look too much at their consideration of the "whole body."