Yay! I finally feel like I can provide some insight for someone. I was accepted to both Texas Tech and UT Southwestern. Sorry if this is super long:
As far as the different campuses at Texas Tech I do not believe any one campus has more benefits than the other. If you want more of the "college" feel, Lubbock would be the place to go. The Lubbock campus has more professors but it also has more students. The other two campuses are much smaller with about 15 students at each campus. To me, this means more one-on-one help with labs, etc. Cost of living is about the same in each place and you will have to pay to live in Lubbock for the first summer regardless of which campus you are actually assigned to.
I got interviews to both Texas Tech and UT Southwestern. I was the first group to interview for both places because I got my application in early (which helps a lot, if you haven't already applied, try and get your application in as soon as possible).
My interview at Texas Tech was very laid back. I was interviewed by one professor and it felt more like a normal conversation than an interview. The only question I was really asked was why I wanted to be a physical therapist. No interrogation or hard questions at all.
UT Southwestern on the other hand was much harder for me. They have group interviews. There were four of us being interviewed by a professor and an alum of their program. They ask each person the same question. My best advice for this situation: do not talk too much, but don't be shy either. And if at all possible, try and add your own spin when you're answering a question even if another applicant already responded exactly how you would have. They alternated the order for each question...So I was first to answer the very first question, but the last to answer the third or fourth question. I also suggest you look up "physical therapy school interview questions" on google and just review those.
Another piece of advice, if you are a girl, do NOT wear high heels and a pencil skirt to an interview for physical therapy school. You are going to be a physical therapist...dressing that way just comes off as a little pretentious. I wore black slacks, a nice button up shirt and some pearls. That's it, no heels or fancy clothes.
Stats:
Degree: Bachelor of science in Biology
GPA: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.5
Hours as a Physical therapy technician: 800+
Applied: Texas Tech, UT Southwestern, TWU, UNT
Interviews: Texas Tech, UT Southwestern
Accepted: Texas Tech, UT Southwestern
Rejected: TWU, UNT(turned my application in pretty late for UNT)
School Attending: Texas Tech
This is not set in stone, but I think that Texas Tech looks more at grades while UT Southwestern looks more at experience, so try to get both! If you have any other questions about either program and the differences between the two please let me know! 🙂 UT Southwestern is a great school and I really wish I could go there but due to family circumstances I have to stay here and go to Texas Tech. :/
