School ranks vs. Debt

[pmau22]

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Hey PTs and PTs in training,

I was wondering how important school rank is. Currently, I'm considering going to school at Chapman, USC, UCSF, CSULB, CSUN, and Azusa.

Is rank important for finding jobs or is it indicative of how well programs are taught? Or is it just an indicator of how research heavy the school is.

Basically, I just interviewed at Azusa recently and was not sure if I should attend (#154 on US news ranking, which may or may not mean anything). But basically I graduated from a top 20 university for undergrad and have very competitive stats so it's making me unsure of whether or not to accept, especially if I might have a shot at UCSF or USC.

I want your experienced insight to guide me. I know mosto f the PTs that I have shadowed just say to go to the cheapest school since debt is an important factor.

 

[SeaPT]

Hey PTs and PTs in training,

I was wondering how important school rank is. Currently, I'm considering going to school at Chapman, USC, UCSF, CSULB, CSUN, and Azusa.

Is rank important for finding jobs or is it indicative of how well programs are taught? Or is it just an indicator of how research heavy the school is.

Basically, I just interviewed at Azusa recently and was not sure if I should attend (#154 on US news ranking, which may or may not mean anything). But basically I graduated from a top 20 university for undergrad and have very competitive stats so it's making me unsure of whether or not to accept, especially if I might have a shot at UCSF or USC.

I want your experienced insight to guide me. I know mosto f the PTs that I have shadowed just say to go to the cheapest school since debt is an important factor.

I am an applicant and hopeful PT like you. From what I understand (and from what I have seen on this forum) rank doesnt really mean anything....go for the school that gives you the least amount of debt. Although it is important to see the percentage of students graduating, passing the notional exam, and receiving job offers. But from the schools you have listed I think you are fine (or at least from what I have researched). Hope this helps and congrats on the options, I am still playing the waiting game to hear anything back.

 

[b0rganic]

I am a recent applicant who has been struggling with the same thing. I have good stats and feel like I am a competitive candidate. I currently live in San Francisco, which is ultimately where I want to live and raise my family. I currently work as a rehab aide at UCSF, which has given me amazing mentorship opportunities, and is somewhere I would like to see myself returning once I obtain my DPT. That being said, I have talked to a good majority of the PT's at work, and the general consensus is go with the cheapest school, because the rankings or name does not mean anything when you are done. Obviously you want good outcomes like pass rates, working grads, good clinical affiliations, ect, but from what I hear the place you study won't set you apart from the pack in terms of post grad work. What will are specialties like manual therapy certifications, or neuro specialization post grad work. I have applications out to some top schools like Miami, where I am interviewing in a few days, MGH, and UCSF. I have also been accepted to Nova SE, a regional school that although not too well known on the west, has a good clinically focused program and 100% first time pass rate for this last year. My wife is having our first child in April, and if I move to Florida we could live with my in-laws for a dime, and have child care help. My ego wants me to go to UCSF or Miami if I get in, but practicality, money, and the advice of others leads me to believe that Nova is my ticket to a career in PT. I think saving 40 grand or more translates to a better quality of life after grad and that can't be discounted. What are your thoughts?

 

[1027453812]

Although I may be only be an applicant as opposed to a PT current, I think that the accreditation really just tells us that all schools are the same (from an academic standpoint). The major question is, how do you want the curriculum to be delivered to you and how do you want to learn the curriculum? This was a beautiful point that was brought up from my recent interview at Azusa Pacific University. Yes I agree that debt and financing tuition will probably be the number one determinant for many applicants, however, I do strongly think that you should assess all the other little factors of each program.

For me, I agree with b0rganic that I am much more comfortable staying relatively close to home and to my family, considering I have lived in Los Angeles my whole life. Secondly, I find myself learning much more through small group interactions, which gravitates me towards smaller cohort sizes. Lastly, I also find myself a better student who can work better at quicker paces, which also draws me towards curriculums that go by the quarter or term system as opposed to the semester system.

I never really judged school by rank but I do take a close look at how the curriculum is set up as well as their clinical affiliations. It is a lot of things to process, but with the increasing competition of the field, we're all hoping to get into PT school anywhere. If we have the convenience if choosing based on multiple acceptances, you can go ahead and analyze each detail.

 

[livelifelifting]

I am a recent applicant who has been struggling with the same thing. I have good stats and feel like I am a competitive candidate. I currently live in San Francisco, which is ultimately where I want to live and raise my family. I currently work as a rehab aide at UCSF, which has given me amazing mentorship opportunities, and is somewhere I would like to see myself returning once I obtain my DPT. That being said, I have talked to a good majority of the PT's at work, and the general consensus is go with the cheapest school, because the rankings or name does not mean anything when you are done. Obviously you want good outcomes like pass rates, working grads, good clinical affiliations, ect, but from what I hear the place you study won't set you apart from the pack in terms of post grad work. What will are specialties like manual therapy certifications, or neuro specialization post grad work. I have applications out to some top schools like Miami, where I am interviewing in a few days, MGH, and UCSF. I have also been accepted to Nova SE, a regional school that although not too well known on the west, has a good clinically focused program and 100% first time pass rate for this last year. My wife is having our first child in April, and if I move to Florida we could live with my in-laws for a dime, and have child care help. My ego wants me to go to UCSF or Miami if I get in, but practicality, money, and the advice of others leads me to believe that Nova is my ticket to a career in PT. I think saving 40 grand or more translates to a better quality of life after grad and that can't be discounted. What are your thoughts?

Just so you know, if you're open to a commute, it's totally plausible to commute to UM from the Nova area. When I interviewed at UM there were quite a few students who said they did. So to go to Nova over UM you'd really just be saving the transportation cost and 10k difference in tuition, maybe even less since NOVA will go up in price each year but UM won't (block tuition). Just something to think about, I'm sure a commute would be terrible with a newborn.

Personally, I'm probably going to the most expensive school I applied to (UMiami) if I get in. This decision has been supported by a number of PTs I've met throughout this process, including one who previously handled clinical affiliations in a large top hospital. In her opinion, the school matters and it's only going to matter more as the healthcare landscape changes. There are even some schools she specifically instructed me to NOT go to, even if I had to reapply!

I suggest asking schools for a list of their clinical affiliations, some schools even have it on their website. You can see a big difference between schools this way. Do you want to work at a large outpatient chain and see 3 or 4 people at a time? There are schools who 2/3rds of their affiliations are these types off places and the rest are hospitals. There are other schools that have spots in top hospitals, boutique (for lack of a better word) clinics, with sports teams and more. IMO, this matters.

Anyway, if it's a difference between 150k and 60k then I think cheaper is better but if it's a 10-20k difference, I think ranked might be best.

 

[NewDPT31]

WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL DOES NOT MATTER FOR GETTING A JOB. The way they are ranked is COMPLETELY biased, anyway. Find a school with a good fit for you, get out with as little debt as possible, and go on and be a PT. I'm serious as all get up here.

 

[jesspt]

Just so you know, if you're open to a commute, it's totally plausible to commute to UM from the Nova area. When I interviewed at UM there were quite a few students who said they did. So to go to Nova over UM you'd really just be saving the transportation cost and 10k difference in tuition, maybe even less since NOVA will go up in price each year but UM won't (block tuition). Just something to think about, I'm sure a commute would be terrible with a newborn.

Personally, I'm probably going to the most expensive school I applied to (UMiami) if I get in. This decision has been supported by a number of PTs I've met throughout this process, including one who previously handled clinical affiliations in a large top hospital. In her opinion, the school matters and it's only going to matter more as the healthcare landscape changes. There are even some schools she specifically instructed me to NOT go to, even if I had to reapply!

I suggest asking schools for a list of their clinical affiliations, some schools even have it on their website. You can see a big difference between schools this way. Do you want to work at a large outpatient chain and see 3 or 4 people at a time? There are schools who 2/3rds of their affiliations are these types off places and the rest are hospitals. There are other schools that have spots in top hospitals, boutique (for lack of a better word) clinics, with sports teams and more. IMO, this matters.

Anyway, if it's a difference between 150k and 60k then I think cheaper is better but if it's a 10-20k difference, I think ranked might be best.

Is she responsible for hiring of staff? If not, her perspective is that of a site clinical coordinator, not a hiring manager.

Go ahead and go to a school that is more expensive, but I think it is financially foolish.

 

[livelifelifting]

Is she responsible for hiring of staff? If not, her perspective is that of a site clinical coordinator, not a hiring manager.

Go ahead and go to a school that is more expensive, but I think it is financially foolish.

Not in that role, but she is now as a clinic owner and has been in other leadership roles in the past. Just one person's perspective though 🙂

 

[Berzerkernuts]

WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL DOES NOT MATTER FOR GETTING A JOB. The way they are ranked is COMPLETELY biased, anyway. Find a school with a good fit for you, get out with as little debt as possible, and go on and be a PT. I'm serious as all get up here.

I am a recent grad and I second this statement. What are those "rankings" based on anyway? I just spent 2 months applying and interviewing for jobs (I was offered several positions during this time but was holding out for the job that I felt was right for me) and I can safely say that not one interviewer cared where I went to school. They cared about who I am as a person and a clinician as well as what I did during my clinical affiliations. Yes, you should check on the available clinical sites at the schools you are considering, but also make sure to find out whether they are willing to try to set up affiliations with clinics/hospitals that you select (my program was, with 1 year advance notice). The PTs who told you to go to the cheapest school are completely right. The amount of debt you have when you graduate will determine whether you take the job that you want vs. the job that pays the best, or whether you have your nights and weekends free vs. doing home visits or per diem work to earn extra money, etc. Minimize your debt, your future self will thank you.

 

[blewis15]

"Rank" doesn't matter

 

[b0rganic]

Just spoke with the PT hiring manager at the hospital and he said he doesn't even look at the school. He said he looks at what kind of clinical experiences an applicant has had along with aide experience and personality. He said go where you will save the most $$. This seems to be the resounding sentiment among professionals. USC grads might tell you otherwise 😉

 

[Azimuthal]

Just spoke with the PT hiring manager at the hospital and he said he doesn't even look at the school. He said he looks at what kind of clinical experiences an applicant has had along with aide experience and personality. He said go where you will save the most $$. This seems to be the resounding sentiment among professionals. USC grads might tell you otherwise 😉

USC grads don't frequent this forum much. Most are too busy picking up per diem jobs on the side to help with monthly student loan payments. Buuuuuurrrrnnnn...

 

[NewTestament]

USC graduates will be in debt bondage to Aunt Sallie Mae for the first decade of their career.

 

[Pinesfootball]

so i just looked up tuition prices for USC because of this thread...and this might be a stupid question but why would anyone want to go to a school with a tuition rate THAT high?! I know its one of the top 3, if not the top pt school, in the nation ranking-wise but it's not like you can go into any job interview post graduation and ask for super high salary because you graduated from there!....or can you as a USC grad? lol

 

[NewTestament]

USC graduates don't get better jobs or higher pay because they paid more for tuition. They learn more or less the same things DPT students at other schools learn.

 

[NewDPT31]

so i just looked up tuition prices for USC because of this thread...and this might be a stupid question but why would anyone want to go to a school with a tuition rate THAT high?! I know its one of the top 3, if not the top pt school, in the nation ranking-wise but it's not like you can go into any job interview post graduation and ask for super high salary because you graduated from there!....or can you as a USC grad? lol

Some people's parent's pay for school. Mine did not haha.

 

[jasonc]

What about NPTE Pass Rate vs Debt?

I just got into Touro College which has an 88% pass rate and $72K tuition. But i'm also considering UMiami (99% Pass rate and $90K tuition) and Western University of Health Sciences (97% Pass rate and $106K tuition). From what I read so far, I'm getting a sense that you should go to the cheapest school as long as it has a pass rate >95%. What would be your advice on this?

BTW, this is a funny forum especially for a UCLA graduate.

 

[NewDPT31]

What about NPTE Pass Rate vs Debt?

I just got into Touro College which has an 88% pass rate and $72K tuition. But i'm also considering UMiami (99% Pass rate and $90K tuition) and Western University of Health Sciences (97% Pass rate and $106K tuition). From what I read so far, I'm getting a sense that you should go to the cheapest school as long as it has a pass rate >95%. What would be your advice on this?

BTW, this is a funny forum especially for a UCLA graduate.

There's no magic number for pass rate or to say you are better/worse off based on that. Those numbers change from year to year. 88% is fine. Honestly it's about where you want to go vs what you want to spend. 72k is much cheaper than Umiami which is much cheaper than Western. With interest, it's going to be even bigger. Depends on if you like a small school vs big university.

 

[HouseDPT]

USC grads don't frequent this forum much. Most are too busy picking up per diem jobs on the side to help with monthly student loan payments. Buuuuuurrrrnnnn...

OH SNAP! Hahahaha.

 

[ynby86]

Your pay as a Physical Therapist is based off your reimbursement from insurance or Medicare. Neither of them care where you went to school. Therefore, a DPT from a CSU or USC will get paid the same amount from insurance. The only thing USC has going for it is its alumni network (what can you expect when you graduate 90 PTs every year). But the demand for PTs is high enough that you don't have to worry about finding a job.